In the little church we call home, my husband and I are team-teaching the adult class, and our goal is an overview of the entire Bible. We’re talking outlines, key verses, and major characters, but most of all, we want to consider how each of the sixty-six books fits into the narrative arc of God’s big story of creation, rebellion, redemption, and consummation.
Certainly, one could make a case for a more “practical” course of study for the welders and fishermen, housewives and small business owners who show up on Sunday morning. Can we really justify diving into 2 Samuel or Amos in these troubled times when it seems as if Christianity is being maligned and our values undermined?
Learning in War-Time
I was surprised to discover that C.S. Lewis addressed a similar concern in a lecture he delivered in 1939, the year England went to war against Germany in what would eventually become World War 2. As a former soldier and a college instructor, the question was anything but purely academic when he posed it: “How can we continue to take an interest in these placid occupations when the lives of our friends and the liberties of Europe are in the balance?” 1
With that logic ringing in my ears, shouldn’t we be gearing up for a class on apologetics or systematic theology or evangelism—or at least bolstering everyone’s ability to argue worldview questions?
While these are all worthy objects of study at any time in history, I stand by our Bible survey class for two reasons:
- When our beliefs are under fire and our foundation is being challenged, we need scripture more than we need snappy arguments. Biblical illiteracy has reached unprecedented levels in 2025, with surveys revealing regular church attenders unable to identify even the most blatant erroneous teaching. (For example, 65% of those surveyed agreed with the statement, “Everyone is born innocent.”)
If our theology needs fixing, we need to go back to the source, to fill our minds with what’s true about God. Right beliefs will follow right understanding of the sacred text. We need the written word to reveal the Living Word.
God has called us to love him with our minds as well as our hearts and souls.2 - Our present situation is not new, or to quote C.S. Lewis again, “Human life has always been lived on the edge of a precipice… If men had postponed the search for knowledge and beauty until they were secure, the search would never have begun… Life has never been ‘normal.'”
If we postpone deep study of the Word of God until all wars and rumors of war have ceased, we’ll be sadly ill-equipped to appreciate all the wonders God has in store for us. Our lack of knowledge about God will keep our worship shallow and our faith tentative and small.
When our beliefs are under fire and our foundation is being challenged, we need scripture more than we need snappy arguments.
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If anything, our troubled times are an argument in favor of deep learning from the Bible. With division, dissension, and chaotic thinking everywhere, it’s clear that our only hope is in Christ. We need to know him and his ways—wisdom found only in his Word.
What strategies are working well for you in your study of the Bible?
Do you read through the Old and New Testaments regularly?
How is your church supporting you in your pursuit of biblical literacy?
With division, dissension, and chaotic thinking everywhere, it’s clear that our only hope is in Christ. We need to know him and his ways—wisdom found only in his Word.
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Living Our Days 
I’m thankful that most of the churches we’ve been in have taught through books of the bible rather than hodgepodge verses here and there. It’s amazing how many obscure Bible references will apply to everyday life when we study a book through. That has happened so often in my own reading as well as Sunday School classes or Bible studies. Plus studying a book at a time helps cement the context and prevent weird interpretations due to snatching a verse from its moorings.
I do read both Old and New Testaments. I used to start at Genesis and read about a chapter a day (some days more, some less) through to Revelation. Now I go back and forth between Testaments.
Our pastor has committed to taking the church through the Bible via the preaching as well as SS classes and Bibles studies over the course of 5 1/2 years.
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Sounds as if you have won the church lottery.
Right now I’m reading chronologically because it’s the plan I’m following, but I love the approach of charging through from cover to cover. I think if we’re going to write about the Bible, we need to stay immersed in the big picture so it all stays fresh in our minds.
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Definitely. Reading the whole thing is key to understanding it and interpreting it in context. I’ve not read it chronologically but want to do that when I finish this cycle through.
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Lewis was right – Human life is lived on the edge of a precipice – which is why it is so important to know history (so as not to repeat) – and learning how to live God’s peace, contentment, and faith in the hard challenge. I do not know how people lived in assurance when books were few and literacy abilities even fewer – and scriptures were piecemealed (and often used to manipulate a population, not liberate it in Christ.)
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We’re so blessed to have all the resources that are available today—as well as the full sacred text in SO many languages!
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It’s always a good time to know the Scriptures better. I keep learning more about all the ways the words and stories and references from beginning to end of Scripture are interconnected, and while a verse here and there can indeed be so helpful to us, we are also missing deep meanings when we’re not familiar enough to make those other connections. I’m saddened by the number of people that sit in church or a “Bible study” each week that don’t have their Bible (or a Bible app on their phone) open to look at the text themselves.
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I hear you! We need the meta narrative of scripture to stay on track with God’s message of truth. We miss out when we try to take shortcuts!
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I agree. It’s all there for a purpose. And investing in reading all of the Bible helps us better appreciate grace and understand how it all fits together.
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Kudos to your husband and you for emphasizing the totality of scripture with your adult class. Our family attends a church where we receive strong, biblical teaching each week, usually based on one Bible book at a time. Currently we’re studying Elijah and Elijah. The women’s Bible study includes over 100 women, out of a church with nearly 1000 members (I’m guessing). / Even if we learn some snappy answers for common misunderstandings about Christ and Christianity, many people will remain unconvinced. But a life changed by the power of God through obedience to his Word? That’s more likely to grab their attention.
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I’m grateful for every opportunity to teach together—and this topic is so on point!
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C.S. Lewis has such a wonderful way with helping us see the importance of deep learning, particularly in hard times. I can’t help but think of the deep things the children in the Narnia books learned, especially when Aslan sacrificed himself on the stone!
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I agree! Just reading his work makes me want to be a more focused learner in every season!
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