The Old Testament Overview Study
The goal of this study is to help you get an overview of the whole Old Testament. The three main goals you should pursue in this study are to learn about God and His character, to learn God’s ways so you can be like Him and to have your faith strengthened as you see all of God’s mighty works throughout history. To do this study, you are going to read straight through the Old Testament. After each chapter, you are going to write a brief summary of what happened (normally just a sentence or two unless there is a lot of important information). For example, I started Genesis like this:
Genesis Overview
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
When you come to a chapter that has a lot of important information, you can write more details and even paste in important verses from that chapter. For example, Exodus 19 is where God enters into a covenant relationship with the nation of Israel. This is a very important point in the history of God working with these people, so I wrote:
Chapter 19
As you do this study, keep in mind that we are no longer under the Old Covenant of the Law (Rom. 7:1-6). So there will be things that God teaches the people of Israel that do not necessarily apply to you. However, there are many moral principles that we can learn from these teachings and we can also learn about the character of God. If you have any questions on how to do this study, talk to your discipler. When you finish Genesis, send your notes to your discipler so that they can make sure you’re doing it well. Also make sure you write down any questions you have and talk to them about it.
Genesis Overview
Chapter 1
- It tells of the six days of creation and how God spoke the universe into existence.
Chapter 2
- God rests and sets apart the seventh day. God created man and placed Him in the Garden of Eden. He commanded that he could eat of any of the fruit of the Garden, but he was not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God said that if he ate from this tree he would die. God then created Eve as a helper for Adam (v18).
Chapter 3
- Satan deceives Eve into eating the forbidden fruit by making her doubt God’s word, His character and her identity. She then gave it to Adam who was with her and he also ate it. God curses them and the world because of their sin and then removes them from the Garden of Eden.
When you come to a chapter that has a lot of important information, you can write more details and even paste in important verses from that chapter. For example, Exodus 19 is where God enters into a covenant relationship with the nation of Israel. This is a very important point in the history of God working with these people, so I wrote:
Chapter 19
- The people come to Mount Sinai where God offers them a conditional covenant where He will allow them to be part of His Kingdom and become His people if they will follow Him and His ways: Exodus 19:4–6 (NASB95) "4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. 5 ‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”" The people agree to this covenant and say, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do” (19:8)! God then descended upon Mount Sinai in fire and the mountain quaked violently (v18-25).
As you do this study, keep in mind that we are no longer under the Old Covenant of the Law (Rom. 7:1-6). So there will be things that God teaches the people of Israel that do not necessarily apply to you. However, there are many moral principles that we can learn from these teachings and we can also learn about the character of God. If you have any questions on how to do this study, talk to your discipler. When you finish Genesis, send your notes to your discipler so that they can make sure you’re doing it well. Also make sure you write down any questions you have and talk to them about it.
