August 29th - An OnGoing Blessing

 Scripture Passages: Genesis 12: 1-3, Numbers 6:22-27, Psalm 67

Slide 1

"Back to the Basics"
Church
Gospel
Kingdom
God loves us. . . and we respond

Slide 2

The Lord said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

Slide 3
“ ‘ “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;

Slide 4

the Lord turn his face toward youand give you peace.” ’
“So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”  

Slide 5

"An Ongoing Blessing"
The 'benediction'
Repetition and familiarity
*Spoiler alert*

Slide 6

"The Lord said to Moses"
Everything hinges on this God as the starting point

Slide 7

"Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:"
Who is doing the action?
A friendly nudge
Always the plan

Slide 8

Before going any further...
"The Lord"
A crescendo of blessing
The significance of "you"

Slide 9

"The Lord bless you and keep you:"
The issue of kneeling
Gifts
A 'hedge' of protection

Slide 10

"The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you"
Presence and light
The gift of grace (a word picture)

Slide 11

"The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace"
A smile
The fullness of 'Shalom'

Slide 12

"So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them"
Relationship
Representation
Responsibility

Slide 13

But it Doesn't End There!
The awkwardness of blessing?
Blessed for a purpose
Genesis 12

Slide 14

The Lord had said to Abram, 
“Go from your country, your people and your father’s household 
to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation,”

Slide 15

and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

Slide 16

I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Slide 17

Psalm 67

Slide 18

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.

Slide 19

May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.
May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity

Slide 20

and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you,
God; may all the peoples praise you.

Slide 21

The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still,:
so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.