BIBLE IN BRIEF. An easy way to enjoy the greatest book ever written. Rev Andy Roland

Transcription

1 BIBLE IN BRIEF An easy way to enjoy the greatest book ever written Rev Andy Roland

2 Published by Filament Publishing Ltd 16, Croydon Road, Waddon, Croydon Surrey CR0 4PA The right of Andrew Roland to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Designs and Copyright Act 1988 Andrew Roland 2016 Illustrations by Daniel Gould Printed by Ingram Spark ISBN The book is protected by international copyright and may not be copied in anyway without the prior written permission of the publishers. 2

3 Table of Contents Introduction 5 How to use this book 9 Using the book with a group 10 The Bible - a bird s eye view 15 Month 1 CREATION TO COMMANDMENTS 20 Week 1 Beginnings 22 Week 2 Abraham, Isaac, Jacob 26 Week 3 Joseph & the move to Egypt 30 Week 4 The Desert Experience 34 The Other Side: Stories from Babylon 38 Creation and Flood 40 Month 2 HISTORY OF ISRAEL & JUDAH 42 Week 1 Prophetic leaders & the first king 44 Week 2 David and Solomon 48 Week 3 Divided Kingdoms 52 Week 4 Exile & Restoration 56 The Other Side: Rival Empires 60 Month 3 THE PROPHETS 64 Week 1 The Fall of Israel 68 Week 2 The Fall of Judah 72 Week 3 Speaking from Babylon 76 Week 4 Hope and Disappointment 80 The Other Side: Prayers of the Peoples 84 3

4 How to use this book To get the most out of this book, you can use the 4 Rs: READ RESPOND REFLECT RECORD Read You can read through the passage once, then look back at any particular verses that interest you; or you can read it through quickly once and slowly a second time; or you can read it slowly, pausing at any verse that speaks to you; or just read it anyway you like! Read any explanatory notes that are provided. How you read any particular passage depends on the type of story it is and how you relate to it. There is no one size fits all. Respond Note down what bits of the passage impress you, or inspire you, or puzzle you, or infuriate you. Don t worry about parts of the passage which leave you bewildered. Concentrate on the bits that make sense to you and leave the rest for later maybe much much later! Reflect Reflect on the question provided in the text. Record Write down your response to the question. Over time you will build up a record of what you have discovered about the Bible and life. 9

5 BIBLE IN BRIEF MONTH 1 WEEK 2 ABRAHAM, ISAAC & JACOB c BC Day 1 Genesis The call of Abram How would it feel to be called into the unknown? Day 2 Genesis 15 God s promises him a son Note: Walking between two halves of an animal was the sign of making a solemn covenant (see Jeremiah 34.18) What do you think Abram felt after his strange encounter with God? Day 3 Genesis The promise to Abraham and the destruction of Sodom When is it all right to argue with God? Day 4 Genesis The test of Abraham s faith Note: Some ancient cultures practised human sacrifice. (see 2 Kings 3.27). What did Abraham learn about God and about himself? Day 5 Genesis 24 Finding a bride for Isaac Note: Archbishop William Temple (d.1944), when asked if prayer worked, replied, I don t know. All I know is that when I pray, co-incidences happen. Have you known God-incidences in your own life? 26

6 BIBLE IN BRIEF Day 5 Luke Teaching on prayer Think through each line of this short version of the Lord s Prayer and how it reflects Jesus teaching. What does Jesus promise if we pray? Day 6 Luke 15 A lost coin and a lost son The heart of the gospel. Does the elder brother have an argument, or has he missed the point? Day 7 Mark Entry into Jerusalem Jesus entered Jerusalem as publicly as he could, and then occupied the large outer court of the Temple, the Court of the Gentiles. Why? Note: At Passover the population of Jerusalem trebled to 150,000, including thousands of Galilean pilgrims wanting to support their prophet. The Jerusalem authorities were furious but powerless - for now. The Temple in Jerusalem and the Antonia fortress 124

7 Month 5: Jesus Pharisees The great rabbi Hillel (100BC c10ad?) was asked to recite the whole Law while standing on one leg. He said, What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow: this is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn. He also said, and Whoever has acquired the words of the Law has acquired the life of the world to come. If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And if I am only for myself, who am I? And if not now, when? Yohanan ben Zakkai was said to have studied under Hillel. He went on to found a Jewish academy after the destruction of Jerusalem which proved essential for the continuation of Jewish life. He died about 80AD. They tell of Rabban Yohanan ben Zakkai that he did not neglect a single Scripture or Mishnah, Gemara (interpretation of Mishnah), halakah (law), agada (legend), supplement (branch of oral law), or the subtleties of Scripture, or the subtleties of the scribes, or any of the sages rules of interpretation... (N p.26) For the Pharisees the Torah or law included both the first five books of the Old Testament and later interpretation. 137

8 BIBLE IN BRIEF The World s Greatest Book? It s a bit of a claim, isn t it? And one for which I have to claim responsibility. After all, I chose to put it on the front cover of this book. Can I justify it? The Word of God Most Christians would happily refer to the Bible as the Word of God. Those who worship at churches using liturgy (set forms of prayers) such as the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches regularly use a response after readings from the Bible: This is the word of the Lord Thanks be to God. But what do they mean by it? A divine document? Some Christians point to a verse in a letter ascribed to the apostle Paul, 2 Timothy 3.16: All Scripture is God-breathed/inspired and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness The problem with this is threefold. First, it is hard for someone to be a witness in their own cause. Secondly, when this was written, it referred not to what we know as the New Testament which had not been formed then, but to the Hebrew scriptures, possibly including the Apocrypha; and for Christians the most important part of the Bible they look to is the New Testament. Thirdly, the verse describes the Scriptures as practically useful in leading a godly life, not as a standard of absolute truth. So where do we go from here? 166