This is the material covered in the powerpoint presentation "Looking at the Big Picture" which was a look at what life is all about from a Biblical perspective focusing on Jesus, the gospel, church and mission.

1. Looking at the Big Picture
Knowing the Big Picture Helps Us to Answer These Questions
1. What is the purpose of life?
2. What is God’s will for me?
Not knowing the big picture can lead to more questions and lots of confusion.
Some Dangers to Consider
Two Types of People
1. Thinkers – Live by logic and reason - head but no heart.
2. Feelers - Live by their feelings - heart but no head
Problems that result
1. Thinkers have lots of knowledge but don’t do much with it which results in them
having hearts of stone.
2. Feelers have no direction, they tend to get lost and make bad decisions resulting in
bad things happening.
Frog in the Boiling Pot Syndrome
Frog thrown into a boiling pot will try to get out but if they are put in a pot with cold water
and have the temperature slowly increase they will not notice and will boiled to death.
What things have the same affect on us spiritually from the times and cultures we live in?
Dangerous Influences
1. Materialism
2. Individualism
3. Relativism
4. Pragmatism
5. Consumerism
These influences result in being very worldly and self-centered in orientation and thinking.
All we are interested in is our story and we want God to become a part of our story.
But that is not what God intended.
Philippians 2:9-11
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every
name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those
on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2. Instead of being created to have our own story God created us for Himself and to be a part
of His story but we turned away from Him to be our own gods and that is how everything
got so messed up.
As we see it’s not about us, it’s about Jesus!
John 5:39 (NLT)
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures
point to me!
Luke 24:25-27 (NLT)
Then Jesus said to them, “You foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the
prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn’t it clearly predicted that the Messiah would have
to suffer all these things before entering his glory?” Then Jesus took them through the
writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining from all the Scriptures the things
concerning himself.
How we come to know Jesus
The Bible

The Gospel

Jesus
The Big Picture
Jesus
  
  
Gospel  Church  Mission
Trinity Symbol
The Trinity and the Gospel
1. The Father established the eternal plan of salvation and sent His Son.
2. Jesus fulfilled the plan and accomplished redemption for man.
3. The Spirit applies the benefits of Christ’s atonement to believers.

3. Importance of the Gospel
Luke 4:43 (NLT)
But he replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too,
because that is why I was sent.”
Romans 1:16 (NIV)
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of
everyone who believes…
Definition of the Gospel
The gospel is the good news of what God has done through His Son Jesus Christ to restore
His reign and rule over all creation and bring reconciliation to all those who repent and
place their trust in Jesus.
Aspects of the Gospel
1. Understanding the gospel
2. Living the gospel
3. Proclaiming the gospel
4. Defending the gospel
Understanding the Gospel
1. Growing in knowledge and understanding of the gospel.
2. Able to write out the gospel.
3. Able to clearly explain the gospel to others.
You never leave the gospel to go onto other things. You only go deeper into it.
Living the Gospel
1. Preach the gospel to yourself daily.
2. Live based on the truths of who you are in Christ.
3. Live a life of repentance and faith.
Proclaiming the Gospel
1. Holy Spirit – need for prayer
2. Gospel – know it well
3. Testimony – your story & life
Defending the Gospel (Questions you should be able to answer)
1. Why believe in God?
2. Why believe that the Bible is the Word of God?
3. Why does God allow evil and suffering?
4. Why does God send people to hell?

4. Importance of the Church
Ephesians 3:10-11 (NLT)
God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all
the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he
carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 Corinthians 12:7, 27 (NLT)
7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other… 27 All of you together are
Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
The Church
1. Bride of Christ
2. Body of Christ
3. Family of God
God as Trinity is our guide for our relationships with one another in the church.
The Tri-Fold Mission
Bringing glory to Jesus and the Father

Expanding the Kingdom of God

Making disciples of all nations
Another Way of Looking at It
The Mission
Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands
I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
The Goal
Matthew 6:10, 33 (NIV)
10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven… 33 But seek first his
kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Ephesians 1:20-22 (NIV)
…which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right
hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and

5. every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And
God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the
church,
The Purpose
Ephesians 3:21
Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever!
Amen.
2 Corinthians 4:15
... as God’s grace reaches more and more people, there will be great thanksgiving, and God
will receive more and more glory.
John Piper
“The glory of God is the infinite beauty and greatness of his manifold perfections.”
The Westminster Confession
“Chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”
God’s Will for Us
Mission - to make disciples of Jesus who love God and people.
Goal - to expand the kingdom of God by bringing the love of God.
Purpose - to bring glory to Jesus and the Father so they may be worshiped.
The Big Picture
Jesus
  
  
Gospel  Church  Mission
Jesus wants us to take a hold of His gospel in order to be a part of His church on His
mission.