Unit

Focus

Bible Memory*

1. Overview of the Bible

The Bible (1)
Old Testament (2)
New Testament (3)
God’s faithfulness (4)

The Bible is the revelation of who God is and of His acts in history relating to creation and redemption.

O.T. Books of the Bible

2. The Setting of God’s Story

God’s story (1)
Bible languages (2)
Books of the Bible and their categories (3)
The land of Israel (4)
Timeline (5)

God inspired the Bible, a compilation of 66 books written in Hebrew and Greek, so that we could know Him through His words and actions, believe in Him, and live according to His will.

O.T. & N.T. Books of the Bible
2 Timothy 3:16-17

3. Creation, Sin, and Salvation

Creation (1)
The fall and the Promise(2)
Cain and Abel (3)
The flood (4–5)
The tower of Babel (6)

God creates all things good and perfect for His glory. Mankind rebels against his Creator and brings himself under the penalty of death. God then reveals the way of salvation through the promise of the Messiah. Sin multiplies upon the earth and God wipes out the world with a flood, saving only Noah’s family and the animals. After the flood, sin again multiplies.

Hebrews 11:1-3, 6
Genesis 3:15
Psalm 105:1–5

4. The Patriarchs

Abraham (1–7)
Isaac (8)
Jacob (9–12)
Joseph (13–15)

God makes a covenant with the patriarchs, promising to give them Canaan as an inheritance, make them a large nation, make them a blessing to all nations, and be their God. They sometimes rely on their own strength instead of on God, who lets them suffer the consequences of their actions but intervenes to protect His chosen family.

Hebrews 11:8-10
Hebrews 11:13–16

5. From Slavery to a Covenant

Moses (1–3)
Plagues and the Passover blood (4–5)
The exodus and the Red Sea (6–7)
Journey to Sinai (8–9)
The law and the covenant (10–11)
The tabernacle (12)
Priests (13)
Sacrifices (14)
Feasts (15)
Living the law (16)
The golden calf (17)

God chooses Moses to lead His people out of slavery in Egypt to Mount Sinai, where He makes a covenant with them and gives them laws and means to worship Him.

Hebrews 11:24–26
Exodus 20:1-6
Exodus 20:7-11
Exodus 20:12-17

6. The Journey to Canaan

Rebellion (1–2)
Rejecting Canaan (3)
Wandering (4–6)
Approach to Canaan (7)
Covenant renewal (8)
Death of Moses (9)

The Israelites disobey and rebel against God at almost every opportunity. Consequently they must wander in the wilderness until they die. Moses leads the people to Canaan’s border, where God renews the covenant.

Deuteronomy 6:4-7

7. The Conquest

Joshua takes over (1)
Crossing of the Jordan (2)
Jericho and Ai (3–4)
Gibeon (5)
Joshua’s military strategy (6)
Dividing the land (7)
Cities of refuge (8)
Covenant renewal (9)

Joshua leads the people in a conquest of Canaan marred by Achan’s sin and the Gibeonite deception. Because the Israelites trust God, they defeat their enemies and receive their promised inheritance in Canaan.

Joshua 24:15

8. The Judges and Ruth

Falling away (1)
Othniel, Ehud, Shamgar (2)
Deborah and Jael (3)
Gideon (4–5)
Jephthah (6)
Samson (7–8)
Israel ’s corruption (9)
Ruth (10)

Israel is caught in a cycle of sin, repentance, deliverance through the judges, and peace. The story of Ruth contrasts the corrupt time of the judges.

Ruth 1:16–17

9. Israel’s Early Monarchy

Samuel (1–4)
Saul (5–9)
Young David (10–12)
David the fugitive (13–17)
Saul’s death (18)

God raises up Samuel to prepare the way before His chosen king. Samuel calls Israel to repentance but the people still reject God and choose Saul as king. When Saul disobeys God, the kingship is given to David.

I Samuel 16:7

10. Under David and Solomon

David becomes king (1)
David the king (2–5)
David’s sin (6)
David’s sons (7–9)
David’s last years (10–11)
Psalms (12)
Solomon becomes king (13)
Solomon’s reign (14–15)
Proverbs (16)
The temple (17–18)

David, God’s chosen king, establishes Israel as a nation, but his sin with Bathsheba leads to division and violence in his household and the nation. His son Solomon, who enjoys wisdom and prosperity, builds God’s temple.

Psalm 84:1-2
Psalm 27:4
Psalm 25:1-5 (6-8)