But where do we start to read the Bible? It's important to grasp the big story of the Bible for it all to make sense and to make sense of our lives. A couple of light reads on the big story of the bible are
1. a FREE two part downloadable booklet by David Poultney -click Part 1 and Part 2
2. a book called Storylines
3. some brief lecture notes on the Bible overview
...but here are a couple of thoughts I have found really helpful...
Start with 5
Tom Wright divides the whole Bible into 5 scenes of a play/story;
1. Creation -God made the world, everything in it and around it (Genesis 1-2)
2. Fall -People messed up and broke the relationship with God, suffering consequences (Genesis 3-11)
3. Israel -God graciously promises and provides for people, starting with Abraham (Genesis 12), but the people, who become a nation called Israel, disobey God and are hard hearted (the story of the rest of the Old Testament)
4. Jesus -God graciously sends his own Son to come among us, show us God's true ways on earth and in heaven through his life, death and resurrection (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John).
5. Church -Having seen Jesus, God sends his Holy Spirit on all followers of Jesus to live and work in the power of Jesus (Acts 2 onwards through the New Testament) until God calls time on this world and wraps it up to start a new age where heaven and earth are combined (Revelation and Daniel 7-12). Today, we are part of the play in scene 5, trying to faithfully improvise the story based on the scenes so far from the big story.
Start with 7
David Parker suggest when starting to read the Bible, it is helpful to break the 66 books down into 7 manageable sections;
1. a FREE two part downloadable booklet by David Poultney -click Part 1 and Part 2
2. a book called Storylines
3. some brief lecture notes on the Bible overview
...but here are a couple of thoughts I have found really helpful...
Start with 5
Tom Wright divides the whole Bible into 5 scenes of a play/story;
1. Creation -God made the world, everything in it and around it (Genesis 1-2)
2. Fall -People messed up and broke the relationship with God, suffering consequences (Genesis 3-11)
3. Israel -God graciously promises and provides for people, starting with Abraham (Genesis 12), but the people, who become a nation called Israel, disobey God and are hard hearted (the story of the rest of the Old Testament)
4. Jesus -God graciously sends his own Son to come among us, show us God's true ways on earth and in heaven through his life, death and resurrection (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John).
5. Church -Having seen Jesus, God sends his Holy Spirit on all followers of Jesus to live and work in the power of Jesus (Acts 2 onwards through the New Testament) until God calls time on this world and wraps it up to start a new age where heaven and earth are combined (Revelation and Daniel 7-12). Today, we are part of the play in scene 5, trying to faithfully improvise the story based on the scenes so far from the big story.
Start with 7
David Parker suggest when starting to read the Bible, it is helpful to break the 66 books down into 7 manageable sections;
1. The Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke & John) and the early Church (Acts)
The Gospels are the first 5 books of the New Testament and are accounts of the life and times of Jesus Christ who is the very centre of our faith. Although they were actually published as books after the death of Jesus, we have confidence that these are eye/ear witness accounts that were accurately recorded.
Acts is an account of the growth of the early Church and the work of the disciples after being filled with the Holy Spirit. Extraordinary stories that indicate the lives we as Christians can be living today if we are open to God.
The Gospels are the first 5 books of the New Testament and are accounts of the life and times of Jesus Christ who is the very centre of our faith. Although they were actually published as books after the death of Jesus, we have confidence that these are eye/ear witness accounts that were accurately recorded.
Acts is an account of the growth of the early Church and the work of the disciples after being filled with the Holy Spirit. Extraordinary stories that indicate the lives we as Christians can be living today if we are open to God.
2. The Beginning (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
The Pentateuch is the name given to the first 5 books in the Old Testament, sometimes called the Book of Law. It narrates God’s dealings with the world since the beginning, dealing with it’s creation, the fall of man and then God’s relationship with mankind told through the accounts many lives, including Abraham, Moses and the nation of Israel.
Having read the Gospels and seen what Jesus has achieved, we can better understand something of the complexities in man’s relationship with God, given in the accounts in the Pentateuch. It is also possible to see some of the prophecies about Jesus and what he would come fulfil.
The Pentateuch is the name given to the first 5 books in the Old Testament, sometimes called the Book of Law. It narrates God’s dealings with the world since the beginning, dealing with it’s creation, the fall of man and then God’s relationship with mankind told through the accounts many lives, including Abraham, Moses and the nation of Israel.
Having read the Gospels and seen what Jesus has achieved, we can better understand something of the complexities in man’s relationship with God, given in the accounts in the Pentateuch. It is also possible to see some of the prophecies about Jesus and what he would come fulfil.
3. The applied teaching (books of Romans through to Jude)
These books are mostly the work of Paul, who God inspired after an amazing conversion (told in Acts). The modern day Church uses these writing as the basis of it’s Christian teaching.
This is more relevant when we have read about the old ways living under the law from “The Beginning”.
These books are mostly the work of Paul, who God inspired after an amazing conversion (told in Acts). The modern day Church uses these writing as the basis of it’s Christian teaching.
This is more relevant when we have read about the old ways living under the law from “The Beginning”.
4. The History of Israel (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings, 1&2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job)
When reading about the nation of Israel, it becomes powerful on a personal level when we compare the Israelites corporate relationship with God over the years with our personal relationship with God. These books give us great insight into the forgiving and patient love of God.
When reading about the nation of Israel, it becomes powerful on a personal level when we compare the Israelites corporate relationship with God over the years with our personal relationship with God. These books give us great insight into the forgiving and patient love of God.
5. Poetry (Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs)Emotional and mindful writings that capture the relationship with God. These are insightful and touch the heart in the way only poetry to our Creator can.
6. Major prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel) and minor prophets (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi)
Once we have built a solid understanding of our relationship with God from reading the above, we can really digest the messages contained through the prophets. These books contain historical accounts that have enormous relevance today for us as people and us as a Church.
Once we have built a solid understanding of our relationship with God from reading the above, we can really digest the messages contained through the prophets. These books contain historical accounts that have enormous relevance today for us as people and us as a Church.
7. The End Times (Revelation, Daniel)
And finally…the books visitors to the Bible often start with and wonder why they can’t understand it all. These books give prophecy, particularly about the end times, much of which is written in code (Revelation). The code uses much of the imagery in the Bible contained in the above sections, so if you haven’t read these, then even a good commentary will not make things clear.
And finally…the books visitors to the Bible often start with and wonder why they can’t understand it all. These books give prophecy, particularly about the end times, much of which is written in code (Revelation). The code uses much of the imagery in the Bible contained in the above sections, so if you haven’t read these, then even a good commentary will not make things clear.
Remember; the Bible can be read on different levels, but is only understood as God intends when we ask the Holy Spirit to teach us. It can then be dipped into or studied at length with great affect. Like most things, we get most out of it when we take time to go through it in a planned way. The Bible promises we will be fruitful the more we read (Psalm 1).
