A Way God Wants to Connect With You (You Might Not Think Much About)

Summary

The script explores the concept of a partnership with God in the Bible, starting with humanity's rebellion and God's establishment of covenants with Noah, Abraham, Israel, and David to restore this partnership. Despite humanity's failures, God's promises are fulfilled through Jesus, who embodies all covenants and offers a new covenant, inviting all to become faithful partners in God's kingdom of justice and peace.

Takeaways

• 🤝 The Bible frequently discusses the concept of a personal relationship with God, often framed as a partnership.
• 🌏 At the creation, humans were appointed as God's partners to cultivate goodness from the world's potential.
• ❌ Humanity's rebellion led to a broken partnership, resulting in a world filled with corruption, injustice, and death.
• 🔄 God initiated a new form of partnership called a covenant, selecting specific individuals to reestablish a broader relationship.
• 🌊 The first covenant was with Noah, promising never again to destroy the world with a flood, despite human nature.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 With Abraham, God promised blessings, a large family, and land, asking for trust and righteousness in return.
• 🏛 The covenant with Israel involved obeying laws for communal living, with the promise of becoming a representative people.
• 👑 The covenant with David involved leading Israel righteously, with the promise that his lineage would extend God's kingdom.
• 📜 These covenants aimed to form a covenant family that would eventually include all people.
• 🕍 Israel's disobedience led to the breaking of the covenant, resulting in exile and loss of land.
• 🌟 The prophets foretold a new covenant, with Jesus introduced as the fulfillment of all covenants, bridging the gap between God and humanity.
• 👼 Jesus, as both human and divine, represents the ultimate covenant partner, offering a path for a renewed partnership with God.
• 🌱 The Bible concludes with a vision of a restored world where humanity partners with God to expand creation's goodness.

Q & A

What is the concept of having a personal relationship with God in Christian belief?

In Christian belief, having a personal relationship with God can mean different things, such as viewing God as a friend, father, or teacher, and also includes the concept of a partnership with God to work together to accomplish goals.

How does the Bible explain the broken partnership between humans and God?

The Bible explains the broken partnership as a result of humans rebelling against God and trying to create a world on their own terms, leading to a world filled with corruption, injustice, and death.

What is a covenant in the context of the Bible?

A covenant in the Bible is a special agreement or partnership that God makes with a select group of people, involving promises from God and certain commitments from the people involved.

How many covenants does God initiate in the Old Testament?

In the Old Testament, God initiates four covenants, with Noah, Abraham, the nation of Israel, and King David.

What was the nature of the covenant God made with Noah?

The covenant with Noah was a one-sided agreement where God promised not to destroy the Earth with a flood again, despite knowing humans would continue to be evil, and Noah had no specific commitments to fulfill.

What did God ask of Abraham in return for the blessings promised in their covenant?

In return for the blessings of a large family and land, God asked Abraham to trust Him and train his family to do what is right and just, with the ultimate goal of bringing blessings to all families of the world.

What were the terms of the covenant with the nation of Israel?

The covenant with the nation of Israel involved the tribe obeying a set of laws as guidelines for living well. In return, God promised to bless them and make them a representative people to the rest of humanity.

How does the covenant with King David differ from the others?

The covenant with King David was a promise that one of his descendants would extend God's Kingdom of peace and blessings over all nations, with the requirement for David and his lineage to lead Israel in obeying the laws and doing what is right.

What is the significance of Jesus in the context of the covenants?

Jesus is significant as He is introduced as the one who fulfills all the covenant relationships, being from Abraham's family, a faithful Israelite, and a king from David's line, thus extending God's Kingdom and restoring the partnership with humanity.

What is the 'new covenant' mentioned by the prophets and how does it relate to Jesus?

The 'new covenant' is a future covenant prophesied by Israel's prophets, where God would restore the broken covenants. Jesus is central to this new covenant as He embodies the fulfillment of all previous covenants and opens a way for a renewed partnership with God.

How does the Bible's story conclude in relation to the concept of partnership with God?

The Bible concludes with a vision of a fully renewed world where humanity, now in partnership with God, works together to expand the goodness of creation, signifying a new beginning after the old broken partnership has been mended.

