History (makers / providence)
A careful account and interpretation of past people, events, cultures, and forces, using evidence while recognizing perspective and God’s providential work. History makers make history.
Lesson 1 · Course 63
Lesson 1
What is history (makers, evidence, providence) and what is worship from an Old Testament perspective (face-to-face, praise, sacrifices).
At a glance
Summary
Lesson 1 defines history as a careful account and interpretation of past people, events, cultures, and forces — using evidence while recognizing perspective and God’s providential work. History makers make history; the Jewish view of history is not the cycle view; events, dates, and places alone do not make history come alive. Worship begins with a face-to-face encounter with God as a whole-life relationship; Old Testament praise is the most significant form, and sacrifices from the beginning pointed toward Christ.
Quiz 1: 10/10 (100%), attempt 101727 (cmid 1109). Essays Complete/Not graded. Reading cmid 1108; Lesson cmid 1107.
Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- History makers make history — people shaped by conviction and calling drive the story.
- The Jewish view of history is not identical to the cycle view of history.
- Events, dates, and places alone do not make history come alive.
- History is a careful account and interpretation with evidence, perspective, and God’s providence.
- Worship begins with a face-to-face encounter with God; it is a whole-life relationship.
- Music style in worship has not remained constant through church history; organs were not originally only Reformed.
- Wesley’s songs had at least as great an effect as his sermons.
- Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Moses worshipped; OT praise is the most significant form; sacrifices from the beginning pointed toward Christ.
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
Jewish vs cycle view of history
The Jewish view of history is not identical to the cycle view; treating them as the same is false.
Worship (face-to-face)
Worship begins with a face-to-face encounter with God — a whole-life relationship expressed through reverence, obedience, sacrifice, prayer, praise, thanksgiving, and service.
Wesley’s songs
Wesley’s songs had at least as great an effect as his sermons.
OT praise
The most significant form of worship in the Old Testament was praise.
Sacrifices
Part of Old Testament worship from the very beginning; expressed repentance, faith, gratitude, surrender, fellowship, and atonement, and pointed toward Christ’s sacrifice.
Structure
Outline / timeline
- What is history? History makers; Jewish view ≠ cycle view; events/dates/places alone do not make history come alive
- History as careful account/interpretation with evidence, perspective, and God’s providence
- Worship begins face-to-face with God; whole-life relationship
- Music style not constant in church history; organs not originally only Reformed; Wesley’s songs ≥ sermons
- OT worship: Abel, Noah, Abraham, Moses; praise most significant; sacrifices from the beginning → Christ
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Quiz 1 | 100% (10/10), attempt 101727, cmid 1109 |
|---|---|
| History makers | History makers make history (True) |
| Jewish vs cycle view | Jewish view is NOT identical to the cycle view (False that they are identical) |
| Events / dates / places | Alone they do NOT make history come alive (False) |
| Worship begins | Face-to-face encounter with God (True) |
| Music / organ | Style NOT constant through church history; organs NOT originally only Reformed |
| Wesley’s songs | At least as great an effect as his sermons |
| OT worship | Abel/Noah/Abraham/Moses worshipped; praise most significant; sacrifices from the beginning |
| What is history? | Careful account/interpretation with evidence + God’s providence |
| What is worship (OT)? | Whole-life relationship; sacrifices → Christ |
Compare
Side-by-side contrasts
Jewish view vs cycle view of history
- Jewish view of history is NOT identical to the cycle view (quiz False that they are identical)
- Do not collapse the two into one pattern
Events/dates/places vs history that comes alive
- Events, dates, and places alone do NOT make history come alive
- History makers, careful interpretation with evidence, and God’s providence make history meaningful
Music style / organ use across church history
- Music style has NOT remained remarkably similar throughout all of church history
- Originally, Reformed churches were NOT the only ones to embrace the organ
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- History makers make history — and God providentially works through them.
- Events and dates are not enough; interpretation with evidence brings the story alive.
- Worship begins face-to-face with God, then shapes the whole life.
- Wesley’s songs carried as much weight as his sermons — truth sung sticks.
- Old Testament sacrifices taught the seriousness of sin and pointed to Christ.
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 10 items
Quiz score: 100% · 1 attempt
1. History makers make history.
TrueHistory makers make history.
2. The Jewish view of history is identical to the cycle view of history.
FalseJewish view ≠ cycle view.
3. Events, dates, and places make history come alive.
FalseEvents/dates/places alone do NOT make history come alive.
4. Worship begins with a face-to-face encounter with God.
TrueWorship begins face-to-face with God.
5. The music style used in worship has remained remarkably similar throughout all of church history.
FalseMusic style has NOT remained constant through church history.
6. Originally, only Reformed churches embraced the use of the organ in worship.
FalseOrgans were not originally only Reformed.
7. Wesley’s songs had at least as great an effect as his sermons.
TrueWesley’s songs ≥ effect of sermons.
8. Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Moses each worshipped the Lord
TrueAbel, Noah, Abraham, and Moses each worshipped.
9. The most significant form of worship in the Old Testament was praise.
TrueOT most significant form = praise.
10. Sacrifices were part of Old Testament worship from the very beginning.
TrueSacrifices from the beginning.
Essay themes
If you preach or review
How would you answer ‘What is History?’
History is a careful account and interpretation of past people, events, cultures, and forces, using evidence while recognizing perspective and God’s providential work.
From an Old Testament perspective, what is worship?
Whole-life relationship with the living God, expressed through reverence, obedience, sacrifice, prayer, praise, thanksgiving, and service.
Explain the role of sacrifices in Old Testament worship.
Sacrifices expressed repentance, faith, gratitude, surrender, fellowship, and atonement; the various offerings taught the seriousness of sin and pointed toward Christ’s sacrifice.