overall story of the bible

7/28/2019 Overall Story of the Bible

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The Overall Story of the Bible

Introduction


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The Bible has had an

amazing influence.A prime influence on Western

Civilization

Millions across the world saythey have had their liveschanged through believing thisbook

This has happened for centuriesby all sorts of people


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The Bible has an

amazing composition. Written over 1600 years

Written by over 40 authors

Written on 3 continents: Asia, Africa,Europe

And it all fits together coherently!


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The Bible says it reveals

what we need to know. Who God is

Gods good intent for the world

Whats gone wrong with us and our world

How our lives and world can be restoredthrough God


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The Bible reveals these things

through telling a big, overall story. Though containing many teachings and

smaller stories, an overall story emerges

that gives the big picture of how God isredeeming humanity.

Knowing this overall story helps us make

better sense of the Bibles parts too.(Analogy of a novel)


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How We Will Proceed

Will briefly summarize the plot of theBibles story

Will present this plot in three parts thatrepresent the beginning, middle and endof the story

For each part, we will explore a set-up,conflict/problem, and solution


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Background on

How the Bible Is Organized

Historical BooksGenesis through Esther

Poetic BooksJob through Song of Songs

Prophetic BooksIsaiah through Malachi

Old Testament New Testament Historical Books

Matthew through Acts

Epistles/LettersRomans through Jude

Prophetic BookRevelation

Ancient Time to ~400 BC ~0 AD to ~100 AD


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Part 1

The Beginning


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A) The Story Set-up:

God Creates a Good World God creates the universe and

people

God tells man how to live Everything is in harmony with

itself and God

Life is beautiful and peoplecan live forever as long asthey follow God

Genesis 1 & 2


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B) The Conflict / Problem:People Rebel and Throw the World

Into Disarray The first people choose to

disobey God

They experience shame, guiltand fear for the first time

As a result, God says life willnow be full of pain, futility,

conflict, and death People are cast out of Gods

presence on earth

Genesis 3


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B) The Conflict / Problem

Within one generation, we have the firstmurderbrother kills brother

Genesis 4


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As people multiply, violence andcorruption spreads across the world

Genesis 5 - 6:5


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God grieves over how bad things get. Hesends a worldwide flood to destroy all but

the family of Noah and one pair of eachanimal who can repopulate the earth.

Genesis 6:6-9


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Noahs descendents ignore God and seekto build a city and tower to their own

greatness.

Genesis 11:1-4


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God breaks them up by separating theminto different languages and nations

across the world.

Genesis 10; 11:5-11


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In summary, people have turned awayfrom God, messed up their lives and the

world, and they keep doing this over andover.


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Puzzle: How can a world of corrupt peoplein separate nations be turned back to God

and experience life as God originallyintended?


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C) The Solution - First Phase:Gods Chooses Abraham and Some

of His Descendents God talks to a manAbraham. God says he willbless Abraham, make of hima great nation, and throughhim all nations will be

blessed.

Genesis 12-20

(~2,000 BC)


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C) The Solution, First Phase

Though imperfect, Abraham believes Godand follows him, even though he and his

wife are very old and have no son.

Genesis 12 - 20


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After 25 years of waiting, God givesAbraham and his wife a son, Isaac, who

will inherit Gods promises.

Genesis 21 - 24

(Job is set sometime around this time period)


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When he grows up, Isaac has twin sons.God chooses the younger twin, Jacob, to

inherit his promises.

Genesis 25 - 27


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Jacob is a schemer,but God changes him,

and changes hisname to Israel.

Genesis 28-35:15


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Israel has 12 sons.One son, Joseph,

trusts in and obeysGod. But the otherbrothers are jealous

of Joseph and sellhim into slavery.

Genesis 35:16-38


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Through amazingcircumstances,

Joseph becomesprime minister ofEgypt, and the rest

of the family comesto join him.

Genesis 39-50


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Puzzle: How can God bless all nations andrestore the world through these people?


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Part 2

The Middle


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A) The Second Part Set-up

God raises up a man, Moses, to lead themout of Egypt.

Exodus 2 7:13


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After a series of 10 divinely caused plagues,the Egyptian king agrees to let Moses and

the Israelites leave miraculously.

Exodus 7:14 - 18


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Once they are out ofEgypt, God gives Moses

and the Israelites 10commandments andother laws to follow,

saying they will beblessed if they obey, butcursed if they disobey.