Outlines

00:00

🤝 The Concept of a Personal Relationship with God

Jon and Tim introduce the idea of having a personal relationship with God, which is understood in many ways, such as viewing God as a friend, father, or teacher. However, the Bible also presents this relationship as a partnership, a theme seen throughout scripture but not often emphasized.

05:01

🌍 God's Original Partnership with Humans

Tim explains that the Bible begins with God creating a good world full of potential, appointing humans as his partners to cultivate and bring out its goodness. However, humanity rebels, attempting to establish their own world order, which leads to corruption, injustice, and death, marking a break in this partnership.

⚖️ The Broken Partnership and God's New Approach

The Bible describes how all humans have rejected their partnership with God. In response, God selects a small group of people and forms a new partnership called a covenant. Through this covenant, God aims to restore the partnership with humanity, starting with this chosen group.

📜 The Four Key Covenants in the Old Testament

Jon highlights the four main covenants in the Old Testament: with Noah, Abraham, Israel, and King David. These covenants show God's progressive plan to establish a family and eventually invite all people into this renewed partnership.

🌈 Covenant with Noah: A New Beginning After the Flood

God's covenant with Noah comes after the flood, where God promises never to destroy the earth again despite human sin. This covenant is unique because Noah doesn't need to do anything—God commits to maintaining the earth's reliability for their partnership.

👴 Covenant with Abraham: A Promise of Blessing for All

In God's covenant with Abraham, He promises to bless Abraham's family and give them land to thrive. In return, Abraham is asked to trust God and raise his family in righteousness. The ultimate purpose is to extend this blessing to all families of the earth through Abraham's descendants.

🏛️ Covenant with Israel: A Nation Set Apart

When Abraham’s descendants grow into the nation of Israel, God establishes a covenant with the entire nation. God provides laws for Israel to follow, and if they obey, they will be blessed and serve as representatives of God to the rest of humanity.

👑 Covenant with David: A Kingdom of Justice and Peace

God’s covenant with King David focuses on leadership. David and his descendants are tasked with leading Israel in obedience to God’s laws. In return, God promises that one of David’s descendants will establish an everlasting kingdom of peace and justice.

📜 Broken Covenants and the Promise of a New Covenant

Despite these covenants, Israel fails by worshiping other gods and allowing injustice. As a result, they lose their land and go into exile. However, the prophets speak of a future day when God will restore these covenants in a new way, despite Israel’s failures.

✝️ Jesus: The Fulfillment of All Covenants

Jesus is introduced as the one who fulfills all the Old Testament covenants. As a descendant of Abraham, He brings blessings to the world. As the faithful Israelite, He perfectly obeys God’s laws. As the king from David’s line, He establishes God’s kingdom of justice and peace.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Jesus: The Faithful Covenant Partner

Jesus is portrayed not just as a human but as God Himself, becoming the perfect covenant partner that humanity was always meant to be. Through Jesus, anyone can now enter into this renewed partnership with God.

🌱 Becoming Part of the New Covenant Family

Jesus calls people to follow Him and join this new covenant family. Despite human failures, Jesus remains committed to transforming them into faithful partners, helping them grow in faithfulness and righteousness.

🔄 A New Beginning: The Bible's Vision of a Renewed World

The Bible ends with a vision of a fully renewed world where humanity, in partnership with God, continues to expand the goodness of His creation. This marks not just an ending but a new beginning in the Bible’s story.

Keywords

💡Personal Relationship

A personal relationship with God is a central theme in the video, suggesting an intimate connection that can manifest in various forms such as friendship, fatherhood, or mentorship. It is foundational to understanding the dynamic between God and humans as portrayed in the Bible. For example, Jon mentions that having God as a friend or father are ways to conceptualize this relationship.

💡Partnership

Partnership, as used in the script, refers to the collaborative relationship between God and humans, aiming to achieve a common goal. It is a recurring motif throughout the Bible and is central to the narrative of creation and humanity's role. Tim explains that humans were initially created to partner with God in bringing goodness out of potential.

💡Rebellion

Rebellion in the script signifies humans' refusal to partner with God and their attempt to create a world independently. This act of defiance is pivotal as it sets the stage for the broken partnership and the subsequent narrative of redemption. Jon points out that humans rebelled, trying to create a world on their own terms.

