T H E B I B L E F A S T F O R W A R DPutting the Pieces of the Bible Together

G R E G K O U K LFounder and President of Stand to Reason

www.str.org

W H AT I S T H E B I B L E ?Is it just a collection of parts,

or is it a cohesive whole?

T H E W H O L E I S T H E K E Y T O

U N D E R S TA N D I N G T H E P A R T S

W H AT D O Y O U C A L L I D E A S T H AT C O N N E C T T O G E T H E R

T O F O R M A C O H E S I V E W H O L E ?

W O R L D V I E W

W E A R E G O I N G T O B U I L D A F R A M E W O R K

O F T H E B I B L E T O G E T H E R

2 K I N D S O F T H E O L O G YSystematic Theology and Biblical Theology

S Y S T E M AT I C T H E O L O G YThe main topics of the Bible when it comes

to God’s salvation project

The nature of God

The nature of Man

The coming of Christ

The work of the Cross

The final Resurrection

B I B L I C A L T H E O L O G YThe unfolding plan of God through the

biblical record.

Examining how the central topics of the Bible (revealed by systematic theology) play out in human history. The unfolding story of redemption.

The events and promises and covenants of the Old Testament come to fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ.

O U R F A I T H I S T E S TA B L E B E C A U S E

I T I SH I S T O R I C A L

W H AT W E W I L L C O V E R

The history of Israel in God’s plan of redemption.

How the central topics of the Bible (God, man, sin, cross, resurrection) play out in history.

W H AT W E W I L L C O V E RThe unifying theme of the whole Bible

The essential elements of the Abrahamic Covenant, the Mosaic Covenant, and the New Covenant

How the New Testament and the Old Testament are inseparably linked.

O U R P U R P O S ETo give a practical, historical overview of the Old

Testament emphasizing the unfolding plan of salvation as God reveals it through His covenants with the nation of Israel, and the fulfillment of those covenants in the

person of Jesus of Nazareth.

T H E 1 2 K E Y E V E N T Sof the Nation of Israel

T H E C A L Lof Abraham

T H E B I R T Hof Isaac

J O S E P Hin Egypt

T H E E X O D U S

M O S E Sgets the Law

J O S H U Aconquers the land

T H E T H R E E K I N G S

of the United Kingdom: Saul, David & Solomon

T H E K I N G D O M

S P L I T SIsrael and Judah

T H E A S S Y R I A N

D I S P E R S I O Nof Israel

T H E B A B Y L O N I A N

C A P T I V I T Yof Judah

T H E R E T U R N

to the Land

T H E C O M I N G

of Messiah

1 2 M A J O R E V E N T S1. The Call of Abraham

2. The Birth of Isaac

3. Joseph in Egypt

4. The Exodus

5. Moses Gets the Law

6. Joshua Conquers the land

7. The three kings of the United Kingdom (Saul, David & Solomon)

8. The Kingdom Splits: Israel & Judah

9. The Assyrian Dispersion (of Israel)

11. The Return to the Land

12. The Coming of Messiah

10. The Babylonian Captivity (of Judah)

R E V E L AT I O N I S P R O G R E S S I V E :

Revelation is given in stages

New revelation is always interpreted in light of previous revelation.

W E I N T E R P R E T T H E N .T. I N L I G H T O F T H E O .T.

and NOT the other way around

T H E M A I N T H E M Eof the Bible

C O M M O N A N S W E R SLove

Relationship

Salvation

T H E M A I N T H E M Eof the Bible is:

R U L E R S H I P

R U L E R S H I Por as commonly referred to as:

“The kingdom of God”

The phrase “kingdom of God” is too common to us and has become religious noise.

The idea is the same: God is the sovereign king and He rules everything.

R U L E R S H I Por as commonly referred to as:

“The kingdom of God”

The primary thing men rebel against is the rule of God in their own lives. This is the essence of sin: the rejection of God’s rulership over us.

F A C T:is the central focus the New TestamentT H E K I N G D O M O F G O D

M AT T H E W3:1-2

“Now in those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying,

“Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

J O H N T H E B A P T I S T

M AT T H E W4:4:23

“And Jesus was going about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming

the gospel of the kingdom....”

J E S U S

A C T S19:8

“And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them

about the kingdom of God. ”

P A U L T H E A P O S T L E

F A C T:The phrase “kingdom of God” or

“kingdom of heaven” occurs

O V E R 1 0 0 T I M E Sin the New Testament

From beginning to end, the Bible is all about the

R U L E R S H I Pof God.

F A C T:

W H AT I S O U R R O L Ein God’s plan?

G O D ’ S S T E W A R Dover the Earth

Man is

W E A R E G O D ’ S S T E W A R D SGod has chosen us to rule with Him

on the Earth

Man is not autonomous. We will always be under God’s rulership

Earth was made for man. Nature (including animals) is not above or equal to man.

W E A R E G O D ’ S S T E W A R D SGod has chosen us to rule with Him

on the Earth

We should not ask the question, “What is God’s plan for my life?”

Instead, we should ask, “How does my life fit in God’s plan?”

T H E P R O B L E MMan wants to live outside of God’s

rulership and authority.

Man has rejected God’s rulership over his life, and in doing so brings upon ourselves a problem that only God can solve.

N E X T W E E K :The call of Abraham, The Birth of Isaac

and Joseph in Egypt

B E F O R E W E G O :A reflection from King David about our role in God’s plan

P S A L M8:3-9

When I consider your heavens, the work of your hands, The moon and the stars

which you have ordained,

P S A L M8:3-9

What is man that you take thought of him

Or the son of man that you care for him?

P S A L M8:3-9

Yet you have made him a little lower than God, And crowned him with glory and

majesty!

P S A L M8:3-9

You make him to rule over the works of your hands;

You have put all things under his feet,

P S A L M8:3-9

All sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field,

The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea....

Y O U R N A M Ein all the Earth!

O H L O R D , O U R L O R D !How majestic is

8:3-9P S A L M

S E E Y O U N E X T W E E K !Week 2: The Fall of Man and

the Abrahamic Covenant