Exploring the Whole Bible

We all have favorite Bible stories — or more precisely, sub-stories. Often they're about Jesus in the New Testament. That makes sense, especially for people who are focused on introducing people to Jesus Christ. But people who disciple others must love and know Scripture far beyond a few favorite New Testament (sub-)stories.

There are lots of reasons for this. Here are just three.

First, in all books, smaller sub-stories draw their meaning from the whole story in which they exist. So knowing the whole story of the Bible (a collection of many books) helps ensure that its smaller sub-stories are proclaimed clearly and taught truthfully. Without that fuller context, it's easy and common for sub-stories to be shaped into a personal perspective or interpreted through a fuzzy lens.

Second, Jesus himself read, knew, studied, and taught from the Hebrew scriptures, what we call the Old Testament. That was his Bible. It didn't get erased or eliminated when Jesus arrived or when the New Testament was compiled. Instead it was connected and completed. What Jesus knew, believed, studied, and trusted, we should too. We read and study the Old Testament through the lens of Jesus' life, crucifixion, resurrection, and eternal reign, which reframes parts of the Old Testament because, remember, all smaller sub-stories are read within the context of the whole story.

Third, the written story of Jesus begins in Genesis 1:1. According to John and Colossians, he is the Creator through and for whom everything was made. He is the promised Messiah of God's chosen people who were rescued from slavery and exiled into foreign lands. He is descended from the line of King David. He was foretold by the prophets. He is the answer to the problem, the cure for the disease, the light in the darkness, and the way for the lost. While the New Testament stories open the page on this full story, it offers a framed and finite perspective. People can absolutely meet, love, and follow Jesus as he is revealed in the New Testament, and countless have. But the New Testament contains countless elements, allusions, and details that only make full sense when considered and understood within the full story of the Bible.

As someone grows in their life of discipleship, they should also grow in their knowledge of scripture. They should read both deeper into the parts they already know and wider into the parts that are new. This must start with leaders and disciplers, who can then pass on a love and understanding of the full story to their students.

Ways to weave the Old Testament into discipling young believers

• Provide brief context and explanation whenever a New Testament story mentions something from the Old Testament. A basic study Bible will help with this, or check out the Bible Study sites linked in Useful Stuff.​
• Read through the B. C. Flyover​ yourself and with students who are ready for it. It breaks the Old Testament into major episodes and provides a clear story progression that leads to Jesus.
• Work through The Story of God​ series (coming Summer 2024) for a basic overview of major Old Testament characters and events.
• In your small groups and one-on-ones, read regularly from Psalms and Proverbs which offer deep reflection, praise, worship, and wisdom even without extensive knowledge of ancient Hebrew culture and context.
• Make use of BibleProject videos, both their How to Read the Bible​ series and their overviews of Old Testament books.

Reflect - Discuss

• How do you currently engage with the full story of the Bible?
• What parts of the Bible are you least familiar with? How can you begin to read and learn more about those?
• What parts of the Bible do you not focus on in your discipling relationships? Why?
• What are some specific ways that knowing the full story of the Bible influences how you teach and talk about select sub-stories?