Knowing the Bible Story

Why might we lack confidence when it comes to the Bible? How and why does God communicate with people? What is at heart of reading the Bible well? Can we trust how it was put together? What version should I use?

How does the story of the Bible describe the world? How does the story of the Bible describe God’s hope and purpose for human beings? How does the story of the Bible describe the problems we face in the world and ourselves? How do we read the Bible faithfully? What will help me discover the original intended meaning of a text?

How does the Bible describe the relationship God wants with us? How is worship at the centre of the Bible’s story, and our lives? What does the Temple show about God’s presence and His continuing plan for a recreated world? What does it mean that the Bible is human and divine?

How are freedom and justice connected in the Bible? How did the experience of being in exile shape the Bible story, and how does it shape us? How might I understand the dark and violent pictures of God in the Bible?

Why is Jesus the centre of God’s story? How does Jesus show what the Kingdom of God on earth looks like? Why and how does Jesus communicate the Kingdom in parables? How does Jesus establish God’s Kingdom through His death and resurrection? How can different perspectives help us understand the Bible? Why and how might I meditate on the Bible?

What does the New Testament emphasise about the relationship God wants with us? (Being with God) What does the New Testament emphasise about who we are as human beings? (Becoming like Christ) What does the New Testament emphasise about our calling as human beings? (Joining in with the Spirit) How do we apply the Bible well to the questions we wrestle with today?