H O W T O USE We’re glad you’ve chosen to join us for our study The Common Thread: Tracing God’s Faithfulness from Abraham to You. This study guide is designed to supplement the video series by engaging your mind and encouraging your heart with additional teaching and activity. This book is divided into eight sessions—one for each video. Each session begins with a teaser to introduce the video teaching. A longer summary of the session is available on the next page for reference. After watching the video, you’ll have a number of brief sections to enhance your learning: Session Summary The Land in Focus Theology in Focus For the Group Just for You For Further Study You can enjoy this study in a number of ways. Groups might find this helpful as an eight-week Sunday School or small group series, while individuals might use it as a devotional study. Groups can read The Land in Focus and Theology in Focus sections together before answering the For the Group questions, while the Just for You and For Further Study sections are designed for individuals to complete separately. Ultimately, this guide is yours to use however you like. May this study bring you into greater fellowship with God by understanding His faithfulness, His plan for Israel, and the blessings He has given to His Chosen People and the entire world.
T HIS BOOK BACKGROUND The Land in Focus: The location of each session has deeper biblical significance, which we’ll explore in this section. Theology in Focus: We’ll learn a different theological concept to expand upon each session’s teaching.
QUESTIONS
For the Group: These questions are meant to encourage group discussion by engaging with the content of each session. Just for You: You can jump into these questions on your own, as they’re intended for personal application and individual reflection.
DIGGING DEEPER
For Further Study: This section takes you into Scripture to provide added biblical context while offering questions and activities for independent study.
LEBANON
Mt. Hermon
Dan Golan Heights
Mediterranean Sea
Capernaum Haifa Sea of Cana Galilee Mt. Carmel Tiberias Nazareth Mt. Tabor Tel Megiddo Caesarea Maritime
SYRIA
Mt. Gilboa Shechem
Jordan River
Tel Aviv Jaffa Bethany Jerusalem
Jericho
Bethlehem Gaza
Hebron
Mt. Nebo
Dead Sea
En Gedi Masada
JORDAN
EGYPT Petra
Eilat
SES SION GUIDE 1. Abraham & Faith Tel Dan
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2. Moses & Legacy Mitzpeh Jericho
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3. Ancient Israel & the Mission Tel Meggido
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4. Prophets & Judgment Mount Carmel
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5. The New Covenant & Anticipation Sea of Galilee
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6. Paul & the Gospel Caesarea Maritime
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7. Modern Israel & Restoration Tel Aviv/Jaffa
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8. Jesus & the Return Mount of Olives
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Abraham & Faith From Genesis to Revelation, one promise of faithfulness ties the Bible together. This common thread starts with God, man, and one step of faith, and it extends throughout the rest of history. Enjoy this session from Tel Dan in Israel introducing Abraham and the eternal significance of his covenant with God for all of humanity.
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SES SIO N SUM M AR Y For 75 years Abraham lived in Ur in a family that didn’t know the one true God. Instead they followed many pagan gods. Yet God chose to call this man to step out in faith. God called Abraham to leave his land to go to the one prepared for him, and the Lord promised him three things: land, descendants, and a blessing. Abraham obeyed God’s command to leave his land, but as time went by and he and Sarai were not bearing children, he questioned God’s promise. But God’s faithfulness continued. He affirmed His promise to Abraham, assuring him that he would be blessed with a multitude of offspring. Abraham believed the Lord, and it was accounted to him as righteousness. His faith serves as a model throughout the rest of the Bible for how people gain favor with God. Yet Abraham found himself doubting the Lord’s promise again, having not yet taken possession of the land he was promised. God made a covenant with him, a common practice in this time 4,000 years ago. The typical procedure was for each person in the covenant to cut up animals for sacrifice and to walk through them together, sealing the covenant. But God walked through alone. He knew Abraham could never keep his end of the covenant with his own faithfulness, so only with God’s name is the covenant eternally legitimate because He has never broken His promises. All families of the earth will be blessed as long as God is the guarantor of the covenant. He wanted to ensure it would be fulfilled so that the whole world would be blessed through His grace, starting with Abraham’s one step of faith.
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THE LA ND IN FO CU S THE INTERNATIONAL TRUNK ROAD The ancient city of Megiddo was built along an ancient road that archaeologists now call the International Trunk Road. Biblical scholars often refer to it as the Via Maris, translated from Latin as “The Way of the Sea,” a reference to Isaiah 9:1. This was arguably the most important roadway in the ancient world, as it connected Egypt and Africa with Mesopotamia and Asia for trade, cultural exchange, and even war. The road ran from Egypt along the Mediterranean Sea all the way to Northern Israel where it cut through the Jezreel Valley and began its trek through Galilee, up along the foothills of Mount Hermon, all the way to Damascus and the rest of Asia. God chose to place the land of Israel at the crossroads of the known world, putting God’s Chosen People in position to significantly influence world events. The Hebrews had no need to take God to the nations. The nations walked past their front door every day. God knew just where to place the people who were to be marked by His name and character.
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T HEO LOG Y I N FOCU S THE NEW COVENANT Several Old Testament prophets envisioned a day when God would make a new covenant with Israel (Jer. 31; Ezek. 36:22–38). But the New Covenant would be unlike the Mosaic covenant; the rules would not be external. Rather, they would be written on the hearts of the people, meaning they would know, follow, and love the Law of God. Israel would receive forgiveness of their sin, and they would live in a restored relationship with God. God promised a new covenant with the Jewish people at the time when the kingdom of Judah was under attack and about to be destroyed by the Babylonian army. He used the prophets to tell His people that the judgment they faced did not nullify His promises (Dt. 28). Their failure to live up to the stipulations of the Mosaic Covenant didn’t change His plan to keep His unconditional promises to Abraham. Jesus spoke about the New Covenant at the Last Supper. God would regenerate both the Jewish people and Gentiles through the death, burial, and resurrection of the Messiah. That’s why Jesus called the cup a representation of His blood, which He was about to shed to ratify the New Covenant (Mt. 26:28). The promises God made to Israel were still alive and well, and Jesus’ work of atonement on the cross makes possible the future fulfillment of all God will do for Israel. 78
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I w i l l g iv e yo u a n ew h ea r t , a n d I w ill p u t a new spi ri t w i th i n yo u . I w il l rem o ve th e hea r t o f s t one f r o m y o u r b o d y a n d gi ve yo u a h ea r t o f f l esh. Ez e k i e l 3 6: 2 6
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FOR T H E Why was Israel not more accepting of Jesus’ ministry?
What made the overthrow of Roman rule more important in the Israelites’ eyes than personal atonement?
Was Israel justified in their disappointment when Jesus did not crush the Roman authorities? Why or why not?
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GRO U P Can you think of other instances in the Bible when someone turned down a greater reward for immediate satisfaction?
How does God’s covenant with Abraham compare and contrast with the New Covenant?
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J UST F OR Roman citizenship was an advantage that allowed Paul to escape flogging and continue to proclaim the gospel. What advantages has God given you to better present the gospel?
Paul sat in prison in Caesarea for more than two years. When have you ever felt stuck and unable to make a difference in your own ministry?
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YOU It’s difficult to know if God is telling us to change course or persevere in our purposes when trials arise. In Paul’s case, years of imprisonment were not a deterrent but a practice in patience. How do you determine whether God is redirecting you or strengthening you when you encounter difficulties?
What experiences can you look back on that demonstrate God’s faithfulness during difficult times?
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