1.
The Story of God
And His Relationship with Us
As Found in Very Concise Summaries of the Main Point from Each Book of the Bible

2.
In the Beginning
In Genesis, God creates everything and is the Ruler of all creation.Tragically,
humanity falls into sin and death. God, though, begins His plan of redemption.
Then in Exodus, God begins fulfilling His promise by multiplying
Abraham’s descendants into a great nation, delivering them from
slavery into the Promised Land. Moses receives the Ten
Commandments.
Leviticus’ message is that God is holy and requires His people to
be holy. Priests and people of Israel are instructed on worship,
the priesthood, cleanliness, feasts and holy days.
In Numbers, God, says He cannot ignore rebellion or unbelief,
but also promises to be faithful and patient to provide for the
needs of his people.
Deuteronomy reminds us of God’s faithfulness and love, but also
of His wrath. We are called to love and obey the one true God.

3.
God Loves His People
Through military victories under Joshua, Israel conquers the land and divides it among the twelve
tribes. In these battles it is clear that God fights for his people when they are “strong and courageous”.
In Judges, the people abandon the Lord. God punishes them by
raising up a foreign power to oppress them. The people cry out to
God for deliverance. So, God provides a deliverer.
God’s care for his people and his willingness to accept all people
who seek Him is demonstrated in the life of Ruth.
God establishes Israel’s government by directing (1) Samuel to
appoint Saul as Israel’s first king. David kills the giant Goliath
becoming the leader of Saul’s army. Saul, however, becomes
jealous of David, forcing David to flee.
In 2 Samuel, David reigns as king of Israel. David has many successes, but after his sin
against Bathsheba and her husband, his kingdom and his family fall into chaos. David
then becomes “a man after God’s own heart”, a model of heartfelt prayer and repentance

4.
People Sin, God is Faithful
1 Kings tells of the death of David and the reign of his son Solomon, who receives great wisdom and wealth
from God. Solomon’s unfaithfulness, however, causes the people to desert God. With the construction of
God’s temple, people are warned not to serve other gods, but they fall away.
2 Kings describes Elijah’s ministry in Israel and his successor, Elisha. Despite their teachings, Israel spirals
downward. God, though, remains faithful to His promise to the people.
1 Chronicles is the history of the kingdom of David showing his deep interest in worship and plans for the
construction of God’s temple. We are reassured again of God’s faithfulness toward his people.
2 Chronicles tells us of the nation Judah’s fall into sin which leads to the exile. Judah has several godly kings,
including Hezekiah and Josiah, but it still declines into sin. God remains faithful.

5.
God is in Our Lives
God’s temple is rebuilt. Ezra the prophet arrives, but the people
fall into sin, again. Ezra shows God’s power in faithfulness to His
promises.
Nehemiah does what God put into his heart and finds the “joy of
the Lord is his strength”.
Persia tries to eradicate the Jewish minority, but God has
prepared Esther “for such a time as this” to save His people. We
see God’s sovereign hand preserving His people, showing that
everything is under His control.
This test of Job’s faith, allowed by God in response to a
challenge from Satan, reveals God’s loving sovereignty and the
supremacy of divine wisdom over human wisdom. Believing that
God is good despite significant pains, Job keeps his faith in God.
In agony he proclaims, “I know that my Redeemer lives”. God
restores Job.

6.
God is in Our Lives
The Psalms are songs and prayers offered to God by the nation of
Israel. They acknowledge the one and only living God.
Proverbs provides practical wisdom for living, sharing that the essence
of wisdom and a good life is to respect, revere, and submit to God.
Ecclesiastes describes Solomon questioning the meaning of life. He
saw the futility in chasing after things, but says the person who loves
and respects the Lord can then enjoy God’s good gifts.
The Song of Solomon are love poems between a man and a woman
that celebrate the sexual relationship God intended for marriage. And
they illustrate the mutual love of Christ with His people/church.

7.
God’s Salvation Plan
Isaiah warns us that the sin of the people of Judah will bring God’s judgment. This prophet, though, speaks of a
“servant,” a “man of sorrows,” who would be “pierced for our transgressions,” accomplishing God’s salvation plan.
Jeremiah declares the coming judgment of God. We hear God’s call for
repentance and righteousness by both individuals and nations.
Lamentations poems express grief over the fall of Jerusalem. In the
nation’s fall is hope for God’s compassion and faithfulness.
Ezekiel shows God is present with power over human affairs. Ezekiel
prophesied hope and reassurance for people…“I have no pleasure in the
death of anyone, so turn and live” says God.
Daniel shows God’s sovereignty and power in human affairs.
Hosea describes how prosperity becomes moral decay when Israel
forsook God to worship idols. He warned of the punishment that would
come unless the people returned to God and remained faithful.
Joel urges everyone to repent, and tells of a day when God will “pour out
His Spirit” on all people.

8.
God in the Nations
Amos tells of Israel’s political stability, which brings prosperity. It
also, however, is a time of idolatry, extravagance, and corruption.
God remembers His promise with Israel and restores a faithful
remnant of the nation.
Obadiah reminds us that God is sovereign over all the nations. The
house of Jacob is restored because of God’s love for His people.
When God sent Jonah to Nineveh, he rebelled, was swallowed by a
fish, prayed and repented, then fulfilled his mission by calling on the
people to repent. God spared Nineveh.
Micah tells us of a royal deliverer who would save God’s people and
nations from all their enemies. This deliverer is to be born in
Bethlehem.

