We begin a journey through the Holy Bible, a systematic yet practical study through all 66 books, from Genesis to Revelation. We will learn about the inspiration of God's Word that was penned by some 40 men, from all walks of life, over a period of about 1,500 years. The truths we find can correct us, lead us in the right paths, and equip us for every good work when we are willing to obey.

Understand how the Bible came to be and why God gave it to us. All of Scripture has four main purposes and they all point to Jesus. Those four purposes are; (1) To present Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer of the world (2) To provide for us the historical context in which Jesus came (3) To lead the unbeliever into faith in Jesus and (4) To show believers how God wants us to live.

To study the Bible and apply its truths to life requires work. Effective Bible study is a three-part process: observation, interpretation, and application. In other words, we ask ourselves these three questions: "What does it say?" "What does it mean?" and "What does it mean to me?" The first book of the Bible, Genesis, helps us understand our world and ourselves as we were intended to be and as we are now.

As believers in God's Word we should understand how the biblical story of creation and science relate to each other. Creation versus evolution; What do scientists say about creation? What do creationists say about science? On what points, if any, do the two camps agree? These questions show us three missing links in the scientific theory, gaps only the Bible can adequately fill.

Genesis teaches that man was created in the image and likeness of God: spiritual, creative, thinking, feeling, and able to communicate. The image was marred when Adam and Eve sinned. The rest of Scripture deals with how to restore sinful man with a Holy God. God created first Adam and then Eve, the woman, to be a "completer" for man. Marriage, man and woman united exclusively, is God's perfect plan. As they grow closer to God, they grow closer to each other.

What is our greatest need? What happens if we fail to meet it? God provided Adam and Eve everything they would need. They faced the same decision we all face: Are we going to live God's way or our own way? Genesis 3 is a picture of sin and how God dealt with sinners, of sin and its consequences. God pursues sinners and asks man and is still asking man the same questions today.

Reconciliation is a major theme in the Bible; reconciled to God, and reconciled to each other. Genesis 4 helps us discover causes of conflict and some solutions. Cain and Abel both brought sacrifices to God. Cain's heart toward God was not right, therefore his offering was unacceptable. Cain became angry and depressed, and killed his brother. Learn God's foolproof solution that still works for those who are angry and depressed.

Abraham, the Father of Faith, is mentioned more times in the New Testament than any other Old Testament character. Abraham teaches; "What is faith, and how to demonstrate it." Abraham is an example through a four-step process, the four alters Abraham built, as his faith matured and developed. The fourth altar was the most significant. There Abraham demonstrated his total trust in God and that God was entirely first in his life.

Esau and Jacob provide insights into God's call and grace over mankind. Jacob was born grabbing; he grabbed his twin brother's birthright and deceived their father into giving him the blessing. Jacob's life is a journey of hardship and deception that led him to God's amazing grace. He was blessed not because he had grabbed, but because of God's grace and mercy. God gave Jacob a new name "Israel" because he wanted Jacob to see his true identity in grace.

Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, mistreated and went through difficult circumstances, yet he never lost his faith in God. His loving response, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Joseph teaches us about the providence of God and confirms what Romans 8:28 declares that there is no situation so bad God cannot redeem it and bring good from it.

The book of Exodus is an illustration of deliverance, or salvation of God's people and the life of Moses is one great illustration of how to be a deliverer. God taught Moses humility in order to use him as a deliverer for His people. We learn from God through Moses, "It is the plan of God to use the power of God in the people of God to accomplish the purposes of God, according to the plan of God."

Learn the keys to obeying the call of God upon your life and of effective leadership. The most important skill and talent is availability. God prepared Moses for leadership by teaching him four spiritual truths: "I am not, but He is." "I cannot, but He can." "I do not want to, but He does." And "I did not but He did." We too need to learn to apply these spiritual secrets to be instruments God can use.

God's power is displayed throughout the book of Exodus. The confrontation between Moses and Pharaoh parallels what Satan tries to do to us today. Satan, like Pharaoh, does not mind people being religious as long as they do not leave "Egypt" or "go too far," or include their children, or their possessions in worshiping. Learn how deliverance from sin takes a series of miracles that parallel the ones God performed when he delivered the Israelites from Egypt.

In this lesson we take an in-depth look at the purpose of the Ten Commandments and each individual commandment, and how Jesus interpreted and applied them to the lives of those around Him. The Ten Commandments were written on two tablets. Four of them govern our relationship with God, and six govern our relationships with people. As we obey all of the commandments, we must be careful to obey them in spirit as well as by the letter.