Started from Genesis, now we're here
This series is all about helping young people grasp the essence of the Bible and why it matters in our lives. We're here to break down any barriers that might keep us from diving into the Bible ourselves and to ignite a passion for its significance. We'll tackle common misconceptions and demonstrate how this ancient text is still totally relevant to our modern lives. By the time we're through, we aim to fuel a genuine love for the Bible, a deeper comprehension of its teachings, and empower us to connect with it daily.
Understanding what the Bible is and what it is for
Session 1 - Introduction to the Bible as a whole
Session 2 - What is the Old Testament?
Session 3 - What is the New Testament?
Session 4 - Jesus and the Bible
Session 5 - Isn’t the Bible cultural?
Session 6 - Reading the Bible for ourselves
Session 1 - Introduction to the Bible as a whole
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
Psalm 119:105
Introduction
In this session, it’s important to speak about the purpose of the Bible and counteract misunderstandings and misconceptions about it.
Point 1 -
‘The Bible is irrelevant’ NOT!
The Bible was written over thousands of years go, it is sometimes hard for us to understand it and connect it to our lives.
But the stories it tells are relatable to our experiences, if we’re able to overcome the obstacles and be patient enough to seek and understand it.
Remember, nothing in life worth doing is ever easy!
Point 2 -
If we don’t understand that the Bible is a collection of books - not just one book - we can easily make the mistake of reading it in the wrong way.
Learning to appreciate what the Bible is trying to achieve will help us see its drama and its importance.
Point 3 -
‘The Bible is God’s instruction about how to live’
This isn’t entirely wrong, but certainly isn’t the main purpose of the the Bible.
We have the Bible because God is a good and kind God who loves us and wants us to know Him. It is a gift by God’s grace.
By telling us the story of God and his people over generations, we get to know what God is like.
Conclusion -
Psalm 119 talks about God’s Word as a light, yes it helps us to navigate life but, more than that it illuminates God Himself!
The Bible is unlike any other book. The Holy Spirit works through it so we can not only understand truths about God but actually meet with him through these Truths!
Towards the end of his ministry Jesus told his disciples the Holy Spirit would help them remember everything He had taught them (John 14:26) so that they could write it all down.
The New Testament is the result! Jesus had you and me in mind when He commissioned the New Testament.
Questions -
Do you or your family read the Bible regularly?
Who can you talk to when you have any questions about the Bible?
Do you have a section/story from the Bible you have enjoyed or has made you think?
Share how you read the Bible and ask your small group leader to say what they do.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you read it in a way that means you get to know the person of Jesus more.
Session 2 - What is the Old Testament?
Introduction -
The purpose of this session is to explain the big story and main themes of the Old Testament.
Similar to the first session, it’s important to emphasise God’s role and not just present the events as a human story.
God has preserved a faithful record of His people in the past so that the subsequent generations know the story, but most importantly so that we understand God and who He is.
Point 1 -
The Law was given not because God was a grumpy school-teacher but because He loved His people and wanted to restrict their sinful tendencies, focus their wandering hearts on Him, and protect them against illness and injury.
God isn’t any different in the OT than he is in the NT just because he gave the Law.
OT God does not equal grumpy God.
Point 2 -
There are a lot of different types of literature in the OT. Some books are history and records, some are poems and songs, some are prophetic and therefore harder to follow.
Point 3 -
Throughout the OT we have a God who is loving and just, engaging with a world and a people who are sinful and broken.
Sometimes we see God’s judgement, sometimes we see God’s patience and other times we see the effects of sin played out between different people.
But we also see God’s faithfulness and kindness to undeserving people. This is what the OT is all about!
Conclusion -
The way in which the OT anticipates the NT and the coming of the Messiah is one of the key themes.
We need to strike a balance between the OT not being irrelevant and an important revelation of God, but also its role in pointing away from itself and to a coming Messiah - Jesus!
