Foundations · lessons 1
Getting to Know the Bible
The book that reveals who God is
A gift that changes everything
Lucas received a Bible the day he accepted Jesus. He got home, opened the first page and saw: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus... sixty-six books. He closed the book, overwhelmed. 'Where do I even start? This was written thousands of years ago — what does it have to do with me?' If you have ever felt that way, know that you are not alone. Millions of people own a Bible and have no idea where to begin. This study exists for exactly that: to open the door and show you that this book was written for you, for today, for your life.
The Bible is not an ordinary book. It was written over approximately 1,500 years by about 40 different authors — among them shepherds, kings, fishermen, doctors, and prophets. Despite all that diversity, its central message is one: God loves humanity and has prepared a way of salvation.
It is divided into two main parts: the Old Testament (39 books) and the New Testament (27 books), totaling 66 books. The Old Testament tells the story of creation, the people of Israel, and God's promises. The New Testament reveals the fulfillment of those promises in the person of Jesus Christ and the birth of the Church.
When Paul writes that Scripture is God-breathed, the original Greek word is theopneustos — literally, 'breathed out by God.' This means that although human beings wrote the words, the content came from God Himself. It is not a book of human opinions about God. It is the Word of God delivered through people.
And this Word has a practical purpose: to teach, to correct, to train. The Bible was not made to sit on a shelf. It was made to be read, lived, and shared.
How did the Bible reach us? Show
The Bible was originally written in three languages: Hebrew (most of the Old Testament), Aramaic (small portions), and Greek (the entire New Testament). The texts were copied by hand by scribes for centuries with extreme care — Jewish scribes counted every letter to ensure the accuracy of each copy.
Today there are over 5,800 Greek manuscripts of the New Testament, more than any other ancient document. No other ancient book has as many copies to confirm its transmission. The Bible you read today is trustworthy — it has reached us preserved by God's providence and confirmed by history.
A book written thousands of years ago should not be relevant today. Yet the Bible is. It speaks about anxiety, fear, loneliness, forgiveness, purpose, money, relationships — issues that are part of your daily life right now.
The Bible is alive. It is not a dusty historical document. When you read it with an open heart, the Holy Spirit uses those words to speak directly to you. That is why the same verse can comfort you today and challenge you tomorrow — because the Word acts according to what you need.
Practical tips for starting to read the Bible Show
If you are a beginner, do not start reading from Genesis to Revelation like a novel. Here are some suggestions:
To get to know Jesus: start with the Gospel of John. It is accessible, profound, and written for those who want to believe.
For everyday wisdom: read Proverbs — 31 chapters, one for each day of the month.
For difficult moments: the Psalms are real prayers from real people who went through everything you are going through.
To understand the Christian faith: read Romans, Paul's letter that explains the gospel step by step.
The most important thing: read a little every day. Five focused minutes are worth more than a distracted hour.
The psalmist compares the Word of God to a lamp. In ancient times, a lamp did not illuminate the entire road — it only lit the next step. That is how the Bible works in your life: it does not reveal the whole future at once, but it clearly shows what to do now.
From this study onward, everything you will learn in this course comes from this book. Every lesson, every verse, every practical application — it all springs from the Word of God. That is why we start here: so that you know you are not following human ideas, but the revelation of God Himself.
“You can look for strategy and methodology wherever you want, but if you do not bend your knees, shed your tears, and pay the price in prayer, it will not work.”
Pause and reflect
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1
Have you ever tried reading the Bible before? What was that experience like?
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2
What impresses you most about the Bible so far — its age, its unity, or its relevance for today?
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3
If the Bible really is the Word of God, how does that change the way you read it?
For this week
Read Psalm 23 and chapter 1 of the Gospel of John. They are short readings — together, they take less than ten minutes. After reading, write down in one sentence what stood out most to you in each text. Bring those notes to your next Small Group meeting and share with the group.
To close
“Lord, thank You for not leaving me in the dark. Thank You for giving me Your Word as a guide. Open my eyes to understand what I read, and open my heart to live what I understand. May the Bible not be just a book on my shelf, but a light on my path, every day. In the name of Jesus, amen.”
For the discipler
Objective
Present the Bible as the Word of God — inspired, reliable, living, and practical — awakening in the disciple the confidence and desire to read it on their own.
Difficult questions
- Wasn't the Bible written by humans? How can it be the Word of God? Explain the concept of inspiration: God used each author's personality, vocabulary, and context, but directed the content through the Holy Spirit. The result is entirely human in form and entirely divine in origin (2 Peter 1:21).
- Why are there so many different translations? Because the Bible was written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, and each translation seeks to communicate the original as faithfully as possible. The differences are in style, not doctrine. For discipleship, we recommend the NIV or ESV.
- Doesn't the Bible have contradictions? Apparent contradictions are usually resolved when we understand the historical context, the literary genre, or the author's intent. Scholars have investigated the Bible for centuries and its internal coherence is remarkable — especially considering 40 authors over 1,500 years.
- What about the books that did not make it into the Bible? The canon was recognized by the early Church based on criteria such as apostolic authorship, use in the churches, and doctrinal coherence. The apocryphal books are respected as historical literature but are not recognized as inspired by the Protestant tradition.
Practical tips
- If the disciple has never opened a Bible, bring yours and physically show the sections: Old Testament, New Testament, table of contents. Help them locate a verse in practice.
- Do not overwhelm with information. The goal is not to teach the theology of inspiration in depth — it is to build confidence and a desire to read.
- If someone says they 'have no time to read,' help with something practical: install a Bible app on their phone, read a Psalm before bed, listen to an audio Bible during commute.
- Avoid debates about translations at this stage. If asked, recommend the NIV or ESV and move on.
- Share your own experience with the Bible. Personal testimony is more powerful than any argument.
Extra material
- Video: What is the Bible? — Bible Project
- Leitura: How to Read the Bible Book by Book — Gordon D. Fee & Douglas Stuart (summary)