If you are interested in really getting to know the story of God you've come to the right place...

Here at Saint Andrew Lutheran Church, we take a Bible very seriously.  It is the source and norm for our teaching, practice, mission  and vision for the world.  It is so important for what we do that we want everyone to understand it better in the way it was originally intended in the early centuries.

The Bible did not drop out of the sky as a complete book, but was written over many centuries by various authors many of whom never could have imagined they writing would have been put together with others into one book.  However, that is what the Bible is, it is a combination of various writings by various authors put together to tell one overarching story about God love and relationship with humanity. 

Thanks to our friends at Bibleproject.com, we have compiled a number of short videos that will help you lay a good foundation for understanding the Bible, it's origins, and how it was intended to be read.

 

INTRO TO THE BIBLE  (4 VIDEOS)

"What is the Bible?" The Bible is one of the most influential books in human history but what is the Bible actually?
 
"WHAT IS THE STORY OF THE BIBLE?"
The overall story of the Bible is a series of crossroad decisions. All humanity, followed by the Israelites, redefined good and evil on their own terms. How does this story lead to Jesus and what does it mean for all humanity?

 

"Literary styles in the Bible"
While the Bible is one unified story, it cannot all be read in the same way.  Each literary style uniquely contributes to the overall story of Scripture and each are to be read and interpreted differently.
"Ancient Jewish Meditation Literature"
the Bible a multi-layered work, offering levels of insight as you re-read and meditate on the Bible. ThiS unique style of the Bible is meant to draw its readers into a lifelong journey of reading and meditation.

 

HOW TO READ THE BIBLE 

(6 VIDEOS)

More than 40% of the Bible is made up of narrative, from historical narrative to parables. How should we read Biblical Narrative.  This video series covers things like:

  1. Plot - An important part of reading biblical narratives is learning how to understand the nature of how stories are arranged into a pattern of conflict and resolution.
  2. Character - The authors do not paint characters in black and white times like good and bad, sinners and saints.  People are portrayed more complex and morally compromised than we usually associate (more like us).
  3. Setting (or context) - Every story has to take place somewhere, and very often these locations have a special meaning or significance that is meant to be evoked by events that already took place there elsewhere in the Bible.
  4. Design Patterns - See how individual stories across the Old and New Testaments have been beautifully coordinated through repeated words and parallel themes to unify the story line of the Bible.
  5. (and finally) THE GOSPEL - The New Testament contains four ancient biographies of Jesus of Nazareth, and altogether they are called “the Gospel.” Why are there four accounts and what do each emphasize about Jesus?
  6. The Parables of Jesus - The primary way Jesus taught about the kingdom of God was through parables.  Study the main themes and how Jesus used parables as a vehicle teach.