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ThePromisesofGodusesthegrandstoryoftheBibletohelppeopleunderstandthegospelofJesusChrist.Itisnotatypical“gospeltract.”Thisbookletisspeciallydesigned.Ratherthanhighlightafewdoctrinesandprinciples,ThePromisesofGodhelpspeopleunderstandhowtheentireBiblefitstogethertorevealGod’scharacterandworksinhistory.Afterall,thetruthofthegospelis“accordingtotheScriptures”(Rom1:1–2;1Cor15:3–4).Thegospelchangesthewaypeopleseetheworld.Ittellsastory,notaphilosophy.Asaresult,wehavetorethinkthewaywepresentthegospel.

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HowtouseThePromisesofGod

Who is this guide for? Thisguidewasdesignedwithtwopeopleinmind.Ontheonehand,ThePromisesofGodisanintroductiontothegospelfornon-Christians.Formanynon-believers,thegospelseemsotherworldlyortoophilosophical.TheydonotseehowGodisrelevanttotheirlives.Ontheotherhand,thisgospelguidecanbeusedasatooltotrainChristianstocommunicatethegospelmoreclearlyandconfidently.Manybelieversdon’tsharethegospelbecausetheydon’tsufficientlyunderstandtheBible.AlthoughtheycananswerbasicquestionsaboutChrist’sidentityandhisministry,theirknowledgeisnarrowandshallow.

What’s different Thinkabouthowpeopleusetraditionalgospeltracts.Frequently,peoplewilldistributegospeltractstostrangersbutwithoutanyaddedexplanation.Asaresult,unbelievershavedifficultyunderstandingthemeaningofthetract,eitherfeelingitstooabstractorthatit’snotrelevanttotheirlives.Theproblemiscompoundedbycommonfeatureinmanygospeltracts.Inordertosimplifythemessage,tractsoftenfocusonafewkeydoctrines.TheyrarelystresstheOldTestament.Non-Christiansdon’thaveenoughbackgroundknowledgetomakesenseofthepresentation.Asaresult,thegospelcansoundtooabstract.

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ThePromisesofGodtakesadifferentapproach.ItfocusesonthebigpicturesothatpeoplecanbetterseethatgospelproclaimsabigGod!InChrist,Godenteredourworldandrevealedhimselfinhistory.OurGodisnotdistantorabstract.Whenpeopleunderstandthegospelasastory(andnotmerelyaseriesofpropositions),theybettergraspthefactthatthegospelpresentsanentirelydifferentviewoftheworld.Theyseethatthisgospelisrelevanttotheirlives.

Don’t memorize. Do internalize. ThePromisesofGodisagospelguide.Peopledon’tneedtomemorizeit.Ifsomeoneweretoaskusaboutourfamilyortoshareourfamilybackground,wewouldnotneedtomemorizeasetpresentation.Thegospelretellsastory.Naturally,someaspectsofthegospelneverchange;however,wehaveflexibilityinthewaywetellthestory.Asa“gospelguide”,ThePromisesofGodhelpspeopletointernalizetheStory.Weareprimarilysupposedtosharethegospel,notdistributebookletsaboutit.Onesmallbookletbyitselfisinsufficient.Peopleneedapersonalexplanation.Weneedtoanswerpeople’squestions.Thismeansthatthosewhosharethegospelalsoneedtoknowthestorywell. Remember the gospel HowdoesthisguidehelppeopleremembertheStory?ThePromisesofGodhasafewfeaturesthatmakeiteasierforpeopletosharethegospelstory.

SIMPLE PICTURES Forexample,eachsectionhasacorrespondingpicturetohelppeoplerememberkeyaspectsofthestory.Ultimately,thevarioussmallerpicturescometogethertoformasinglepicturethatdepictsthemainpointsinthegospelstory.Accordingly,peoplecouldchoosesimplytorememberasingleimageintheirmind.ThatpicturecontainseverythingtheyneedtoremindthemoftheBible’sgrandstory.Thesesimplepicturescanbedrawninthesandorsketchedonapieceof

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paper.Thepicturesconsistofsimpleshapes,likecirclesandtriangles.Youdon’tevenhavetobeanartist.(Below,youwillfindasimpleexplanationaboutthesymbolismandsignificanceoftheshapes.)

BASIC OUTLINE

ThePromisesofGodusesabasicoutlinetoretellthegospelstory.Theplotisstreamlined.Thenumberofcharactersisminimized.Eachsectionnaturallyflowsintothesectionthatfollows.ThepresentationtriestolimitthenumberofturningpointsinordertominimizecomplexityyetwithoutcompromisingtheBible’sfundamentalstoryline.

