Rooting Path · How to Read the Bible · Lesson 1: One Book, One Story
This lesson in one sentence: The Bible’s 66 books are one story with Christ at the center; not understanding is no shame, and reading the Bible is not something we do alone.
Timing (about 60 minutes)
- Opening5 min
- Read Together10 min
- Practice Together15 min
- Discussion20 min
- This Week5 min
- Pray for One Another5 min
Opening
When you first read the Bible seriously, which book did you start with? Where did you stop?
Read Together
25He said to them, “Foolish people, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26Didn’t the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?” 27Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:25–27 · WEB
39“You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.
John 5:39 · WEB
30Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him. 35Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him about Jesus.
Acts 8:30–31, 35 · WEB
Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light for my path.
Ps 119:105 · WEB
Practice Together
Write the six names David, Abraham, Elijah, Joseph, Moses and Ruth on six slips of paper, put them in order together as a group, then check them against the Bible figures timeline. When you are done, ask: where is each of them in ‘creation, fall, redemption, new creation’?
Discussion
- “in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27)—even the Old Testament points to Jesus. How does that change the way you read the Old Testament?
- Creation, fall, redemption, new creation: where in the story is a passage you have read recently?
- “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” (Acts 8:31)—on your journey of reading the Bible, who has ‘explained’ it to you?
This Week
Read one short book all the way through: Ruth has only 4 chapters, about 15 minutes in one sitting. Then write one sentence: where is this book in the big story?
Each person says which day this week they plan to read Ruth.
Closing
In pairs, pray one sentence for your partner to finish Ruth this week.
Tips for the leader
- Some in the group have read the Bible for years; others are just starting. Don’t compare who has read more; whoever says ‘I don’t understand it’ is showing exactly the honesty this lesson is after.
- Don’t debate scholarly questions such as when the books were written or by whom in this session; you can say, ‘This course looks at the whole picture first; we can look into the details together later.’
General principles for leaders
- The leader is not a teacher but someone who walks alongside everyone.
- Give everyone a chance to speak; with someone who talks a lot, you can gently say, ‘Let’s also hear from friends who haven’t spoken yet.’
- Don’t rush to give answers. If someone is silent, wait a few more seconds.
- For a question you can’t answer, you can say, ‘I don’t know either; let’s look it up together,’ and note it down for next time.
- What is said in the group stays in the group.
- At the opening, the leader can give their own answer first, showing that it can be simple and honest.