For some, it was by memorizing key scriptures, like John 3:16, or Deuteronomy 6:4-5. This is a great way to remember core truths about God, life and ourselves.
Another formative way to learn about the Bible is through individual stories. Like the many stories of Jesus and the parables He tells in the Gospels. Or individual stories from the Old Testament, like Moses meeting God in the burning bush. Knowing the stories is vital to understanding our faith.
It’s true that we won’t get very far in the Bible trying to read it like one novel. It is a collection of stories, history, poems and letters, written over thousands of years by different people, yet inspired by the same Holy Spirit and connected by a thread of God’s purpose that is revealed in Jesus and which continues to unfold in this world.
Which means our faith grows best when it is rooted in the big story of God. The more familiar we are with how it all fits together, the more we can appreciate the images and references we see, and the more connections we make within the Bible and to what God is telling us today.
For 2026, we are inviting the church community at First Baptist to build on their understanding of God’s story by watching two short videos a week on the books of the Bible and key themes of the Bible.
These videos are produced by the Bible Project, a nonprofit ministry with the goal of helping people see the big story of God that leads to Jesus by using art and scholarship to present scripture in a clear, grounded way.
By the time we are done – whatever your familiarity with scripture, those who watch will have a better understanding of what is in the Bible and how it all fits together, helping us in our own Bible study.
Links to the videos will be posted weekly in the eLink and on the church’s Facebook page. They each take an average of 7-10 minutes to watch. We will also include links to follow up questions and discussion material through the week if you would like to use them as part of your personal or family devotional time.
I’ve found these videos to be an amazing and helpful resource, and can’t wait to see how the Bible comes alive in new ways for the church as we explore them together.
– Pastor Brian