REPEATING THEMES Afewkeythemesareinterwoventhroughthevarioussections.TheyformacommonthreadthatconveysthemeaningandunityoftheBible’sgrandstory.Accordingly,thosewhouseThePromisesofGodhaveagreatdealofflexibilityinhowthesharethegospel.Onepartofthestorynaturallyremindspeopleofotherparts.Inaddition,peoplehavethefreedomtoemphasizeoneanotherthemeasneeded.Withoneperson,theymayhighlightthefactthatGodisaFatherandwearehischildren.Withotherpeople,wemightchoosetostressothermetaphors,likehonororpurity.Whensharingthegospel,peopleoftenareafraidthattheymustcommunicatethemessageinaveryprecisemanner.Iftheyforgetonesmalldetailorlogicalsequence,theywillmessuptheentirepresentation.ThePromisesofGodallowspeopletotellonestoryinawaythatissuitableforallpeople.

PICTORAL BOOKMARK YoucanusetheThePromisesofGodbookmarktoguideotherpeoplethroughthestory.Bycarryingthebookmarkwhereveryougo,youwillberemindedtosharethegospel.NotonlydoesitequiptheChristian,itcanspurconversationwithnon-believers.

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Three ways to use The Promises of God

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1. Train Christians

Firstofall,ThePromisesofGodcanbeusedtotrainChristianstosharethegospeleffectively.Aspeopleunderstandthemessage,theywillmorenaturallyandboldlytellothers.

2. Gospel Introduction ThePromisesofGodhastwoformats—ashorterpresentationandlonger,morethoroughpresentation.TheshorterversionofThePromisesofGodintroducesthebroadstorylineandraisescuriosity.Ifpeoplewanttohearmoreaboutthismessage,wecanusethelongerpresentation.

3. Evangelistic Study Finally,thefullversionofThePromisesofGodcontainsmoredetailsaboutthegospelstory.Also,itcontainsanumberofquestionstoguidefurtherdiscussion.BelieverscanuseThePromisesofGodtoleadanevangelisticstudy.Perhaps,youcouldmeetwithunbelievers4–6times.Eachtime,yourstudytimecouldfocusononemajoraspectofthestory.

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Key Symbols Thepicturesgiveabasicoutlineofthegospelstory.Theyaremerelysymbolsandreminders.Peopleshouldnotfeelrestrictedbythem.Rather,theyprovidepeoplewithalotofflexibility.Yourpresentationsmaybeascomplexorassimpleasneeded.ThefirstsetofpicturessummarizestheOldTestament.Notonlydoesitidentifytheproblemsoftheworld,thepictureshighlightthesavingpromisesofGod.

Thecirclesrepresentthevariousmultiplegroupsintheworld.Thehumanfamilyisdividedinvariousways,e.g.ethnicity,nationality,economics,gender,language,etc.

ThelargercircleforetellstheAbrahamiccovenant.GodpromisestounitetheworldbyblessingallnationsthroughAbraham’soffspring.

ThetrianglerepresentstheMosaiccovenant.Specifically,thetriangleresemblesaTemple,theplacewhereGoddwellswithhispeople.Accordingly,thispicturesignifiesthefactthatGodmakesadistinctsortofpeople.

ThecrownrepresentstheDavidiccovenant.Godwillestablishhiskingdomforever.God’skingwillpurifyhispeople(i.e.HisTemple).ThesmallercirclesremainbecauseGodhasnotyetfulfilledhispromises.

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ThesecondsetofpictureexpresshowGodkeepshispromisesintheNewTestament.TheOldTestamentsymbolsareredrawntosignifyGod’sfulfillmentofeachrespectivepromise.Noticetheoverallsequenceisreversed.Thishastwopurposes.First,theorderdepictsthewayGodaccomplisheshiscovenants,beginningwithJesusandculminatinginanewheavenandnewearth.Second,theresurrectionofChristbecomesthekeytoolforinterpretingGod’spromisesintheOldTestament

ThecrownrepresentsthefulfillmentofGod’scovenantwithDavid.Thispartofthestoryrecountsthelife,death,resurrectionandascensionofJesusasGod’sking.

WithChrist’sresurrection,God’sSpiritdwellsinGod’speople,whoarecomparedtoaTemple.TheMosaiccovenantforeshadowedthefactthatGodwouldmakeaholykingdomofpriests,whowouldrepresentGodintheworld.

Ultimately,theFatherkeepshispromisetoAbraham.HeblessesallnationsthroughAbraham’soffspring,namelyChristandhisfollowers.Inthisway,Herestoresthehumanfamilyandcreatesanewheavenandnewearth.

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• Thisparthighlightsthealienationthatexistswithinhumanrelationships,whichismanifestwithinsocialgroups.

