Storyline Bible Studies

Discover the storyline of Scripture as you follow people, places, or things in the Bible. Maybe you are practiced in dissecting a passage and pulling things out of the text to apply to your life. But now you may feel as though your faith is fragmented. The Storyline Bible Studies help you put the pieces back together. You'll discover cohesive, thematic storylines with literary elements and appreciate the Bible as the literary masterpiece that it is. In Saints, we will look at characters and themes that are cautionary tales for Christians and Christian leaders. None of us are above the actions described in the Bible, and all of us are in need of the redemption and restoration of God. In the Saints Bible study, we will explore • John 3, 7, and 19: Nicodemus, the Pharisee disoriented by Jesus' testimony; • John 6, 12, 13, and 18: Judas, the disciple who sold Jesus out; • John 11 and 18 and Acts 4: Caiaphas, the high priest unwilling to steward his power generously; • John 18 and 21: Peter, the disciple who denied association with Jesus; and • Acts 8 and 1 Timothy 1: Paul, the Pharisee who persecuted Christians.

These studies guide you through the storyline of Scripture-each following a person, place, or thing in the Bible. Maybe you are practiced in dissecting a passage and pulling things out of the text to apply to your life. But now you may feel as though your faith is fragmented. The Storyline Bible studies help you put the pieces back together. You'll discover cohesive, thematic storylines with literary elements and appreciate the Bible as the masterpiece that it is. Each study is five weeks long and can be paired with its thematic partner for a seamless ten-week study to fit in a church semester. Every study features: • Gospel presentation at the beginning of each Bible study • Full Scripture passages included in the study so that you can mark up the text and keep your notes in one place • Insights from female scholars and scholars of color • Free resources for preaching and leading small groups Every tree, bush, or vine in the Bible is deeply embedded in an ancient, symbolic-driven world where imagery of the story didn't just matter-it had meaning. The Sticks Bible study will guide you through five Bible stories where trees point us to how we can seek godly wisdom and make hard choices that honor God. In Sticks, we're going to explore • Genesis 2—3, where the Tree of Life and the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil show us how to choose wisely and not to take matters into our own hands; • Exodus 3, where the Burning Bush helps us choose to notice when God is trying to get our attention; • Isaiah 1, 6, 11, 53, where the Messiah Tree helps us choose to branch out from our shady family trees; • John 15, where the True Vine teaches us how to choose to stay connected to Jesus for a fruitful life; and • Revelation 22, where the Tree of Life helps us to choose to reframe our views from the treetops.

Discover the storyline of Scripture as you follow people, places, or things in the Bible. Maybe you are practiced in dissecting a passage and pulling things out of the text to apply to your life. But now you may feel as though your faith is fragmented. The Storyline Bible Studies help you put the pieces back together. You'll discover cohesive, thematic storylines with literary elements and appreciate the Bible as the literary masterpiece that it is. In Sinners, we will discover God's tender compassion on anyone——regardless of their social status, troubled past, or the labels placed upon them. And we are going to notice the counterintuitive ways "sinful" people respond to Jesus in righteous acts of faith. You'll start to see a theme unfold: The people considered sinful often act with greater faith than the most religious people of Jesus' day. In the Sinners Bible study, we will explore • Luke 7: the sinful woman who anointed Jesus with the perfume from her alabaster jar and whose faith saved her; • Luke 7: the Roman centurion who advocated for his sick servant and whose faith saved the servant's life; • Matthew 9: the former tax collector and disciple named Matthew who had left his tollbooth to follow Jesus and whose faith confused the religious; • Matthew 15: the Canaanite mom who begged Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter and whose faith led to her daughter's healing; and • John 4: the Samaritan woman at the well who was approached by Jesus and whose faith started revival in her town.

These studies guide you through the storyline of Scripture-each following a person, place, or thing in the Bible. Maybe you are practiced in dissecting a passage and pulling things out of the text to apply to your life. But now you may feel as though your faith is fragmented. The Storyline Bible studies help you put the pieces back together. You'll discover cohesive, thematic storylines with literary elements and appreciate the Bible as the masterpiece that it is. Each study is five weeks long and can be paired with its thematic partner for a seamless ten-week study to fit in a church semester. Every study features: • Gospel presentation at the beginning of each Bible study • Full Scripture passages included in the study so that you can mark up the text and keep your notes in one place • Insights from female scholars and scholars of color • Free resources for preaching and leading small groups Valleys in the Bible have far more meaning than just as geographical markers or pins on an ancient map. In his literary genius, God repurposes valley settings throughout Scripture to signal tests of faith——and deepening of confidence in the One who is with us in the valley. In Valleys, we're going to explore: • Numbers 13—14: the Valley of Eshkol, where spies scouted the Promised Land • Judges 4—5: the Valley of Kishon, where Deborah and Jael defeated the enemy • 1 Samuel 17: the Valley of Elah, where David fought Goliath • Psalm 23: the Valley of Death, where God comforts scared people • Ezekiel 37: the Valley of Dry Bones, where Ezekiel prophesied of Israel's restoration

