In last weekend’s message, “The Power of a Promise Kept” , Pastor Dave surveyed the message of the Bible to show us that God’s promise to Abraham is part of the consistent purpose and message of all 66 books of the Bible.  Genesis 12:1-3 is the first stating of the Great Commission in the Bible.  The Father sent Jesus onto the earth through the family of Abraham.  And so through Abraham the Savior came into the world.  And God’s redemptive work is still happening today.  He is working that every distinct people would be blessed through a promise to one man.    

LAP #1
Read Genesis 12:1-3.  God’s covenant to Abraham is recognized as having two equal parts… the Top Line is the fact that God wants to bless Abraham; with the Bottom Line comes a responsibility. Abraham is to reach out to all peoples on the face of the earth.  Never are blessings solely for us.  We are to be channels through which they flow, not buckets keeping them to ourselves. Discern your role in God’s Great Commission.  This will require prayer, discovery of your spiritual gifts, and exercising your gifts in your church.  

LAP #2
Read Exodus 19:6 and Matthew 28:18-20.  God called the Israelites to be priests to the nations.  This role was later committed to the church and we were commissioned by Jesus to start churches among every distinct people group on earth.  Who are “your” people that God has called you to reach?  And how are you going about it with your church? 

LAP #3
Read Psalm 67:3, 4,7.  The Bible emphasizes the “all-ness factor” of reaching every people group with the Good News of life with God through Jesus Christ. Who are the people in your life who do not yet know the way of Jesus?  List them on a small sheet of paper and keep it in your Bible to remind you to pray for them – that they would be open to God; that He would reveal Himself to them; for the opportunity to share your story with them; and then invite them to Sunday at church. 

LAP #4
Read Luke 24:45-48.  Here Jesus breaks down the Old Testament to two simple themes for the disciples…top line blessings and bottom line responsibilities.  Their eyes were opened to seeing the Bible as having God’s consistent goals.  Make it your aim to see the consistency of the Bible.  See if you can find the message of the Gospel in each of the 66 books of the Bible.  (You don’t have to do it all today.) 🙂 

LAP #5
Read Revelation 5:9-10.  This is a future picture where we find the Lamb is worshiped because He has redeemed people from every tongue, tribe, and nation.  What He set out to do in Genesis 12, He pulls off in Revelation 5.  This allows us to see the Bible as one book.  God’s work is to see that day come become reality.  We are invited to join God in His work of redemption today.  Pray and seek God about how you can contribute your unique gifts and abilities to join in His work.