• God’splanforhumanitywastomakethemintonesinglefamilyunderheaven;yet,socialdisorderisaconsequenceofhumanity’sFall.TheTowerofBabelevent(Gen11)epitomizesthisreality.

• WepresenthumanexperienceasasymptomthatpointstothebreakinrelationshipbetweenthehumanfamilyandourheavenlyFather.

ImportantSuggestions

OverallGoals(centralthemesandemphases)Thisgospelguidehasanintentionaldesign.ItusesGod’scovenantpromisestoshapethemainstoryline.Inthisway,God’scovenantpromisesmanifestGod’splan,character,andnature.Godrevealshimselfinhistory.Heentersintothelivesofpeople.IfgospelpresentationsdonotincludeGod’sOldTestamentrevelation,wehavenowayofunderstandingJesus’identityandworks.Conversely,JesusChristbecomesthekeytounderstandingtheOldTestamentpromises.OurgospelpresentationsshouldreflectthosethingsthattheBibleitselfemphasizes,otherwise,wemaylittlebylittlebegintoveerfromthegospel’sfocus.ThepurposeofthisgospelpresentationistomagnifythecharacterandplanofGod.ItcentersonGodratherthanpeople.ThegospelinherentlyisGod-centered.Insteadofbeinglimitedtolegalmetaphors,thispresentationintertwinesanumberofthemestogether.GodasCreatorisKing.Hisplanistousecovenantstosethiskingdomright,toestablishaholypeople.AlthoughthehumanfamilyinthebeginningdishonoredGod,HevindicatedHishonorinChristandrestoresustoapositionofglory.Thesemetaphorsgiveusagreatdealofflexibilitytopreachthegospel.Dependingonthespecificcircumstances,wecanemphasizedifferentthemesoraspectsofthegospelstory.

SpecificTipsForEachSection

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• WeintroduceGod’splanforreestablishingunityintheworld.AstheCreator,HeistheHeavenlyFather.WeshouldloveandrespectHim.

• TheAbrahamicCovenantisfundamentaltotherestofthebiblicalstory.Infact,Paulcallsthiscovenantthe“gospel”(Gal3:8).

• Abrahamisblessedinordertobeablessing.Welikehimneedtoconsiderwherewefindour“face”(i.e.honor).IsitfrompeopleorGod?

• HereweseeGodhimselfentersintohistory.

• ApartfromHispromises,wehavenotwayofgraspingthesignificanceofIsraelandallthattheLordhasdone.

• Inthemoredetailedpresentation,wementionthechangingofAbraham’sname(fromAbram).ThisisbecausemanyAsianculturestakeseriousthemeaningofnames.

• KeythemeswithintheMosaiccovenantincludeGod’spresence,thecallingofHispeople,andtheirholyliving.Weusethetriangle,whichrepresentsatemple,tohighlightthesethemes.

• WewanttopreparepeopletoconsiderthosewhomareconsideredGod’struepeople.GodgaveIsraelherselfamission.Thatis,GodwoulduseIsraelasthemeansthroughwhichtorebuildthehumanfamily,madeupofallnations.

• Althoughtheirnationsandancestorshadbeenamazinglyblessed,theycouldnotescapetheworld’smostbasicproblem.

• ThissectionmakespeopleconsiderwhatkindofpeopleGodwantstomake.

• God’sself-revelationwithinIsrael’shistoryshowsthatGodcomesnearpeople.TheBibletalksaboutspecifichistoricaleventsratherthanabstractphilosophy.

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• NotethatGodfirstfulfillsHiscovenantwithDavidinordertoaccomplishHispromises.Therefore,thepicturesaredrawninorderfrominside(crown)tooutside(circle).Thisistheoppositeordercomparedtoabove,whenthepromiseswereoriginallygiven.

• ThesectionemphasizesJesus’royalidentity.HedefeatsHisenemies,includingdemons,disease,dominions,andevendeath.

• Jesus’lifeandresurrectionoverturntheworld’sperspectiveofhonor&shameaswellastheirviewoftheworld.

• ItisonlywithinthecontextofIsrael’shistorythatweareabletograspthesignificanceofJesus’identityandworks.Therefore,wecannotoverlooktheOldTestamentwhenpresentingthegospel.

• TheOldTestamentistheNewTestament’sessentialframework.Jesus’resurrectionisthekeytointerpretingtheOldTestament.

• ThissectionmorestronglyhighlightsthefactthatGodisKingandthathispeopleshouldgivesallegiancetoHim.

• Wewantoutlistenerstoseeclearlythetensionwithinthestory.SinceIsrael’skingswereunfaithful,howwouldGodbeabletoestablishHiskingdomandthuskeephiscovenantpromises?

• Israel’shistoryisawarningtousthatcovetingpower,position,wealth,and“face”(socialstatus)enticeustowardsatragicend.

