The Bible At A Glance

The

BIBLE GLANCE at a

A quick guide to the books of the Bible

From

The

BIBLE GLANCE at a

From

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

2 TIMOTHY 3:16

INTRODUCTION The greatest human words in the world cannot compare with God’s Word. It’s made up of 66 books written by over forty different authors from three continents in three different languages over a period of around two thousand years. If someone described a compilation of documents to you in this way, you’d probably expect it to be a mish-mash of thoughts of various quality and relevance, with little connection between them.

Shepherds, kings, scholars, fishermen, prophets, military generals and priests wrote portions of Scripture. They had different immediate purposes for writing, whether recording history, giving spiritual and moral instruction or pronouncing judgement. They composed their works from palaces, prisons, the wilderness and places of exile while writing history, laws, poetry, prophecy and proverbs. In the process they laid bare their personal emotions, expressing anger, frustration, joy and love.

Yet despite this dynamic array of topics, styles and goals, the Bible displays one flawless storyline. Its words point unerringly to Christ, whose work on the cross was planned and promised by God—the true author of the Bible—before the world began. Every page, story and teaching fills out the picture of our Saviour so we can see Him all the more clearly.

These short introductions to the Bible’s books are like little launch pads into each one. They don’t just say what to expect from each book, but give you reasons why you should read them. Some of the Bible’s books are hard to get into; these introductions will give you the starting point you need! You’ll be more confident to open up any book of the Bible, knowing what to look for and what the relevance will be for your own life.

Why does the Bible have such an impact when we read it? Because even though human hands wrote it, it came from the mind of God. When we hear His rock solid truth, something deep in the core of our being responds. We cannot be left unmoved by God’s voice of love.

Your friends at Our Daily Bread Ministries

CONTENTS LAW

MAJOR PROPHETS

PAULINE EPISTLES

Genesis ����������������� 6 Exodus ������������������� 7 Leviticus ��������������� 8 Numbers ��������������� 9 Deuteronomy ����� 10

Isaiah ����������������� 28 Jeremiah ������������� 29 Lamentations ����� 30 Ezekiel ����������������� 31 Daniel ����������������� 32

Romans ��������������� 50 1 Corinthians ����� 51 2 Corinthians ����� 52 Galatians ����������� 53 Ephesians ����������� 54 Philippians ��������� 55 Colossians ����������� 56 1 Thessalonians � 57 2 Thessalonians � 58 1 Timothy ����������� 59 2 Timothy ����������� 60 Titus ������������������� 61 Philemon ������������� 62

HISTORY

Joshua ����������������� 11 Judges ����������������� 12 Ruth ��������������������� 13 1 Samuel ������������� 14 2 Samuel ������������� 15 1 Kings ��������������� 16 2 Kings ��������������� 17 1 Chronicles ������� 18 2 Chronicles ������� 19 Ezra ��������������������� 20 Nehemiah ����������� 21 Esther ����������������� 22 POETRY

Job ����������������������� 23 Psalms ����������������� 24 Proverbs ������������� 25 Ecclesiastes ��������� 26 Song of Songs ����� 27

MINOR PROPHETS

Hosea ����������������� 33 Joel ��������������������� 34 Amos ������������������� 35 Obadiah ������������� 36 Jonah ������������������� 37 Micah ����������������� 38 Nahum ��������������� 39 Habakkuk ����������� 40 Zephaniah ����������� 41 Haggai ��������������� 42 Zechariah ����������� 43 Malachi ��������������� 44 GOSPELS

Matthew ����������� 45 Mark ������������������� 46 Luke ��������������������� 47 John ��������������������� 48

GENERAL EPISTLES

Hebrews ������������� 63 James ����������������� 64 1 Peter ����������������� 65 2 Peter ����������������� 66 1 John ����������������� 67 2 John ����������������� 68 3 John ����������������� 69 Jude ��������������������� 70

HISTORY

APOCALYPTIC EPISTLE

Acts ��������������������� 49

Revelation ����������� 71

GENESIS Where did we come from? Why is there so much evil in the world? And why can’t we ever seem to find peace? The answers to some of life’s biggest questions are found in Genesis!

Genesis tells the story of our world: God’s perfect creation, people’s rebellion against Him, and the downward spiral that follows: the first murder, lying and scamming, gang wars and riots, brothers turning on one another . . . a world full of selfishness. But it’s more than that; it’s also a story of hope.

From the moment the world first goes wrong, God promises to send someone to rescue us; a hero who will put everything right. He starts by choosing Abraham to be the father of a special nation out of which the hero will eventually come. But Abraham is no saint; and his family has plenty of problems too! The stories in Genesis prove that God doesn’t need perfect people; He can use anybody.

Genesis is full of exciting, interesting and sometimes shocking stories. And it lays the base on which the rest of the Bible is built.

This book is the beginning; the beginning of God’s world, the beginning of His rescue mission—and the beginning of the search for the One who can save us and fix our world.

6

EXODUS Exodus tells one of the most exciting stories in history!

Genesis left us looking for the hero who can rescue the whole world. But first, God needs to rescue His people Israel from a problem: an Egyptian king who has enslaved them and thinks he’s bigger than God! Cue one of the biggest face-offs in history: the most powerful man on earth vs. the King of heaven! Blood, boils, hail thunderstorms, locusts, darkness and death follow.

The battle rages until finally God opens up the sea to make a path to freedom; then slams it closed on Egypt’s army.

Where there is no way, God makes one. Where there is no hope, God leads His people in victory!

Exodus is a rescue mission; God’s rescue of His people from abuse and slavery. And in this rescue, we get hints of God’s coming worldwide rescue mission. God’s promised hero will make a way where there’s no hope, He will perfectly keep God’s Law for us and He will pay the price to win our freedom from sin.

Exodus is an adventure story from slavery to freedom; one which shows us just how far God will go to rescue the people He has created and make them His own again.

7

LEVITICUS Have you ever watched a film that was so good, you had to watch it again straight away? The way God has rescued us through Jesus’ death and resurrection is a bit like that.

It’s so amazing that the Bible loves exploring it again and again—even in books written before it happened, like Leviticus.

Leviticus isn’t a story; it’s a very detailed guide to how Israel—God’s people—were to worship Him. In the book’s many laws one thing is clear: God is holy; He’s pure and perfect in every way. And we’re not. Our sin deserves death, but in Leviticus God makes a way for His people to come to Him. A sacrifice dies in their place: a lamb.

Leviticus explains the sacrifices the people were to make to pay for sin, give thanks, have peace with God and so on. Each one gives a little picture of what Jesus was going to do for us in His sacrifice hundreds of years later.

Leviticus isn’t always easy to read, but it helps us understand why God’s promised hero—Jesus—needed to die on the cross. He is the perfect lamb whose blood can pay for every sin of every person who will ever live.

8

NUMBERS Unless you’re a toddler or a maths teacher, “Numbers” doesn’t sound like an exciting book—and there are several chapters that aren’t—but don’t be fooled! The book of Numbers is full of drama, unexpected plot twists and life lessons that are bang up to date!

Numbers continues God’s people’s journey through the desert on the way to their new homeland. After two years, Moses brings them right to the edge of it. But instead of trusting God’s power and promises, they focus on the dangers. Even after all the miracles they’ve seen, they still don’t trust God. This story is surprisingly relatable. These people who lived thousands of years ago are just like us! They complain about everything, fight about who should be in charge and accuse God of being mean. Yet while we see how much they struggle to trust and obey, we also discover how faithful God remains. We can learn so much about ourselves—and God—from their lives.

Open the book of Numbers and you’ll soon realise you’re opening a window through which you can see your own life with God all the more clearly.

