1. Shepherd of the Hills Church
Bible 101
Dean Biebert, Pastor
Shepherd of the Hills Church

2. Intro & Lesson 1 Objective Truth Table of Contents
Seven Basic Rules for Understanding the Bible Correctly
Lesson One – Message of the Bible

3. As God watches, we clearly reveal the truth to everyone.
2 Corinthians 4:2
As God watches, we clearly reveal the truth to everyone.

4. Table of Contents The Bible’s Message
The Beginning of the World and Its Problems
Tracing God’s Promise from Adam to Jesus
A. The Life of Jesus B. Holy Week
The Holy Trinity

5. Table of Contents The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit Uses Law and Gospel
God Uses Baptism to Get to Us
God Uses the Lord’s Supper to Get to Us
Prayer

6. Table of Contents How Far Is Too Far?
His-story from Jesus until Judgment Day
The Church, Churches, and Christian Support
Christian Marriage and Family
Helping People Learn about Jesus – Our Highest Vocation

7. 7 Basic Rules for Understanding the Bible Correctly
Always ask, “What do the Bible words mean?”
Take into account what the original languages say.
Remember the context. Most misunderstandings about the Bible come from taking Bible sections out of context. Look carefully at the verses before and after each section as well as the purpose and aim of the book it’s in.

8. 7 Basic Rules for Understanding the Bible Correctly
Let the Bible explain itself. For example, the New Testament helps make the Old Testament make more sense.
Always use clearer Bible sections to make sense of unclear topics.

9. 7 Basic Rules for Understanding the Bible Correctly
No explanation of a Bible section may contradict frequent, clear teachings of the Bible.

10. 7 Basic Rules for Understanding the Bible Correctly
7. Take the Bible literally unless the Bible itself tells you not to. Take the words in their simple, literal sense. Don’t try to come up with “hidden” meanings. If the Bible’s using picture language, you’ll be able to tell from the context. Be aware of ordinary figures of speech. The Bible uses them the same as normal books.

11. Lesson One: The Bible’s Message
Introduction
The Bible works – on our heads and in our hearts.
There are no stupid questions.
We will go at your pace, not mine.
God tells us the way it is, not always why it is, or how it is.

12. Lesson One: The Bible’s Message
What is the Bible’s Message?
God loves us and wants to forgive us. He made people part of His family on earth forever.
(Genesis 1:1; John 20:31)
Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning God created the universe and the earth.
John 20:31 – This is written so that you will put your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. If you have faith in Him, you will have real life.

13. Lesson One: The Bible’s Message
What is Bible’s Message?
2) People, as a group and individually, rejected God’s plan. Humanity is selfish.
(Genesis 3:1-6; Ecclesiastes 7:20)
Genesis 3:1-6 – Genesis 3:1-6 (NIV) 1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 –

14. Lesson One: The Bible’s Message
What is the Bible’s Message?
3) God has principles. He says sin is wrong. He must punish each and every sin.
(Ezekiel 18:20)

15. Lesson One: The Bible’s Message
What is the Bible’s Message?
4) God is love and wants to rescue all people from never-ending punishment.
(1 Timothy 2:4)

16. Lesson One: The Bible’s Message
What is the Bible’s Message?
5) God’s love and God’s justice met at Jesus’ cross.
(Romans 3:25-26)

17. Lesson One: The Bible’s Message
What is the Bible’s Message?
Jesus suffered our punishment even though we deserve the opposite. We can live forever by depending on what Jesus did in our place.
(John 3:16)
God’s Love
God’s Justice

18. Lesson One: The Bible’s Message
What is the Bible’s Message?
The Bible’s message is Jesus! John 5:39

19. Lesson One: The Bible’s Message
What does the Bible say about all my problems in life?
1) The Bible says my problems have a connection to my big problem of being a sinner.
(James 4:1-5; Galatians 5:19-21)

20. Lesson One: The Bible’s Message
What does the Bible say about all the problems I have in this life?
2) The Bible says the solution to my problems, even my big problem, is Jesus.
(Colossians 2:1-4; Titus 2:11-14)

21. Lesson One: The Bible’s Message
What does the Bible say about all the problems I have in this life?
Example: If my problem is that someone has hurt me, the Bible shows me how to forgive.
(Ephesians 4:32)

22. Lesson One: The Bible’s Message
What does the Bible say about all the problems I have in this life?
Example: If my problem is low self-esteem, the Bible reminds me who I am as I depend on Jesus.
(1 Peter 2:9)

23. Lesson One: The Bible’s Message
What’s in the Bible?
The Old Testament is the collection of books that God put into writing before Jesus came. (Hebrew – 39 books)
The New Testament is the collection of books that God put into writing after Jesus went back to heaven. (Greek – 27 books)

24. Lesson One: The Bible’s Message
What’s in the Bible?
The Old Testament Bookshelf
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
The Books of Law (5)
The Books of History (12)
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Songs
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
The Books of Poetry (5)
The Books of the Major Prophets (5)
The Books of the Minor Prophets (12)

25. Lesson One: The Bible’s Message
What’s in the Bible?
The New Testament Bookshelf
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
The Gospels (4)
History (1)
Letters by Paul (13)
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
General Letters (8)
Prophecy (1)

26. Lesson One: The Bible’s Message
Why did God give us the Old and New Testaments?
The Old Testament shows God’s promises about a Savior to His people.
The New Testament shows Jesus’ life and letters to Christians.

27. Lesson One: The Bible’s Message
Why did God give us the Old and New Testaments?
The Old Testament shows us God’s promises about a Savior to His people.
The New Testament shows us Jesus’ life and letters to Christians. OT NT

28. Lesson One: The Bible’s Message
Homework:
Isaiah wrote his Bible book in Hebrew 700 years before Jesus. Matthew wrote his book in Greek a few decades after Jesus went back to His home. Read Isaiah 53 and Matthew 26:17 to the end of chapter 28. As you read, compare Isaiah to Matthew. In the spaces below, write the verses from the two books that go with each other. Matthew shows how Jesus made Isaiah’s predictions come true.
For example: Isaiah 53:3 (People would reject Jesus.) Matthew 26:67 (People beat Jesus up and spit on Him.)