Have you ever wondered where the Bible came from? This class is all about the origins of the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament and how to develop the skills necessary for reading it well. We’ll explore the biblical and historical data about the production of the biblical scrolls, focusing on why and how these texts were formed into a unified collection. We’ll also cover some of the most important skills for reading biblical narrative and poetry so that you can take your own study of the Bible to the next level.

Explore Genesis 1-11, the Psalms, and the biblical wisdom literature to understand how the biblical authors understood Heaven and Earth. This context will give richer meaning to Jesus’ words about the new creation.

Many key biblical words are either unfamiliar or have lost their original meaning in our modern context. Gain the skills you need to understand these words every time you read, and try out some of the best free tools our scholars use to uncover the original meaning of biblical words.

The book of Jonah is much more than a children’s story—it’s a picture of all the beauty, potential, and challenges the Bible presents to its readers. See how this sophisticated literature fits into the larger biblical story and what it means for us today.

What really happened in the garden with Adam and Eve and the snake? The early chapters of Genesis introduce a cycle of testing and rebellion that we’ll see repeated throughout the Bible. Study Genesis 2-5 and discover how this failed test set God’s plan to restore humanity as his partners into motion.

Why did God choose to flood the world? There’s much to discover in the story of Noah and his descendants, as these chapters develop major themes seen throughout the biblical story. See how the literary design of this movement reveals God’s character and informs the covenant promises God makes in response to human rebellion.

Join guest instructor Dr. Carmen Imes to explore the structure and main themes of the book of Exodus. Study the impact of God’s covenant with Israel to learn what it means when God moves into the neighborhood.

Paul writes his first letter to the Corinthians to a specific group of people with unique challenges in their community. The letter touches on self-image, identity, pride, insecurity, sex, marriage, singleness, leadership, church gatherings, and theologies of man and woman. Explore the historical context, sociological background, and the key themes in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians and its applicability to followers of Jesus today.

What happens when God’s chosen people take the place God intended as a hub of his life-giving presence and corrupt it into a source of abuse and injustice? Walk with Ezekiel through the tragic loss of the temple in Jerusalem to see how God will bring restoration, hope, and new life on the other side of exile.

In Ephesians, Paul summarizes what the most important apocalyptic event in history is: Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and the gift of the Spirit to bring new creation right here in the present world. Paul wants his audience to comprehend the nature of the apocalypse of Jesus and how to respond to it. In this class, we’ll take a deep dive into Paul’s letter to the Ephesians and, by placing Paul’s letter in its first-century context, we’ll reshape our perception in significant ways.

What happens when the promised snake-crushing seed of the woman starts acting like a snake? God’s chosen human partner schemes and strives to grasp at power and prosperity at every turn, yet God still works in and through him. Follow Jacob through a lifetime of deceit and sacrifice as he struggles to trust God for the blessing he has promised.

Who is this man, Jesus, and what about him is good news? Matthew guides us through the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, highlighting all the ways Jesus fulfills God’s promise of a chosen one to rescue his people. Journey through Jesus’ birth, baptism, testing in the wilderness, and announcement of the Kingdom of Heaven.

How can the story of one family who lived thousands of years ago help us see God at work today? As God shapes Abraham through calling and testing, the story of the people of Israel and all of humanity is told in the ups and downs of his life. Journey with Abraham through a lifetime of failures and faithfulness as he learns to trust God’s promise and becomes the father of many nations.

Join guest instructor Dr. Carmen Imes to explore the structure and main themes of the book of Exodus. Study the impact of God’s covenant with Israel to learn what it means when God moves into the neighborhood.

One family’s dysfunction leads to division and hurt that spreads over many years and hundreds of miles, but the consequences of human failure aren’t the end of the story. Experience the dramatic conclusion to the Genesis saga, and see how God’s goodness overcomes human jealousy and betrayal.

What is the Sabbath? Explore the biblical concepts of seventh day rest and Sabbath and see how modern Christians can adopt this important practice.

God is a generous god, but throughout the Bible, humans hoard God’s good gifts. In this video, we look at how to live by God’s generous example.

In the Bible, humans continually fail as God's covenant partners, until Jesus came to fulfill what we could not, restoring us to relationship with God.

Explore how biblical authors use dragon imagery to describe the forces that pull creation into disorder and death.

Trace the theme of the firstborn through the story of the Bible in this animated video. Discover how God overturns human systems and redefines power as love.

From animal sacrifices in the Old Testament to Jesus' sacrifice of his life in the New Testament, understand how God gets rid of evil without removing humans.

What is the book of Psalms about in the Bible? Watch as we explain its major themes and gain a deeper understanding of its place in the biblical story.

What is the book of Proverbs about in the Bible? Watch as we explain its major themes and gain a deeper understanding of its place in the biblical story.

What is the Gospel of Matthew about in the Bible? Watch as we explain its major themes and gain a deeper understanding of its place in the biblical story.

What is the Gospel of Matthew about in the Bible? Watch as we explain its major themes and gain a deeper understanding of its place in the biblical story.