9

DEUTERONOMY After forty years in the desert, God’s people are on the very edge of the Promised Land! They are so ready for life to get better. But in order to enjoy the amazing life God has for them, they must stick to God’s way of living. So in Deuteronomy, Moses repeats God’s laws for Israel.

God shows us His heart through Moses’ words; He loves Israel. And He wants them to love and trust Him too. God doesn’t want robots; He wants a relationship with His people. In fact, Deuteronomy is almost like a wedding. God binds Himself to Israel with promises of love and faithfulness; they respond in a dramatic mountaintop ceremony where they vow to be faithful to Him and keep His law. It’s a promising start to their new life.

Deuteronomy was written to those who want to experience the amazing adventure of a deep relationship with God. It invites us to give all we are to God; and warns us again and again against getting distracted by the temptations and stresses of this world.

Will we love and trust God fully, or live our own way? It’s a choice between life or death, happiness or hopelessness, blessings or a curse. It’s the most important decision we will ever make.

10

JOSHUA Imagine you’ve been given your own country. It’s all yours: the towns, the farms, the food, the animals, the wealth.

There’s just one small, tiny catch. The country is filled with enemies. You have to defeat them before you can move in.

God’s people stand on the edge of the Promised Land, as they had forty years before. Will they trust God this time to give it to them and defeat the enemies living there? Or will they panic again?

This thrilling story is packed with courage, bravery, battles and blunders. City walls fall, kings are defeated, those who turn to the God of Israel are saved, and God’s people march through the land led by Joshua who keeps hold of God’s promise to Him: “Never will I leave you.”

At the end of the book, and the end of his life, Joshua gives this challenge to the people as they settle in their new home: “Choose this day whom you will serve . . . as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” We all have to make this choice. As we read about this awesome God of victory, we must ask ourselves, will we choose to trust Him too?

11

JUDGES A warrior prophetess, a weakling turned war hero, a cunning raider, the world’s strongest man; these are just some of the fascinating Judges we meet in the continuing drama of Israel’s history. They are Israel’s leaders in the Promised Land. Yet they are not quite as heroic as they sound; rash promises, self-obsession, lust and pride are the downfalls of many of them.

God’s people are finally living in the good land God promised them, yet the story gets very dark very quickly.

Round and round Israel go with their Judges in vicious cycles of selfishness and disobedience, followed by crying out to God for rescue from their enemies, only to fall back into their usual rebellious ways. The further along the story takes us, the deeper God’s people go into painfully dark ways of living.

The book of Judges is summed up by the repeated phrase, “Everyone did as they saw fit.” Judges isn’t just a lesson in Israel’s history; it is an urgent warning to us today in our world of being true to yourself, following your heart and doing what feels good. This is not where happiness is found, but where it is lost.

12

RUTH Boy meets girl, they fall in love, overcome impossible odds to be together and live happily ever after. That’s right, Ruth is the Bible’s chick-flick. But with a twist.

The problem is that Ruth is not an Israelite, she is from Moab; one of Israel’s enemies. She travels to Israel with Naomi, her heartbroken Israelite mother-in-law who has just buried her husband and sons. They are poor, defenceless and in need of help They need a rich relative to redeem them—to buy back their family inheritance and take the young widow as his wife.

Enter Boaz. He’s related to Naomi, so, according to God’s Law, he can be their “family redeemer”. But it would mean marrying a non-Israelite woman; and sharing his wealth with her and her family.

Boaz is not only a kind, generous and loving redeemer for Ruth and Naomi, he is a great example of Jesus Christ who overcame seemingly impossible odds to redeem us for Himself. Why would Boaz and Jesus redeem at such costs to themselves? The book of Ruth gives us a simple but lifechanging answer: love.

13

1 SAMUEL Do you sometimes feel like you know better than God? Do you get tired of having to be different? Does it feel like God’s ways are less exciting that everyone else’s?

In 1 Samuel, God’s people felt that way too. They were fed up with their Judges; they wanted a king like all the other nations. God knew they were really saying they no longer wanted Him to be King. But He gave them what they wanted anyway: King Saul, the tallest and handsomest man in the land. Good king material, right?

Yet the book of 1 Samuel traces his downward spiral from jealousy into madness and just plain evil. Saul didn’t start out a bad guy, but he took wrong turns early on, thinking he knew better than God. Meanwhile, this book introduces one of the Bible’s biggest heroes: David, the shepherd boy who would become the greatest king Israel ever had! David’s life is a thrilling tale of bravery, close shaves and killing giants. But what really made David so different was being “a man after God’s own heart”. Follow the stories of Saul and David and discover that, in the end, there are only two ways to live in this world: for God or as god. And only one ends well.

14

2 SAMUEL Everybody loves a hero! King David was brave and handsome; a brilliant musician, poet, leader and warrior.

He was everything a good king should be: he loved God, ruled fairly, obeyed God’s commands and brought wealth, peace and joy to the people. But the higher we rise, the further we can fall.

King David slept with another man’s wife, got her pregnant and then, so nobody would find out, he arranged the man’s death so he could marry her! His family was torn apart by his terrible choices. God forgave him, but his rule as king was never the same again.

What can we learn from this King whose life, like ours, was a mixture of success and failure, good and bad, love and hate, inner peace and inner war? That the faithfulness and grace of God never changes throughout the mixed bag of our lives. David never stopped clinging to God through his ups and downs. When he was stuck, he prayed. When he was happy, he thanked God. When he sinned, he admitted it to God. King David shows us we can never fall so far that we can’t turn back to God and find He’s right here with us. Every time.

15

1 KINGS What would you rather have? A life of purpose and impact? Or one that slips into meaningless boredom and regret? Every decision we make, even today, shapes our future for better or worse. In the topsy-turvy book of 1 Kings we meet good kings, bad kings and the absolute worst kings. All of them are defined by their life choices.

Solomon was one of the best. When God offered him anything he wanted, he chose wisdom. God was pleased and Israel became a rich, famous and peaceful global power! But Solomon started making terrible choices. He married idol-worshipping women and he turned away from God. That led to Israel being split into two warring kingdoms. More kings, more choices, more consequences.

The kings and prophets of 1 Kings show that the way to a meaningful life isn’t found the way we might think. It’s not about living for ourselves and chasing our dreams, but following God’s specific plan for us.

Through the ups and downs, 1 Kings asks us who and what are we living our lives for—and will they lead us somewhere good? Will they still seem like a good idea when we’re standing in front of God Himself?

16

2 KINGS If you saw a miracle, you would definitely feel more confident about God, right? The book of 2 Kings isn’t so sure!

Israel is divided. The Northern kingdom seems to be running away from God as fast as they can while the South flip-flops between God and idols. They need someone to bring them back to God for good. Enter Elisha.

He raises the dead, wins battles, knows people’s thoughts and has power over nature. If you mess with him, you could end up with leprosy—or even get eaten by bears!

Yet despite his miracles, his message didn’t get through.

The people still weren’t that bothered about who God is.

God had warned His people that if they carried on disobeying, they would lose their land. Sure enough both the Northern and Southern kingdoms were dragged away into captivity. God’s people were prisoners. Their land belonged to someone else. Elisha’s miracles hadn’t worked.

Are you waiting for your miracle? The story of God’s people shows it won’t be enough. Read 2 Kings and, in amongst the bad kings, the handful of good ones will show you there’s a much better way than miracle-hunting to get to know God for yourself.

17

1 CHRONICLES If God knows everything, and is looking after us anyway, do we really need to pray? Can’t we just get on with life and know He’ll sort everything out as we go along?

