The Long Arc of the Bible Story

A collection of literary works from over 40 different authors, plus many anonymous sources such as hymns, traditional sayings, testimonies, songs, etc.

A collection of books written over a 1000 year period of time (apx 1000 BCE - 100 CE)

The Bible was…

Written in biblical Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament)

Accepted in its Christian form in 393 CE through a process called canonization.

What does Scripture say?

(May want to write down these passages to go back to later…)

Isaiah 40:8

The grass dries up; the flower withers, but our God’s word will exist forever.

Romans 15:4

Whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction so that we could have hope through endurance and through the encouragement of the scriptures.

Hebrews 4:12

because God’s word is living, active, and sharper than any two-edged sword. It penetrates to the point that it separates the soul from the spirit and the joints from the marrow. It’s able to judge the heart’s thoughts and intentions.

2 Peter 1:19-21

We also have the prophetic word strongly confirmed, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Above all, you know this: No prophecy of Scripture comes from the prophet’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by the will of man; instead, men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 2:13

We also thank God constantly for this: when you accepted God’s word that you heard from us, you welcomed it for what it truly is. Instead of accepting it as a human message, you accepted it as God’s message, and it continues to work in you who are believers.

Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp before my feet and a light for my journey.

Isaiah 55:11

so is my word that comes from my mouth; it does not return to me empty. Instead, it does what I want, and accomplishes what I intend.

John 1:1–5

1 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. 2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 3 Everything came into being through the Word, and without the Word nothing came into being. What came into being 4 through the Word was life, and the life was the light for all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness doesn’t extinguish the light.

2 Timothy 3:16–17

16 Every scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for showing mistakes, for correcting, and for training character, 17 so that the person who belongs to God can be equipped to do everything that is good.

Our Confession concerning the Bible...

The Bible is God’s communication to humanity.

The Bible is trustworthy as God’s divine message, and it points us to The Truth.

God has entered into human history as seen in Scripture; thus the supernatural does occur.

The Bible is not contradictory in theological meaning; it is unified, yet diverse.

The Bible does contain contradictions. However, those contradictions are best understood as literary devices used by the authors, and do not change the message Scripture is telling.

What is God’s Big Message?

Hebrews 1:1-3 “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe through him. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

John 5:39 “You pore over the Scriptures because you think you have eternal life in them, and yet they testify about me.”

All of Scripture Points to Jesus

Theological Key:

All Scripture points to Jesus, which is to say we don’t put our faith in the Bible. Our faith is in the one of whom the Bible is pointing....Jesus Christ, the living and present Word of God.

The danger here is that when we say things like, “The Bible tells me so....” or “The Bible says it, I believe it!”.... We can easily miss the person the Bible is actually referencing.

In other words, the Word of God is not a 2 dimensional text…the Word of God is a living and present reality!

The Long Arc of God’s Big Message

Creation: Genesis 1:1–2 (CSB) — 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

Sin & Rejection: Genesis 6:5–6 (CSB) — 5 When the Lord saw that human wickedness was widespread on the earth and that every inclination of the human mind was nothing but evil all the time, 6 the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was deeply grieved.

Promise: Genesis 17:7 (CSB) — 7 I will confirm my covenant that is between me and you and your future offspring throughout their generations. It is a permanent covenant to be your God and the God of your offspring after you.

Exodus: Exodus 12:50–51 (CSB) — 50 Then all the Israelites did this; they did just as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron. 51 On that same day the Lord brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt according to their military divisions.

Judgement & Exile: Ezekiel 12:1–2 (CSB) — 1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious house. They have eyes to see but do not see, and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house….Ezekiel 12:11 (CSB) — 11 You are to say, ‘I am a sign for you. Just as I have done, it will be done to them; they will go into exile, into captivity.’

Return: Jeremiah 30:3 (CSB) — 3 for look, the days are coming”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“when I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel and Judah,” says the Lord. “I will restore them to the land I gave to their ancestors and they will possess it.”

Jesus: 1 Peter 1:18–20 (CSB) — 18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life

inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of

Christ, like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you.

Resurrection & New Life: Romans 8:11 (CSB) — 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then he who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through his Spirit who lives in you.

Pentecost: Acts 2:17 (CSB) — 17 And it will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all people; then your sons and your daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.

Acts of the Church: Matthew 16:17–19 (CSB) — 17 Jesus responded, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven.”

Promised Return: John 14:2–3 (CSB) — 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.

New Creation: Revelation 21:1–3 (CSB) — 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband. 3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and will be their God.

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