Questions -
Do you have any rules you have to stick to? Do you know why they are in place? Maybe even in a sports game?
Do you have any questions from this talk?
Can you think of any OT stories that make you think of Jesus?
Do you have any more questions about the value of the Old Testament? Can you see God's faithfulness?
Can you think of ways that God has shown His kindness to you?
Session 3 - What is the New Testament?
Introduction -
The New Testament will most likely be the more familiar of the two to our youth.
The NT may also feel more accessible to young people.
There are still many misconceptions to correct and explanations to give.
Point 1 -
Firstly, the NT should be presented as a continuation of the OT story.
The NT is different to the OT in many ways but there is continuity in the Bible that shouldn’t be neglected.
It’s not a coincidence that Jesus became a Jewish man and gathered Jewish disciples around Him. He was taking his place in the unfolding story of God’s rescue plan for the world.
So, to carry on from this, God’s salvation promise started with Abraham, extended to his family, this family became a nation (Israel), and through one Man, Jesus, the promise gets thrown wide to the whole world.
Point 2 -
The New Testament begins with the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life but like we see the connection between Luke-Acts, the ministry of Jesus and the birth of the Church are intrinsically linked by the activity of the Holy Spirit.
The NT has different types of literature just like we explained last time with the OT.
Historical accounts (Gospels and Acts), Letters of instruction and teaching (Epistles) and prophecy (Revelation) are all in there and parallel with the OT in this way.
Point 3 -
Finally, the Early Church was said to have ‘turned the world upside down’ (Acts 17:6).
- e.g. the letters to Rome, Colossae, Philippi, these were real places where the Gospel had spread.
In the face of persecution, Christians saw town after town, city after city won for Christ in the space of just a few generations.
The drama of the Early Church should give context to the sometimes obscure references in the NT.
Conclusion -
The NT is very similar to the OT despite what a lot of people say.
It isn’t a different story but a continuation of the OT.
Throughout the OT we see glimpses of the character of Jesus but in the NT we get to read about the real deal! - The One who died for us.
Getting the young people to be excited about the NT and history of the NT period will fuel a desire to read it for themselves!
Questions -
Name something you found interesting from this talk?
What stands out in the New Testament that is different to the Old?
Do you believe Jesus came to live among men and died for you?
Do you get why your youth leaders get excited about the church as we see the birth of her in the NT?
Have you tried reading any of the Bible these last few weeks at home?
Session 4 - Jesus and the Bible
Introduction -
Jesus is not a character in the Bible who just appears in the New Testament.
Jesus is the second member of the trinity, the revelation of the eternal God, eternally co-existent with the Father and Spirit.
Jesus is constantly present throughout the pages of Scripture.
Point 1 -
When it comes to the Bible it’s all about Jesus!
Jesus is referred to as the word of God - (John 1).
But, what does this statement actually mean?
Point 2 -
Firstly, the story of the Bible points to Jesus.
All the drama in the OT anticipates the coming of the Messiah.
The NT is, essentially, an unpacking of the Gospel, of who Jesus is and what He has done.
The NT testament finishes with an anticipation and promise of His return.
Point 3 -
Secondly, it means that Jesus is present throughout the Bible.
The OT characters and themes reflect Jesus and the Gospel. We see stories of heroes of salvation, of forgiveness and blessing, faithfulness and truth. These are all pointing to the Saviour who is to come.
Point 4 -
Thirdly, it means getting to know the Bible is getting to know Jesus. This is what the Bible is for.
Our personal relationship with Him is cultivated by being in His Word.
Bible study is not supposed to be an academic exercise. (It can be! The Pharisees love the Bible but missed Jesus!)
The point of knowing and studying the Bible is to get to know Jesus better.
Questions -
What have you learnt from today's talk?
What have you learnt about Jesus these few weeks of teaching on the Bible?
Do you know Jesus personally?
What do you think Jesus is telling you today/this week?
