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.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible has shown that we humans have fallen again and again. Whether we were given a chance, we would intend to make things go our own ways and only our ways matter — even until today. While the COVID pandemic is roaring all over the world, threatening or even have already taken the lives of our beloved ones, there are still selfish beings protesting to have their own rights above everyone else! Throughout the Bible, God had to reveal Himself again and again, but we still have doubts about Who Jesus Is. I know my sinful nature will lead me to selfishness, jealousy, pride and doubt whenever I am not fixing my eyes upon Jesus. It is by grace that I am rescued by my Lord Jesus. Though I am in no way deserving of God’s love, I cherish His unconditional love upon me. I want to learn more about the Holy Bible as a way to know more about my Lord Jesus, my beloved Heavenly Father. I pray that the Holy Spirit can lead me to the truth of Jesus beneath the texts in the Bible. I want to be cleansed by Jesus and obtain a clean heart so that I can be the light of God and allow His glory to shine through my mundane life in this sinful world.
Because we know the end of the story and that will not change—eternal life with our Lord Jesus.
Knowing that nothing can change the plan for me I can continue everyday with His peace and comfort. Allowing Him to work I need to study His word more so my understanding grows.
It gives me Hope and Assurance that God continues to come after us. He is a Faithful Father, who doesn’t give up on me. His love is so Great for me, us that I want to know Him better, understand His word so I can live it, share it with others.
I am motivated to love and study the Bible more because I know that God is in control, and has a plan, a bigger picture that I cannot see but can trust in. This motivates and prompts me to want to know who He is, what His plan/promises are, and how He invites me to be a part of that and journey through life with Him.
The verses from the Old & New Testament give me home for the future, especially now when everything seems so wrong. Remembering that God doesn’t make mistakes and that he’s all ready gone before us… it is written.
I feel more secured by knowing that nothing is a surprise to God. I always have something that happens in my life or I have been asking myself, ‘how can I become a great Christian?’ I’ve felt that I’m not good enough. From this week’s study, I learned God loves me who I am today and I can have hope to be closer to God. As I knowledge and read God’s word, I want to pray more and study his word. I want to know God’s purpose in my life.
Knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of God.His kingdom cannot be shaken. I love the last line from Hebrews 12:28 that our God is a consuming Fire.
These verses make me want to know and understand why God loves me so much and want to learn from Him more and more each day.
It motivates me, because I know God is with me through it all. I want to learn more about Him and study the word of such a loving God.
Knowing that nothing at all can separate me from God gives me the freedom to study the Bible, ask questions and trust that God will teach me what He wants me to learn. I need to learn so much more.