Exodus 19 Numbers 12


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B) The 2nd Part Conflict / Problem:The Israelites Usually Dont Trust in

God The rescued Israelites

keep rebelling against

God. So God says Hewill not permit them toenter their promisedland. They have to

travel in the wildernessuntil their generationdies out.

Numbers 14 - 36


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After 40 years, God renews his covenantwith the next generation of Israelites.

Then Moses successor, Joshua, leadsthem into the promisedland.

Deuteronomy 1 - Joshua 24


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However, the very nextgeneration turns to

worshipping othergods.

Judges 1 - 2


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For the next 300 years, the Israelitesfollow a pattern: They face a foe, they

call out to God, God sends someone tohelp them, but once their problem issolved, they turn away from God again.

Judges 3 - 1 Samuel 7

(~1,400 1,100 BC)


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The Israelites askGod for a king, and

after warning themabout how kings act,God chooses Saul to

be their first king.

1 Samuel 8 - 10


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Saul begins well, buthe starts disobeying

God and God tellsSaul (through aprophet) he will

replace him.

1 Samuel 11 - 15


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God chooses David to be the next king,David obeys and trusts in God, and Israel

prospers.

1 Samuel 16 - II Samuel 10; 1 Chronicles 11 - 20

(David wrote many of the Psalms)(~1,000 BC)


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God promises David that a dynasty and akingdom will come from him that will last

forever.

2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17

(Puzzle: how can this be?)


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When David gets older though, hecommits adultery and murder, and he and

his kingdom starts to deteriorate.

2 Samuel 11-23; 1 Chronicles 21


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Davids son Solomonbecomes king next, and he

rules wisely. But eventuallyhe worships other Gods.God says he will remove

most of Israel from hisdynasty because of this.

1 Kings 1 - 11; 2 Chronicles 1 - 9(Solomon many of the Proverbs, pluslikely Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs)


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After Solomon dies, Israel splits into two kingdoms.

The Northern KingdomIsrael- Ruled by many dynasties of kings

I Kings 11 - 12; 2 Chronicles 10 - 11

The Southern KingdomJudah

- Always ruled by a descendant of Davidand Solomon


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For the next few hundred years, Israelskings and people keep disobeying God.

After sending many warnings throughprophets, God has the northern kingdomoverrun by Assyrians in 722 BC. Most are

shipped away, never to return.

I Kings 13 - 2 Kings 17

Hosea, Amos, Jonah


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During this same time period, a few kingsand people in Judah trust in God, but

most dont. After many warnings, in 586BC, after Israels fall, God has Judahconquered also. However, God promises

he will bring a remnantback to their land.

I Kings 13 - 2 Kings 25; 2 Chronicles 10 - 36:21

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Joel , Habakkuk ,Micah,Zephaniah


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The Judeans (i.e.,Jews) live in exile in

Babylon. But 70 yearslater, the Persian kingwho conqueredBabylon says Jews can

return to their land andrebuild their capital andtemple.

2 Chronicles 36:22 - Ezra 1

Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel


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These returning Jews are the firstgeneration to permanently forsake

worshipping other gods, and they showconcern to obey God.

Ezra 2 - Esther 10

Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi(Old Testament ends ~400 BC)

However, they soon

start growing coolertoward God.


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Summary Puzzle: With how they havedone, how will God bless all nations

through descendents of Abraham?


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C) The Solution, Phase 2:God Promises to Send a Savior

In addition to warnings,through prophets, God gives

the Israelites promises hewill raise up from them adeliverer who will establish awonderful eternal,

worldwide kingdomonefilled with people who trustin Him.

Isaiah 40 - 66, Micah 4 - 5:15, Zephaniah 3:9-20, Zechariah 9:9 - 14, Malachi 4


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C) The Solution, Phase 2

Puzzle: How can someone sent to theJews save the world and change peoples

hearts?


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Part 3The End

A) The Final Part Set up:


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A) The Final Part Set-up:God Sends Jesus to Save the

World 400 years after the Old Testament ends,

Jesus is born. His births details fit the

ancient prophecies of the promised one.

Examples:-A descendant of Abraham,Israel, and David-Born in the small town ofBethlehem.

Matthew 1 - 2; Luke 1 - 2

(~ 0 AD)


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A) The Set-up

At about age 30, Jesus starts preaching inIsrael. He heals people, performs

miracles, and makes astounding claims.Examples of Claims:- I am the light of the world- I came to save the world- Whoever sees me, sees God.- He who believes in me has eternal life

Matthew 3 - 25; Mark 1 - 13, Luke 3 - 21, John 1 - 17


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A) The Set-up

Jesus, though, is rejectedby his nation. He is

arrested, tried for treason,convicted, tortured,publicly executed on a

cross, and buried.