We find the answer to these questions in King David’s story. “Wait a minute,” you might ask, “haven’t we read all about him already in the book of 2 Samuel?” Yes we have—but not from God’s point of view. In 1 Chronicles we get David’s story told with God’s commentary running alongside. We don’t just learn whether the things David did were good or bad, but why they were good or bad.

It turns out that good decision-making isn’t really to do with being smart, experienced, having a gut feeling or being able to read situations well. Making the right choices always—always—starts with a conversation with God. Want to grow into that kind of habit? Then take another look at King David through 1 Chronicles!

18

2 CHRONICLES Sometimes history books can suck the life out of history . . . Blood-soaked battles, double dealings, courtroom betrayals, devious plots—all flattened into heavy textbooks full of long words and no pictures.

Wouldn’t history be more exciting if it were told to us by someone who lived through it? That’s what 2 Chronicles is.

It’s the history of God’s people told from God’s perspective.

A lot of the stories have already been told in other books of the Bible. So it reads like a bonus feature to a movie; like a director’s audio commentary over their film. Except the director in this case is God Himself!

And the lesson in the book isn’t just about what happened in Israel’s history. The book of 2 Chronicles was written when God’s people returned home after many long years of imprisonment. It gave them a chance to look back over their history not just to ask “What happened?” but “Why?” You’ll find there is one key thing—one key difference— between the good kings and the bad kings, the successes and the failures, the ups and the downs. Will you learn the important lesson of Israel’s history for your own life?

19

EZRA Do you live what you believe, or do you back down and follow the crowd? When you’ve really messed up, do you know how to talk it over with God? If you want to see someone live out his beliefs—even when things have gone wrong—then take a look at Ezra.

After their long time away from their land, God’s people have a chance to return to Israel and rebuild. But it’s allimportant that they avoid the mistakes that caused their horrible defeat in the first place. They need to get back to basics on what life with God looks like, just as He explained to His people way back when He rescued them from Egypt.

First, a guy named Zerubbabel helps rebuild the Temple—the place where they can meet with God. Then Ezra begins to rebuild the people, showing them how their relationship with God can be for real, and forever.

How do you stick with God when everyone else tells you to stop? How do you actually get to know Him for yourself?

And how do you come back to God when you know you’ve been getting things so wrong for so long? You sit down and listen to Ezra’s lessons to the people of Israel.

20

NEHEMIAH What does it look like to do God’s work? Is it all praying, visions and miracles?

For Nehemiah, it was much more ‘down to earth’. It meant building a wall!

Walled cities were protected from enemies. But Jerusalem’s wall—along with everything else—had been destroyed when they were captured. Now it was time for God’s people to move back and rebuild.

Nehemiah was born in a foreign country, but his heart was always in Israel. When he heard about the bad state Jerusalem was in, he begged God to do something. As He often does, God used Nehemiah to answer his own prayer!

In Nehemiah, we discover that God’s work is often surprisingly everyday. We need to know how to manage projects and lead others! Materials need gathering, people need inspiring and goals must be realistic. And we learn that everyday work is still heroic. There are always enemies, problems and difficulties to overcome, no matter what we are ‘building’ for God. If you want to learn about decision-making, problemsolving and being a great builder in God’s kingdom, the book of Nehemiah is for you!

21

ESTHER Jealousy, deadly enemies, murder plots, evil plans to wipe out God’s people and an edge-of-your-seat ending better than anything in the movies . . . it’s Esther; the epic tale of a smart and daring beauty queen putting her neck on the line to save her people!

The king is a self-obsessed drunk; his jealous and proud right-hand man is determined to kill the Jews; Esther is the king’s new Jewish bride; and Mordecai is the Jew who saves the king’s life. The pieces are set for a thrilling drama: can Esther expose the murderous plot in time, or will she—and all the Jews—be killed?

Yet the real question of the story of Esther is: where is God? This is the only book of the Bible where He isn’t mentioned. Not even once.

If you’ve ever felt like God isn’t around when you need Him, then take comfort from Esther. The story is filled with strange events and chance encounters that lead to a dramatic rescue for God’s people. Is it luck or something more? Could this be God working behind the scenes for the good of His people; the same way He’s always at work in your life?

22

JOB How can God allow suffering?

It’s one of the world’s biggest questions; and it’s the subject of one of the world’s oldest books: Job. Satan, the devil, sets up a kind of ‘bet’ with God. He says that Job only loves God because his life is great; but God knows Job’s love for Him is genuine. To silence Satan, God allows him to cause Job terrible suffering. Satan takes away Job’s business, animals, family and even his health. Job ends up alone, covered in sores and wondering what went wrong. Surely, if anyone could accuse God of being cruel, it was Job! But he never did. He carried on trusting, just as God said he would.

Job is mostly a conversation between Job and his friends about why God allows such painful things to happen. Then, amazingly, God steps in and speaks for Himself. He doesn’t give Job answers; He gives him Himself. Job gets to know God in a way that only those who hold on to Him during suffering will ever discover.

When life isn’t fair, you’re in pain, you’re being bullied or you just want to give up—that’s when the book of Job shows you the awesomeness of God in a way you’ve never seen before.

23

PSALMS What is prayer all about? How honest can you be with God? How do you worship when life is too painful? Can you come to God when you doubt He’s even listening?

The book of Psalms shines a light on all this and so much more. These are heartfelt prayers, cries of pain, songs of worship and praise, shouts of thankfulness and echoes of every other emotion. The Psalms are messy, raw and, most importantly, real. They give words to whatever we’re feeling. These people—the psalm writers—have all been through what we’re going through. They show us what it looks like to come to God with everything, and to worship Him even when we don’t understand.

And throughout the book we meet the same character again and again. Whether in the image of a Good Shepherd, a solid Rock, a Mighty Warrior, a safe Hiding Place or an unshakable Fortress, Jesus Christ walks with us through the Psalms. They show that though our prayers are often said in pain, they are also said in hope, because they are said to the One who knows us, loves us and will not fail us.

24

PROVERBS If the wisest people who ever lived wrote a ‘how to’ book for life, what would you expect it to say? Read the book of Proverbs and you’ll find out!

Proverbs was written to young people just starting out in life. The very practical and everyday advice tells us how to make the most of our lives and avoid serious mistakes. And it explains that we’re either “simple”, “wise” or “fools”.

The simple are open to everything but committed to nothing. The wise are ready to listen to advice, admit when they’re wrong and make choices with their future in mind.

Fools live for the moment; never thinking about what their choices will lead to. Whoever we are, Proverbs is ready to help us grow in wisdom so we can make the most of our lives today, tomorrow and forever after.

Perhaps most importantly, Proverbs doesn’t separate our spiritual lives and just . . . life. Because, as much as we like to put God into His own box, that’s not really how it works.

Our relationship with Him plays out in every part of our lives. So, Proverbs explains, we can trust, love and rely on God in everything we do. That’s true wisdom.

25

ECCLESIASTES Do you ever get fed up? Does the Eat. Sleep. Repeat of life get you down and make you wish for something more? We eat, just to get hungry again; sleep just to get tired again; find happiness only to lose it; fall in love only to break up; get excited only to become bored.

“The Teacher” knows how you feel. He wrote Ecclesiastes, perhaps the most unique and unusual book in the whole Bible. Why? Because right in the middle of the Bible he shouts out: “It’s all meaningless! We’re just chasing after the wind. What’s the point in life?”

If you want real talk about real problems, then Ecclesiastes pulls no punches. It’s an uncomfortable, soul-searching, lifechanging ride into your own heart and mind that will break you into pieces—only to build you up with the real answer: you won’t find what you’re looking for “under the sun”. We must look higher; we must look beyond. We must look to God, the One we were made to find.

26

SONG OF SONGS Popstars sing about it, movies and books tell stories about it, our friends and family are talking about it and most of us are looking for it.