9.
God’s Rightful Status
Nahum says God is sovereign. He punishes whom He will and they cannot stop
Him.
Habakkuk says God judges all nations. The righteous shall live by faith while
awaiting salvation.
God’s passes judgment on corruption and wickedness, but also has plans to
restore Judah. Zephaniah speaks of the coming “day of the Lord,” when sin will be
punished, justice will prevail, and a remnant of the faithful people will be saved.
Haggai says the Lord was not pleased with the neglect of His temple. The
rebuilding of the temple symbolizes God’s restored presence with his people.
Zechariah encourages people to repent and renew their relationship with God. He
reassures us of God’s abiding comfort and care.
Malachi calls the priesthood to repentance for corruption, the problems of routine
worship, divorce which is common, and social justice which is ignored. He predicts
the coming of John the Baptist and Jesus, calling both a “messenger” of God.

10.
Who is Jesus?
Matthew identifies Jesus as the promised Savior of our sins, describing Christ’s 3 year ministry, death and
resurrection. Peter said “You are the Christ, the son of the living God”.
Mark teaches that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Luke records Christ’s life from before his birth through his ministry, death, and resurrection. He reminds us that
Jesus’s purpose is to seek and save the lost.
John was written to persuade people to believe in Jesus. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”

11.
The Christian Church
Acts records the start of the Christian church as Jesus’
disciples took the gospel message from Jerusalem to the rest
of the Mediterranean world. The attention then shifts to Paul,
a critical witness to Jesus.
Romans shows us that the righteousness of God is through
faith for all people who believe. Paul explains we are
“justified” to God through faith.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul urges believers to be unified and to
give ourselves fully to “the work of the Lord”. He stresses the
nature and importance of love - patience, kindness, rejoices
with truth, and endures all things.
In 2 Corinthians, Paul says suffering highlights our
dependence on Christ, because it points to Christ’s strength.

12.
God’s Grace
Galatians says all believers enjoy a complete salvation in Jesus Christ
by His free gift of grace. We are not made right with God by good works,
but through faith in Jesus.
Ephesians describes God’s eternal plan for all humanity has been made
known to us in Jesus Christ. Sinners are made alive and gain eternal
salvation “by grace... through faith”. We are to put on the armor of God
against the devil.
Philippians teaches that our joy and thanksgiving will overflow with the
secret of being content in any situation (“I can do all things through Him
who strengthens me”).
Colossians says Christ is superior over all human philosophies and
traditions. We should leave our sinful lives behind and live in a godly way.

13.
God’s Grace
1 Thessalonians encourages new believers in faith to live a godly
life and gives us the assurance of an eternal life for believers.
2 Thessalonians - don’t worry, God will repay your persecutors.
In 1 Timothy, Paul counsels Timothy on matters of church
leadership - how to worship, qualifications, false teaching, etc.
In 2 Timothy, Paul exhorts Timothy (and all believers) to
boldness, endurance, and faithfulness in the face of false
teaching. Paul emphasizes the importance of sound doctrine.

14.
Christian Living
Titus offers encouragement and wisdom. Good Christian
behavior is based on the truth that “the grace of God has
appeared, bringing salvation for all people…so live self-
controlled, upright, and godly lives”.
Philemon encourages reconciliation and healthy relationships
between Christians.
Hebrews Christians, in a time of trial, are to focus on the
absolute supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ.
James practically and faithfully reminds Christians how to live
- from perseverance to true faith to controlling one’s tongue,
submitting to God’s will, and having patience.

15.
Christian Living
The Rock, in 1 Peter, tells us to stand strong, trust the Lord, live obediently no
matter the circumstances, and keep our hope fixed on God’s ultimate promise
of deliverance into heaven. Suffering is to be expected, but it is temporary and
yields great blessings for those who remain strong.
2 Peter reminds us that just as God once destroyed the world with water, he
will one day bring his fire back to it. Therefore, we should live in “holiness and
godliness”, as Christ will return to pass a final judgment on all people.
1 John reaffirms the core of Christianity - either we exhibit the sound doctrine,
obedience, and love that all Christians should characterize, or else we are not
true Christians.
2 John warns against false teaching.
3 John says pride can divide us if we are not living by God’s Word.
Jude warns against those who pervert the grace of God.

16.
In the End
Revelation provides the vision of judgment on people. The church is under great distress, but is assured of the
final triumph of Jesus as “King of kings and Lord of lords”, bringing an end to the rebellion of humanity and
initiating “a new heaven and a new earth” where God himself will reign forever.

17.
Are there any parallels in the Bible to today’s
culture, people and nations?

18.
What is the Bible? How did we get it?
1. Bible was written over a span of 1400 years by 40 different
people in 3 different languages, yet it tells a consistent story.
2. There are now over 66,000 manuscripts of the Bible found
from ancient times, far more than any work of history or
classical literature.
3. Two non-Christian Roman historians, Tacitus and Josephus,
wrote about Christ 2000 years ago, confirming His existence.
Evidence That Demands A Verdict (McDowell, 2017)