How do you sum up the entire Bible in 1500 words or less?
So much history, so many laws, so much good, tons of wisdom and valuable lessons, examples of right or wrong / good and evil.
Sounds impossible, right? But that was our final assignment in TCL101: The Story of the Bible Part 1 – After an intense lecture and discussion in a weekend class, we were tasked with telling our version of the Bible story.
This course gave me a much needed, new appreciation for the Old Testament – for the lists of genealogies, for minutia details about the Ark of the Covenant and the building of the Tabernacle in Jerusalem, for the waywardness of the Israelites, and God’s enduring faithfulness to them and to me. There is no doubt in my mind that we worship an immanent and transcendent God. He created the world, set us apart, made provisions for us after we fell from grace, and dwells in us.
If you find yourself skimming through or glossing over large parts of the Old Testament, I encourage you to take a closer look. Look for parallels with other times in the Bible. Look for all the ways that the Old Testament not only points to Jesus’s time on earth, but also to His return and the time of a New Heaven and a New Earth. We live in the “in-between” where Jesus has conquered sin and death, and yet the fullness of His righteousness is still to come with His return. Want to know more? Check out The Story of the Bible-Part 1 or any of the other courses being offered at Grace Leadership Institute. You will deepen your faith, grow your leadership, and learn how to make an even bigger, positive impact.
My Favorite Insights from The Story of Bible (Part 1) Course
Do I prioritize work, the success of my children, preparation for whatever might be coming up next on my to-do list, ___________ more than worship and adoration of the one who redeemed me and tells me to take sabbath rest?
The message of the Old Testament prophets was that the covenant with God had been broken. The prophets called the people to repent for idolatry, social injustice, and ritualism. We need to be aware of these same things. And, if we do all the right things but don’t love God, we’ve still missed it/Him.
“By being like Jesus, we can become more and more what God the great Creator always intended us to be: living in fellowship with God, in harmony with the creation, fulfilled and happy in our calling to understand, enjoy, and develop this good earth. Normal at last.”
-Michael W. Goheen and Craig G. Bartholomew in The True Story of the Whole World: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Drama
NEXT STEPS: Grace Leadership Institute has a great lineup of courses with enrollment and audit options. Take a stand-alone class or work toward completion of one of the certificate programs. The Story of the Bible Part 1-Old Testament is being offered again at GLI in Spring 2024.
