TEACHING | RESOURCES | TEXT-IN QUESTIONS

The Bible is one of the most influential books ever written. It’s the most studied, most scrutinized, most debated, and, for many, the most life-changing book the world has ever known. 

But…it’s complex. It’s a library written by people far removed from our language, circumstances, and culture. It’s written in wildly different genres - like poetry, prophecy, letters, and history - and covers events spanning thousands of years. These unique features can make it challenging to figure out and comprehend why certain parts matter.

It’s understandable. But it doesn’t have to be that way. 

So we’re undertaking a project unlike any we’ve ever done. We’re taking an entire year to grow our ability to read and understand the message of the whole Bible. 

We’re calling it a “Year of Biblical Literacy.” 

The goal is that this year in the Bible will empower you to read the Bible for the rest of your life. We want it to be a year of reading and studying the Bible that will transform not only how you approach it but also your life and future.

This section will be updated throughout the year. Stay tuned!

It’s often said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” 

As we look at the first five books of Scripture, stories abound of those who trusted God and those who did not. Some, through faith, went on to be ancestors who blessed those after them. Others proved to be ghosts that haunt their lineage with heartache and pain. 

The story of Ruth centers around one of the most vulnerable and marginalized figures in the Old Testament. This series examines God’s sovereignty over all of life and how God uses unlikely people to bring hope and healing to the world.

How do we become people who build our lives on God’s wisdom rather than ruining them? How do we navigate life and all its complexities? How do we make sense of death and suffering? How about friendships, wealth, and decision-making? What about sex and marriage? 

These questions are where the Old Testament’s wisdom books come in - they depict how to navigate life’s complexity.

The prophets are a diverse group of writings.

The book of Habakkuk, in particular, speaks to us on our journey to Christian maturity. It mirrors the moments we all encounter—when our understanding of God’s character seems at odds with our current circumstances, when we question God’s plans, and when injustice, both individually and collectively, seems to prevail.

The Psalms are a unique collection of 150 poems, songs, and prayers covering approximately 1,000 years of Israel’s history. The writers cover everything from hatred to pure joy and nearly everything in between.

Amidst the raw emotions, the Psalms offer a beacon of hope. They guide us to understand what’s going on in our hearts and how to realign ourselves with reality, offering a path to transformation and spiritual growth. 

How would you summarize Jesus’ teachings? Depending on who you ask, you’re likely to get different answers. However, Jesus’ summary statement is actually one of his first statements in the Gospels: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 

In other words, Jesus’ life and teachings are all about ushering in God’s loving rule and reign on Earth as it is in Heaven. So what might His kingdom look like in our city, and how do we faithfully follow Him in our time and place?

Near the tail end of our Year of Biblical Literacy, we come to the rich, dense book of Hebrews. It’s full of callbacks and history, threads pulled from all across the Old Testament. The author assumes intimate knowledge of the old covenant –the sacrificial system, the tabernacle, the promised land–and then shows that they were incomplete, only “copies and shadows.” 

Each is an arrow pointing to Christ, who himself becomes the mediator of the new covenant–the perfect high priest, the meeting place between God and man, the source of eternal rest for those united to him.

Check out our teaching series above throughout the year for more specific resources on passages and genres in the Bible.

 

PRACTICES

 

READING PLANS

 

THE MIDTOWN PODCAST

This will be updated as we progress through the year. Stay tuned!

 

HOW-TO HANDOUTS

ONLINE COMMENTARIES

 

PODCASTS

(iTunes)

 

BOOKS

HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE

WHAT IS THE BIBLE ABOUT

TECHNICAL BOOKS ABOUT THE BIBLE

STUDY BIBLES

 

BLOGS/ARTICLES

Throughout the year, we want to know the concepts and passages you wrestle with. We'll answer some of these questions in podcast episodes throughout the year.

To submit your topic or question, text either "DOWNTOWN", “LEXINGTON”, OR “TWO NOTCH” followed by your topic to 855-855-0655.