Ways into the Bible

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A series of topic headings that open up the contents of the Bible creatively

A bible

A. The Old Testament in 10

  1. One Garden– Creation: Genesis 1-2
  2. Two Trees– The Choosing: Genesis 3
  3. Three Decks– Noah and the Ark: Genesis 6-8
  4. Four Altars– Abraham: Genesis 12 (Shechem and Bethel); chapter 13 (Hebron); and chapter 22 (Moriah)
  5. Five Wells– The Patriarchs: Abraham’s servant (Genesis 24); Isaac (chapter 26); Jacob (chapter 29); Joseph (chapter 37); Moses (Exodus)
  6. Six Stones– Exodus – Deuteronomy: the two tablets of stone with the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20); the rock that was struck for water (Numbers 20); the precious stones in the Sacred Tent (Exodus 31) and on the high priest’s clothes ( Exodus 39); Moses’ prayer rock (Exodus 17); the stones of remembrance (Joshua 4)
  7. Seven Swords– Leaders: Joshua, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson, Samuel (Joshua/Judges/1 Samuel)
  8. Eight Crowns– Kings: Saul, David , Solomon, Jeroboam, Hezekiah, Jehoshaphat, Ahab, Josiah and Zedekiah (Joshua – 2 Chronicles)
  9. Nine Stars– Heroes and heroines: Balaam (Numbers 22-24), Ruth, Esther, Job, Elijah (1 Kings), Elisha (2 Kings), Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel
  10. Ten Scrolls– Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, Hosea, Amos, Jonah, Ezekiel, Joel, Haggai and Malachi

B. The New Testament in 10

  1. One Star– Matthew 2
  2. Two Journeys– to Bethlehem and then to Egypt (Luke 2 and Matthew 2)
  3. Three Temptations– Matthew 4
  4. Four Friends– the call of the first four disciples (Mark 1); or the man lowered through the roof (Mark 2)
  5. Five Loaves– the feeding of the 5000 (Matthew 14; Mark 6; Luke 9; John 6)
  6. Six Seeds– the sower, the grain that grows and the mustard seed (Mark 4); the wheat and the weeds (Matthew 13); the seed that must die (John 12); the vineyard (Luke 20)
  7. Seven Pictures – the ‘I am’ statements of Jesus (John’s Gospel: Bread, Light, Vine, Way, Resurrection, Good Shepherd, Door)
  8. Eight Days (from Palm Sunday to Easter Day)
  9. NineFruits of The Spirit (Galatians 5)
  10. Ten Travellerswith good news (Paul, Peter, Barnabas, Titus, Timothy, James, John, Mark, Silas and Luke)

C. The Whole Bible in 10

One God

Two Testaments

Three Parts to God – Earth-maker, Pain-bearer and Life- giver

Four Gospels

Five Books of the Law (Genesis to Deuteronomy)

Six Songs – Moses’ song (Exodus 15); David’s songs (Psalms: 23 and 139); Zechariah’s and Mary’s songs (Luke 1); the new song of heaven: (Revelation 5)

Seven Prayers – Moses’ prayer (Exodus 33:18); Samuel’s prayer (1 Samuel 3:10); Jehoshaphat’s prayer (2 Chronicles 20); Jesus’ prayer (Matthew 6:9-13); the tax collector’s prayer (Luke 18:9-14); Paul’s prayer (Ephesians 3:14-21); Creation’s prayer (Revelation 22:20)

Eight Blessings (Matthew 5)

Nine Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5)

Ten Commandments (Exodus 20)