Love. It’s everywhere! Yet, somehow, still so hard to find.

Song of Songs is a book of love poetry. Whether that sounds wonderful or nauseating, we’ve got to wonder what it’s doing in the Bible!

It’s in the Bible because love is a powerful, electrifying, pulse-racing gift from God! Throughout the poems two lovers call out to each other with joy and excitement. To know and be known like this is simply out of this world! It’s both beautiful and dangerous, like a fierce flame that can’t be put out. Love can give life, or it can burn and destroy.

Why is love so hard to find? And even harder to keep?

It’s a powerful gift from God which we cannot handle on our own. A powerful gift that Jesus lives out in His love for Christians, who He calls His bride.

Do you want to see what true love really looks like? The Song of Songs will show you how good life is when two people give themselves completely to one another!

27

ISAIAH Do you watch horror movies from behind your hands?

You want to know how things turn out, but you can’t deal with the scary stuff!

Isaiah is a book of two halves. The first half is about God’s perfection! But talking about God’s goodness shows up our sin—and the judgement we deserve because we don’t love or live for Him as we should. Isaiah cries out: “Hide in the dust from the terror of the Lord and the glory of his majesty.” We might feel like reading the first half of Isaiah from behind our hands!

But then we get the second half. It’s all about God’s mercy; not because He brushes sin under the carpet, but because He promises to send someone to take our punishment for us and make us perfect again. The book of Isaiah promises Jesus.

Do you want to hear honest talk about life, judgement and salvation? Then sit down with Isaiah. It’s not without some scary moments; but if we’re willing to listen, we’ll understand all the more how much Jesus must love us to take God’s judgement in our place.

28

JEREMIAH “Miss the deadline one more time and there will be consequences!” When your boss shouts this for the hundredth time, you know one thing: it’s an empty threat.

God’s people were living double lives: praising God one moment, then lying, cheating, stealing and living for false gods the next. For twenty years Jeremiah warned them that God’s judgement was coming. The people hated Jeremiah’s message and decided it was an empty threat. It wasn’t.

The Babylonian army came and destroyed Jerusalem, taking the people away as prisoners, just as Jeremiah had warned.

Jeremiah is a pretty intense book; it is, after all, about God’s judgement. So why spend time reading something so dark? Because Jeremiah is like a booming morning alarm when you’re fast asleep; painful but important! His message is there to make us sit up and pay attention: God takes sin seriously. His judgement is no empty threat.

God’s people didn’t take Him, His warnings or their sin seriously; but we can. When we do, Jeremiah teaches us that God always has a rescue plan for those who are willing to listen.

29

LAMENTATIONS Do you let others see you cry? It can be tempting to hide away when we feel upset and put on a brave face. That’s not the case with this book of the Bible!

Lamentations. That’s not a word you come across often. It’s just a fancy way of saying “really sad”; a kind of weeping-with-grief misery. The book of Lamentations was written soon after the destruction of Jerusalem, when God’s people were taken as prisoners into a foreign land.

The book describes their raw, bleak devastation and confusion. And, more importantly, we see what breaks God’s heart: sin, and the need for Him to bring judgement on people He loves.

If you want to know how to pray for your world, if you want to know what causes God pain, if you want to be moved the way God is, if you want to see everything through His eyes, then Lamentations will take you right into His heart.

Lamentations gives us permission to be sad. There are no brownie points for bottling up our feelings. God is big enough and close enough to carry our every emotion and offer us life-changing hope, even when we are at our lowest.

30

EZEKIEL Can we mess up so much for so long that God will just give up and walk away?

That’s how it looks in the book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel sits on the edge of a river in a refugee camp in Babylon. God’s people have been captured. It’s over. Defeated. Hopeless.

Suddenly, God’s glory flashes before Ezekiel! And God gives him a job. He must explain to the exiled people that God’s judgement has come. They’ve gone too far.

They crossed the line with their rebellion, selfishness and idolatry. Babylon will keep attacking Jerusalem until it is completely destroyed and all God’s people are refugees.

Yet God isn’t finished with Israel. The vision of God’s glory shows Ezekiel that God’s presence is no longer in the temple in Jerusalem; He has come into exile with them!

Ezekiel isn’t just a book of judgement; it’s also a book of hope. God won’t leave us, even when the consequences of our actions feel like more than we can handle.

God never walks away! Want to know God’s long-term plan to bring people back to Himself for good? He explains it all to Ezekiel!

31

DANIEL Wouldn’t it be really helpful if there was a book in the Bible about standing for God in the face of the daily pressure to live like everyone else?

That’s exactly what you’ll find in the book of Daniel.

Daniel and his friends are teenagers at the best university in Babylon. The problem is they are not from Babylon; they are captives from Israel after God allowed Babylon to lay waste to His people and their land.

Daniel must face a self-obsessed king who expects people to read his mind, scheming enemies, hungry lions, and visions of the end of the world. All the while a burning pit of flames awaits those who worship God, rather than the king.

What does it take to trust God when you are surrounded by people demanding you give up on Him? How do you stick with Him when your friends and family keep giving you reason after reason to just live like they do? Let Daniel show you how it’s done.

32

HOSEA “How are you doing?” It’s a pretty normal question we ask each other. But have you ever asked God? That’s what the book of Hosea is all about; not just who God is, but how He feels.

Hosea is told by God to marry Gomer, a prostitute. They have children, and then Gomer continues to sleep around with other guys. It’s sad, shocking . . . predictable maybe.

But it’s what happens next that’s really crazy. God tells Hosea to go after Gomer, pay off her debts to her lovers, bring her home and keep loving her.

How can that be fair? Why would anyone do that?

Because that’s how God loves us. Like a husband who is angry and heartbroken when his wife has an affair, that’s how God feels when we turn our backs on Him and live for ourselves. Yet in His great love, He cannot give us up; He will always offer us His home if we will trust Him, no matter what we may have done.

Are you worried you’ve gone too far to be forgiven by God? Do you wish you could see inside His mind and know how He actually feels about you? Then read Hosea and find out just how deep God’s love for you really is.

33

JOEL Do you sometimes think of God as a friendly but distant grandpa? Or a cosmic Santa, giving everyone presents? Is He a bit absent from the painful side of life?

The book of Joel gives us a jaw-dropping peek at God’s awesome power. In His power God brings terrifying destruction on sin, the brokenness of this world and all those who reject Him. Joel writes: “The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?” God’s judgement is not a nice thing to think about.

But Joel also tells us how to avoid it: repent. That’s not saying “sorry” to get out of trouble; it’s telling God we want to genuinely turn from our sin and live for Him. Do you want to truly be in awe of God? Do you want to be reminded that He is big and you are small? Do you want to see how He uses His power to protect and save you from judgement? Joel shows us how God will both make the whole earth tremble and be a fortress of safety for those who trust in Him.

34

AMOS It’s easy to look like a Christian: go to church, sing the right songs, meet up with your Bible study group, have the right kind of lifestyle and attend Christian conferences once in a while. But looking like a Christian isn’t the same as being one. That’s the very painful lesson the people of Israel learnt the hard way.

Amos was no one special. He was a shepherd, more used to shearing sheep than giving sermons. But God used this honest, ordinary guy to give a big warning to Israel’s showy, but fake, religion. “I hate your religion!” God said through Amos. “I hate your traditions. I hate your songs. I hate your services.” God’s judgement was coming on these super religious people. Everything they did was just noise; none of it was real.

Want to know what living for God really looks like? Want to read about what God is really looking for from you? Want to know how to stop putting on a show and start living for real? Then listen to the warnings, and the hope, of Amos.