What is the Gospel of Mark about in the Bible? Watch as we explain its major themes and gain a deeper understanding of its place in the biblical story.

What is the Gospel of Luke about in the Bible? Watch as we explain its major themes and gain a deeper understanding of its place in the biblical story.

What is the Gospel of Luke about in the Bible? Watch as we explain its major themes and gain a deeper understanding of its place in the biblical story.

What is the Gospel of John about in the Bible? Watch as we explain its major themes and gain a deeper understanding of its place in the biblical story.

What is the Gospel of John about in the Bible? Watch as we explain its major themes and gain a deeper understanding of its place in the biblical story.

What is the book of Acts about in the Bible? Watch as we explain its major themes and gain a deeper understanding of its place in the biblical story.

What is the book of Acts about in the Bible? Watch as we explain its major themes and gain a deeper understanding of its place in the biblical story.

Study the theme of the Holy Spirit from the beginning to the end of the Bible. This video helps you get to know and understand who He is and what He does.

What is the book of Revelation about in the Bible? Watch to explore its major themes and gain a deeper understanding of the end of the biblical story.

What is the book of Revelation about in the Bible? Watch as we explain its major themes and gain a deeper understanding of its place in the biblical story.

See how individual stories throughout the Old and New Testaments have been beautifully coordinated through repeated words and parallel themes.

The Bible is a book made for a lifetime of study. Explore how the style of the Bible invites readers into deeper thought and meditation on its words.

The biblical concept of God is complex. It describes Him as both one and three. Watch and explore a biblically accurate description of God and His identity.

Study the theme of the Holy Spirit from the beginning to the end of the Bible. This video helps you get to know and understand who He is and what He does.

Jesus often referred to himself as the Son of Man. But what does this mean? Explore this fascinating phrase to see its significance.

On the first pages of the Bible, we're introduced to the idea of a future deliverer who would confront evil and rescue humanity—the Messiah.

What does the Bible really teach about Heaven, and what is Heaven’s relationship to Earth? In this video, we explore the surprising biblical viewpoint that Heaven and Earth were meant to overlap and how Jesus is on a mission to bring them together once and for all.

Unpack the history and origins of this extraordinary collection of writings to look closer at what you'll find in your Bible today.

The Bible is a collection of writings that tells one unified story about God's plan to partner with humanity to rule a united Heaven and Earth.

Reading the Bible wisely requires that we learn about the ancient literary styles used by the biblical authors. But why did these writers express their ideas and claims through a variety of different types of literature? What was the purpose, and how can we understand them better?

The Bible a multi-layered work, offering levels of insight as you re-read and meditate on the Bible. Explore the unique style of the Bible, which is meant to draw its readers into a lifelong journey of reading and meditation.

hat guidance do generations of people offer on living a God-centered life? Explore this collection of sayings intended for re-reading and contemplation.

Why do we often feel out of control in this life? Ecclesiastes addresses the wisdom we need to exist with life’s uncertainties and continually hope for God's rescue.

Is God still just if good people suffer? Explore the surprising answer to this question and how Job and his friends try to make sense of God's role in suffering.

Song of Songs, also known as the Song of Solomon, is not technically a book. It’s a love song between two lovers—and it works on two levels. Song of Songs is celebrating human’s desire for intimacy and pointing to humanity’s ultimate purpose: to be united with God and his wisdom.

Why are there are so many ancient biblical laws in the first books of the Bible? What are modern readers supposed to do with them, and why are some of them so odd? Let’s explore why the laws were given to ancient Israel and how they fit into the overall storyline of the Bible so that we may better understand these sections of Scripture.

We’re exploring the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ most well-known collection of teachings. Jesus spent most of his time with the poor and insignificant people of his day, claiming that God’s rescue of the world was beginning through him and them. Through our selfishness and contempt for others, humans have created a violent world far from the one God created. But Jesus taught that God would rescue humans from this world and into one of wholehearted love and respect for God and our neighbors. Jesus described this way of life with the word “righteousness.”

In this guide, you can learn about the theme of righteousness in the Bible and explore related videos, podcast episodes, and more.

How does God respond when his people cry out to him? The first part of the book of Exodus recounts a powerful confrontation between God and the unjust Pharaoh. This section is a fast-paced narrative that leads to divine justice, rescue, and deliverance.

The first part of Exodus shows God freeing Israel from Egypt. Then, at Mount Sinai, Moses receives God’s law, but Israel breaks the covenant. Moses pleads with God, who renews his promises. After the tabernacle is built, God’s glory fills it, but Moses can’t enter due to his own rebellion.

"Sermon on the Mount" is an ongoing study of the Sermon on the Mount that began in Jan 2024 and will end in Dec 2024.  That said, yiou can start with week one and proceed at your own pace through the study.  Each lesson uses videos and scripture readings to guide you through the lesson.

A Journey Through Luke & Acts inspires individuals, small groups, and families to read through the books of Luke and Acts in 40 days. This plan incorporates animated videos and insightful summaries to help participants encounter Jesus and engage with Luke’s brilliant literary design and flow of thought.