Introduction to the Bible – Week 1
See the detailed materials for this class on the web: http://www.xenos.org/classes/introbible/index.htm
Useful materials for this course
· A good study Bible – Life Application Study Bible: New Living Translation (NLT); Zondervan Study Bible: New International Version (NIV) or New American Standard (NASB).
· How to Read the Bible Book By Book, by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart.
· Xenos Study Center
· Websites: BibleGateway.com; Xenos.org
Introduction
Course goal: that you would learn to study, apply, and love the Word of God
Psalms 1:1-3
Why believe the Bible?
The Bible’s view of itself (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Peter 1:21; Hebrews 1:1,2;
1 Thess. 2:13)
See included paper, “Why Believe the Bible?”
.
Resources that may you might find helpful as you explore this issue further.
Reason for God, by Tim Keller
The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel.
The Bible itself: The best evidence that the Bible is true is the Bible itself. Read it and see what you think! We hope, as you take this course, that you’ll be struck, like we are, by how powerful, meaningful, and relevant the Bible is for our lives today
THE BIG PICTURE
What the Bible is
Luke 24:44
A Four-Act Drama:
Creation
Fall
Redemption
Restoration
The conflict, tension and drama of the Biblical story
At the macro level of the Biblical Story is the opposition of ___________ to His Plan.
At each stage of the Biblical story, there is a tension between what is ____________ and what is __________________.
There are dramatic _____________and ___________ of how God comes through.
Key Events in God’s Story
Creation
Genesis 1:1,2
Genesis 1:26-28
Genesis 2:16, 17
The Fall
Genesis 3:1-5
Problem 1: _________________________
Genesis 3:8,9
Genesis 3:24
Problem 2: _________________________
Genesis 1:26
1 John 5:19
God’s plan foreshadowed
Genesis 3:15
The rebellion spreads
Genesis 6:5
Genesis 11:4a
God’s promise to Abraham
Genesis 12:1-3
1. Abraham's family will grow into a ____________.
2. This nation will occupy the _____________________.
3. ________ the ___________ of the world will be _________ through one of Abraham's descendants.
The Patriarchs
Slaves in Egypt & birth of a nation
Moses leads the Jews out of Egypt
Passover - Exodus 12
The Law
The lesson of the Law: __________________________________ pays the penalty for human sin.
God’s promise to David
2 Samuel 7:11-16
A descendant of David will ______________________________________.
The Prophets
Isaiah 9:6-7 – a reminder of the promise to ______________
Isaiah 52:13; 53:5, 6, 9, 11 – a reminder of the promise to ____________
Jesus’ first coming
John 1:1-3, 14-18
Mark 1:1, 14,15
Mark 10:45
John 1:29
The death of Christ
Luke 19:38
Luke 23:38
Luke 23:44-46
Problem 1: ____________________________
After the resurrection
Luke 24:44
Luke 24:47,48
Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8
The Church Age
Acts 2:1-4
Paul’s Mission and Message
Romans 1:14-17; 3:19-28
Jesus’ second coming
Revelation 5:5,9,10
Problem 2: _________________________
Satan’s rebellion destroyed
Revelation 20:10
New Heaven and New Earth
Revelation 21:1-4 The Eternal State: living in the presence of God!
Revelation 22:1-5 Problems of Genesis resolved!
Revelation 22:16 Fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant
Assignment
· Bible Reading Assignment #1– due week 2
· Read “Why Believe the Bible,” up through section II on Historical Evidence part 1