Trouble in the Middle East: Introduction

Thesis Statements:

1. Knowing the Word of God helps our understanding of the troubles in the Middle East.

2. The coming of Jesus, resulting in the world’s redemption from sin, summarizes God’s complete purpose of Israel.

3. Peace is only possible when Jews and Arabs accept Jesus as Messiah.

What in the World were Abraham and Sarah thinking?

• Great people of faith sometimes make bad decisions.

• Some decisions reach far into the future.

• Text: Genesis 16

• Supporting texts: Matt. 19:4-6; John 8:33-39; Gal. 3:16-29; 4:22-31; Gen. 21:9-21; 25:1-18; Rom. 4:6-8; 9-25

The Hebrews and the Land.

• Was the “promised land” a permanent gift without any conditions?

• What might make the land fruitful or barren?

• What might make the Hebrews blessed or subdued?

• What are the Biblical and theological problems with Premillennialism?

• Obviously, the “promised land” was given by grace and lost by sin.

• Christians and Jews have something much better than land.

• Text: Deuteronomy 28

• Supporting texts: Mk. 9:1; Acts 1:6-11; Jn. 5:28,29; Is. 2:2-3;Dan. 2:44; Acts 2:30; I Cor. 15:20-27; Rev.1:9; Heb. 12:28;Col. 1:13,14; I Thess. 4:13-18; II Pet. 3:8-13; Deut. 29 & 30;Rom. 2 & 3; Jn. 8:31-47; Rom. 10:10

Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem!

Jerusalem,

• A fortress, a religious shrine, not necessarily a place of peace.

• A place of interest to Muslim, Hebrew, and Christian.

• A place of conflict and destruction.

• Text: II Samuel 5:6-16, (Jerusalem, the city of David)

• Supporting Texts: Gen. 14:18-20; Gen. 22; Josh. 10:1-3; 15:8 & 18:28; II Sam. 6 & 7; II Chron. 3:1,2; Is. 2:1-4; Lk. 24:44-49

• Its destruction foretold: Matt. 24; Luke 21; Mark 13

God’s Purpose for Israel Explained

• Text: Romans 9, 10, 11

• God made a sovereign choice to use Israel so that all Arabs and Hebrews, and Gentiles can be saved in Christ.