WELCOME

1. IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH WELCOME Adult II Couples Class www.discoverjoy.com

2. QUESTION OF THE DAY What’s the most unusual gift you’ve ever received for Christmas?

4. Class Announcements Church Announcements • Benevolence Fund • Monthly Fellowships • January • February • March • Dinner Out Friday (30 Dec?) • 5th Sunday Breakfast (29 Jan) • Quarterly Service Project (17 Dec) • Chemo treatment center • R.E.A.P. – “E” team • Springhill Bag Stuffing/Lunch (18 Dec) • Happy Birthday Jesus Party (18 Dec) • Christmas Caroling (21 Dec) • No Choir Practice (21 Dec) • 10AM Worship Service Only (25 Dec) • Church Offices Closed (26-30 Dec) • Praise, Play, Pray (31 Dec) • Deacon Meeting (8 Jan) • Begin Chronological Bible Study (1 Jan)

5. Chronological bible study help oneyearbibleonline.com

6. QUESTION OF THE DAY What’s the most unusual gift you’ve ever received for Christmas?

7. The Heart of the Story -Ten Eras of the Old Testament-

8. Introduction A good story always has the following elements: • A beginning that captures the reader by explaining the problem and its seriousness • Clues throughout that show a resolution is coming • Minor heroes and antagonists • A main hero who resolves the problem • The triumph of good over evil The Bible is the most important story for all mankind. It is a story about God-not man. As Larry Reesor says, “The Bible is a GOD book, not a ME book.” The Bible’s story has the most wonderful plot in the world-the plan for humanity’s redemption from sin. Jesus is the central character and the heart of the story. The Bible is all about Him, and He appears throughout all of the Old Testament, just as He said: “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”(Lk 24:44)

9. Context the ten eras of the old testament Our story today traces the word of promise for a Savior to the world throughout the Old Testament eras.

10. Overview The Ten Old Testament Eras; Creation thru Captivity The thread of redemption is traced through the Bible’s story showing the promise of the coming Savior and the fulfillment of that promise.

11. The coming of Jesus is prophesied throughout the entire Old Testament. The work of Jesus is pictured throughout the entire Old Testament. The death and resurrection of Jesus are prophesied in the Old Testament. Jesus is the heart of the story of the Bible.

12. Creation Era Genesis

13. God Creates Man in His own Image-Enters a Relationship with Him • Adam and Eve walked with God and enjoyed a direct physical relationship • But the Bible says that no man has seen God at anytime • 1 John 1:18 - No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. • This leads to the conclusion that the God in the garden was a Christophany Sin Created the Need for Redemption • The “seed of the woman” will crush head of the serpent (devil) • God performs first sacrifice of an innocent animal as an example of the necessity for the shedding of blood to cover the guilt of sin God delivers Noah and his family through the flood • All in the ark are kept safe from destruction and delivered to a new world • The ark is God’s salvation from judgment, a picture of Christ Creation Era

14. Patriarchal Era Genesis & Job

15. Abraham, a Pagan, is called out of the Land of Ur • By faith, Abraham obeys God and leaves his family for a strange land • He trusts in the promise of God • Genesis 12:1-3 - The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Abraham Demonstrates his Faith in God • Offers Isaac, his son of promise, as a sacrifice in obedience to God • God reaffirms His promise • Genesis 22:17,18 - I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” Patriarchal Era

16. Through Abraham’s Descendants, a Ruler will come • Judah, son of Jacob, grandson of Isaac, would produce a king of all nations • Genesis 49:10 - The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his. Patriarchal Era

17. Exodus Era Exodus - Deuteronomy

18. Pictures of Jesus Occur throughout the Exodus • Representations of Christ as the sacrifice that covers sin • The Passover lamb • The offering on the Day of Atonement • The Passover blood on the door post (“Death has already come to this house”) • The blood on the altar of the Holy of Holies that atones for sin Christ is the Fulfillment of the Promise of Moses • God would raise up a prophet like Moses to speak as God • Deuteronomy 18:15-19 - The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own brothers. You must listen to him. For this is what you asked of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, “Let us not hear the voice of the LORD our God nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.” The LORD said to me: “What they say is good. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account Exodus Era

