The oath that God made to Abraham spans the bible message.
	God promises, man accepts if he desires LIFE and GOD as Father.
	This "oath" or "covenant" (Gen. 17:6-8) is featured in:

	1:54 --Acts 3:25---Gal. 3:15-18, 8,21-29, Rom.4:13-16
	Rom.4:13-16 The promise is that we become God's children.
	Heb.6:13-20 Encouragement is found in Abraham.
	Gal. 4:21-31 The offspring of Abraham is an allegory.

Pragmatically there can be no call to be added if there is no family of God.

	If there is no clear distinct family from the totality of society then we have an major problem and there is no evangelism.
	This spiritual family, like the physical one, is to nurture and teach.

The church is constituted such a family by the "new birth." John 3:5

	The converted individual becomes part of a transformed people.
	The working out of this reality will produce a church like those in the New Testament.  The spiritual solutions will be the same.

It is God who initiates- chooses-- and redeems a people.

	Eph. 1:3-14 God's sovereignty is absolute in everything.
	Eph. 2:1,3,4-10 We are saved by grace through faith.
	2 Tim. 1:9 We exist because God has acted in love for us.

There is a distinction between the CHOSEN and the NOT CHOSEN.

	God always has a people, they really exist.
	The people have and must be identifiable and distinct from the world.  They are not an anonymous people.
	1 Pet. 2:9-12 The reason is found in 1 Pet. 1:15.

The relationship between God and His people is founded in HIM.

	God's nature in His people is specific and morally/ethically discernable in their lives.
	God's covenant grounds His church in real life or history.

	The covenant is based in our history of creation, and sin.
	Gen.22:16 The covenant was established first with Abraham.
	Luke 22:20 "This is the new covenant in my blood."
	2 Cor. 3:4-11 Paul was a minister of the new covenant.

The new covenant is recorded, commemorated and continues today.

	Rom.6:- The covenant requires a new life.
	Rom. 12:1-3 The new covenant is one of the whole being.
	The people of God study the book of the covenant, the Bible.

	Eph. 2:11-13 Note the interchange of O.T. and new covenant ideas.
	WHO ARE YOU?

	Gen. 22:16 God called Abraham to greatness.
	We NOTE characteristics of the children of promise.

	The church is a chosen people and know they are chosen.
	The church is a covenant people grounded in Jehovah and LIVING under the word.  (i.e. Jesus and the witness of him, the Bible.)

This emphasis is difficult but necessary to us living in the flesh.

	For some this has meant withdrawal from the world.
	For some this wandering without a home seems impossible.

	We acquire houses, land, hobbies, and things to ease the pain.
	Our "mid life" crises come as aging distracts our journey.

	Gen.2:8 Adam and Eve were not created pilgrims..
	Gen.4:12 Cain tried not to be a wanderer by building a city Gen.. 4:16-17

There is no way to be physically, and psychologically at home in this world.  Death and problems are too overwhelming.

	Gen.22:16 God called our father Abraham to be a wanderer.
	Heb.11:8-10 "he looked for a city built by God."
	The church is spiritual people living in a fleshly culture.

	There will be active tension between church and the world.
	Sin to which the Christian has died, produces this tension.

Paul constantly made this point to the churches.

	2 Cor. 5:1-10 We walk by faith not by sight.
	Gal. 5:13-18 Spirit is the way to walk.

The biblical demand for holiness is insistent.

	I Pet.1:15-16 "You shall be holy for I am holy."
	Eph. 5:27 "Without spot or wrinkle " is the goal.

This holiness comes by sharing the divine nature in our heart.

	2 Pet. 1:4 The church escapes the world through this nature.
	Our life in the flesh is to be lived in God's Spirit.

	Gal. 3:26 We are God's children.
	The church is to live/act in the world by the reality of their faith or the spiritual kingdom.

God's church/people are His witnesses in this physical world.

	Reconciliation cannot be witnessed to by the un reconciled.
	Worldly organization and management (sell gospel) must not be the answer for the world can do better.

The church witnesses to God's actions in their personal lives.

	Acts 2:32, 3:15, 4:33 The resurrection changes everything.
	A genuine community of faith and fellowship is the answer.

	The church must serve instead of being served.
	The church must suffer instead of inflicting suffering.
	The church must forgive instead of holding grudges.
	The church must share across all social lines .

Relationship with God is the good news that Jesus preached.

	Developing your own faith with eagerness to know God, humility to listen to God's revelation, the will to pursue the will of God, adoration of God's nature, and now reflecting His glory in all of life.
	God will not share His glory with any other
	God will vindicate His name in all creation
	God will establish His glory in His creation
	God's love and wrath are awesome

	We are to live God Centered Lives, like Jesus
	The Beatitudes (Matt. 5) is Jesus' constant sermon
	Jesus' life was God centered.
	We are to love like Jesus
	We take up our cross like our teacher did
	We are the aroma of Christ Jesus

	There is freedom in Christ. Sermon from Galatians
	There is freedom by walking in the Spirit
	There is freedom to struggle for Kingdom living
	The church is the body of Christ
	The Gospel Is The Power Of God To Salvation
	We live IN and UNDER the Word of God