Unlocking the Bible Story Study Guide Volume 3

By Colin S. Smith

Pastor Colin Smith's four-volume masterpiece moves you past Bible stories to understand the Bible as one story--the glorious, unbroken account of Christ's work to redeem a fallen world. With this accompanying Study Guide, you'll be able to make the journey even more rewarding. The Volume 3Study Guide matches the first volume of the book series, and will help you unlock the Bible Story from Matthew to Acts.

Unlocking the Bible Story Study Guides will help you:

• Focus you or your small group's study time to be as productive and rewarding as it can possibly be
• Enrich your understanding of the book and your comprehension of God's Word
• Apply the book's lessons in ways that will change your life forever

Once you've finished volume 3, volume 4 is highly recommended as it will complete your study in the New Testament--you or your small group could move through the entire New Testament by using volumes 3 and 4 in less than a year. And why not dive into the Old Testament study guides also by using volumes 1 and 2?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Moody Publishers
• Release date: Mar 1, 2004
• ISBN: 9781575677972

Colin S. Smith

COLIN S. SMITH is the senior pastor of The Orchard Evangelical Free Church in Arlington Heights, IL, where he has been since 1996. He is the author of The 10 Greatest Struggles of Your Life and can be heard on his Unlocking the Bible broadcast with Moody radio.

Book preview

Gentiles

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the third in a series of four study guides designed to help small groups grasp the big picture of the Bible. The studies are based on the four-volume book series Unlocking the Bible Story. They will take you on a fascinating journey through the Scriptures.

The whole Bible is one story. It begins with two people in a beautiful garden and ends with a vast crowd in a magnificent city. Once you have grasped the main story line, you will be able to see how the individual stories of the Bible fit together, how the whole Bible points to Jesus Christ, and how God speaks through the Bible into your life today.

As you prepare for each study, you will find it helpful to read the relevant chapter from the Bible along with the chapter from Unlocking the Bible Story (volume 3). Then, as you gather with others to discuss what you have read, the study guide will help you to apply what you have learned. (This study guide also can be helpful for individual study and application of each chapter.)

Study guide volume 3 begins with the event God promised to Old Testament patriarchs and prophets—the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ—and continues with Christ’s ministry and the beginning of the church. Along the way we will travel through the four Gospels and the book of Acts. Together, these books give us the historic timeline of the New Testament. For a complete tour of the New Testament, consider also completing volume 4, which covers the letters written to the early churches and the book of Revelation. Both study guides can be completed by a small group, meeting weekly, in less than a year.

Of course, your group may also study guides one and two in this series, which give the fascinating sweep of the Old Testament. Imagine how much each member of your group would benefit from a journey through the entire Bible in less than two years!

So welcome aboard. You are about to embark on a wonderful adventure as we unlock the Bible together. You will make many new discoveries and be led to worship as you take in the breathtaking sweep of the Bible story.

Who is Jesus and why did He come?

LAUNCHING

1. Who is someone you trust to fulfill any promise he or she makes to you? Why?

EXPLORING

God’s To Do List

2. What are three key items on God’s to do list that are reflected in Jesus’