Matthew 26 - 27; Mark 14 - 15,

Luke 22 - 23, John 18 - 19


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A) The Set-up

On the third day, Jesusrises from the dead. He

tells his disciples tospread to all nations thegospel (good news)that they can have

forgiveness and eternallife through believing inHim.

Matthew 28; Mark 16, Luke 24, John 20 - 21


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A) The Set-up

After Jesus returns to heaven, the HolySpirit comes on his disciples and makes

them bold. They share Jesus gospel

Acts 1 - 28

message with Jewsand then others

throughout theRoman Empire. Manylives are changed.


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B) The 3rd Part Conflict / Problem:Evil & Suffering Are Still Widespread

1. Accepting the Gospel changes lives andthe world. But its spread is hindered by

disbelief and opposition.

Acts 2 - 28


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2. Believers still find it hard to livecompletely new types of life (and this

hinders the Gospels spread too).

Acts 5 - 20

(Mentioned in many of the Epistles)


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3. Much suffering andinjustice still remain.

Believers not onlyexperience this,sometimes they also

suffer because of theirfaithfulness to Christ.

Acts 2 - 28

(also mentioned in many of the Epistles)


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Puzzle: How can you have a restoredworld and full salvation in this situation?


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C) The Transitional Solution:The Holy Spirits Workings

1. The Bible says Gods Holy Spirit will workin peoples lives so that the Gospel will go

to all the world and that eventually peoplefrom all nations will believe.

Matthew 24:14; Mark 13:10-11; Luke 24:47-48; John 16

Revelation 5:9-10


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C) The Transitional Solution

2. The Epistles describe how Christians canrely on Christ and experience the Holy

Spirit progressively transforming them intojoyful, holy people, eventhrough hardships and pain.

John 14 - 16Romans through Jude

2. The Epistles describe how Christians canrely on Christ and experience the Holy

Spirit progressively transforming them intojoyful, holy people, eventhrough hardships and pain.


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C) The Transitional Solution

Will evil and sufferingalways remain though?

D) The Ultimate Solution:


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D) The Ultimate Solution:Christ Returns and Establishes

His Full Kingdom The Bible says that after

the Gospel has gone to

all nations, Christ willreturn to earth during atime of severe hardships.

The dead will be raisedand there will be a finaljudgment of all people.

Matthew 24 - 25; Mark 13; Luke 21Revelation 4 - 20


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D) The Ultimate Solution

Those who haveresisted God will face

an eternity of payingfor their sins.

Matthew 25; Luke 21Revelation 20:11-15


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Those who have turned back toGod and trusted in Christ will beforgiven & welcomed into Godsfull kingdom. Their remainingcorrupt tendencies will bepurged and they will joyously

experience life as it wasoriginally intended under God.

Matthew 25

Revelation 21 - 22


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This story ends then, and a new one ofeternal wholeness and delight in God

beginsone we can only barely imagine.


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Review

Part 1 - The BeginningA) The Story Set-up:

God Creates a Good WorldB) The Conflict / Problem:

People Rebel and Throw the WorldInto Disarray

C) The Solution - First Phase:Gods Chooses Abraham and Some ofHis Descendents

Ancient Times ~1800+ BCGenesis


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Review

Part 2 - The MiddleA) The Second Part Set-up:

God Establishes Israel As HisChosen Nation

B) The Conflict / Problem:

The Israelites Usually Dont Trust in

GodC) The Solution - Second Phase:

God Promises to Send a Savior

~1500 BC ~400+ BCThe Rest of the Old Testament


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Review

Part 3 - The EndA) The Final Part Set-up:

God Sends Jesus to Save the World

B) The Conflict / Problem:

Evil & Suffering Are Still Widespread

C) The Transitional Solution:

The Holy Spirits Workings

D) The Ultimate Solution:

Christ Returns and Establishes HisFull Kingdom

The Future~0 ADThe New Testament


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Some Story Implications:

d l l


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1. God is patiently giving peoplethe opportunity to turn back to Him

2 Peter 3:3-9:First of all, you must understandthat in the last days scoffers will come . . . Theywill say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised?

Ever since our fathers died, everything goes onas it has since the beginning of creation." . . .But do not forget this one thing, dear friends:With the Lord a day is like a thousand years,and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is

not slow in keeping his promise . . . He is patientwith you, not wanting anyone to perish, buteveryone to come to repentance.


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Discussion Questions

What questions do you have about this?

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