The big story
The Bible is sixty-six books, but one story: God making a world, losing it, and winning it back. Here it is in 11 chapters.
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In the beginning
God makes everything out of nothing: light, land, sea, stars, plants and animals. Last of all he makes people, man and woman, in his own image, and places them in a garden to care for his world. Everything is “very good”. God and people live together in peace.
Read Genesis 1:1–2:3God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.
Genesis 1:31 -
Everything goes wrong
Adam and Eve listen to the serpent and choose to decide good and evil for themselves. Trust is broken. They hide from God, blame each other and are sent out of the garden. Pain, death and evil enter the world. But even here, God promises that one day a child will crush the serpent’s head (3:15).
Read Genesis 3They heard Yahweh God’s voice walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden. Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”
Genesis 3:8–9 -
A promise to Abraham
As the world spirals further from God, he chooses one man, Abraham, and makes a promise: “I will bless you… and all the families of the earth will be blessed through you.” God’s plan to put the world right will come through Abraham’s family.
Read Genesis 12:1–9I will make of you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who treates you with contempt. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:2–3 -
Rescued from slavery
Abraham’s descendants, the Israelites, become slaves in Egypt. God hears their cry and sends Moses. Through plagues, the Passover lamb and the parting of the sea, God rescues his people. Rescue by God, through a sacrifice, becomes the pattern for everything that follows.
Read Exodus 14Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh, which he will work for you today: for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall never see them again.
Exodus 14:13 -
A people for God
At Mount Sinai, God makes a covenant with Israel. He gives them his law, the Ten Commandments, to show them how to live as his people, and a tabernacle where he will live among them. They are to show the world what God is like. Again and again they fail.
Read Exodus 19:1–20:17Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice, and keep my covenant, then you shall be my own possession from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
Exodus 19:5–6 -
The kings
In the promised land, Israel asks for a king. Saul fails, but David, “a man after God’s own heart”, is promised that one of his descendants will reign for ever. Solomon builds the temple. But most kings after them lead the people away from God, and the kingdom splits in two.
Read 2 Samuel 7:1–17Your house and your kingdom will be made sure forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.”’”
2 Samuel 7:16 -
Exile and hope
God sends prophets to warn his people, but they won’t listen. Jerusalem falls and the people are taken into exile in Babylon. Yet the prophets also speak of hope: a new covenant, a new heart, a servant who will suffer for others, and a king who will bring peace. Some return home, and they wait.
Read Jeremiah 31:31–34“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,” says Yahweh: I will put my law in their inward parts, and I will write it in their heart. I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jeremiah 31:33 -
Jesus
After four hundred years of waiting, Jesus is born in Bethlehem, from David’s family. He announces that God’s kingdom has come. He heals the sick, welcomes outsiders, forgives sins, calms storms and teaches with authority. He is the promised king, and he is God with us.
Read Mark 1:1–15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and God’s Kingdom is at hand! Repent, and believe in the Good News.”
Mark 1:15 -
The cross and the empty tomb
Jesus is betrayed, condemned and crucified. Like the Passover lamb, he dies in the place of others, taking the world’s sin on himself. On the third day he rises from the dead. Death is defeated and the way back to God is open.
Read Luke 24:1–12He isn’t here, but is risen. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee,
Luke 24:6 -
The Spirit and the church
Jesus returns to his Father and sends the Holy Spirit. The first believers are filled with power and the good news spreads from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. Abraham’s blessing reaches every nation. That story is still going on, and you’re invited into it.
Read Acts 2:1–41Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”
Acts 2:38–39 -
All things new
The Bible ends where it began, with God and people living together, but now in a renewed creation: a city like a garden. There is no more death, mourning or pain. Jesus will return, evil will be judged, and God will make all things new.
Read Revelation 21:1–7He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:4
Where do you fit?
The story isn’t finished. Chapter 10 is still being written, and everyone is invited into it.