The Spreading Circle

In one paragraph

The pastor opened Psalm 67 and traced its imagery of God's blessing outward from Israel to all the nations of the earth, connecting it to the Abrahamic covenant, the Aaronic blessing from Numbers, and the missionary heart of the New Testament. He called it "the spreading circle," borrowing a nickname from Derek Kidner's commentary, and pushed the congregation to see that every blessing God has...

Read together

1. Psalm 67 The main text of the sermon, read and expounded throughout
2. Numbers 6:24-26 The Aaronic blessing, cited as the source that Psalm 67:1 appropriates
3. Genesis 12:1-3 God's covenant with Abraham to bless all families of the earth, connected to Psalm 67:2
4. Galatians 3:6-7 Abraham believed God and it was reckoned as righteousness; those of faith are sons of Abraham
5. Galatians 3:11 No one is justified by the law; the righteous shall live by faith
6. Galatians 3:14 The blessing of Abraham coming to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus
7. 2 Timothy 3:15 From childhood knowing the scriptures which make wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus
8. Romans 1:16-22 The gospel as the power of God for salvation, the righteousness revealed from faith to faith, and the wrath of God against those who suppress the truth
9. Revelation 5:9 A great multitude from every tribe, tongue and nation gathered around the throne
10. Revelation 7:9 A great multitude from every tribe, tongue and nation gathered around the throne singing holy, holy, holy

Talk about it

1. The pastor opened by tracing how Psalm 67:1 is a deliberate variation on the priestly blessing in Numbers 6:24-26. What does it mean to you personally that God told Aaron 'I will confirm it with my blessing' - that the blessing was not just a nice wish but something God himself would back up?
2. The pastor pointed out that the tiny Hebrew word meaning 'so that' or 'in order that' changes the whole feel of the prayer for blessing. How does knowing that God blesses us with a purpose - so that His way may be known among the nations - change the way you think about the blessings in your own life?
3. The center of Psalm 67, the part the pastor said the chiastic structure marks as most important, is the call for the nations to be glad because God will judge with uprightness and guide them. He then asked, 'What do the nations have to be glad about if they don't know Jesus?' How would you answer that question for someone in your life who does not yet know Him?
4. The pastor described the Dene people of northeastern Mexico as an example of an unengaged people group, and he pointed out that the stretch of I-15 between Las Vegas and Canada is one of the least engaged areas with evangelical Christianity in the United States. Did either of those facts surprise you, and how do they affect the way you think about your own mission field?
5. The pastor closed by connecting Psalm 67 to Revelation 5 and 7, where a great multitude from every tribe, tongue and nation gathers around the throne. He said he wants First Baptist to be part of making that happen. What is one concrete step, however small, that you could take to help spread that circle in your neighborhood or community?