“The Love story of the Bible shows us that God the Father wants a relationship with us so bad that God the Son (Jesus) would sacrifice His life that we could be in that relationship. Then God the Holy Spirit empowers us every day to bring more and more people into this family we call church – the only thing that will last for all of eternity.” Pastor JP Miller at Solid Rock at Market Common

I didn’t create the content for any of this blog post. I simply dictated highlights from the best overview of the Bible that I’ve ever heard. Every word of this is from Sunday’s sermon, “Basic Understanding of the Bible” that is part 7 in the series Atheist to Disciple. 

There’s so much more to the sermon like examples, stories, and many more facts. Pastor JP Miller also outlined each time God counteracted Satan’s next move to steal, kill, and destroy us. 

I haven’t typed my 14 pages of notes yet, but here’s a summary of all that I wrote down. Hopefully you’ll click the link above and listen to the entire sermon. Pastor JP’s message is worth every minute of the 35.  

Interesting Facts About the Bible:

• The Bible is the world’s number one best selling book of all time.
• The Bible was the first book to be printed cover to cover.
• The Bible is the only book ever used for the presidents to take their oaths, a tradition begun by George Washington. 
• The Bible was the first book to be recited from space. 
• The Bible was the first book read on the first radio broadcast on December 24, 1906.
• The Bible was the first book read in the illumination of the light bulb. Thomas Edison, its inventor, said, “The Bible lit me, so I lit the world.” 

More Facts About the Bible:

• 66 books in the Bible
• 39 books in the Old Testament
• 27 books in the New Testament
• 40 to 44 writers 
• One author (God)
• Old Testament written in Hebrew
• New Testament written in Greek

Four Basic Parts of the Bible:

• God the Father
• God the Son
• God the Holy Spirit
• God’s Church/Family

In the Old Testament, God the Father pursues us because He wants a relationship with us. God and Satan never battle each other. They battle over you and me. 

In the four gospels of the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell about the life, the ministry, and the death of God the Son (Jesus) who saved us.  

In the book of Acts in the New Testament, the writer tells about God the Holy Spirit who helps us hear from God and helps us live out what He says. 

Anything from Romans to Revelation, which is the rest of the New Testament, tells about God’s church and family. He wants us as part of His family that is the church. He also wants us to pursue people and bring them into the family too. 

Who God is in the Old Testament: 

Genesis – creator 
Exodus – deliverer 
Leviticus – teaches us how to live holy
Numbers – provider 
Deuteronomy – guide in difficult times
Joshua – leader
Judges – undeserved hero 
Ruth – restoration 
I, 2 Samuel – takes the ordinary and makes us extraordinary
I, 2 Kings – justice 
I, 2 Chronicles – center of our life 
Ezra – faithful 
Nehemiah – the one who fights for our sons and daughters
Esther – our courage 
Job – answer to our prayer in the darkest time of life 
Psalms – turns our mourning into dancing
Proverbs – wisdom and common sense
Ecclesiastes – perfect timing 
Song of Solomon – lover of our souls​
Isaiah – prince of peace 
Jeremiah – one who calls teenagers to speak on His behalf 
Lamentations – mercy
Ezekiel – calls us from sin 
Daniel – shuts the mouths of our enemies 
Hosea – He still loves sinful people​
Joel – promise of the Holy Spirit 
Amos – a relationship, not about religion 
Obadiah – saves us from pride 
Jonah – another plan A
Micah – looks for repentance 
Nahum – our overcomer 
Habakkuk – in control of the universe
Zephaniah – shakes us out of complacency 
Haggai – encourager 
Zechariah – hope 
Malachi – teaches us integrity

Who God is in the New Testament: 

Matthew – Messiah 
Mark – miracle
Luke – perfection 
John – eternal life 
Acts – offers us the power to operate in the spirit realm 
Romans – grace
I, 2 Corinthians – power of Love
Galatians – freedom from the curse of sin 
Ephesians – family 
Philippians – joy
Colossians – head of the church 
I, 2 Thessalonians – strength 
I, 2 Timothy – pastor 
Titus – church leader
Philemon – tears down racial and denominational walls 
Hebrews – faith 
James – healer when we are sick 
I, 2 Peter – truth 
I, 2, 3 John – assurance 
Jude – warning from danger
Revelation – the very end; He was, and will always be, the first, the last, the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning, the end. Our soon coming King!

I hope this information from Pastor JP’s sermon helps you as much as it’s helped me. I’m already reading my Bible with new eyes and a refreshed spirit. 

In This Together, 
Kim