God's Promises: Gideon and the Leverage of Active Faith (Chris)

In the Book of Judges chapters 6-8, God used Gideon as a means to show tremendous power in the world and to deliver Israel from its enemies.  Jesus taught similarly that aligning ourselves with God’s purpose can produce miracles.  How should we use this power as Disciples of Christ?

Listen to Gideon and the Leverage of Active Faith
Lesson Plan
Handout

God's Promises: Possessing the Promised Land (Randy)

After 40 years in the desert, Joshua finally led the Israelites into the promised land.  The Lord paved the way by enabling them to cross the Jordan River, and they succeeded as long as they remained obedient. In the same way, through our baptism and acceptance of Jesus, we cross from death to life, and that life is abundant as long as we remain obedient.

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Lesson Plan

God's Promises: Promised Land (Chris)

This class explores the concept of “Promised Land” in relation to ancient Israel, to the teachings of Christ, and to a modern example referencing both of the others – the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.  We ask four questions about each period: what is the Promised Land, where is the Promised Land, how do we get to the Promised Land, and when do we go to the Promised Land?  One conclusion is that Christian disciples see the fulfillment of God’s promises not only in a heavenly future but in a more Godly world here and now.

Listen to God's Promises: Promised Land
Lesson Plan
Handout

God's Promises: Wilderness (Margaret Odom-Tomchin and Erica Joy Bitting)

This week’s lesson focuses on the 40 years Israel spent wandering in the Wilderness between being freed from slavery in Egypt and reaching the Promised Land.  Why did God need them to struggle and prepare before fulfilling their aspirations?  What can we learn about from Israel about our own life detours and challenges?  Our class leaders are Margaret Odom-Tomchin and Erica Joy Bitting, PRUMC’s current Candler School of Theology students in residence.

Lesson Plan

God's Promises: Salvation (Chris)

Salvation.  We were saved by Christ on the cross just as Israel was saved when it was released from slavery by Pharaoh. In both cases, however, that is just the beginning of the story.  If salvation is a process of being saved and then living a Godly life day-by-day, what can ancient Israel's escape from Egypt teach us about Christian discipleship?

Listen to God's Promises: Salvation
Lesson Plan
Handout

God's Promises: Plagues and Passover (Randy)

The ten plagues of ancient Egypt brought by God through Moses to Pharaoh make little sense to the modern sensibility. Why would God bring such destruction to the whole country, culminating in the death of firstborn sons?  As it turns out, God exercised and demonstrated his authority in a way that Pharaoh could (ultimately) understand, and the beginning of his salvation plan proves to be a perfect type for our salvation in Christ. 

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Lesson Plan

Crucifixion timeline (Guideposts and sketch)
Crucifixion timeline (Randy's analysis)

God's Promises: Covenant (Chris)

We begin our new series, “God's Promises: What Can Ancient Israel Teach Us About our Faith in Christ?"  This series is based on the statement of Jesus that he came "not to abolish but to fulfill" the law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17).  What does this mean, and how can we learn from the stories of the Old Testament as we seek to become better disciples of Christ?

In our first lesson, we explore the idea of Covenant.  The lesson revisits the promise and explanation of the future given by God to Abraham in Genesis 15.  This original Covenant connects all of us directly to the history of Ancient Israel.  We then look at Israel enslaved in Egypt to see how the story in Exodus relates to our lives as Christians.

Listen to God's Promises: Covenant
Lesson Plan
Handout
"Get Out" article by Tim Keller which Chris Referenced in class