35

OBADIAH Being team leader at work means you get to call the shots. If you’re not in charge, then at least you can work harder than the others to get noticed. If you’re struggling with the work, at least you’re better off than the guys at work with no friends . . . Isn’t that how life so often works?

We lift ourselves up by comparing our lives with people we consider to be inferior to us in some way!

The people of Edom thought they were much better than the people of Israel. The two nations were complete rivals.

So much so that when Israel was invaded by Assyria, rather than help, Edom looted Israel and killed anyone they found.

Obadiah gave God’s warning to the people of Edom: “As you have done, so I will do to you!” Edom are an example to us of pride—they put themselves above others—and an example of how God will judge proud people.

Are you sick of living your life in comparison with everyone else? Have you realised that finding people to feel superior to isn’t a good way to feel better about yourself?

Obadiah shows where true security is found; and it’s got nothing to do with being better than everyone else!

36

JONAH Revenge is a dish best served cold. That’s what Jonah thought. The thing was, he was a prophet—a man of God! God told Jonah to preach to the great city of Nineveh; telling them that God’s judgement was coming. The people there were extremely wicked and violent. And they were also Jonah’s enemies. Because Jonah knew God loves to show mercy, he ran the other way. He didn’t want the Ninevites to be saved!

Jonah’s story is one of the most entertaining of the whole Bible! It includes a suicide-mission in a raging storm, prayers from the belly of a massive fish and the shortest sermon in the world preached in the middle of the most dangerous place on earth.

And all the way through it, this sulky prophet rants and raves at God’s mercy.

Do you need to get even when someone hurts you? Do you like to see the bad guys get what they deserve? Then the book of Jonah will force you to answer this big question: Are you okay with God loving your enemies?

37

MICAH Once we give our lives to Jesus and have our place in heaven sorted, stuff on earth doesn’t matter so much. Right?

Wrong. In the book of Micah, God’s anger towards His people was all about the injustice He saw amongst them.

The whole nation was run on greed, bribery and corruption; the rich were rewarded, while the poor lost even more.

“Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble!” God warned. How we live on earth and treat each other matters very much.

But Micah also offers us a vision of hope. God is like a shepherd who rescues His flock, looking after them with compassion and kindness. His sheep will bring real peace, unity, love and equality to all nations. The Shepherd is Jesus; the sheep are you and me.

Are you upset when your newsfeed shows racist comments? Do you wish you could stand up for your loved ones when they get mistreated? Do you want to know what God wants you to do to support others? Micah shows that God’s people can do social action in a way no one else in the world can—all because of the character and faithfulness of our Shepherd.

38

NAHUM Why do good people suffer, but bad people seem to have everything they want? Why is life so unfair? Doesn’t God care that some people take advantage of us and get away with it?

Nahum is a tiny Old Testament book which makes a massive promise: God will not let the guilty go unpunished.

With uncomfortably clear detail, Nahum describes the doom of Assyria as an example of what is coming for those who abuse, oppress, bully and use violence to get their own way.

In His goodness and His justice, God will not let nations, governments, world leaders, bullies or anyone else get away with the selfish ways they’ve treated others. Nahum promises that God is more upset than we are at the unfairness of our world.

Do you want an answer to the injustice you see? Nahum tells us what will happen to those who mistreat others; they will answer to the awesome and powerful King of kings.

And, until then, he shows us how to live well in a difficult and unfair world.

39

HABAKKUK How do you cope with doubts? What do you do when God doesn’t answer your prayers and questions?

Habbakuk didn’t get it: God had promised to bring judgement on His rebellious people through Babylon— an enemy nation who were even worse! How could a good, holy God allow this? It didn’t fit with Habbakuk’s understanding of Him. The book is a conversation between Habbakuk and God. Habbakuk brings all of his doubts honestly to God, and confidently waits for His answers. Habbakuk is certain that God does hear and answer every prayer—even if it’s not how or when we would choose for ourselves.

Do you want to know what it really means to live by trusting in God? Do you want to be confident in God even in your pain and confusion? Let Habakkuk show you what it means to be a ‘watcher’ on the wall, training your eyes to see God and your ears to hear Him as you pray and study the Bible.

40

ZEPHANIAH “That’s it! I’ve had enough!” Ever heard that from a frustrated friend or loved one?

When we read Zephaniah, we hear it from God too: “I will sweep away everything from the face of the earth!” The violence, the lies, the hatred, the gossip, the selfishness, the pain, the anger. God has had enough of the way we treat each other and His world. His message in Zephaniah is very clear: “I’ve had enough. I’m getting rid of it all.”

If we’ve ever thought the way we live doesn’t really matter; God’s burning anger in this little book is a big wake-up call. God is love; so how can He put up with the nastiness we show each other?

God says in this book that His people are humble, unafraid, honest and sing His praises in peace. And God sings over them too in joy. Is that that kind of life you want? If so, Zephaniah gives us a choice: are we going to be destroyed by God’s judgement? Or are we going to be purified by it? Are we going to be completely made new—totally transformed—by God’s anger at sin, and come running back to Him?

41

HAGGAI How important is God in your life? Does He come first? Or do you give Him your leftover time and attention? Is He just for Sundays? Or only when you need help?

God’s people were finally back home in Jerusalem after their long exile in Babylon. They set to work rebuilding their homes . . . but God’s temple was still in ruins. Haggai gave them this challenge: “You want life to be good again, but you’re still putting God last! He must come first!”

Even when the people rebuilt the temple, it was just a job to them; they didn’t really want to meet with God. Haggai saw it was all duty and no love, so He said: “This temple is unclean because you are!”

Haggai’s challenge to the people of Israel is for us as well. Where does God fit in our lives? Do we love and live for Him, or do we only turn to Him in emergencies? Haggai warns us: “Give careful thought to your ways.” Life’s not just about what we do, but why we do it and who we do it for!

42

ZECHARIAH If. A small word with big meaning. And it’s probably the most important word in the book of Zechariah.

This book is a bit of a wild ride. The first few chapters are filled with strange dreams Zechariah had about the four horsemen who ride round the earth, flying women with stork wings, olive trees that pour oil—and things like that. But these dreams, alongside Zechariah’s teaching, build a picture of hope. They promise the coming Shepherd King who will rule the world in peace and destroy all God’s enemies.

It’s a stirring picture of the future we can be part of . . . if we are faithful to God. There are lots of “if” statements in Zechariah; not because this future is in doubt, but because we must choose to love, obey and follow Jesus—the Shepherd King—if we want it to be our future.

Do you want to know if following Jesus is worth it when it feels so much easier to just do whatever you want?

Zechariah’s stunning vision of God’s King will help you see this world, and where it’s headed, far more clearly.

43

MALACHI Do you ever find the Christian life disappointing? You hear amazing stories of God working miracles. You read big promises in the Bible . . . but why don’t you see God’s miracles, power and joy in your own life?

At the end of the Old Testament, life was hard, boring and disappointing for the people of Israel. Once, they had been a rich, powerful kingdom the other nations looked up to. Now, they were just a tiny country without much money, power or purpose. God seemed distant, and the Saviour He’d promised all the way through their history still hadn’t shown up. The people were bored with God, making their lives even more empty and disappointing.

Malachi steps in with words of hope: “Life is disappointing now, but don’t give up. Keep trusting God— His King will be here soon!”

We also live at a time when we’re waiting for Jesus. It seems like His return is never going to happen. Life slips into the everyday; God’s awesome plans are forgotten.

If you want to keep your eyes on Jesus when the world is doing something different, if you want to be ready for His return, then listen to the warnings and encouragements of Malachi. What God says, He does. You can bet your life on it.

44

MATTHEW The Old Testament ends, yet the promised hero—the King of God’s kingdom—never appears; and we’re left a bit confused. But the New Testament begins with the book of Matthew; and he shows that the One we’ve been waiting for is Jesus!

