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 will be updated as we progress through 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.
As we learn to interpret the narratives in the Torah, both the negative and the positive, we’ll see how God works in the midst of it all and calls us into his story, inviting us to walk in the steps of our ancestors who came before us.
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. Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs depict how to navigate life’s complexity. Through poetry and narrative, the Bible shows us following Jesus is more than just acquiring knowledge. It’s about seeing reality the way God sees it and learning how to live within it—in short, it’s about becoming a person of wisdom.
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
ESV Study Bible (requires subscription)
Bible Gateway (requires subscription)
For recommendations on the best print commentaries out there, check out BestCommentaries.com
BOOKS
HOW TO STUDY THE BIBLE
WHAT IS THE BIBLE ABOUT
TECHNICAL BOOKS ABOUT THE BIBLE
STUDY BIBLES
BLOGS/ARTICLES
“How Bible Translations Work” by Midtown Fellowship
“Why Should I Trust the Bible?” Part 1 and Part 2 by Midtown Fellowship
“Reading the Bible With Your Head (and Not Lose Your Heart)” by Bible Project
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.