The Old Testament is the story of the Old Covenant (“testament” means “covenant”) between God and his people. At the same time, the Old Testament foretells the coming of a new covenant and a coming prophet, priest, and king. For many reasons, a solid understanding of the Old Testament is crucial for understanding the New Testament. If you have found the Old Testament confusing, irrelevant, or boring, or if you desire to take your understanding of the Old Testament to a new level, we recommend you start with the first lesson in our Genesis series, Introduction to the O.T., Pt. 1 – Why Study the Old Testament?
Jacob, on his deathbed, calls in his twelve sons and tells each one what will happen to his descendants in days to come. To his fourth son, Judah, he utters one of the most detailed and explicit prophecies about Jesus in all the Bible. Early Christian writers such as Justin Martyr used this prophecy as
Jacob's Final Blessing of His 12 Sons (Genesis 49:1-27) View Lesson
Jacob's Final Blessing of His 12 Sons (Genesis 49:1-27) View Lesson
As we come to the end of our study of Genesis, our story concludes with the deaths of Jacob and Joseph. This final chapter provides the opportunity for us to reflect on extremely important topics of the Christian faith, including death, forgiveness, the sovereignty of God and our role in His plan and purposes, Biblical
The Deaths of Jacob and Joseph (Genesis 49:28-50:26) View Lesson
The Deaths of Jacob and Joseph (Genesis 49:28-50:26) View Lesson
The story of Ruth is an inspiring tale of three unlikely individuals, who God would use in a remarkable way to accomplish His purposes. This study takes a close look at the character strengths of Naomi, Boaz, and Ruth, who set a standard for Christians today, that we might also be made useful for the designs and
We begin this new series on the Exodus journey by reviewing the reasons why this material is so important for Christians today. Jesus and the apostles drew critical lessons for Christians from these Scriptures. They include significant prophecies about the coming of Jesus, and foreshadowings of almost every element of the church and Christian life.
Introduction to the Series; Slaves in Egypt (Exodus 1) View Lesson
Introduction to the Series; Slaves in Egypt (Exodus 1) View Lesson
This lesson covers Moses’ life as a prince in Egypt, from his birth and famous rescue from the Nile River through fleeing Egypt at age forty after murdering an Egyptian. He then helps Midianite strangers, and gains a wife. We consider two key aspects of Moses’ character that are held up in the New Testament,
Birth and Early Life of Moses: the First 40 Years (Exodus 2) View Lesson
Birth and Early Life of Moses: the First 40 Years (Exodus 2) View Lesson
Forty years after fleeing Egypt, while tending sheep, Moses has a pivotal encounter with God. The "Angel of the Lord" speaks to him from a burning bush! From this story we gain rich insights into the character of God. He hears the cries of His people and responds to rescue them. Sometimes He waits until
Moses is reluctant to accept the great mission to lead his people out of Egypt, and raises several objections. The Lord provides him with three miraculous signs, which one early Christian writer saw as foreshadowing the gospel story. Moses then claims he is not a good speaker. While many today consider this an excuse, early
When Moses and Aaron ask Pharaoh to let God’s people go, Pharaoh increases the oppression against the Israelites, and has them flogged when they fail to meet their quotas. The exodus drama provides us with a pattern of our Christian spiritual journey, with Pharaoh a type or representation of Satan. Here we gain insights into
Bible scholars, even relatively conservative ones, often struggle with the ten plagues. Were these genuine supernatural miracles, or is it possible that these could be explained by naturally occurring phenomena? Does it matter? In this lesson we wrestle with these questions and look specifically at the first two plagues: blood and frogs. Why did the
Let the Plagues Begin: Blood and Frogs (Exodus 7:14-8:11) View Lesson
Let the Plagues Begin: Blood and Frogs (Exodus 7:14-8:11) View Lesson
The battle between the Lord and Pharaoh intensifies as Moses brings four more plagues upon Egypt. After the third plague, a miracle the sorcerers cannot duplicate, they tell Pharaoh, "this must be the finger of God." What is the significance of that statement? Also, were the Ten Plagues specifically designed as an assault on specific
More Plagues: Insects and Disease (Exodus 8:12-9:12) View Lesson
More Plagues: Insects and Disease (Exodus 8:12-9:12) View Lesson