A Glimpse Into the Journey
From God’s promise to Abraham to its fulfillment in Christ, discover the global purpose woven throughout the Bible. But what if those stories are all part of one unfolding story—God’s purpose to bring His blessing to all peoples?
Explore a glimpse of Lesson 1 of Perspectives: The Living God Is a Missionary God.
In Genesis 12:1–3, God makes a promise to Abram: through him, all the families of the earth will be blessed.
This promise is more than a moment in Abraham’s story. It reveals God’s purpose—a purpose that unfolds through generations, finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, and continues as God’s people participate in His work.
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,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.”
What stands out to you about God’s promise? Who is included in its scope?
Lesson 1 begins here, introducing the promise to Abraham early so visitors can see the global scope and hope of God’s purpose from the outset.
God’s mission doesn’t begin with a list of things Christians should do. It begins with God Himself, pursuing His purpose throughout history and inviting His people to participate. God forms a people for His purpose. His promise of blessing is carried through Abraham’s family, fulfilled in Christ, and extended to those who belong to Him by faith. This means the story of the Bible is not simply a collection of passages that support missions. The story of God’s work in the world provides a framework for understanding the whole Bible.
Throughout Perspectives, you’ll engage with articles written by a variety of Christian thinkers and practitioners. These readings invite you to explore Scripture more deeply, consider different perspectives, and connect biblical truth to God’s work in the world today.
In The Living God Is a Missionary God, John R. W. Stott explores how God reveals His purpose through a promise: to bless all peoples of the earth. This promise provides a framework for understanding the Bible as one unfolding story and invites us to consider how God’s people are called to participate in His purpose.
According to Stott, how does God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 reveal God’s purpose?
Throughout the course, students wrestle with questions like the one above that invite them to reflect on what they’re learning and how it shapes their understanding of God’s global purpose. Mentors walk alongside students, offering encouragement, feedback, and guidance as they work through new concepts and consider how to put them into practice.
This journey culminates in a capstone project, where students bring together what they’ve learned and consider how God might be inviting them to participate in His global purpose.
For each lesson in Perspectives, you’ll learn from different instructors who bring biblical teaching, practical experience, and different perspectives to the course curriculum. Through their teaching, you’ll explore how God’s global purpose unfolds throughout Scripture and shapes the way we understand our place in His story.
In this Lesson 1 module, explore relational blessing and transformational blessing and what it means for God’s promise to Abraham to bless all peoples of the earth. This promise is a foundation for the entire course, revealing God’s desire for people and communities to experience spiritual, social, and material flourishing—not as a perfect world, but as a foretaste of His purposes for all peoples.
This is just the beginning of the story.
Lesson 1 opens the door to a journey through Scripture, history, culture, and strategy. Across 15 lessons, Perspectives helps you see God’s global purpose more clearly and consider how you can participate in it. You don’t have to have all the answers before you begin. Join a class, meet other learners, and discover what it means to see your place in God’s story.
