1. The Story of a Promise
To Abraham: “Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go … 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 12:1-3 (NIV)
God Blesses His People, So That the Gospel Will Go to All Peoples.
2. Going Through a Family
To Isaac: “… through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.” Genesis 26:4 (NIV)
To Jacob: “… All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.” Genesis 28:14 (NIV)
To YOU: “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring.” Genesis 3:29 (ESV)
3. Driven by a Purpose
The Ten Commandments: “Keep them and do them, for that will show your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples.” Deuteronomy 4:5-6 (ESV)
The Exodus: “But for this purpose I have raised you up… so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” Exodus 9:16 (ESV)
David and Goliath: This day I will strike you down… and the whole world will know there is a God in Israel. 1 Samuel 17:45-46 (NIV)
Solomon’s Wisdom: Men came from all the nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon… 1 Kings 4:34 (NIV)
Isaiah 49:6: “It is too small a thing to restore the tribes of Jacob… I will also make you a light to the nations, so that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6 (ESV)
“May God be gracious to us and bless us?and make his face shine on us – so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. God blesses us, that the ends of the earth may fear him.” Psalms 67:1-2.7 (NIV)
4. Building Toward an End
“This gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world, as a testimony to all the nations, then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14 (ESV)
5. Today It Is Unfinished
6. But the Author Is Unstoppable
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” Revelation 5:9 (ESV)
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.” Revelation 7:9 (ESV)