Matthew uses the Old Testament to prove again and again that Jesus is the long-awaited hero; the King who brings God’s revolutionary kingdom to earth! He wants us to understand that Jesus’ story isn’t ‘new’; it’s the same story God has been telling since the beginning. Jesus’ birth, life, teaching, death and resurrection were all exactly as God had planned for our hero.

Matthew has a colourful cast of characters from all walks of life; but Jesus is at the centre. Everything He does impacts those around Him; healing them, freeing them and sometimes making them angry! Many reject Him and some believe; but we must each decide for ourselves how we will respond.

The book finishes with Jesus’ final command: “Go tell everyone in the world about Me!” His story is the real story of our world; and we all have a part to play!

45

MARK Mark is an action-packed whirlwind of a book! It jumps straight into the story of Jesus and bounces from miracle to miracle; showing Jesus’ power over death, sickness, evil spirits and even nature. Nothing is wasted; each bit is written to show that Jesus has the power of God. Mark most likely drew from the first-hand experiences of Peter; a close and dynamic follower of Jesus. This book has echoes of his big personality and punchy style.

Mark’s main audience, the Romans, knew that the best leaders are also good servants; so He shows that Jesus is the perfect example of humble leadership. Mark is a master storyteller, often sandwiching one story within another.

He takes us on a whistle-stop tour of God’s promised hero, recalling Jesus’ miracles and teaching and the very mixed reactions of those watching. His aim is to show that Jesus has all power and authority—yet is also the humblest of servants.

If you want a quick and lively look at the power, authority and servanthood of Jesus, read the book of Mark!

46

LUKE How does Jesus treat outcasts, foreigners, slaves and sinners? What about women? Luke is the book for the people society often looks down on.

Luke is the only Bible writer who wasn’t a Jew. So he tells us about Jesus as an outsider and underdog. He wants the down-and-outs to know Jesus is for them! His retelling is logical, correct and in order, so we can be completely sure about the events of Jesus’ life. Our faith is based on facts, not just nice ideas.

Luke continually shows that the ‘good’, religious people who should ‘get’ Jesus really don’t—and those who do understand Him are the ones you would least expect. Many of Jesus’ most amazing and famous stories are only found in this book; and the heroes are often outcasts. Each story draws us in and forces us to think differently; to think like Him! Jesus comes to turn everything upside-down. Take a close look as He seeks out the misfits and the losers to lift them up as His own special people. In His kingdom, the poor become rich, the last become first, and the lost become found.

47

JOHN Jesus. Was He just a healer and a great teacher? Or is He God? And if He is God, what difference does that make to me? If you’ve ever asked those questions, the book of John is for you!

John was one of Jesus’ first and closest followers. If anyone knew Jesus well, it was him. He wrote his story of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as a way of setting the record straight against some people who were saying that Jesus was only a man, not God. John knew better.

He makes his case with seven big claims Jesus made; seven different ways of saying that He is the only One who gives eternal life. Then, Jesus backs up each claim with a miracle.

Some of Jesus’ most powerful teaching is in the book of John. He doesn’t send us to a religion or a set of rules; He brings us to Himself. And the religious leaders hated that! They rose up against Him and had Him killed. But then He did His greatest miracle: He rose from the dead to prove once and for all that He really is our living, breathing, miracle-working, life-changing God and Saviour.

48

ACTS Who was it that first told you about Jesus? Have you ever wondered who first told them? And how many people are in the chain all the way back to the first Christians? What adventures, dangers and challenges were faced for that good news to reach you?

That’s what Acts is all about. And it’s action from start to finish! From God’s promised Holy Spirit turning the frightened disciples into fearless communicators of God’s message—to the first martyr, violent persecution and the spread of the gospel into Europe.

A lot of the story follows a man called Paul. He hated the church at first. But after a dramatic meeting with Jesus, he travelled from country to country sharing the gospel.

People hated him, imprisoned him and tried to kill him—a lot! After so many close calls, we have to ask, why did he keep going? Because, Acts shows us, the good news of Jesus isn’t just words. It’s a new life, future and hope that just can’t be contained.

Sure, it’s dangerous to put Jesus first in this world, but Paul and the other disciples’ lives prove those dangers are nothing compared to the joy of seeing more people trust in Jesus.

49

ROMANS We’ve all heard that “Jesus died for our sins” but what does that really mean? And what’s the deal with sin; do real Christians still struggle with it? Or should we stop worrying about sin because God has forgiven us anyway?

The answer to these big questions—and many more—are found in Romans!

Romans is the Bible’s most complete explanation of what Jesus did on the cross. It explains things like: who needs forgiveness, what difference Jesus’ death makes, what we need to do to have God’s forgiveness and be part of His kingdom, and how we can win our battle against daily temptation.

Would you like someone to sit down with you, explain the gospel from beginning to end and show you your part in it? Then let Paul walk you through it all in the book of Romans!

50

1 CORINTHIANS What is church to you? Being with like-minded people?

Sunday services? Praying with others? Singing uplifting songs?

The church in Corinth was super exciting . . . but for all the wrong reasons. They fan-girled over their favourite teachers, argued over whose spiritual gifts were better and got drunk at communion. During the services everyone shouted over each other with big prayers and spiritual ‘words from God’. It was chaos.

Not to mention they were suing each other and sleeping around (one guy was even sleeping with his step mum!).

The Corinthians were missing the point of what church is.

Do you know why you go to church? Do you know what you should expect from your church family? Did you realise church can be very, very exciting—but for all the right reasons?

Paul wrote 1 Corinthians as a letter to the church in Corinth. But he wasn’t just telling them off. He was explaining to them—and us—what church is really all about; and how it will change our lives.

51

2 CORINTHIANS How do you pick which Christian leaders or worship leaders to follow? Do they have to be popular? Insightful?

Interesting? Rich? Funny? Attractive?

That’s how the Corinthian church chose their Christian teachers! They wanted to follow the best, the coolest, the most exciting! And so being put straight by Paul—who was poor, often in prison and not very on-trend—was a bit hard for them to swallow.

In this letter, Paul continues his ongoing conversation with the Corinthian church, defending himself and the truth he teaches. More than any other book in the New Testament, 2 Corinthians shows us who Paul really was: his calling, his suffering, his weaknesses, his life’s mission, his prayers, his genuine love for the Corinthians and his passion for Jesus.

Are you a bit like the Christians in Corinth; does your head get turned by money, fame and status? “Test yourselves!” Paul begs. “Check if Jesus is really in you!” Are you willing to examine your heart, soul and mind to see if you’re really living for Jesus; or if you are still in love with this world? Read 2 Corinthians and Paul will help you ask yourself the right questions.

52

GALATIANS Do you know for sure that God will let you into heaven?

Are you making sure you do enough good things to tip the scales in your favour? Do you work hard every day to be one of the good guys?

Paul wrote a letter to a church that had gone down that line of thinking; they had decided they needed to work super hard and be really, really good at following all the rules if they wanted to keep Jesus happy. Paul was heartbroken.

Galatians is a genuine and loving cry from Paul to all of us who have ever felt like salvation depends on us. He wants us to understand the most life-changing, mindblowing truth of the Bible: when we trust Jesus, we become children of God. On our good days and our worst, we can still call the almighty King our Dad! Galatians offers you the keys to unlock a life of true freedom; free from the strain of trying harder, free from the anxiety of not knowing how you’re doing with God; free from the guilt of messing up; free from the pride of doing well. It’s a life that’s free to enjoy simply being God’s child.

