Introduction to the Holy Bible

OBJECTIVE

The Bible is God's love message to all humanity. As Christians believe the Bible is God's word and we need to believe and obey it. The lesson introduces the different parts of the Bible and how it is organized.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 5 Minutes

  • You probably went on trips with parents on a vacation (maybe a week or longer). While on vacation, I'm sure you missed some of your close relatives, like a grandparent, or a close friend. In this day and age what is the fastest to communicate with them? (Answer: call them on the phone, FaceTime, etc) But if you didn't have today's technology to communicate with? You can write them a letter and probably wait for their reply back which would take a while.
  • How about when you want to talk to God...what do you do? You pray right?
  • How about when you want to hear what God and what he wants you to do?
  • You read His words written to you and for you. Where do you find these words? Where else but in the Holy Bible

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 10 Minutes

Isaiah 40:1, Isaiah 46:9-10, Psalm 119:105, Luke 24:44, Hebrews 4:12

Memory Verse

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness." (2 Timothy 3:16)

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 15 Minutes

  • The Bible is God's love letters to us It's not just for studying or to obtain knowledge, but it is our guide to knowing Him
  • Some facts you should know about the Bible; it is the most read book in the world and the most translated book in the world. It was also the first book to be printed by a printing machine.
  • When we read the Bible we need to believe it and obey as it is God speaking to us. It is a special book because even though it has over 40 authors and the time between the first book written and the last book is about 2000 years, it is one complete true story.
  • The writings of the Bible are divinely inspired, which means God worked through these different authors to write, but each with their own personality and style. "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16), the early fathers explained. The Bible was written by the Holy Spirit, but through the prophets.
  • Our Church does not believe the Holy Spirit controlled the authors and told them what to write. They were guided and given knowledge of spiritual truths for the benefit of us who can read it.
  • Please bring your Bible and open it, you will find two major parts; the Old Testament and the New Testament. The Old Testament speaks on the coming of a Savior who will come to save those who believe in Him. Although the Bible is not a history book, it contains the history of God's people through the generations until the coming of Christ. The New Testament is announcing the Savior has come and the early Church. A testament is a covenant or a contract; it is God's contract with us.
  • The Bible in your hands is the widely published version and it has 66 books; 39 in the OT and 27 in the NT. This Bible is widely published by the Protestants, but the Orthodox and Catholic Bible has additional books; they are called the deuterocanonical books or Apocrypha books. These were found separately in a different scroll source, but our church authenticated them as well as the Catholic Church and added them to their Bible, but the Protestants did not.
  • The Orthodox Church also follows the Septuagint Bible, which is the Greek translation of the Old Testament from the original Hebrew. This includes the deuterocanonical books mentioned before, and also places the books in a different order.
  • Let's talk about the breakdown of the books in the Bible. (See Outline of Books of the Bible under Lesson Attachments.)

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 5 Minutes

Why do you think God chose different people to write the Bible? (people of different backgrounds, professions, times, etc)

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

Now that you know the different parts of the Bible and many facts about it you should start reading it on a regular basis, every day. When you read the scriptures look for Christ, His love, and how we can imitate Him. St. John Chrysostom said, the Holy Scriptures were not given to us that we should enclose them in books, but that we should engrave them upon our hearts.

Explain that the Bible can help us in all aspects of our life:

  1. Teaches the Law of God and morals
  2. Provides the history of God's people - as examples on how to live Holy lives
  3. Gives prayers for contemplation (Psalms), and advice for living (Proverbs, etc.)
  4. Prepares me for future challenges or struggles in my life

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

  • Have the children share a passage or verse they read during the week that resonated with them.
  • Sing the song to memorize the books of the Holy Bible:

Note to mention: The Deuterocanonical books are not referenced in the song, and the books in the Septuagint (as found in the Othodox Study Bible) are in a different order than the other versions, such as NKJV.

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Please read the bible with your children daily. It is very important for them to understand the importance of reading the bible at a young age. Encourage them to apply what they read in everything to say and do.

LESSON ATTACHMENTS

Outline of Books in the Bible.pdf