What can we pray about today that you would like Jesus to help you with?
Session 5 - Isn’t the Bible cultural?
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 16-17
Introduction -
One of the obstacles for many people reading the Bible, or engaging with it at all, is the moral issues it throws up..
Many people, even Christians, can feel that the Bible is sexcist, judgemental, transphobic, narrow-minded and regressive, at best irrelevant and at worst downright dangerous.
So, can any modern person really stand by the Bible?
Point 1 -
Yes! Of Course! In fact, we don’t stand by it as if God himself needs us to defend him. We actually submit ourselves to it, joyfully and humbly, just as the disciples found, He ‘has the words of life, where else could we go?’ (John 6:68)
It would be impossible to navigate all the problematic aspects of the Bible in one session but we can explain some principles that will help the young people navigate it for themselves - and to help others!
Point 2 -
Firstly, we have to say that ‘yes’ the Bible is ‘cultural.’ (Every document is!) We need to understand the time and the place that it was written in order that we don’t make the wrong conclusions.
Secondly, the fact that the Bible is ‘cultural’ does not mean in any way that it is deemed irrelevant - Often people say that the Bible is not applicable to our lives today but we shouldn’t jump to that conclusion
Point 3 -
The referenced Scripture reminds us that all Scripture is profitable, to find out how sometimes takes a bit of work
When God’s Word says ‘Love God with all your heart’, we don’t really need to do much work to figure out what it means and whether it’s relevant to us today but when we read ‘don’t’ eat shellfish’ we have to ask a few more questions - e.g. who was God speaking to? Is it descriptive or prescriptive? Does the coming of Jesus change how we should apply this today? In this case, God was speaking to people very different from us and from a part of the Bible where the law is being described.
The fact that Jesus has appeared, fulfilled the Law, died for sin and subsequently appeared to Peter and said that food laws no longer apply to those in Christ - all lead us to a very different conclusion that we may have otherwise.
Point 4 -
The Bible can be difficult to navigate but it is very possible to do so.
Some passages that appear to be very offensive e.g. people being mistreated, are actually examples of sin rather than being examples to emulate.
Conclusion -
At the end of the day, what the Bible has to say is on a different page to what 21st Century Brighton has to say.
It’s not easy to be a Christian in this day and age but the God of the Bible is not a mean God, He is loving and kind and if we strive to understand His Word more at least some of the difficulties we encounter will start to make more sense.
The bottom line is that the Bible is relevant to us, but it’s not all relevant in the same way, becoming familiar with the Bible will help us (and others) from jumping to the wrong conclusions.
Questions -
What did you find interesting about today's talk?
Would you call yourself a Christian?
If so, do you find it hard to be a Christian in Brighton and the surrounding area?
As we heard Jesus fulfilled the law, can we help you get to know Jesus more?
How do you need Jesus to help you?
Do you find it ok telling your friends about Jesus?
Session 6 - Reading the Bible for ourselves
Introduction -
This session is about reading the Bible for yourself. Teaching young people to read the Bible is an invaluable skill that will serve them for a lifetime.
Principles of reading little and often, reading devotionally as well as studying the Bible.This session should be very practical and give young people practical tools to read the Bible for themselves.
This session from Thrive: Everyday is a good reference point: https://vimeo.com/showcase/947...; (password: thrive)
Point 1 - Prioritise
Point 2 - Plan
Point 3 - Prepare
Questions -
Are you interested in making Bible reading a priority?
Do you have a Bible?
When in your day could you fit in reading the Bible?
What would help you read the Bible more?
Can you see the plan online that many Emmanuel members use?
weareemmanuel.com/bible
Read some verses now and see what God says to your heart. Not facts but what is Jesus actually saying to you. Try using the verses from our Bible reading plan.
Let's do it….
Pray for God to help you.
Scripture (Read and think)
Observation (What stands out to you?)
Application (In what way could this affect my life?)
Pray (What can i pray about now?)