Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

P ART II: T HEOLOGICAL AND M ISSIOLOGICAL P RINCIPLES AND I NSIGHTS • 113

1. For all the families of the earth (i.e., Yahweh is not a tribal Semitic God but the God of all peoples everywhere).

Gen. 12.1-3 (ESV) – Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” Isa. 9.1-2 (ESV) – But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. Heb. 1.1-4 (ESV) – Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. 2. For the Gentiles (“beyond the Jordan”) B. The Story of God’s glory: the unfolding of the narrative of Israel

C. The Kingdom present in Jesus of Nazareth: The Presence of the Future

1 John 3.8 (ESV) – Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

1. His mission: To destroy the works of the devil, 1 John 3.8

2. His birth: The invasion of God into Satan’s dominion, Luke 1.31-33