53

EPHESIANS Pythagoras. Algebra. The periodic table. Counting to ten in various languages. We all learnt these things at school . . . and may ask ourselves now, “What difference did those things actually make to my life?!”

In the letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul retells the incredible story of salvation: how it started before God made the world, how we are part of it through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, and how it will end with God’s people praising Jesus in heaven.

But he wants the gospel to be more than just knowing key facts; like being able to recite elements in the periodic table. The gospel isn’t just information—it’s knowing Jesus for ourselves!

Do you want to know the difference Jesus makes to your life right now? Do you want to find out about the new nation you belong to? The new person you have become?

How knowing Jesus affects your life and relationships? The protective gear Jesus gives you to keep you safe from your dangerous new enemies? Paul lays it all out in Ephesians so you might “grasp how high and deep and long is the love of Jesus for you”.

54

PHILIPPIANS Ever heard the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”? It’s all about a positive attitude; making the most of what you have.

At first it might sound like this is Paul’s take on life in his uplifting letter to the Philippian church. Even though he’s in prison, he’s thankful, joyful and full of encouragement for them as they keep living for Jesus.

But it’s not really got anything to do with having a positive attitude. Paul explains it’s because he, like every Christian, is a “citizen of heaven”; earth is no longer his home—he belongs to Jesus now! And that can never be taken away from him.

Do you want to know why Christians are unbeatable in this world? Want to see what it means to be part of heaven’s powerful kingdom even though you live on earth?

Paul opens up his own life to show that belonging to Jesus means being able to really love, really put others first, and really be content, even when life on earth is at its worst.

55

COLOSSIANS There’s nothing better than settling down to a long, hard day in the office. No, hang on—anything’s better than that! Five minutes into entering data into spreadsheets and you’re already chatting to your colleague about what you did on the weekend . . . It’s so easy to be distracted!

The Colossian church loved Jesus and really, really wanted to obey God and get to know their Saviour better. But there were so many things around them demanding their attention. On one side, they were tempted to follow the way everyone else was living; on the other side, people were trying to force extra rules and traditions on them. They were confused and distracted. So Paul wrote this letter to them.

In Colossians, Paul pulls open the doors of heaven and gives us a taste of the incredible glory, value and awesomeness of Jesus. We see Him on His throne, high above everything and everyone else in creation. And Paul urges the Colossian Christians—and us—to fix our eyes on heaven; because when we see the true power and worth of Jesus, distractions become less distracting, and even our suffering doesn’t seem so bad!

56

1 THESSALONIANS Alone in your bedroom with the door shut—that’s the easiest place to be a Christian. What about when you go downstairs to your family who think your faith in Jesus means you’ve been brainwashed? Or spend time with friends who say anyone who believes in God is intolerant? Or sit in a workplace where the name of Jesus is one big joke . . . ?

Paul wanted to help the church in Thessalonica. They loved Jesus, but everyone in their city hated them for being Christians. They weren’t just laughed at; they were beaten, dragged from their homes, imprisoned—even killed. All because they followed Jesus with their whole lives; privately and publicly.

How do you live for Jesus in front of people who will pull you down for it? What is the right way to react when you’re laughed at and ridiculed? What can give you hope and strength and peace when it feels like everyone is out to get you? If you’re asking these questions, then Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians is really a letter to you.

57

2 THESSALONIANS We all have hopes and dreams for ourselves and our loved ones. When Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church for the second time, he wanted to make one thing clear: what we hope for shapes what we live for.

The people in that church were being hated, imprisoned and violently attacked because they loved Jesus. Normality was being destroyed around them. Plans shattered. Lives torn apart. So Paul told them exactly what to put their hope in: Jesus’ return.

Paul doesn’t write about Jesus’ return in 2 Thessalonians to start arguments about when, where and how Jesus will come back. He writes about it to give us confidence about where we are heading; to give us true and lasting hope, especially when life hurts.

What are you hoping for? To meet the ‘one’? To get a promotion at work? To see your kids succeed at school?

Paul tells you to look further, to aim higher. Everything else can crumble around you; but Jesus’ promises will never let you down. There is only one place to put your trust: set your sights on the day when Jesus will come back and make everything right; it will change your whole life.

58

1 TIMOTHY What is the most important thing about church?

Supporting local communities? Visiting the sick and lonely?

Singing worship songs? Praying for the world? Setting a good example?

These are all important, but they all rely on the same thing: obeying God’s Word.

Paul wrote 1 Timothy as a letter to Timothy—a young guy who had just taken over leadership of a church. The church was struggling because they had their Bible teaching wrong; they were focusing on minor things in the Bible— certain laws, family trees and things like that. It was causing arguments and distracting everyone from what they were meant to be doing: loving Jesus and showing His love to others in really practical ways. “Timothy,” Paul says, “Guard what has been entrusted to you!” He’s talking about how important the Bible is for a healthy church life. When we are taught by what it actually says, our church family will have an amazing impact in our community!

Want a down-to-earth, practical and easy-to-read summary of what church life is all about? Paul spells it out in 1 Timothy.

59

2 TIMOTHY Imagine you are living your last moments on earth. Who would you want to be with? What would you want to tell them?

This was the position Paul found himself in. He was a prisoner in Rome—again. And his trial was going badly . . . really badly. This was it; he was going to be killed for his faith in Jesus.

So he wrote 2 Timothy—a final letter to his good friend Timothy. Even though following Jesus cost Paul everything; even though he had spent so many years suffering and in prison; and even though he was going to die for his beliefs, Paul was absolutely convinced he’d lived his best life. And it was about to get even better!

Do you want your life to mean more? Do you want to be part of something far greater? Do you want to have real significance that goes beyond your last breath and into eternity? Paul cries out to you with his very last words: “Come fight the good fight with me! And afterwards come safely into Jesus’ wonderful kingdom!”

60

TITUS How do you change the world for good? Do you go to a peaceful protest, share articles and videos online, get into arguments on social media?

Paul has a better way.

His friend Titus was leading the church on the island of Crete. The people of Crete were, to quote their own words, “liars, vicious beasts and lazy”! But rather than the church standing out, it was just like the rest of the island, making the Bible and its message seem a bit pointless.

Paul wrote the letter of Titus to help his friend see how to bring about real transformation to his part of the world.

Do you wonder what it takes to transform your family, your workplace, your friends? You don’t need to be a keyboard warrior or sign-wielding protestor. Changing the world is less about changing other people, and more about living differently yourself. Check out the letter of Titus; Paul’s way to bring change is surprisingly simple, but very effective!

61

PHILEMON Someone you trust has hurt you. Maybe they gossiped about you or told a big fat lie to your face. What do you do?

Get them back? Cut them out? Hold a grudge?

Philemon was a church leader. Onesimus was his slave.

But they fell out hard over something Onesimus did wrong. Onesimus ran away, met Paul, became a Christian and . . . then Paul sent him back to Philemon. For what?

Punishment? Justice? No. For forgiveness.

This Bible book is Paul’s letter to Philemon explaining how and why he could forgive his slave who deserved judgement. As Christians they needed to see they were more than just master and slave. Now they were brothers in God’s family.

This is Paul’s only letter that doesn’t talk about Jesus’ death and resurrection. Is that just because it’s so short?

No. Instead of just talking about Jesus’ sacrifice, Paul lives it out in how he offers to bring Philemon and Onesimus back together as brothers.

Want to gain a clear understanding of what forgiveness means; and see why acts of forgiveness are the most amazing, obvious ways to show the love of Jesus? Then check out Paul’s example in his letter to Philemon.

62

HEBREWS What makes you feel confident? How much people praise you? Your appearance? Your monthly bank statement?

Everyone wants to be confident; we’re scared of being seen as insecure or weak. But do you really have that kind of self-confidence?