💡Covenant

A covenant is a binding agreement between two parties, in this case, God and a select group of people. The concept is integral to the script's exploration of God's efforts to restore the broken partnership. Tim discusses how God makes covenants with Noah, Abraham, Israel, and David, each with specific promises and commitments.

💡Noah

Noah represents the first recipient of a covenant in the script, symbolizing God's commitment to not repeat the flood as a form of punishment despite human nature's propensity for evil. This covenant with Noah is highlighted as one-sided, with God making a promise without requiring anything in return.

💡Abraham

Abraham is depicted as a figure through whom God establishes a covenant, promising to bless him and his descendants, and asking for trust and righteousness in return. This covenant is significant as it is seen as a means to extend God's blessings to all families of the world, as Tim explains.

💡Israel

Israel, in the script, refers to the collective tribe that enters into a covenant with God, agreeing to follow a set of laws in exchange for blessings and representation of God to humanity. This covenant is a key part of the narrative of God's relationship with a chosen people.

💡David

David is highlighted as the king with whom God establishes a covenant, asking him and his lineage to lead Israel in righteousness. This covenant is about extending God's kingdom and is seen as a precursor to the coming of a messiah, as Tim discusses.

💡Exile

Exile, as mentioned in the script, is the consequence of Israel's breach of covenant through idolatry and injustice, leading to their displacement from their land. It symbolizes the brokenness of the relationship and the need for restoration, which is a central theme in the narrative.

💡Prophets

The prophets, as referenced in the script, are figures who foretell a future restoration of the covenants despite Israel's failures. They play a crucial role in maintaining hope and setting the stage for the arrival of a new covenant, as Jon and Tim discuss.

💡New Covenant

The new covenant is a central concept in the script, representing a renewed partnership with God through Jesus. It encapsulates the idea of forgiveness and the opportunity for all people to be part of God's family, as prophesied by the prophets and fulfilled by Jesus.

💡Jesus

Jesus is presented as the fulfillment of all covenants and the embodiment of the new covenant. He is seen as the one who restores the broken partnership by being the faithful partner that humanity was meant to be. His role as the savior and the renewer of the covenant is central to the script's message.

💡Renewed World

A renewed world, as envisioned in the script, is the ultimate goal of the covenants and partnerships discussed. It represents a future state where goodness, peace, and harmony are restored, and humanity partners with God to expand creation's goodness, as the script concludes.

Highlights

The concept of a personal relationship with God can be understood as a partnership.

The Bible describes a partnership with God to bring out goodness from the world's potential.

Humans rebelled against God, attempting to create a world on their own terms.

The broken partnership explains the existence of corruption, injustice, and death.

God initiates a new partnership called a covenant with a select group of people.

Covenants involve God making promises and asking for commitments in return.

The covenant's purpose is to renew God's partnership with all people.

God initiates covenants with Noah, Abraham, Israel, and King David.

Noah's covenant involves God promising not to destroy the world again.

Abraham's covenant includes God promising a large family and land.

Israel's covenant requires them to obey laws for communal living.

David's covenant involves leading Israel to obey laws and extend God's kingdom.

Israel breaks the covenant, leading to exile and loss of land.

Prophets speak of a new covenant that God will restore despite Israel's failure.

Jesus is introduced as the fulfillment of all covenant relationships.

Jesus is from Abraham's family, bringing blessings to the world.

Jesus is the faithful Israelite, able to obey the law.

Jesus is the king from David's line, extending God's kingdom of peace.

Jesus's role highlights the claim that he is God become human.

Through Jesus, God opens a way for a renewed partnership with anyone.

Jesus calls people to follow him and become part of the new covenant family.

Despite failures, Jesus is committed to making people more faithful partners.

The Bible concludes with a vision of a renewed world with humanity partnering with God.

Transcripts

- [Jon] If you've been around Christians,

you've probably heard of the idea

of having a personal relationship with God,

which could mean different things in the Bible,

like having God as a friend or your father

or maybe your teacher.

- [Tim] But there's one particular way

that the Bible talks about this relationship

that you find all over.

But strangely, we don't talk about it that much.

And that's the idea of a partnership with God.

- [Jon] A partnership like working alongside someone

to accomplish a goal together.

- [Tim] Right, and this is actually what you see

at the beginning of the Bible.

God creates this good world full of all of this potential.

