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Tables of Contents for A Compact Guide to the Bible
Chapter/Section Title
Page #
Page Count
Acknowledgments
11
2
Why Do I Need This Book?
13
4
THE BIG PICTURE
What Does the Bible Offer Me?
17
10
Knowing God
17
2
Guidance in making wise decisions
19
1
A chance to learn about life from other people's mistakes
20
1
Help in becoming the kind of person you want to become
20
1
Accurate eyeglasses through which to see the world clearly
20
3
A role in an epic drama that is far bigger than your life
23
1
A means through which God can talk to you personally
24
1
Training in love
24
3
What's the Bible About?
27
18
God
27
1
God's plan
28
2
Jesus Christ
30
1
The Holy Spirit
31
1
The kingdom of God
32
1
Israel
33
2
The church
35
1
What is yet to come
36
2
You
38
7
THE WARRANTY
Is the Bible Reliable?
45
16
Who wrote the Bible?
45
1
What does ``inspiration'' mean?
46
1
What qualifies a book to be part of the Bible?
47
2
Is my English translation accurate?
49
1
How can I choose a good translation?
50
1
Is a paraphrase useful?
51
1
What if Bible teachers disagree about what a passage means?
52
1
What does it mean to say the Bible has authority?
53
2
Is the truth out there?
55
6
THE TRANSFORMED LIFE
How Can I Best Use the Bible to Grow Spiritually?
61
18
The Bible and salvation
61
2
From salvation to transformation
63
1
Brain science and spiritual growth
63
1
Spiritual practice
64
3
Transformation vs. information
67
2
Beginning with your actual experience
69
1
Humility
69
1
Breadth: Reading the whole Bible
70
1
Depth: Meditating on a single passage
71
2
Time and quiet
73
2
Treating questions with respect
75
1
How a community helps
76
3
Why Is Study Important?
79
2
How Do I Figure Out What a Passage Means?
81
12
Why is common sense important?
81
1
What's the big deal with the ``author's intent''?
82
2
How do I figure out the author's intent?
84
5
Won't the Holy Spirit tell me whatever He wants through the Bible?
89
4
What's the Biggest Barrier to Understanding a Bible Passage?
93
4
What Background Information Can Help Me Understand a Bible Passage?
97
8
Where Do I Find Useful Background Information?
105
6
What Does It Mean to Take the Bible Literally?
111
4
How Do I Connect Old Texts to My Life?
115
14
Think worldview
115
3
Seek consistency
118
3
Balance breadth and depth
121
1
Don't ignore your experience
122
2
Aim for heart growth, not mechanical obedience
124
1
Take the long view
125
4
THE PARTS
What Can I Learn from Old Testament History?
129
14
How does God act?
129
1
If God did it then, why doesn't He do it now?
130
4
What is the main point of the history books?
134
9
What Can I Learn from Old Testament Law?
143
8
The Law will help you understand the connection between God's grace and your obedience
144
1
The Law will help you understand justice
145
2
The Law will help you understand holiness
147
1
The Old Covenant will help you understand the New Covenant
148
3
What Can I Learn from the Psalms?
151
6
A vocabulary of passionate prayer
151
3
Images of the unimaginable
154
1
Training in worship
154
1
Instructions about how life works
154
1
Insight into God the Poet
155
2
What Can I Learn from Proverbs and Wisdom Books?
157
6
Avoid reading pieces of these books out of context
158
1
Avoid treating the proverbial principles of these books as ironclad laws
159
1
Use God's definition of success
160
1
Don't over-spiritualize when wisdom says startling things about sex
160
3
What Can I Learn from the Prophets?
163
6
Predictions about the Messiah and New Covenant times
164
1
Predictions about events that are yet to come
165
1
God's passion for justice and covenant loyalty
166
2
God's majestic rule over all of time and space
168
1
What Can I Learn from the Gospels?
169
6
An experience of Jesus the Messiah
169
3
An experience of the kingdom of God
172
1
An experience of Christ's death and resurrection
173
2
What Can I Learn from the Book of Acts?
175
4
A picture of your life-purpose as part of God's kingdom
175
2
A picture of how the kingdom works in the nitty-gritty of real church communities
177
1
In some cases, practical models of how God's people should go about things
177
2
What Can I Learn from the Epistles?
179
6
A grateful awareness of what God has done for you through Christ
181
1
An awareness that the risen Jesus is with you here and now
182
1
An awareness of Jesus' and the Holy Spirit's current activity in the community of God's people
182
2
A picture of how you will lead your life if you are truly grateful for Christ's work and truly aware of His ongoing presence
184
1
What Can I Learn from Revelation?
185
6
Encouragement that no matter what's happening to you now, the end of the story is secure
185
2
A vision of the resurrected Jesus as a King worth worshiping
187
4
A PLAN
How Can I Read through the Bible?
191
10
Reading through the Bible in a year hasn't worked for me. Can you suggest a plan for hitting the highlights in a year or two?
191
1
Gospels
192
1
Genesis
193
1
Acts
193
1
Exodus 1-19
194
1
Paul's letters, part 1
194
1
A taste of the Law
195
1
Paul's letters, part 2
195
1
Psalms
196
1
The other New Testament letters
196
1
1 & 2 Samuel
197
1
Proverbs
198
1
Isaiah
199
1
Revelation
200
1
Notes
201