Some time ago I received an e-mail message asking me to explain in 2000 words what the Bible was all about!  In addition, the person requesting this set a timeline for the project, 3 days!  At first I was hesitant to engage in such an exercise especially when the e-mail request was anonymous! 

However, eventually, my better judgment kicked in and I decided to answer the e-mail message!

Several weeks passed with no response form the person making this unusual request!  Finally, an e-mail thank you note came!  The sender was a high school girl in Australia whose teacher in a computer technology class had challenged her regarding the meaning and use of the Bible, but the challenge was set in the context of an Internet project.  The teacher’s challenge stipulated that the response had to be via a global e-mail and Internet search!  Because of the web pages for the Center For Church Enrichment and the Google search engine, I was chosen for the project!  I was happy and gratified that I had responded within the timeline specified!

This little project sparked an  idea for some lessons written in a simple style and on an introductory level explaining what the Bible, and New Testament in particular, are all about.  What is their story?  What is their message?  How do they work?

This series of 13 lessons is intended to answer such questions and to introduce the reader or student to the Story of the New Testament.

Very briefly we will survey several of the New Testament books in an attempt to pull the Story of the New Testament together.

The lessons are intended to be taught or studied in 13 weeks of Bible Class, one lesson each week.  The lessons are designed to be covered in either a 30 minute or 45 minute class.

Accompanying these 13 lessons are some Teaching Instructions (click here to go to these Instructions or Teaching Guide) to serve as a guide to making the lessons meaningful.  The teacher and the student are encouraged to read these Instructions carefully.  When teaching these lessons there will be the temptation to pick up on some favorite or interesting doctrinal topic and follow it.  Resist this!  Stay with the lesson guide, and seek to understand and present the major story or message of each book.

Two series of lessons will follow these 13 Lessons and flesh out some of the more interesting or challenging details of each book.  These lessons are:

• A detailed survey of each of the New Testament books.

• A series of lessons on the doctrinal fundamentals of the Christian faith.

Happy Studies!

Be sure to begin by reading the Teaching Instructions, then follow the lessons in the order in which they are listed.