Sample Chapters

Introduction

Congratulations! You made the most important decision of your life—surrendering your heart to Jesus. Welcome to the family of God!

There’s a lot to be excited about, but it’s also easy to feel overwhelmed. For one, there’s that huge, important Book everyone seems to know a lot about. I get it. The Bible can be intimidating.

It’s easy to feel behind. As a kid, you might have missed out on learning about foundational Bible stories and their accompanying truths. Maybe everything you know about God’s Word comes from watching VeggieTales with your children. You might feel behind, but don’t worry.

God promises that those who seek truth will find it. That’s what you’re doing right now.

I gave my life to Jesus when I was a boy. But even before that decision, I spent every Sunday in church. Most of my Sunday School memories revolve around the silly things my brother and I did in class. We were famous for sneaking extra snacks and making faces at each other when the teacher wasn’t looking. Our goal? To make the other one laugh and get in trouble!

As you can tell, I didn’t fully appreciate the lessons back then. But I heard the stories again and again, year after year. Over time, they began to take root in my heart. Now, as a husband, father, and former pastor and ministry leader, this biblical understanding is my foundation. These “Sunday School stories” make up who I am, how I live life, my understanding of God, and my need for the only true Savior—Jesus Christ.

I’m grateful for my strong foundation, but I know not everyone had the advantage of growing up in a good church. That’s why I wrote this book. I want to share with you What You Would Have Learned In Sunday School.

This book is meant for everyone, but I am specifically addressing those who came to Jesus as adults and missed the opportunity for Sunday School lessons as a child. This is by no means an exhaustive list of Scripture’s most important stories, nor is it all God wants you to learn from the Old Testament. Instead, I chose to focus on key stories that most kids who grew up in Sunday School can recite by heart.

Together, we’ll walk through several Old Testament stories to help you build a solid foundation of faith. You will find each chapter is short, conversational, and focused on one biblical account. I want you to feel like each page is like chatting with a friend versus sitting through a lecture.

You will not find a bunch of deep, theological statements. But it is theological since theology is about studying the nature of God and our beliefs about Him.

And many times, simple stories hold the greatest truth.

To get the most out of this book, I strongly encourage you to read the Bible story referenced in parenthesis at the top of each chapter. Much of the content of each chapter is written with the assumption that you have read and are now familiar with the story.

At the end of each chapter, you will find questions for you to personally process. Be sure to take a moment to ponder and respond. The questions are not busywork. Instead, they are a way to develop your spiritual growth.

I recommend reading one chapter a day. If you do, in less than three months you will have an in-depth overview of the Old Testament.

With any devotional plan, it is important to study for depth and understanding, versus read for distance or to “check the box.” Don’t set a distance goal and read too many chapters in one sitting. Each day, ask God to speak to you. Be ready to pause and meditate on what you hear regardless of if it’s in the middle of a chapter or the end. As you spend time getting to know Him, He will make Himself more and more known.

Remember, living as a follower of Jesus is a marathon, not a sprint. This is only the beginning of your journey to deepen your relationship with God and understand His Word!

“Be        strong  and       very      courageous.     Be careful to          obey     all         the        Law      My servant              Moses  gave     you;      do         not turn      from     it           to          the        right     or          to the        left,      that      you       may      be successful         wherever          you       go.        Keep this       Book     of          the        Law      always on your      lips;      meditate           on         it           day and       night,   so          that      you       may      be careful to          do         everything        written in          it. Then     you       will       be         prosperous       and successful.        Have    I             not        commanded you?     Be         strong  and       courageous.     Do not        be         afraid;  do         not        be discouraged,    for        the        LORD    your      God will       be         with      you       wherever          you go.”

– Joshua 1:7-9

 

 

 

Before You Begin

As you begin reading the Bible, you will notice that it isn’t like other books. Instead of a common layout with an introduction, middle part with one cast of characters, and then a conclusion—the Bible was written by at least 35 different authors over a span of 1500 years!

It is important to note that the Bible is not merely a compilation of loosely connected books written by different authors to tell a story that doesn’t flow. The Bible was indeed written by many different human authors, but each one of them was inspired by God to write what they did. God was The Author—and the Bible is His story.

Each account in the Old Testament is like one big arrow that points to Jesus Christ’s redemption of mankind. Each page in the Bible is meant to show us how much we need God. It reveals how He worked out a plan to save the world through His life on Earth as a Man who lived out His mission which included His sinless life on Earth, His death, and His glorious resurrection.

Although the Bible begins with the hopeful stories of creation and of Adam and Eve with God in the Garden of Eden, the story takes a turn. God’s subsequent cleansing of the Earth through the great flood is only the beginning of a story which soon feels hopeless. Yet, even this hopelessness shows how much we need God.

Creation was ready to meet its Savior. Each story points to mankind’s inability to live lives which are pleasing to God outside of relationship with Him.

