In my last post, I shared the first three Bible passages that I gave to a woman who knew nothing about the Bible. You may have noticed that I did not begin with the Creation narrative from Genesis, and I thought I should explain its omission.
The woman I was studying with did know that story and understood the concept of sin that derives from that story, so I had her begin with The Ten Commandments. Of course, the story of Creation is absolutely foundational to the understanding of the story of Scripture and should be the first piece of the puzzle to be put in place. For the woman I was studying with, this piece had already been laid.
With that explanation out of the way, let’s go to the next three passages on the list of “Top Ten Bible Passages to Read.”
Encouragement from God, Isaiah 40
It’s easy and common to get discouraged in life since we live in a fallen and broken world that was made that way by sin. This passage speaks to the discouragement we often feel and counters it with encouragement from God. This passage is an example of how the Bible addresses real-life issues. By doing so, the Bible proves itself to be relevant and helpful. No matter what a person is going through there is comfort to be found in following God, as this passage proclaims.
The Beatitudes, Matthew 5:1-12
Properly understood, this passage declares that Jesus values the very people in society who are made to feel worthless and unloved. It points the reader to a greater reality than immediate circumstances and to the bigger story of God’s Kingdom. In God’s Kingdom, things are not always as they seem, and those who are the most blessed in the eyes of God may be the ones who seem to be the most cursed in the eyes of the world.
The Great Commission, Matthew 28:16-20
This passage establishes the mission of the church, which is the collective community of Christ-followers. Those who follow Christ have been given a new mission to pursue – to help others know Jesus also. This mission gives even the most mundane aspects of our lives meaning and purpose.
In my next post I will share the remaining passages on the list. In the meantime, read the aforementioned passages and ask yourself these questions:
- What do I receive by trusting God and following Christ?
- What do these passages teach me about the Christian life?
- What is God promising me in these passages?
Check back Friday for the conclusion of this blog series!
rusty tugman 