Saturday, July 22, 2017

Introduction

Introduction and Objectives


The sovereign, all-powerful, infinite God of the universe has chosen to speak to people through a book, the Bible. Consisting of 66 books in the Old and New Testaments, the Word of God is living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). It is God-breathed, without error in the original manuscripts, and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness (II Timothy 3:16). It is how we get to know God and his plan for the world.


But sometimes, the Bible can be overwhelmingly daunting in its size and scope. Many people who desire to read the Bible struggle with knowing where to start and how it all fits together. The purpose of this 40-day overview is to provide a tool to be in God’s Word consistently, reading key chapters throughout the Bible that highlight the overarching storyline of Creation, Rebellion, Redemption, and Restoration. The accompanying commentary seeks to fill in the gaps between chapters, provide connections to key themes, and offer questions for reflection and application. Ultimately, the goal of this study is for people to know God more through regular and thoughtful study of his unified Word.


It may be helpful to participate in this overview in a small group for purposes of discussion and accountability. It can also serve as an individual resource or a church-wide community initiative. The 40 days can be consecutive, or individuals or groups may want to spread it out over eight weeks, reading five days a week. Some people prefer to read in the morning before the start of their days; others might find it more practical to read in a specific space or time of day. Whatever an individual or group decides, planning and consistency will help keep readers on track as they go through this overview. Quotations in the commentary come from the New International Version (1984) of the Bible.

To supplement these readings, a podcast teaching series is also available here. This podcast takes the study 5 days at a time and digs deeper into the covenants and themes traced throughout the whole Bible.

May God work richly through the depths of his Word to reveal his character and his plan, and may we know him and love him ever more deeply through these 40 days.



Reading Plan


Day
Chapters
Overview

Day
Chapters
Overview
1
Genesis 1-2
The Creation Account

21
Luke 1-2
The Birth of Jesus
2
Genesis 3
The Beginning of Sin

22
John 1:1-18
Who Jesus Is
3
Genesis 12, 15, 17
God’s Covenant with Abraham

23
Luke 4
Jesus Begins His Ministry
4
Genesis 21:1-7; 22
God’s Faithfulness and Abraham’s Faith

24
Matthew 5-7
The Core of Jesus’ Teaching
5
Exodus 3
God Calls Moses to Deliver His People

25
John 3
God’s Love for the World
6
Exodus 11-12
The Passover and the Exodus

26
John 5, 11
Jesus’ Miracles, Authority, & Power
7
Exodus 20
The Ten Commandments

27
John 15, 17
The Christian Life Defined
8
Leviticus 16-17
The Levitical Law and Day of Atonement

28
Matthew 26-27
The Arrest and Crucifixion of Jesus
9
Deuteronomy 17:14-20; 18:14-22
Kings and Prophets

29
John 20
The Resurrection of Jesus
10
Joshua 1
Conquering the Promised Land

30
Luke 24
The Ascension of Jesus
11
1 Samuel 16-17
David and Goliath

31
Acts 2
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
12
2 Samuel 7
God’s Promises to David

32
Acts 9
The Conversion of Saul
13
1 Kings 8:1-9:9
King Solomon’s Wisdom and the Temple

33
Acts 17
Paul in Athens
14
1 Kings 18
The Prophet Elijah and the Prophets of Baal

34
Acts 26
Paul’s Defense of the Christian Faith
15
2 Kings 25
The Siege of Jerusalem and the Exile of Judah

35
Romans 3
Justification by Faith Alone
16
Psalm 89
Mourning the Downfall of Jerusalem

36
Romans 7-8
Battle with Sin; Life in the Spirit
17
Daniel 3
Exiles in Babylon; The Fiery Furnace

37
I Corinthians 15
The Power of the Resurrection
18
Ezra 3
Rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem

38
Philippians 2, Colossians 3
Christ’s Example;  New Self
19
Isaiah 9, 53, 61
Isaiah’s Prophecy of the Coming Messiah

39
Hebrews 8-9
Old Covenant Meets New Covenant
20
Jeremiah 31
The New Covenant

40
Revelation 21-22
The New Heaven and Earth

Next Steps

Next Steps The past 40 days have taken you through 40 key passages in the Bible. You have experienced God’s overarching storyline of cre...