19. Conquest Era Joshua

20. We see the Picture of Jesus leading God’s People into the Promised Land • They defeat the Canaanites • Ruthless idol worshiping nations • Steeped in perversions • Worshiped gods through regular child sacrifice • Joshua leads Israel to conquer the Canaanites • Saw them out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt • Led them into the freedom of a new life in Canaan • God appears to Joshua in a Christophany (Joshua 5:13-15) • Instructs him on the battle to come • Accepts Joshua’s worship Exodus Era

21. Judges Era Judges & Ruth

22. After Taking Canaan, the People gradually Fall Away from God • They go through seven “sin cycles”, each characterized by: • Rebellion • Retribution by God • Repentance • Rescue by a deliverer • Rest • Each cycle shows two evident characteristics of each deliverer • They provide effective salvation sent from God • They portray the coming Redeemer The story of Ruth occurs during this era • Reveals the kinsman-redeemer from the line of David (Boaz) • Boaz marries Ruth (a Gentile), who gives birth to Obed, the grandfather of David • Provides a heritage for the Gentile nations in the line of David Judges Era

23. Kingdom Era 1 Samuel – 1 Kings 1 Chronicles

24. As Foretold by Moses, Israel Asks for a King • Israel wanted to be ‘like all nations’ • The last judge, Samuel, anoints Saul as Israel’s first king • The 12 tribes would be unified under three kings for 120 years (Saul, David, Solomon) The Throne is passed from Saul to David • Saul disqualifies himself as king • God selects David-a man after His own heart • God promises David that his Seed would inherit his throne and rule forever • 2 Samuel 7:16 – “Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.” Kingdom Era

25. Divided Kingdom Era 2 Kings - Zephaniah 2 Chronicles

26. Solomon is Last King to Rule a United Israel • Rehoboam offends 10 northern tribes • They split and form the northern kingdom of Israel under king Jeroboam • Rehoboam continues to rule southern kingdom composed of Judah and Benjamin • Both nations begin a decline into idolatry • God sends prophets to warn all of Israel of the consequences of their apostasy • These prophets also testify about a Ruler that will come from Bethlehem, born of a virgin, and rule forever…… Divided Kingdom Era

27. Micah 5:2 - “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” • Isaiah 7:14 - Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. • Isaiah 9:6,7 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. Divided Kingdom Era

28. Captivity Era Jeremiah - Ezekiel 2 Chronicles

29. Both Kingdoms are taken into Captivity • After 209 years, the northern kingdom falls to Assyria • The southern kingdom is carried off by Babylon 136 years later • This captivity, as promised through Jeremiah, would last 70 years • During this time, the story of Esther is played out, demonstrating God’s faithfulness to the Jews Captivity Era

30. God Continued to Speak through the Prophets • Ezekiel prophesied about an everlasting covenant • Ezekiel 16:60- Yet I will remember the covenant I made with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. • Daniel spoke of a coming Messiah; the “Son of Man”, who would rule forever • Daniel 9:25 - “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. Captivity Era

31. Return Era Ezra - Malachi

32. Waves of Exiles return to the Promised Land • They follow the leadership of Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah • They begin rebuilding the temple destroyed by the Babylonians God raises up Prophets to Encourage the Effort • Zechariah prophesies of a coming Branch who would build “the temple of the Lord”, who would arrive as a King “riding on a donkey, on a colt” and open a fountain to “cleanse from sin and impurity” • Malachi promised a “sun of righteousness” who would come with “healing in his wings”, preceded by a messenger who would prepare the way for the Lord of hosts Return Era

33. Silent Era

34. 400 Year Period where no Prophet speaks • God is silent, but not inactive • He works to restore and maintain Bible literacy through the synagogue system • Hebrew Scriptures are translated into Greek (Septuagint) • Fulfills Daniel’s prophecies concerning the rise of the Greek and Roman empires • These events prepare the way for the spread of the Gospel • Greeks provided the world with a common language • Romans provided infrastructure (roads) and stability • Such was God’s work to prepare the world for the One to come • Galatians 4:4 - But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Silent Era

35. How do we see God preparing the way for the coming of Messiah for Israel? • For the nations? • Are all God’s ways and words obvious? • What should that teach us about His SECOND coming? • How do you see God preparing your heart to receive the Messiah? Discussion

36. Application What does this lesson teach us about God, man, sin and redemption: • Understanding the meta-narrative of the Bible prepares students to embrace and appreciate the substitutionary death of Christ and His resurrection. • Every believer must discipline themselves to know His Story so that they may find their place in His Story and tell His story.

37. WEEK ONE God is Good