The Importance of Both Testaments

Except for a few familiar passages-Genesis 1, Psalm 23, Isaiah 53-The Old Testament remains a closed book to most Christians. Yet it was the only form of Scripture which was used by Jesus Christ, the Apostles, and the first Christian community. Jesus referred to the OT consistently. When the words were written, "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (1 Timothy 3:16) the statement was talking about what we call the Old Testament and what was then known as "Scripture."

The majority of God's Word is in the Old Testament. When the Bible is divided into 52 weekly readings we don't even get to the New Testament until Week 41!

The Riches of the Old Testament

The booklet, Knowing God through the Old Testament describes the riches of the Old Testament:

1. The Old Testament provides the foundation for the whole Bible. The Bible is made up of two Testaments—Old and New. Both are equally part of the Bible. Both tell us about God. Both inform us about basic truths we need to know. But without a grasp of the Old Testament, the New Testament cannot be fully understood or appreciated; without the New, the Old is left incomplete. The Old Testament establishes the foundation of truth; the New Testament then builds the superstructure.

2. The Old Testament tells us about Jesus Christ. We cannot fully know about Christ and His purpose for coming into our world without studying the Old Testament. It tells us about Him in word pictures and types. It predicts His coming. It puts His ministry into focus. It gives graphic previews of His sacrifice for sin. It goes beyond today to tell us of His judgment of the world and His coming kingdom of peace. In fact, the Old Testament tells us so much about Jesus that some Bible teachers have said Christ can be seen on every page.

3. The Old Testament provides the foundation for faith in Christ. The Christian faith is built on the Old Testament; Erich Sauer, in his book The Dawn of World Redemption, said this:

The Old Testament is promise and expectation; the New is fulfillment and completion. The Old is the marshaling of the hosts to the battle of God; the New is the triumph of the crucified One. The Old is the dawn of morning; the New is the rising sun and the light of eternal day. If Christianity, the "religion of Christ," may be likened to a magnificent cathedral, the Old Testament is its unshakable foundation.

4. The Old Testament helps us to know God. More than anything, the Old Testament tells us about God. It makes Him known in these ways:

Factual knowledge. To know God, we must first know about Him. The Old Testament reveals His character in its record of His mighty deeds.

Personal knowledge. The Old Testament brings us past the information stage and brings us to the place where we can know God personally through the experiences and relationships of others who walked with Him.

Practical knowledge. Building on a personal knowledge of God, the Old Testament also tells us how to live. It reveals His will and spells out the kind of person He wants us to be. By obeying its commands, thinking as it tells us to think, and accepting the Savior it presents, we can know how to live in our complex world.

Creating the Bible Portfolio

The contents of your student's Bible portfolio will vary depending on the age of the student. Younger children's portfolios will contain more drawings or pictures of crafts. Older student's portfolios will contain more writing assignments. Most of the pages will come as a result of activities discussed in Step 3.

Basic Supplies

You will need:

• A three-ring notebook with the clear plastic pocket cover
• A variety of paper
• Cardstock
• Top loading sheet protectors (for photos, brochures, maps, etc.)
• A three-hole punch

Bible Portfolio Division: 12 Eras of Bible History

Your children can really get a good overview of Bible by creating a title page for each chronological era of the Bible! Teaching the structure of the Bible is, in my opinion, the secret to successful Bible teaching. If you want to build a building you begin with a blueprint. To learn the Bible you need to understand the structure.

12 Eras of Biblical History

1. Creation Era
2. Patriarch Era
3. Exodus Era
4. Conquest Era
5. Judges Era
6. Kingdom Era
7. Exile Era
8. Return Era
9. Silence Era
10. Gospel Era
11. Church Era
12. Missions Era

Your children and you will learn as you divide the notebook into the 12 eras of Biblical History. Thorough each era will focus on main events, main people, and geography. Divide sections with index dividers or colored paper dividers, and make a title page for each section. Make a table similar to the one below to show the contents in each section.

If you like this organization and want to study the bible this way these 12 Historical 30 Days to Understanding the Bible in 15 Minutes a Day by Max E. Anders. In Anders book you’ll find helpful icons that will give inspiration for title page illustrations.

Scrapbook Supplies

You can get very creative with your Bible Portfolios. Some students thrive on creativity. For them we suggest scrapbook supplies (memory albums, stickers, die cuts, paper, cardstock, scissors, pens, punches, templates, rulers, idea books, etc.). Students can decorate papers with illustrations, stickers, frames, etc. See Scrapbooking to Learn.

Cover

Students should create artwork for their covers (a collage, pictures from the Internet, their own drawings, etc.) If your student experiences a block regarding creating a cover design, leave the cover blank until he or she is inspired.

Division

Divide the portfolio by time divisions. Use the Bible Timeline for reference. Use index dividers or color paper dividers. Make a title page for each section.

Contents

The student will include essays, reports, stories, poems, songs, Bible verses, journal entries, book reviews, dictation lessons, worksheets, outlines, photographs of projects, computer-produced graphics, memorabilia, recipes, maps, Internet printouts, illustrations, etc.

Include the Best Work

Some writing should be accepted in its first draft. (See the "Writing Process.") Only completed work (rewritten and corrected) should be included in the portfolio. The use of the term "portfolio" in this context is not an accidental choice. Think of it as the portfolio of an artist or photographer, as a collection of the best work.

Students should demonstrate correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, and vocabulary usage in all writing. All corrections, rewrites, and improvements should be completed.

Creating the portfolio will be a reflexive process as well as reflective. Papers may be corrected and rewritten a number of times. As the papers will define (to an extent) what has been learned, compiling it will also cause rethinking, reflecting, and sometimes reevaluating.

Vocabulary Section

Include a section titled Vocabulary. Insert 26 sheets of paper, one for each letter of the alphabet. When you run across an unfamiliar or doctrinally significant word or term record the word under the proper letter. Use a Bible dictionary or Bible Handbook to look up and define the word.

Label It

You don't want this work misplaced or lost. Neatly label the student's name, age, address, and telephone number on the inside of each portfolio.

Each Year

Start a new Bible Portfolio each year. Comparing the portfolios year-to-year will allow you to view your student's spiritual and academic growth.

Heart of Wisdom Bible Study Links

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