Joshua Boyd

A Walk Through the Bible – Series Introduction

Big Picture Purpose

• This series is not just a history lesson.
• It’s about why we believe what we believe.
• Every word of Scripture is:
  • True
  • Right
  • Still relevant today

Instead of deep-diving into one book, we’re stepping back for the 30,000-foot view—seeing the Bible as one connected story and one unified plan of God.

The Old Testament: Written for Us

1 Corinthians 10:11–13 teaches:

• The events of the Old Testament happened as real history.
• They were written as examples for us.
• They are instruction for those “upon whom the ends of the world have come.”

We often quote verse 13 (“God won’t give you more than you can handle”), but in context it refers to Israel’s failures.
The lesson:

• Don’t assume, “I wouldn’t have done that.”
• Instead ask:
  • What did they do wrong?
  • What can I learn?
  • How do I avoid repeating it?

The Bible as One Connected Story

When read as a whole, you see:

• Adam (~4000 BC)
• Abraham (~2000 BC)
• David (~1000 BC)
• Christ (0)

History accelerates toward Jesus.

Matthew 1:17 highlights:

• 14 generations: Abraham → David
• 14 generations: David → Exile
• 14 generations: Exile → Christ

God was moving history toward fulfillment.

The entire biblical story unfolds in a relatively small geographic region—yet its impact spread across the Roman Empire within 300 years and now across the world.

Key Principles for Reading the Bible

1. God is always right.
   • Even when consequences seem severe.
   • God is love—Old Testament and New.
2. Always ask:
   • How does this apply to me?
   • What can I learn from their example?

The Old Covenant

• Given through Moses.
• Centered on the Ten Commandments (Deuteronomy 4:13).
• A binding agreement:
  • Obey → Blessing
  • Disobey → Consequences

The core command:

• Worship God alone.

Israel repeatedly broke that covenant—especially through idolatry.

The problem wasn’t the covenant.
The problem was the human heart.

God Promises Something New

In Jeremiah 31:31–34, God promises:

• A new covenant
• His law written on hearts
• Sins forgiven and remembered no more

What Changed?

Hebrews explains:

• The old system was a shadow.
• Jesus fulfilled the law completely.
• He satisfied the covenant perfectly—the only human ever to do so.
• The first covenant wasn’t “bad”; it was incomplete because people couldn’t fulfill it.

When Jesus fulfilled it, it was completed—not discarded.

Then came the New Covenant:

• Based on better promises
• Mediated by Christ
• Internal transformation instead of external regulation

Under the Old Covenant:

• God’s rule was external.
• Access to God required priests and sacrifices.
• Sin kept distance between God and man.

Under the New Covenant:

• The veil was torn.
• Jesus became our High Priest.
• The Kingdom is now within us.
• The Spirit of God lives in us.

Instead of rules written on stone, the law is written on hearts.

God’s Unchanging Plan

From Adam onward:

• God wanted relationship.
• Sin created separation.
• The Law created temporary access.
• Jesus restored permanent relationship.

The plan never changed—only the covenant structure did.

Our Opportunity Today

The heroes of Scripture (Abraham,