The Good(?) Book
“The Purpose of the Old Testament” • February 23-29
Download a printable version of this T-Life Guide
Introduction
The Old Testament. Is it a rule book something else? Do we align our lives around it or simply know it? What is it? Simply put, the Old Testament is the backstory to THE Story. It chronicles God’s redemptive history. It’s a fabulous, gritty, epic history of the Hebrew people. One that presents the history of God preparing the world for a Savior.
Discussion Questions
For some, the Old Testament can be confusing. For others, a source of tension. What has been your experience with the Old Testament? What have you heard about it? What have you read? What have been some of your hang-ups?
On Sunday, we learned that the Old Testament was not written TO YOU, but it is written FOR YOU. It’s not prescriptive, but descriptive. What can happen, though, when someone views the Old Testament as a spiritual guidebook versus a history of the Hebrew nation?
The Old Covenant, or as we know it today, the Old Testament, gives insight to who God really is. Which of the following about the Old Covenant is most surprising or meaningful to you?
The covenant represented a moral and civil code that ascribed inherent dignity to every person.
The covenant included a sexual ethic that protected the weak and vulnerable.
The covenant viewed humanity as the pinnacle of creation because every person is made in God’s image.
Women, servants, foreigners, and children all fared better under Hebrew law than did their counterparts in the surrounding nations.
What do these ideas above change about the way you see God? And what do they change about your view of the purpose of the Old Testament?
The Old Testament is the backstory to THE Story. One that presents the history of God preparing the world for a Savior—Jesus. Occasionally, a prophet would speak beyond their historical context to a future day when God would do something through a nation for all nations. Read the following passages. How do we see Jesus in them?
Isaiah 7:14
Isaiah 35:5–6
Isaiah 53:5–11
Daniel 7:13–14
Up to this point, how have you been viewing the Old Testament? Is that the lens through which Jesus would have you view it through? What do you need to change or how does this change you?
Next Step Challenge
The storyline of the Old Testament should cause us to drop to our knees in gratitude. There’s no need to tidy it up and sand off the rough edges. It’s not a spiritual guidebook. It’s the story of our God, who waded into the mess in order to write a story of redemption. This week, write Galatians 4:4–5 on a notecard and think about what these verses mean for you.
Key Verse
“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.” – Genesis 12:2-3
All Scripture References
Genesis 12:2-3, 2 Samuel 7:16, Isaiah 53:4-9, 11, 12b, Galatians 4:4-5
To watch or listen to Sunday’s sermon, visit our Sermons page.