• ThesethreecovenantspreparepeopletounderstandGod’splanforsavingplan;throughJesus,GodwillestablishHiskingdom,aholypeopleandgloriousworld.

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• TheHolySpiritdwellswithinthechurch,makingittobeaholypeople.Inthisway,GodbringsaboutwhatHeforeshadowedintheMosaiccovenant.Thechurchisthetrue“temple.”(Anoteofexplanation:TheBiblepresentJesus’bodyasatemple;thus,thosewhoareinJesusareregardedatemple.)

• ThissectionstresseswhoareGod’struepeopleandthekindofpeopletheyare.TheyhavechangedheartsandareloyaltoJesusasking.

• Jesusnotonlycleansespeopleofimpurity;healsogivethemtheabilitytoliveholylives.

• Christians’missionistoreflectintheworldwhatGodislike.

• Jesusredefines“insiders”and“outsiders”(namely,people’sidentityandsenseofbelonging).

• ThislastsectionpointsoutthefactthatGodwillfulfillhiscovenantwithAbraham(hence,theaddedcircle).

• ThenationswillultimatelybeblessedthroughJesus,regardlessoftheirethnicity,nationality,gender,placeoforigin,position,etc.TheyallareabletobecomeoneofGod’schildrenthroughfaith.

• Abraham’strueoffspringarethosewhofollowJesusasking.

• ThechurchisblessedinordertotestifytoGod’spresenceandplantoblessthenations.

• OurhopeisspecificandconcretebecauseGodinhistorywillresurrectpeopleandrecreateanewheavenandnewearth.Therefore,allwedueforJesusisnotinvain.

• ThisGod-centeredpresentationmagnifiesGod’sfaithful,righteous,andcompassionatecharacter.

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AnExplanationoftheResponseSection1.Howdoesthispresentationleadpeopletorespond?

ThispresentationdrawspeoplebyfocusingonGod’shistoricalrevelationofHisowncharacterandworks.Perhapsunwittingly,somepresentationsprimarilyhighlightpersonalbenefitsinordertoattractpeople.Thesebenefitsincludeeternallife,peace,andhappiness.Consequently,listenersareattractedtoblessingsratherthantoGod.Thepresentationleadstoaclearinvitation.BecauseitprimarilyemphasizesGod’skingship,peopleknowtheappropriateresponseisgiveallegiance(notmerelyintellectualassent).Godwantsourexclusiveloyaltyanduttermosttrust.“ThePromisesofGod”showsthegroupidentityandourresponsetoGodareinter-related.HowwerespondtoGodwillchangethesourceofouridentity,senseofbelong,andsenseofidentificationwithothers.Believersmostcertainlyshouldplacegreatvalueonthechurch;thatis,ournewfamily.Forthisreason,wecannotseekour“face”,identity,andvaluefromtheworld.Becausewepresentahistoricalaccount,listenersmoregraspthenatureofrequiredresponse.One’sresponseshouldbespecificorconcrete,changingthehead,heartandhands.Becauseweshareacoherentstory(notmerelyafewpropositions),itaffectsaperson’sworldview.Finally,thispresentationpreparespeopleforlivingthelifeofadisciple.HowpeoplecometofaithinChristwillinfluencehowtheythereafterfollowhim.Thisprocessofevangelizationwillshapethedevelopmentoftheirtheology.

2.Whydoesitnothavea“sinner’sprayer?”Wemustkeepinmindthatanysortof“sinner’sprayer”inherentlycannotmakesomeonebecomeaChristian.Ideally,thiskindofprayercandonothingmoreprovideanexternalindicationthatsomeonehasfaith.Onlyfaithsavesaperson.Ifpeoplehearandbelievethisgospelstory,thenatthatverymoment,theyhavealreadybecomeChristians.However,iffaithanda“sinner’sprayer”aretoocloselylinkedtogether,listenerscaneasilyconfusefaithandtheprayer.Peopleneedchangedhearts.Thosewhopreachthegospelcannotseeaperson’sheart.Therefore,havearesponsibilitytomakeclearwhatisthegospelanditsrequirement(i.e.faithorallegiance).

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Ifwearenotcareful,wewillunwittinglymakethe“sinner’sprayer”becomearequirementofthegospel.Infact,intheBible,itisbaptismthatactsasthepublicconfessionofaperson’sfaith.Ifyoustillwanttousesomesortofprayer,Iurgepeopletofirstacknowledgetheperson’sfaith(i.e.which,ifgenuine,meansthatheorshehasbecomeaChrist-follower),thenafterafewminutes,youcoulduseaprayertoexpressthanksgivingtoGodforwhathehasalreadyaccomplished.MakesurethisprayerofthanksgivingtoGodhasnotconnectiontohowapersongainssalvation.