And then God appoints these unique creatures, humans,

as his partners in bringing more and more goodness

out of all that potential.

- [Jon] But the humans don't wanna partner with God.

They rebel and try to create a world on their own terms.

- [Tim] And so this broken partnership

is the Bible's explanation for why we're stuck in a world

of corruption and injustice and the tragedy of death.

- [Jon] It's not like there's just one

or two humans who have bailed on this relationship.

In the story of the Bible,

everyone has abandoned the partnership with God.

- [Tim] So what God does is select a smaller group

of people out of the many.

And he makes a new partnership with them called a covenant.

And in a covenant, God makes promises

and then in exchange asks his partner

to fulfill certain commitments.

And the purpose of all of this

is to somehow use this covenant relationship

to renew his partnership with everybody else.

- [Jon] Now, there are actually four times

in the Old Testament that we're told God initiates

a covenant relationship with Noah, Abraham,

the nation of Israel, and King David.

- [Tim] And it's through these

that God is forming a covenant family

into which all people will eventually be invited.

- [Jon] So let's see how these work.

The first one is with Noah.

- [Tim] So in this story God has just brought the flood

to cleanse the world of human's corruption

and Noah and his family are the only ones left.

And so God makes a covenant with Noah saying,

"Listen, I know that humans will continue to be evil,

but despite that I'm not going to destroy

it like this again.

Instead the Earth will be this reliable place

for us to work together."

- [Jon] Great, so what does Noah have to do?

- [Tim] Nothing.

And that's what's so interesting

about this first covenant is that God is promising

to be faithful,

even though he knows humans won't be.

- [Jon] The next time we see God make a covenant

is with a man named Abraham.

God chooses him, promises to bless him,

give him a large family, lots of land

where they can flourish.

- [Tim] And in return, God asks Abraham

to trust him and train up his family

to do what is right and just.

And the whole reason for this covenant is God says

that somehow he's going to bring his blessing

to all families of the world through this one family.

- [Jon] So that's Abraham.

The next time we see God make a covenant

is when Abraham's family grows into the tribe of Israel.

- [Tim] And this covenant is with the whole tribe.

God asks them to obey a set of laws,

which are these guidelines for living well

as a community of God's partners.

And if they do this, then God promises to bless them

and that they will become a people who then represent him

to the rest of humanity.

- [Jon] That's the covenant with Israel.

The last covenant is with King David.

- [Tim] Yeah, the tribe of Israel

has become this large nation ruled by David,

and God asked David and his descendants

to partner with him by leading Israel

in obeying the laws and doing what is right and just,

and God promises that one day

one of David's sons will come and extend God's Kingdom

of peace and blessing over all the nations.

- [Jon] So those are the four covenants that God makes

in order to restore his partnership with the whole world.

- [Tim] But here's what happens.

Israel breaks the covenant; they worship other gods.

They allow horrible injustice.

And so they lose their land and are forced off into exile.

- [Jon] So it seems hopeless.

But during this time Israel's prophets talked

about a day when God would restore these covenants

in spite of Israel's failure somehow.

- [Tim] Yeah, they called it the new covenant.

And this is actually what's so interesting about Jesus

is that he's introduced into this story

as the one who fulfills all of these covenant relationships.

We're told that he's from the family of Abraham.

And so he will bring the blessings of that family

to the whole world.

We're told that he's the faithful Israelite

who is able to truly obey the law.

And we're told that he's the king from the line of David.

And so he goes about extending God's Kingdom

of justice and peace to all.

- [Jon] That's really remarkable for one guy.

- [Tim] Yeah and what it highlights

is perhaps the most surprising claim of all

made about this man.

That Jesus is no mere human,

but rather God become human.

And God did this in order

to be that faithful covenant partner

that we are all made to be, but have failed to be.

And so through Jesus, God has opened up a way

for anyone to be in a renewed partnership with him.

- [Jon] So Jesus calls people to follow him

and become part of this new covenant family.

- [Tim] And despite their failures,

Jesus is committed to making them

into partners who are becoming more and more faithful.

- [Jon] The story of the Bible ends with a vision

of a fully renewed world full of goodness and peace.

- [Tim] And there's this renewed humanity there,

partnering together with God

to expand the goodness of his creation.

And so the end of the Bible's story is really a new beginning.