The book of Hebrews is kind of like a written sermon.

And it’s all about having confidence. Not self-confidence; but God-confidence!

The writer goes through lots of the Old Testament story and shows how Jesus fulfils everything God promised. It’s not just useful to know, it makes us “confident to enter God’s throne room”!

Want to see what a confident life actually looks like?

Want to have confidence about how God feels about you?

Hebrews will show you all the reasons Jesus gives you to be confident in Him; and talks you through all the “heroes of faith” in the Bible who lived out this confidence “in what we don’t yet see.”

63

JAMES Scams—they’re everywhere! Our email inboxes seem to overflow with them!

The book of James is a letter written to every church in the world, warning us not to fall for the oldest scam of them all. What is it? Kidding ourselves that we can have a relationship with God and still live like the rest of the world.

James’ point is pretty simple: don’t just talk the talk of Christianity; you need to walk the walk.

It’s not enough to just read the Bible; we need to do what it says. We can’t just say we believe in Jesus; we need to follow Him with our lives!

Is Christianity just a ticket into heaven? Is it just for Sundays? Is it just a set of beliefs? James shouts “No!” Real faith in Jesus transforms our whole lives; how we see people, love, plan for the future, use our words and share what we have.

Want to see what Christianity looks like in real life?

James’ simple, straight-talking explanation makes one thing crystal clear: “faith and action work together”!

64

1 PETER Do you struggle to fit in? Ever been the misfit? The odd one out? The black sheep of the family?

Strangers. Aliens. Exiles. Misfits. This is how Peter, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, talks about Christians in his letter of 1 Peter.

“We’re not meant to fit in on earth,” Peter explains, “because we belong to Jesus’ kingdom now!” And so Peter tells us exactly what to expect as people living in a world we don’t belong to: it’s not going to be an easy ride.

God’s people have been misunderstood from the very beginning. We live for a King this world doesn’t know. We’re going to stand out, meet challenges and upset people who want us to be like them.

Do you want to know how to handle being treated badly—and even make the most of it? Do you want strength, encouragement and understanding for what you are going through today? Peter knows all about suffering for Jesus—his practical letter will “arm you” for the fight.

65

2 PETER If you knew you were about to die and could write one letter . . . what would it say?

Peter—like Paul, James and many of the other church leaders before him—knew his time was up. He was in prison for preaching about Jesus and was expecting his death sentence any day.

So he wrote the letter of 2 Peter as a final reminder of his teaching that could be passed round after he died. He retells a key moment when he was with Jesus on earth, has strong words for anyone who uses God’s love and grace as an excuse to do whatever they want, and promises that God’s judgement is coming on this world. His letter is just as intense as you’d expect someone’s last words to be!

But there is good reason for his passion: he wants us to keep living for Jesus and to keep expecting His return.

Nothing is more important!

Do you want down-to-earth teaching about the difference Jesus’ future return makes to your life today?

Peter’s last words will challenge you, shake you and make you more focused on “the last day” than ever before!

66

1 JOHN What is love? How do we know if our relationship with Jesus is real? What should Christians do when they sin?

Why is “the world” around us now our enemy? Should we love it, hate it or feel something else entirely?

These are big questions for Christians; and they are some of the big questions tackled by 1 John!

John is a creative and artistic writer. He uses everyday images to help us understand deep, spiritual ideas. He compares light and darkness, love and hate, and life and death to help us understand God better, see ourselves clearer and love others more genuinely. He circles round these ideas again and again, drawing us in deeper and deeper; and bringing them right down to our level.

If you want to understand more about God, your own relationship with Him and what real Christianity looks like in this world, then 1 John is a short but exciting book that will help you get your head round it!

67

2 JOHN Christians sometimes have different views on Bible passages, ways to do church, how to serve the local community and stuff like that. Most of the time it’s no big deal.

But when people who call themselves Christians say that Jesus isn’t God, alarm bells need to ring. The letter of 2 John is tiny, but it has one clear message: watch out for people like this! Our salvation from Jesus is the most important thing we have!

Should we tolerate the different views of Jesus that we hear? How should we react to people who believe Jesus is less important than the Bible claims? John’s advice is very short, very clear and deadly serious!

68

3 JOHN Light or dark. Hot or cold. Up or down. Right or wrong.

True or false.

Absolute opposites. Our world doesn’t always like things to be so clear-cut! Ever heard, “Truth is what you make it” or “Just be true to yourself”? John has a clear response to such ideas: “Anyone who does good is from God. Anyone who does evil has not seen God.” Absolute opposites. We are all one or the other.

His letter of 3 John is very short and to the point: we know who people are (and who they belong to) by how they actually live. What do you think ‘truth’ is? What does your life say about what you believe? John will remind you that there is only one truth; and we need to live by it.

69

JUDE When is it wrong for Christians to be nice, tolerant and accepting?

Something terrible was happening to the church in Jude’s day. It was so bad that he wrote a razor-sharp letter warning the churches against it. He wasn’t nice or tolerant about it at all!

The prophets cried about it. Jesus warned about it. A large part of the New Testament talks about it. And the whole book of Jude points it out. What is this terrible thing?

False teachers.

Clever sounding, smooth-talking preachers were slipping into the church and teaching Christians about a false Jesus and a false gospel. And it’s something that’s still happening today; false teachers are still amongst us, selling the same scam that first started with the snake in the Garden of Eden. If you want to know what it is—read the tiny but mighty book of Jude!

70

REVELATION A zombie apocalypse! A meteorite strike! A global virus!

An alien invasion! The rise of A.I! Nuclear war! There’s been movies, TV series, books and conspiracy theories all about it. And none of them even come close to how truly awesome and terrifying it will be.

The end of the world.

That’s the story told in Revelation. It’s the future history of our planet—the day when Jesus returns.

It’s a crazy read and can be hard to understand. But one thing is very clear: Jesus is coming back. He will judge this world. He will right the wrongs. He will destroy evil. And He will make a new world for His people to live with Him forever.

But Revelation isn’t just “the Revelation of the end of the world”; the book’s full name is “the Revelation of Jesus Christ!” The whole point of the book is to pull back the curtains and show us Jesus in all of His glory and goodness!

If you’re feeling hopeless about the state of our world today; if you’re wondering if Jesus really is as powerful and holy as people say He is . . . Then let Revelation blow your mind with His awesomeness!

71

Scriptures taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. © 2021 by Our Daily Bread Ministries®. All rights reserved.

Printed in the UK. For information on our resources, visit odb.org

Alternatively, please contact the office nearest to you from the list below, or go to ourdailybread.org/locations for the complete list of offices.

Germany: Our Daily Bread Ministries e.V., Schulstraße 42, 79540 Lörrach deutsch@odb.org Ireland: Our Daily Bread Ministries, 64 Baggot Street Lower, Dublin 2, D02 XC62 ireland@odb.org ~ +3531 (01) 676 7315 UK & Europe: Our Daily Bread Ministries, PO Box 1, Millhead, Carnforth, LA5 9ES europe@odb.org ~ +44 (0) 15395 64149 Many people, making even the smallest of donations, enable Our Daily Bread Ministries to reach others with the life-changing wisdom of the Bible. We are not funded or endowed by any group or denomination.

Many of the strange characters, stories and cultures in the Bible can make it quite a confusing read at times. Yet we’re promised that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful” for us today.

This booklet can help you experience the power of all of God’s Word for your life today. It offers short introductions to the Bible’s books; they’re like little launch pads into each one, giving you the starting point you need. They don’t just say what to expect from each book, but give you reasons why you should read them. You’ll be more confident to open up any book of the Bible, knowing what to look for and what the relevance will be for your own life.

ourdailybread.org

SP819