God's Presence is Available Even When You Feel Lost Experience God's redemptive power as you study God's Word and find your place in the biblical story of redemption. Following a theme, the Storyline Project Bible studies guide you through the Old and New Testament while helping you develop a biblical imagination and the skills to connect each highlighted story to the unified story of scripture. The Deserts Bible study will help you discover this all-important truth: God meets your needs in your metaphorical deserts. Maybe that's what you need to hear more than anything else right now. God has not abandoned you to your circumstances. Like everyone else He's led through the desert, He will accompany you faithfully to the other side of this part of your journey. In the Deserts Bible study, we're going to explore: • The Desert of Shur & Beersheba, Genesis 16,21: where Hagar names God, • The Desert of Dothan, Genesis 37,50: where Joseph gets thrown in a pit, • The Desert of Sinai, Numbers 11, 14: where the Israelites wander in the wilderness, • The Desert of Judea, Matthew 4: where Jesus is tested, • The Deserts of Ministry, Matthew 14,15: where Jesus feeds the multitudes.

These studies guide you through the storyline of Scripture-each following a person, place, or thing in the Bible. Maybe you are practiced in dissecting a passage and pulling things out of the text to apply to your life. But now you may feel as though your faith is fragmented. The Storyline Bible studies help you put the pieces back together. You'll discover cohesive, thematic storylines with literary elements and appreciate the Bible as the masterpiece that it is. Each study is five weeks long and can be paired with its thematic partner for a seamless ten-week study to fit in a church semester. Every study features: • Gospel presentation at the beginning of each Bible study • Full Scripture passages included in the study so that you can mark up the text and keep your notes in one place • Insights from female scholars and scholars of color • Free resources for preaching and leading small groups In the ancient, symbol-driven world of the Bible, location didn't just matter-it had meaning. The Mountains Bible study will guide you through five mountaintop Bible stories because mountains are holy ground for connecting with God. We will explore: • Genesis 1—2: Mount of Creation, where God created the world • Exodus 19—20: Mount Sinai, where God gives the Israelites the Mosaic law • Matthew 5: Mount of the Sermon, where Jesus' delivers his most famous message • Matthew 17: Mount of Transfiguration, where Jesus revealed his glory • Matthew 28: Mount of the Great Commission, where Jesus commissioned his disciples

These studies guide you through the storyline of Scripture-each following a person, place, or thing in the Bible. Maybe you are practiced in dissecting a passage and pulling things out of the text to apply to your life. But now you may feel as though your faith is fragmented. The Storyline Bible studies help you put the pieces back together. You'll discover cohesive, thematic storylines with literary elements and appreciate the Bible as the masterpiece that it is. Each study is five weeks long and can be paired with its thematic partner for a seamless ten-week study to fit in a church semester. Every study features: • Gospel presentation at the beginning of each Bible study • Full Scripture passages included in the study so that you can mark up the text and keep your notes in one place • Insights from female scholars and scholars of color • Free resources for preaching and leading small groups The Stones Bible study will guide you through five stone-related stories because stones are physical reminders of God's faithful activity in the lives of his people. We will explore: • Genesis 28 and 35: the Bedrock of Jacob, where God met Jacob with faithfulness • Exodus 34: the Bedrock of Moses, where God met Moses with steadfast forgiveness • Joshua 4: the Bedrock of Joshua, where God helped his people remember • Matthew 27—28: the Bedrock of Jesus, where rescue comes through resurrection • 1 Peter 2: the Bedrock of the Church, where God's people are given purpose

Move from Spiritual Exhaustion to a Hopeful Future Experience God's redemptive power as you study God's Word and find your place in the biblical story of redemption. The Storyline Project Bible studies guide you through a theme in the Old and New Testament while helping you develop a biblical imagination and the skills to connect each highlighted story to the unified story of scripture. The Gardens Bible study will guide you through five Bible stories set within gardens. The presence of these places in the Scriptures is a key element in the story, revealing something about God-and about us. We will be on a journey to find the paradise that's been lost-and we will discover that we flourish when we trust the character and work of the Good Gardener who plants and replants. In the Gardens Bible study, we're going to explore: • The Garden of Eden, Genesis 1-3: where God shows the path to flourishing, • The Garden of King Ahasuerus, Esther 1;-7: where Queen Vashti stood up to the drunken king and we see humanity's need for restored relationships, • The Garden of Gethsemane, John 18-19: where Jesus wrestled with his sacrifice, • The Garden Tomb, John 20: where Jesus revealed himself to Mary Magdalene, • The Garden City, Revelation 21-22: where God replants Christians in the New Jerusalem.