This week we are starting a new class called “A Case for the Bible, and A Study in the book of Joshua.” We will focus on some introductory things to help us study including types of study Bibles, versions, resources and study tools. We will also look at our ministry statement and purpose for this class along with a basic plan for Bible study as we practice with an introduction to the book of Joshua. As Christians, it is more important than ever to know what we believe, and why we believe it, and then apply that to who we are on a consistent basis, and this can only be done effectively if we know what God’s Word teaches. All class sessions include a time for prayer and reflection, an “apologetics” presentation, and a Bible study section. You will find the presentation notes and the Bible study survey format here each week. Example answers to the Bible study will also be posted midweek for your review, and to use as a future leader’s guide.

Watch this week’s class introduction:

2025 A Case for the Bible Presentation Notes

Class Introduction

Prayer Cards: Do you have anyone that you are hoping to share what you are learning with? Write that person(s) name down on your prayer card along with any other prayer request you might have (exchange with your table group at the end of the evening).

1. Introduce yourself and then, share what past experience you have had in a Bible study, a rooted or life group. (If you have never done a study before what brought you to this class?)
2. How much time do you spend reading and/or studying the Bible?

   On a scale of 1-5:

 1 = Never; 2 = Very little; 3 = Occasionally; 4 = Often; 5 = Daily

 (Returnees: Have you improved since previous classes?)

Recommended Study Bible

Life Application Study Bible in the NASB, NIV or NLT version

Or a study Bible of your choice is fine…

Study Bibles: Versions and Translations

Translations and versions can be generally categorized as seen in the following example:

Literal Translations: Word for word translations that work closest to the original Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic

-New American Standard Bible

-King James Version

-New King James Version

-Revised Standard Version

-New Revised Standard Version

-English Standard Version

Dynamic Equivalent Translations: Thought for thought translations with clearest reading and closest meaning possible that finds equivalent concepts in English

-New International Version

-Christian Standard Bible

-New Living Translation

-New English Version

-Revised English Version

Paraphrases: These have story like qualities and are not recommended for in-depth study

-Message Bible

-Good News Bible

-Living Bible

-Phillips

-New Century Version

Note: All of the major versions can also be found in topical Bibles. Some are focused on particular groups or subjects. For example, there are student study Bibles, Bibles for men or women, and Bibles that have a specific focus like apologetics, archeology, culture, and life application.

(Optional) Additional Resources to help you study

To build on your knowledge, and your Christian library, the following are recommended resources to help in your journey of faith…

Recommended Apps:

biblegateway.com (for Bible reading and study – all versions)

gotquestions.org (for Bible and Apologetics’ related questions)

Recommended Study Aids:

• The Essential Bible Companion, by John Walton, Mark Strauss and Ted Cooper Jr.
• Knowing the Bible 101, A Guide to God’s Word in Plain Language, by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz
• Rose Publishing – Maps, charts, timelines and overviews

MINISTRY STATEMENT

The purpose of this class is to provide participants with the information and tools needed to address the questions asked of Christians in our culture today (1 Peter 3:15). This includes an emphasis on…

1. Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13; John 17:1-3 the entire chapter is a model)
2. Bible Study – proper Biblical interpretation through the use of hermeneutics (Matthew 22:37; 2 Timothy 2:15)
3. Apologetics – a defense of the historicity, inerrancy and inspiration of the Christian Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
4. Discipleship (Matthew 28:18-20; Hebrews 10:23-25)

• This ministry believes that it is the responsibility of every person to invest serious time looking into the claims of Christianity because what we believe to be true about God, human purpose and destiny defines us in this life and more importantly in the next (John 14:1-3).
• This ministry is committed to providing Biblical truths based on the teachings of Jesus and his Apostles (John 14:6-7; 2 Peter 1:16-19; 1 John 1:1-4). The most important question we must answer in this life is the one Jesus asked of his disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:18-20). 

OWN YOUR FAITH!

KNOW WHAT YOU BELIEVE AND WHY YOU BELIEVE IT

THEN SHARE IT WITH OTHERS!!!

Bible Study

Each week we will have Bible study following the presentation. There will be questions presented here on the weekend, and basic answers will be posted mid-week for your review. This can also be used to make a leader’s guide for your own small group and future studies!

