JUNE AND JULY PASTORS CORNER

IN THE MONTHS OF JUNE AND JULY AND AUGUST WE AS A CHURCH WILL BE HEARING SERMONS FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT.

A QUESTION WE NEED TO ASK OURSELVES DURING THIS TIME IS WHY THE OLD TESTAMENT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO KNOW.  THE OLD TESTAMENT IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE IT IS THE FOUNDATION OF THE ENTIRE BIBLE AND THE FIRST MAJOR REVELATION OF GOD’S CHARACTER, PROMISES, AND PLAN FOR HUMANITY. IT IS NOT MERELY HISTORICAL OR ANCIENT- IT IS DIVINELY INSPIRES SCRIPTURE.

  1. DIVINE REVELATION AND AUTHORITY

       THE OLD TESTAMENT IS GOD’S FIRST SPECIAL REVELATION, SETTING THE STAGE FOR THE NEW TESTAMENT, IT IS AUTHORITATIVE FOR INSTRUCTION, CONVICTION, CORRECTION, AND TRAINING IN RIGHTEOUSNESS.

  • REVEALS GOD’S CHARACTER

THROUGH CREATION, LAW, PROPHETS, AND POETRY, THE OLD TESTAMENT SHOWS GOD AS CREATOR, SUSTAINER, SOVEREIGN, HOLY, JUST, MERCIFUL. AND  FAITHFUL. THESE ATTRIBUTES ARE CONSISTENT THROUGHOUT SCRIPTURE.

  • COVENANTAL FRAMEWORK

IT  RECORDS  GOD’S  COVENANTS  WITH NOAH, ABRAHAM, MOSES, AND DAVID, SHOWING HIS PROMISES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. THESE COVENANTS ARE FULFILLED IN CHRIST AND ARE CENTRAL TO UNDERSTANDING GOD’S REDEMPTIVE PLAN.

  • FORESHADOWS JESUS

THE OLD TESTAMENT CONTAINS PROPHECIES AND TYPES THAT POINT TO JESUS THE MESSIAH, THE LAMB OF GOD, AND THE  SAVIOR.

  • MORAL AND ETHICAL FOUNDATION

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, WISDOM LITERATURE AND PROPHETIC ETHICS PROVIDE TIMELESS PRINCIPLES OF JUSTICE, MERCY, AND LOVE THAT SHAPE CHRISTIAN LIVING.

  • CONTEXT FOR THE NEW TESTAMENT

WITHOUT THE OLD TESTAMENT, WE WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE JEWS SOUGHT A MESSIAH, WHY JESUS’ DEATH WAS NECESSARY OR HOW HIS LIFE FULLFILLS OLD TESTAMENT PROMISES. THE NEW TESTAMENT IS THE FULFILLMENT OF THE OLD TESTAMENT STORY.

  • PRACTICAL LESSONS AND WISDOM

STORIES OF FAITH, OBEDIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE OFFER ENDURING LESSONS FOR PERSONAL AND SPIRTUAL GROWTH.

  • WORLDVIEW AND CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING

IT EXPLAINS SACRED SPACE, TEMPLE WORSHIP, AND JEWISH CUSTOMS MENTIONED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, HELPING US GRASP THE CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS BACKGROUND OF JESUS’ MINISTRY.

  • CONTINUITY OF GOD’S WORD

THE OLD TESTAMENT SHOWS THAT GOD HAS BEEN SPEAKING THROUGH PROPHETS AND COVENANTS, CULMINATING IN HIS SON.

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

    STUDYING THE OLD TESTAMENT DEEPENS TRUST IN GOD’S FAITHFULNESS, STRENGTHENS OUR UNDERSTANDING OF HIS PROMISES, AND HELPS US SEE THE UNITY OF SCRIPTURE AS ONE STORY OF REDEMPTION.

    BLESSINGS

    PASTOR MARK

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