LESSON ONE - Big Picture
WHAT IS THE THEME OF THE BIBLE?
As you read this lesson, be sure to hover over the the Bible verses to read them or look them up in your own Bible. When the Bible passage is longer, you need to click on “more” in the bottom right corner of the pop-up window.
Salvation is a major part of God’s eternal plan. He has been working out His plan from the very beginning. You are part of God’s plan!
God created all, including mankind, for His glory.
1 Corinthians 8:6 (NASB) Compare translations and the original languageYou were created by God to worship and glorify Him. Take a moment to thank Him for creating you.
Satan (a sinful angel) tricked the human race into rebelling against God. Mankind’s rebellion brought sin and death into the world.
Romans 5:12 (NKJV) Compare translations and the original languageWe now live in a broken, evil world that is surrounded by sin, pain, and death. Take a moment to pray for someone you know is hurting.
God promised to send the Savior to remove the curse of sin and death. Genesis 3:15 (NKJV) Compare translations and the original language
Praise God for sending the Savior!
People are so evil that God destroyed them with a flood 1 Peter 3:20 (KJV) except for Noah and his family (eight people), who were saved by entering an ark. God made a covenant (promise, agreement) never to flood the earth again. The rainbow is the sign of His covenant. Genesis 9:8-17 (NASB) Compare translations and the original language
Why doesn’t God just get rid of evil and start over afresh? One time He did and one day He will put a final end to all evil forever!
Mankind rebelled against God by building a tower instead of filling the earth, so God confused their languages to scatter them.
Genesis 11:9 (ESV) Compare translations and the original languageWe are all descendants of Adam and Noah. God scattered us to different climates where we developed varying cultures.
God chose one man, Abraham, Genesis 12:1-3 (NASB) to be the father of the Jewish people (Israel) from whom the promised Savior would come. God made a covenant with Abraham to give him a land (Canaan) Genesis 17:3-8 (NKJV), descendants (the nation of Israel), and to pledge that through Abraham, all nations would be blessed. Compare translations and the original language
Praise God for His promise to Abraham that brought salvation to the world!
God sent Moses to lead the twelve tribes of Israel from slavery in Egypt to Mount Sinai. Genesis 15:12-16 (NKJV) He also made a covenant with Israel to bless them if they obeyed Him and to curse them if they disobeyed Him. He gave His law to the Jewish people (Israel) to restrain them from sinning and to show them their need of the coming Savior (Messiah). Galatians 3:19 (NKJV) Joshua led Israel into the land of Canaan. Compare translations and the original language
Since God was able to save Israel out of Egypt, He can certainly provide for our daily needs. Ask God to provide for you today.
Satan tried to prevent the coming of the Savior by leading Israel (the Jewish people) into sin so that God might destroy them. Zechariah 3:1 (NASB) Israel wanted their own king instead of God’s direct rule. 1 Samuel 8:7 (NASB) God made a covenant with King David that he would have a Son on the throne forever. 1 Kings 9:4-5 (NASB) Compare translations and the original language
Satan tries to trick us into sinning against God. Ask God to help guard you from temptation.
King Solomon built a temple for God. 1 Kings 9:6-10 (ESV) God warned Israel not to worship the false gods of the land or else He would remove them from the Promised Land. Israel broke the covenant that God made with them on Mount Sinai by rebelling against God and going after false gods. God punished them and scattered them among the nations, saying that one day He would make a new covenant with Israel that would be based on His faithfulness instead of theirs. Jeremiah 31:31-34 (NKJV) Compare translations and the original language
God is holy and jealous. When you sin against God, confess your sin to Him, and He will forgive you. Turn from your sin and obey Him.
God sent Jesus to save the world from the curse of sin and death. Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV) Israel rejected Jesus as their King and delivered Him over to be crucified. Jesus ratified the New Covenant with His blood. Matthew 26:28 (NASB) Jesus chose twelve apostles to proclaim His life, death, burial, resurrection, and His coming kingdom. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (KJV) Those who believe the Gospel receive the Spirit of God promised through the New Covenant John 15:26 (NKJV) and they become members of the Church. Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV) Compare translations and the original language
Who have you told about Jesus since you trusted in Him?
Jesus will take the Church (believers in Jesus) to be with Him and reward them. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (KJV) God will pour out His wrath on earth and punish the nations for their wickedness. Revelation 6:15-17 (KJV) He will bring Israel to repentance so that they will receive Jesus as their Messiah and King. Romans 11:1 (KJV); Romans 11:25-27 (KJV) Compare translations and the original language
Jesus saved you so that you would live for Him instead for yourself. What does God want you to do for Him today?
Jesus will come back to earth, resurrect all humans, John 5:25, 28-29 (KJV) and judge the world. 2 Timothy 4:1 (KJV) Then He will reign as King on David’s throne for 1,000 years on earth. Revelation 20:6 (KJV) Israel will experience the blessings of the New Covenant. Ezekiel 36:22-28 (KJV) The current creation will be destroyed by fire. Then Jesus will reign forever with His people over a new creation. Revelation 21:1-5 (KJV) Compare translations and the original language
Praise Jesus! He is the King of kings and Lord of lords. Thank God for the hope you have of being with Him forever.
Now that you have learned about God’s plan, tell a friend about it. Also, share what you learned with someone at church. Consider memorizing one of the following passages (in whichever translation you prefer) as a summary of this lesson: Genesis 3:15 (KJV) or Luke 24:44 (NKJV) or Romans 11:36 (KJV) or 1 Corinthians 15:22-28 (NASB) or Ephesians 1:9-12 (ESV) or Ephesians 3:4-12 (KJV) or Colossians 1:13-20 (NKJV).
We have family and friends who still have not trusted in Jesus. Begin praying for their salvation today!
With little prayer, there is little power.
Who is depending on you to pray for them? Take a moment to pray for them now.
The more you pray, the more you’re admitting your need of God.
Consider writing your prayer requests in a journal and keeping record of answered prayer.
Bible References
Read the Bible in your own language here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the Authorized King James Version (AKJV) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the King James Version (KJV) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the New King James Version (NKJV) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the New American Standard Bible (NASB) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read about the English Standard Version (ESV) here and its copyright here courtesy of www.biblegateway.com.
Read the Bible in its original Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek languages or Septuagint couresty of BLB www.blueletterbible.org.
The automatic reference tagger courtesy of FaithlifeReftagger www.faithlife.com/products/reftagger.