We started this new series, for Week 1, on Friday and Saturday. That was Week 1, Days 1-2. We are now on Week 2, Days 1-2.
We talked about
the Bible being 66 books, starting with Genesis and ending with
Revelation. The Bible is divided into 2
large sections called the Old and New Testament (NT). The Old Testament (OT) includes stories about
the creation of the world all the way to prophets of GOD prophesying about
JESUS coming to earth 400 years or more before HE actually did come to
earth. So, the end of the OT was written
about 400 years before JESUS came to earth at the beginning of the NT.
The OT is full of
GOD explaining the victorious way to live on the earth, yet giving people
choice about whether to live HIS way or their own way. We learn that the word “sins” refer to the
things that are contrary to how GOD designed us to live. Yet, HE doesn’t force us to live HIS way; we each
make our own choices. GOD’s way is just the right way (righteous way) to live.
Since we've already talked about JESUS being there at creation, let's consider these 2 names of JESUS. HE is:
- Alpha and Omega
- Beginning and End
Many people have
only heard of the 10 commandments given by GOD in the OT, but in fact there are a
total of 613 commands in the OT. Bible scholars
have divided those 613 commands of GOD into 2 categories of positive and negative
commands. The 248 positive commands tell of good things to
do and the 365 negative commands tell what not to do. They are all found in the first 5 books of
the Bible, called “The Books of Law”.
In children’s
Bible classes, I usually teach kids to remember the books of the Bible in
this way:
5-12-5-5-12:
·
5 books
of Law (as described above)
·
12
books of History (History of GOD’s people)
·
5
books of Poetry (diverse books of encouragement)
·
5
books of Minor Prophets (minor refers to shorter books)
·
5
books of Major Prophets (major refers to longer books)
4-1-21-1:
·
4 Gospels
(telling of JESUS life on earth from 4 different people/perspectives)
·
1 book
of History (JESUS’ return to heaven and the beginning of the church)
·
21 Letters
(written to encourage new Christians and local churches)
· 1 book of Prophecy (the end times and our future after this world)
This visual might help you grasp how the 66 books are divided:
Day 1 Assignment:
1) Spend some time trying to internalize/memorize
the 5-12-5-5-12 pattern and what it stands for.
2) Spend some time trying to
internalize/memorize the 4-1-21-1 pattern and what it stands for.
Day 2 Assignment:
1) Become familiar with the pictures in this OT
Timeline that I compiled many years ago.
2) If
you have the time and motivation, see if you can eventually internalize/memorize
the 16 pictures, in order, that tell the overview story of the OT – Enjoy!:
a. GOD
b. Creation
c. Given choice
d. Covenant
e. Tower of Babel
f. Family of Abraham
g. Family of Jacob
h. Tribes of Judah
i. Plagues/Passover/Red Sea
j. Ten Commandments
k. Tabernacle
l. Pleasing GOD in the wilderness?
m. Promised land/Judges
n. Kingdom United
o. Kingdom Divided
p. WAP: Prophets Warn, Announce, and Point to JESUS