Each story is just one piece. At first glance, the pieces don’t appear to have anything to do with each other. But as you examine them closely, you will begin to see how they fit together—and who the bigger picture is actually about—Jesus.

As you read, think about, and learn from these stories, focus on how each one helps you to understand God and how He has loved His people throughout history. Knowing what God has done since Creation will help build an understanding of His character, His heart, and how much He loves us.

Remember, past realities ought to inform future decisions. As we grow, we will be compelled to think and act differently. Our journey has just begun!

Personal Application

• Turn to the inside of your Bible’s front cover and write,

“What does this tell me about God?”

• As you read each story from your Bible, keep this    question in mind. With this expectant posture, God will teach you more about Himself.

 

 

God’s Eternal Attributes

Do you remember some of the brain teasers that we used to ask our friends? You know, questions like: “Did Adam and Eve have belly buttons?”, “What came first, the chicken or the egg?”, or “What did God do before He created the world?”

Have you ever asked yourself any of these?

Personally, I enjoy these types of questions. They spin my mind into moments of spiritual ADD. My mind wanders into eternity to imagine what God was up to and how everything came to be. There are many things we will never be able to wrap our minds around, but they’re still important to consider.

Before diving into our first Bible story, I want us to pause to ponder the question: “Who and what is God?”

Now, I know the answer is impossible to comprehend, but a basic understanding is vital. This foundation will help us as we approach each story and build upon them.

This chapter is by no means an exhaustive list of God’s qualities. Instead, I want to highlight key attributes we can learn about God in the beginning. And remember, if you can’t fully grasp something, that’s okay. These basic truths are important for our foundation in understanding God and growing in our relationship with Him.

You       ready?

Let’s dive into the moment before the story begins.

Before God spoke anything into existence, there was nothing. No matter. Nothing physical. Nothing that could be approached by human senses. Nothing at all.

Yet, there was Something. More accurately, Someone.

Before the universe was made, God was. He is not a created being. He has no beginning or end. God is Eternal. That’s what makes eternity feel like a great brain teaser!

Recently, one of my kids worked on segments, lines, and angles for math class. I tried to explain this concept of eternity to them by drawing a line on a piece of paper with arrows on both ends— our lives are like a point and line with an arrow, for that is what God is.

As followers of Jesus, it’s a little easier to imagine eternity in the future.

God promises eternal life to those who have surrendered to Him. This means we will live an infinity future with Him in heaven. But here is the brain twist. Imagine that same distance of infinite time into the past. This is something our mortal minds struggle to even picture. I still cannot quite grasp it!

The other aspect of God’s eternity is that He is not bound by the constraints of time like we are. As humans, we can only occupy one place at a single moment in time. God, however, is in all places at all times. He is fully present in the past and future. He is outside of the constraints that the context of time forces on creation.

Psalm 90:2 says, “Before the mountains were born, You brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.” Other translations use “eternity” in place of the word “everlasting.” So, it could read, “…from eternity past to eternity future, You are God.”

None of this is meant to overwhelm us. After all, the finite cannot fathom the infinite. Luckily, many things work even though we don’t understand them.

God’s eternity assures me that He has my best in mind. This has specifically come to mind in my prayer life.

After all, it would be very difficult for me to have faith in a god who didn’t know the future. I don’t see how I could pray to that god. But our mighty God not only knows the future, He also resides there!

Sometimes people wonder and even debate if God knows the future. Based on my understanding of God’s eternal nature, my response to those moments is easy: “Yes, I believe God knows the future.” I can say this because He’s already there!

The second attribute of God is His Omniscience (pronounced äm-ˈni-shən(t)s). This means that God is all-knowing. He is also sovereign. In God’s omniscience, He is working out a specific plan for His creation.

Check out Psalm 139:1-4, 15-18. Observe what this shows about God’s omniscience (knowledge).

O       Lord,     You       have          searched           me        and          known me!      You       know          when    I             sit         down          and       when    I             rise          up; You              discern my          thoughts           from     afar.

      You         search  out        my  path     and       my        lying  down and         are  acquainted       with      all  my        ways.

Even     before  a           word    is   on         my        tongue, behold,   O           Lord,     You       know    it   altogether.

My        frame   was      not            hidden from     You, when  I             was      being            made   in          secret,

intricately         woven  in          the        depths of              the        earth.

    Your     eyes      saw      my         unformed          substance; in         Your     book     were         written,             every    one         of          them, the          days         that      were     formed for         me,

when    as          yet        there    was      none     of              them.

How     precious            to          me        are        Your              thoughts,          O           God!

How     vast      is           the        sum      of          them!

                   lf        I             would   count          them,   they      are          more    than     the          sand. I  awake, and       I          am        still       with          You.

– Psalm 139:1-4, 15-18

Omniscience and eternity work together. It is logical to believe God is omniscient when we understand His eternity. He knows the future because He is in the future. God, in His omniscience, also knows every thought and word that every person in the whole world is thinking and saying. Pretty awesome…and scary, don’t you think? And even though He knows every thought, He still loves us and provides for us.

