SESSION 1

CHAPTER 1

GETTING STARTEDSECTION 1 PERSONAL PREPARATIONA. Six Principles of Personal Preparation for

Bible Study1. Believe in Jesus Christ2. Accept that the Bible is Divinely Inspired3. Pray4. Study Diligently and Have Patience5. Consistently Confess your Sins6. Be willing to Live God’s will

Five Benefits of Personal Bible Study from God’s

Word

1.Greater Faith2.New Knowledge3.Purification of Our Life4.Power in Ministry5.Equipment for Service

Section 2 The BibleA. What is the Bible?

1. The Written Word of God

2. The Inspired Word of God

3. The Revelation of the Living Word of God

B. Organization of the Bible1. The Two Major DivisionsOld Testament New Testament

2. The Five Divisions of the Old Testament

A. The Law B. Historical Books C. Poetical Books D. Major Prophets E. Minor Prophets

Organization of the Bible3. The Three Divisions of the New Testament.A. The Five Historical Books

(Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts)

B. 21 Letters/Epistles (Romans to Jude)

C. 1 Prophecy - Revelation.

SECTION 3

A Historical Overview

A. Description of the Events

1. Creation2. Satan’s Rebellion3. Earth and Sun4. The First and Last Adam5. Man’s Battle with Satan6. All of Mankind Judged7. Babylon

8. Israel9. The Advents of Jesus

Christ10. Opposing Ministries 11. The Church

When we analyze the sequence of the events just described, we see a marvelous, symmetrical pattern emerge. It is unfolding and then the folding up of human history.

SECTION 4A Chronological OverviewA. 10 Major Events and their Dates1. The Fall of Adam 3958 B.C.

2. The Flood of Noah 2302 B.C.

3. The Promise to Abraham 1875 B.C.

4. The Exodus of Israel 1445 B.C.

5. The Fourth Year of Solomon 965 B.C.

6. The Fall of the Northern Kingdom 721 B.C.

7. The fall of the Southern Kingdom 586 B.C.

8. The Birth of Jesus Christ 1 B.C.

9. The Death, Burial & Resurrection of Jesus Christ

A.D. 32-33

10. The Last Book of the Bible A.D. 96

B. Chronology of Old Testament1. Adam to Flood – (3898 – 2242 BC) Gen 1-5

2. Flood to Abrahamic Covenant (2242 – 1875 BC) Genesis (6-12).

3.Abrahamic Covenant to Exodus (1875 – 1445 BC) Genesis 12-50 and Book of Job.

4. Exodus to Solomon’s 4th year (1445 – 965 BC). Exodus to 2 Samuel; 1 Kings 1-5; Psalms; 1 Chronicles.

Chronology of Old Testament ... Continues

5. 4th year Solomon to the Fall of Judah (965-586 BC) 1 Kings 6-22; 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles; Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Obadiah, Joel, Jonah, Amos, Hosea, Micah, Isaiah, Nahum, Zephaniah, Habbakkuk.

6. Babylonian Exile (586 – 516 BC). Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel.

7. After Babylonian Exile to the end of O.T. 516 – 400 BC. Ezra, Nehemiah, Zechariah, Haggai, Malachi.

1. History of the Life of Christ and the Early Church (A.D. 55 – 85) - Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts.

2. Epistles for the Church (AD 46 – 85) (Romans to Jude)

3. Prophecy (A.D. 96) - Revelation

Section 5Preparing to Study the BibleA. Six Basic Questions you should ask about

every verse1. Who?2. What?3. When?4. Where?5. Why?6. How?

B. Two Important Personal Questions1. How does this Help us develop a

close, personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ?

2. How Then Shall we Live?

C. What if we can’t answer all of the Questions?

* Scripture provides enough information to lead us through life even if all your answers are not answered. When we get there it will all be clear.