Bible timeline

Speaker: Paul Brown

Notes

See how the bits of the Bible fit together and particularly how the life of Jesus fits in...

Creation - The fall - The flood - Patriarchs - 12 tribes in Egypt - Exodus - Promised Land - Judges - The Kingdom - Kings - Exile in Babylon - Return - Birth of Jesus - Baptism of Jesus - Sermon on the Mount - Feeding 5000 - Transfiguration - Entry into Jerusalem - Last supper - Garden of Gethsemane - Crucifixion - Resurrection - Ascension - Day of Pentecost - Ethiopian Eunuch - Missionary journeys - New Testament letters - End Times

God's plan throughout is for relationship and reconciliation. Several themes recur, such as:

• Man messes up and God redeems

• God's faithfulness

• Mercy and judgement

• People with faith responding to God's promises

Nearly all of it points to Jesus. He is the beginning and the end. He is God's son, he is God himself. Heb 12:2 "let us fix our eyes on Jesus..."

Recommendation: The Big Story (an express tour of the Bible) by Mark Powley. Pub: CellUK, £4.95

Application

Take one or two Old Testament stories, such as the flood or Abraham and Isaac, and explore how they point to Jesus, his life, his ministry. What can we learn about Jesus from these stories that we might not get from the New Testament writings?

In your personal Bible study, how do you feel about Old Testament vs New Testament? Does one feel less relevant? Harder to apply? Do you tend to read large chunks in context or dip into individual sections? What reading notes or other devices do you find helpful? What is your favourite part of the Bible and why?

Posted: 13 Jun 2010