Third, God is Omnipresent; He is present in all places. God is everywhere, and I’m not only talking about here on Earth, but in the entire universe. Everything that He created; He inhabits.

Isaiah 40:12 says, “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the Earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?” I remember my brother telling me that after he read this verse, he decided to see how much water he could hold in the hollow of his hand. Do you know what he found out? His hand held less than 15 drops before water began to run over the side of his palm! Other than when Jesus, God’s Son, walked among His creation, God has not been constrained to a physical body. But my brother’s experiment got me thinking. Just for reference sake, compared to my brother’s hand, God’s hand must be huge!

You know what’s really cool about this? Even though His size is immeasurable, He desires an intimate relationship with you and me! Comparatively, we are much smaller in God’s eyes than ants are to our eyes. Yet, He values us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to take the penalty of our sins. Wow!

The fourth and final attribute of God that I’d like to share is His Omnipotence. This word means He is all-powerful. Luke 1:37 says, “Nothing is impossible for God.” Anything and everything that God wants to do, He does. You can trust Him with your anything and everything because He is fully capable to meet those needs.

Even with this power, there are limits. This does not mean He is powerless, more so there are things that His nature disallows Him to act on. Because He is good, there are some things that God will not do. This is not a contradiction. He will never violate His nature or character. He cannot create a rock that is too heavy for Him to lift. Both His creative ability and strength are infinite. More importantly, God cannot sin or lie. It goes against who He is.

He cannot act against Himself in that way. Praise God!

Before moving forward, let’s look at John 1:1-2 which tells us, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”

Note that “Word” is a proper noun and verse 2 refers to the Word as “He.” That “He” points to Jesus. Jesus IS God. The God who created the world is the same God who came and died for it. This is amazing, mind-blowing, and humbling all at the same time!

I want to encourage you with the fact that God is huge and knows everything that can be known. He can and will accomplish His plan for creation. Continue to put your trust in Him and He will take care of the details. Our job is to live in His will, which He reveals to us in His Word, which ultimately leads us to trust Him in everything.

That brings us, at last, to the beginning of the story…

 

 

What Are You Building?

Start by reading Genesis 6:1-9:17

Have you ever wondered what it was like for Noah’s family to build the ark? It is a familiar story to many of us, but can you imagine what it must have been like for Noah to hear God tell him to do something that no one had ever done? To top it off, this something, without a doubt, make Noah look like an absolute lunatic.

Did you know that it took Noah and his sons 120 years to build the ark? While it is true that people lived a lot longer before the flood, that’s still a long time to be the laughingstock of the world. But Noah was not fazed.

He was confident in the Lord. His sense of identity centered on the promise God gave him. He trusted that God would fulfill His word—and chose to partner with Him day after day, year after year.

What if God called you to do something great for Him? If it made you look like a fool, would you still do it? How about if it made you uncomfortable or it might take a long time to accomplish? What parts of your life could be affected if you were to partner with His plan for your life?

As image-bearers of God, we must remain confident in who God made us to be and in His calling on our lives. Such confidence frees us from what people think. Instead, we can stay fixed on keeping our hearts pleasing to God, our Creator and Lord.

I can tell you firsthand that this is not easy—but it can radically free you.

I’ve gone through several significant transitions in my life. My first was when I resigned as staff from a local church. This major life decision appeared to go against the wisdom of the world.

After 12 years as a youth pastor, I stepped into a new ministry role which required me to raise my own salary. I left behind a steady paycheck, ongoing retirement investment, and health insurance. I left stability, trusting that God would provide.

I had to battle my own fear of change and my own comfort, plus navigate tough conversations with people who urged me not to resign. They continually reminded me that giving up a steady paycheck could create tragic economic consequences.

I even had people send me newspaper clippings which talked about how retirement plans were drying up and wages were disappearing. Needless to say, my decision to partner with God’s call on my life, even though it was unconventional, didn’t come without fear.

But here’s the thing: I knew that God had called me to make that change. I didn’t have a timeline or playbook for how He was going to provide. And frankly, I didn’t even know the specifics of my role in this new ministry. But that was not the crucial thing. Obedience was.

Therefore, I followed His call.

I wish I could say that through that journey I never felt fear and never wavered in my faith, but that would be a lie. Emotions will always be part of our life—even the unwelcome ones. That is okay. It is what we do with them and how we filter them through a lens of faith that matters.

What I can tell you is this: Since I left my steady paycheck in 2012, God has always provided for my family. We have always been taken care of. We have never been alone. So much good has come from making the leap. My own personal growth has advanced at a greater rate than before, and the Kingdom of Heaven has been positivity impacted.

Choosing comfort is a surefire way to miss out on what God wants to do in and through you. If your identity is rooted in God’s promises and His calling on your life, and not in what others think, you’ll accomplish much for His Kingdom.

Remember that He is faithful and will always be with you. Like Noah, all you need to do is to begin to build.