by Margaret Agard

Here are the five steps. Study or teach 1. The Biblical Principles 2. The Order 3. The Overlap 4. The World 5. The Why

The Principles: Most of us know the stories included in the Bible are there to teach us principles. Unfortunately we often just grab a story when we need to teach or learn a principle and just go for it. But we miss the larger picture. We’re so busy teaching principles we don’t put them in God’s larger viewpoint. We don’t even know simple things like when Ruth lived compared to Esther or Daniel to Solomon? Even after years of Bible study.

Your study and teaching have more meaning when you understand how it all fits into God’s plan for man on earth. That’s where a Bible timeline comes into use. And a Biblical timeline chart with world history gives us even more. Let’s start with the basics

The Order. Where do people and events fit into the overall picture? Even better what is the overall picture? Using a timeline that shows us events from Adam to today makes it visual. We see the long foundation building of God’s plan during the 2500 years from Adam to Moses with a short hop to Solomon and then an intermediate length of a 1000 years to Christ. And another long slow building up of events to today as long foretold prophecies come to pass.

The overlap. What can we get from that? When we see, using a Bible Timeline that Enos, Adam’s grandson lived until Noah was in his 90′s, and that Noah lived until after Abraham was born or that Noah’s son Shem lived until Isaac was born – wow! Is it possible Abraham and Isaac were told stories of the flood and Adam’s time in the garden from a person who lived through it or knew someone who did?

Other world events. Most of us have bits of history floating around in some kind of hazy mess; like looking at an out of focus picture with some parts less blurry but the picture doesn’t make sense. Using a Bible timeline with World history on it as well brings it all into sharp focus. We see the whole not just random bits.

When we discover that Homer and Solomon lived during the same century, or that Daniel and Confucius lived at the same time, the history of the world becomes one grand picture rather than little bits. These aren’t isolated events happening “somewhere in time.” History is a series of connected events – all under God’s direction.

Why. We see God’s hand dealing with all of His children, the descendants of Noah, scattered across the globe to bring about the saving of the human family through Jesus Christ. That’s your why. We see His hand orchestrating major events to bring about prophetic promises of blessing or cursing. Especially now during the wrapping up years as the entire world is in contact and relationship with each other. Now we see His hand played out on a world stage, all of that history coming together into one grand finale. A Bible World History Timeline gives us that whole world view of God’s plan.

There are your five steps. 1. Teach or study your principle. 2. Orient the story in time. Place it in order on the timeline. 3. View the overlap and what that tells us. 4. Consider other events going on in the world at the same time. 5. Why. See it all as part of the God’s great plan for man.

Now that’s powerful study and teaching.

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Tags: Five Steps, Biblical Principles, Moses, Timeline History

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