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

How Do We Study the Bible?
Hermeneutics

• Hermeneutics is simply studying the Bible in its proper context, like you would do with any other book.
• Hermeneutics provides some basic guidelines for studying the Bible so that we can be sure that what we are reading and sharing with others is correct:

Principle #1: Never read a Bible verse by itself (until you know it’s proper context within the big picture of the narrative)

Principle #2: Let the Bible interpret the Bible (use cross-referencing within the Bible itself)

Principle #3: Use the Hermeneutical format as you read and study…

Before beginning a Bible study, it is important to get a little background on the book (we will do this in class together, but a good study Bible will have this in the book’s introduction)

LET’S PRACTICE WITH THE BOOK OF JOSHUA…

1.  Author: Who wrote the book and when?

(Include anything you can find about the author and when it was written)

2.  Audience: Who was it written to?

(Include anything you can find about the people, the culture or societal norms, of that time period)

3.  Purpose: Why was it written?

(Include anything you know, or can find out, about their circumstances and what was, or had been, going on in their world at that time)

BACKGROUND: It is also important to cover the historical background leading up to the events recorded in this book before getting into the content and context of the reading. For example: What happened in the narrative of the previous books?

Basic Answers for background with an overview of the Torah

1.  What is the Torah, and are there any other names it goes by?

The Torah is the Hebrew name for the first five books of the Bible; it is also called the Pentateuch (Greek name) and is often referred to as “the Books of Moses”

2.  What are the names of the first five books of the Bible?

GENESIS – EXODUS – LEVITICUS – NUMBERS – DEUTERONOMY

3.  Who wrote the first five books of the Bible, to who and when was it written?

Author: Moses (as given to him by God)

Audience: The people of Israel

Written: ca 1446 – 1406 BC during the wilderness wanderings after their time in slavery and subsequent exodus from Egypt
4.  Going Deeper: Can you give a brief summary of the main storyline of the first five books of the Bible and where it leaves off?

• God gives Moses the story of creation; the fall of man; the judgment flood of Noah’s time and the subsequent start of a new world through Noah’s descendants (Shem, Ham and Japheth). 1-10
• At the Tower of Babel (after the flood) we see the defiance and pride of man take hold again (as they had been told to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth), so God scatters the people with a change of language. 11
• The narrative turns at this point to follow a specific line through Shem to the person of Abraham, through whom God promises (makes a Covenant) a nation, a land, and a blessing. 12-21
• The Covenant begins to be fulfilled through Abraham’s lineage: Isaac, Jacob (renamed Israel) and his 12 sons. 22-50
• These 12 sons (tribes of Israel) grow in number to become a large nation of people and are eventually put into slavery in Egypt where we get the story of Moses and the Exodus. Book of Exodus
• The rest of the Torah includes specific Laws and requirements for the Nation of Israel (Mosaic Covenant) to follow in order to be protected by God, and be distinct from the other nations as representatives of God.
• These books also narrate the downfall of the people over and over through disobedience; but we also see God’s hesed (unconditional love, mercy and grace) as He reconciles them to Himself when they repent.
• These books leave off with the death of Moses in Deuteronomy, and the planning of the entrance into the Promised Land under the new leadership of Joshua.

5.  Application: What is the difference between the Old and New Testaments, and why is it important to know?

Old Testament = Old Covenant; New Testament = New Covenant

The Old is the New concealed; The New is the Old revealed!

• The Old Testament is the narrative of God’s creation, the Fall and His subsequent perfect plan of redemption and salvation expressed through a series of “Covenants.”
• These Covenants unfold throughout the pages of the Old Testament, pointing us to the Scarlet Thread of Jesus through events, people, places and prophecies.
• All of this culminates in the New Testament, which narrates the fulfillment of these Old Covenant promises in the New Covenant; and that fulfillment comes in the person of Jesus – the Redeemer of us all!

HOMEWORK:

For next week we will begin to study the content of the book: What is in each chapter?

Note: There are several ways to study a book of the Bible, you can choose the level you’re most comfortable with…

READ JOSHUA CHAPTERS 1-4, THEN CHOOSE TO DO ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:

1.  Basic: Read the chapter, then write down a title for each chapter (you could include more than one depending on topics in that chapter or what your study Bible might have).

2.  Going Deeper: Take notes to summarize the chapter (no more than three to five sentences). However, you can add to your summaries if you glean something important from your study partners each week (leave some room).

3.  Advanced: Look for these things to put in your summary notes:

a.  Is there anything in the chapter that relates to God’s Covenant Promises:

• • • Abrahamic: (Nation, Land, or Blessing)
    • Mosaic: (Following the Law – protection vs. loss of protection due to disobedience)?

b.  Where’s Jesus? Is there anything in this chapter that foreshadows/pictures Jesus?

c.  Prophecy? Is there anything that is predicted and fulfilled later in the Old Testament; or predicted and fulfilled in Jesus (Messianic); or is apocalyptic in nature?

d.  The Shelf: Note any questions or a-ha’s you have about the chapter.

Please join us next week as we continue our Case for the Bible and A Study in the Book of Joshua!

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in!  Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15