Have you ever picked up the Bible and felt lost in the massive text in front of you? The Bible is both God’s story and his Word to his people, but when you read a verse or a chapter, do you understand what he is saying?
As we go through this study together, we want to help give you a big picture of what each part of the Bible means and give you a better understanding of how to approach it. First and foremost, you are not alone in navigating this big book of Scripture. Each word was written by humans but was inspired by God. This means that God, through the Holy Spirit, commissioned human authors to write his Word. Therefore, as you dive into Scripture, ask him to speak to you. God has given you the Holy Spirit as your helper, and he will not leave you with his story in your hands without a guide to help you understand it. As you open your Bible, ask the Holy Spirit to lead you.
The Bible allows us to see God’s presence throughout history. From the first words of creation until today, a pattern within humanity of fellowship-rebellion-exile-restoration has repeated itself. Seeing this same pattern in our own lives, we come to terms with the reality that our struggles are universal and there is only one redeemer capable of rescue. The Bible is one big story of God rescuing his people.
The basic story line of the Bible is:
- Creation: God created everything, and he had a plan.
- The Fall: Humans screwed it up. We wanted to go our own way, and selfishness spread to all humanity, which means every single person is born into sin. There is an enemy that spoke into that selfishness and speaks into our lives today.
- Flood: There was judgment and a flood—a reset where Noah and the animals survived. Given the chance, humanity again completely screwed it up. But God redeemed the story with a chosen people.
- Covenant people through Israel: He began a new story through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. A baby is born to Abraham in his old age and that baby would be the seed that would eventually lead to Jesus.
- Jesus the Messiah: Jesus, the Messiah, is born into the people of Israel. He put the sins of the earth on his shoulders and died for our sins so we could live forever with God.
- The Church: Today, the church is the family of God. All those who have trusted in Jesus. That church is supposed to be about one thing: giving the great hope of Jesus away.
- Our Hope: There is a future hope that is coming. We’re going to be with Jesus forever in the new heavens and new earth. We are the family of God. So, our purpose here is joining the story of God and giving it away.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible tells this story, but when you open up the table of contents and see sixty-six different books, how do they all fit together? What order are they in and why? Whether you are new to the Bible—or you just need help remembering how it all fits together—we are going to give you a big overview of the books of the Bible so that you know how to understand what you’re reading when you open this big book.
We live in between Jesus revealed and Jesus returning. With the Bible, we hold in our hands God’s expression of the full arc of his grace, and our most useful tool for both getting to know God and discovering our calling. Thanks be to God.
Knowing that nothing is a surprise to God and that He is infallible, that the knows the end from the beginning and all creation is under His authority helps me know grasp how awesome and amazing God truly is, at least what I can fathom in my human mind. It helps me to rest in knowing that He has a good plan for me and even when I don’t understand it, He is working it out for my good and the good of others. We are His children and He loves us unconditionally. This helps me want to grow closer to Him by reading my Bible, His words to us, so I can grow closer to Him, allowing His peace, protection, and plan become a mainstay in my heart and mind by building my life on His firm foundation. The more I know Him, the more the light of Jesus can shine through me to those that I come in contact with.
It motivates me to learn more because the Word is inspired by God for me. As I better learn the promise of his Love and his Grace I will be able to share this liberating hope and message with others.
I love knowing that nothing can derail God’s story and it motivates me to love others and want to get to know my Bible more. I want to grow and understand what it is saying and how it applies to my life. I just stand in awe that was done and will continue to be done for me because of God’s love.
I’m motivated to love and study the Bible more because I will always see a God who is constant and his love never fails us. It motivates me to learn more and more about Him so I can share Him with everyone.
In my born-again life, I’ve always loved the revelation in Revelation…we read the end of the Book: Love WINS. The fact that nothing derails the Goodness of God makes me want to be His Hands & Feet here on earth (& as His Identity is found in His Word, I’d better dive in to know just what my hands & feet are supposed to be about in this land that is not my home). I treasure the moments I get with my forever family–that is, professing believers who are daily digesting the Word of God. And I passionately pursue moments of His Divine intervention with His children who have yet to open their hearts to His Truth, because if I’m willing to die in the Aldi checkout line or at the park with a new mom-sister I don’t recognize yet, then He plants seeds through me. If I want to BE the Bible someone reads today, I had better KNOW it first. His Words are the Bread of Life, the Living Water that wells up inside of us and NEVER runs dry! The reaping "therefore" is that if I feel empty or hungry, I need only reach into His Love Letter for the Truth that will sustain me. I want to hear His Voice (& OBEY), be a dwelling place for His Spirit, & GROW in knowledge, wisdom, & understanding. His Word sings over me, an instrumental part of the Way.
Romans 8:38-39 gives us security and confidence in yesterday, today, tomorrow, and what is to come. He is love. He is our foundation. Nothing can rock or shake Him. Nothing can separate us from Him. This is secure and exciting and motivating.
The pandemic has shown me that GOD is never caught off guard by anything of this world or anyone in it. TRULY HE is GOD ALMIGHTY! – Psalm 24 …and HE LOVE me! HALLELUJAH!!! i am not alone, i am safe in HIS EVERLASTING ARMS.
It makes me feel very safe and loved and I want to know as much as I can about God and his story for me.
Perhaps it makes me want to be part of the ongoing story, and to understand it more deeply as I share the good news.
I love this!
It makes me feel solid in the fact that, that means His story and will for me is set.