FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION:
The Bible was written over a period of 1600 years in over a dozen countries on three continents by people from all walks of life. It is remarkable – miraculous, even – that the Bible tells one complete story. The reason for this is that while there were about forty writers of the Bible, there was only one Author. All of Scripture was divinely inspired by God, and He orchestrated the way that the Word came together to form the full Bible. The plot of the complete Bible is amazing, because the Old Testament and New Testament are mirror images of each other, with the coming of Jesus at the center of the story. Jesus Christ is the turning point in the Bible – when He came, everything changed. We need to understand that all Scripture points to Jesus. He is the subject of the Word. And the verb of the Word is “give.” John 3:16 says that, “God so loved the world that He gave His Son.” And our response should be to give our lives to Him as well. The Bible is the story of the redemption of mankind through Jesus.
It is the greatest story ever told, and the best part is, it’s true!
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me (Jesus)!” – John 5:39 NLT
Discussion Questions
· Before hearing this message, how did you think the Bible was written? Now that you know more about the order and story of your Bible, how will you approach it differently?
· Discuss the “mirror image” of the plot of the Bible. What was eye opening about the revelation that the New Testament is a reverse of the Old Testament? How has it impacted you?
· The main verb of the Bible is “give.” Before hearing the message, what would you have said is the main verb of the Bible? What is your heart’s response to hearing that “give” is the main action of God’s Word?
Prayer Focus
Thank God for giving you access to His heart and His thoughts through the Word. Thank Him for giving His Son to save you and for making a way for you to live redeemed with Him in Paradise one day. Give your life back to God again, surrendering your will and committing to live for Him. Ask God to help you get to know Him better this year through the Word. Pray for revelation as you read the Word so that your faith will grow.
Next Step
Make a commitment to studying God’s Word daily this year. When you approach the Word, keep in mind that it is divided by type of book rather than being arranged chronologically. As you read, keep track of where you are in the “mirror image” of the plot so that you can really see the progression of the story. Make note of how everything changes when Jesus comes to earth.