The New Testament Overview Study
The goal of this study is to help you get an overview of the New Testament. Many people are intimidated by reading the Bible, but did you know that the whole New Testament is only 260 chapters long and about 18 hours of reading? So in this study we will set a goal to read at least 7 chapters a day. At that rate, you can finish the whole New Testament in just over 5 weeks. Keep in mind as you read that the goal is not simply to finish, but to allow God’s word to change your mind and your heart. So before you read, pray and ask God to help you understand and apply His word to your life.
How to do the Study
This study has two simple steps:
1) Read straight through the New Testament (Matthew through Revelation). Try to set aside a time (or two) to read each day and try to read at least 7 chapters per day.
2) As you read, write down at least one or two things you want to try and apply to your life from what you read each day. Taking notes is important because it helps you focus on what you’re reading and gives you something practical to take away.
Background of the Bible
Before you begin, I want to share a little about the Bible. The Old Testament is the first three quarters of the Bible (Genesis through Malachi). This part of the Bible teaches us about how God created the world and how He has interacted with people in the past. The main focus of the teachings of the Old Testament is God’s interaction with the people of Israel. This was a nation He created by blessing a man named Abraham. Several hundred years later, God sent a man named Moses to bring the descendents of Abraham out of the nation of Egypt where they had been put into slavery. When God brought these people out of slavery by His mighty power, He gave them the Law to follow as a nation if they wanted to be in a relationship with God. The rest of the Old Testament is about God’s interaction with Israel. Over the course of time, God told the people of Israel that He would send them a Savior, a Christ who would teach them about a new way that God wanted to interact with people. This Christ is Jesus, the Son of God.
The New Testament teaches us about Jesus coming to earth, living a perfect life, teaching us the ways of God, then dying for our sins and being raised from the dead. The life of Jesus is mainly taught in the first four books of the New Testament; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (the Gospels). Next is the book of Acts, which is an overview of how the early followers of Jesus spread His message of the Kingdom for about the next 30 years after His death and resurrection. The next 21 books of the New Testament are letters written by people sent by God to teach and preach about Jesus. Many of the letters are written to the churches in different cities instructing them how to live godly lives and correcting errors that false teachers were bringing to them. The final book of the New Testament is called Revelation which tells us what will happen at the end of time when God will judge the people of the world for their sin and rebellion against Him. It concludes by telling us of the hope of eternal life with God that we have if we continue to follow Jesus by faith.
How to do the Study
This study has two simple steps:
1) Read straight through the New Testament (Matthew through Revelation). Try to set aside a time (or two) to read each day and try to read at least 7 chapters per day.
- Keep in mind that Satan does not want you to learn the truth of God’s word, so he will try to distract you from reading the Bible. So try to plan time for God each day and don’t allow others things to hinder this time.
2) As you read, write down at least one or two things you want to try and apply to your life from what you read each day. Taking notes is important because it helps you focus on what you’re reading and gives you something practical to take away.
- After you’ve written it down, pray and ask God to help you apply this to your life and then think about it throughout the day, and if possible, text what you learned to the person who gave you this study so they can help you.
Background of the Bible
Before you begin, I want to share a little about the Bible. The Old Testament is the first three quarters of the Bible (Genesis through Malachi). This part of the Bible teaches us about how God created the world and how He has interacted with people in the past. The main focus of the teachings of the Old Testament is God’s interaction with the people of Israel. This was a nation He created by blessing a man named Abraham. Several hundred years later, God sent a man named Moses to bring the descendents of Abraham out of the nation of Egypt where they had been put into slavery. When God brought these people out of slavery by His mighty power, He gave them the Law to follow as a nation if they wanted to be in a relationship with God. The rest of the Old Testament is about God’s interaction with Israel. Over the course of time, God told the people of Israel that He would send them a Savior, a Christ who would teach them about a new way that God wanted to interact with people. This Christ is Jesus, the Son of God.
The New Testament teaches us about Jesus coming to earth, living a perfect life, teaching us the ways of God, then dying for our sins and being raised from the dead. The life of Jesus is mainly taught in the first four books of the New Testament; Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (the Gospels). Next is the book of Acts, which is an overview of how the early followers of Jesus spread His message of the Kingdom for about the next 30 years after His death and resurrection. The next 21 books of the New Testament are letters written by people sent by God to teach and preach about Jesus. Many of the letters are written to the churches in different cities instructing them how to live godly lives and correcting errors that false teachers were bringing to them. The final book of the New Testament is called Revelation which tells us what will happen at the end of time when God will judge the people of the world for their sin and rebellion against Him. It concludes by telling us of the hope of eternal life with God that we have if we continue to follow Jesus by faith.
