1
Welcome to
Walk Thru the Bible
Book by Book, an
exciting interactive teaching tool.
Learn all of the names
and basic themes of each
of the books of the Bible.
2
Important Instructions –
Please Read
On each slide you may select from these four icons.
You may play the audio while viewing the slides
Back one slide
Forward one slide
Back to Table of Contents Menu
Audio of the slide
To exit out of Powerpoint press the ‘ESC’ Key
3
Old Testament
New Testament
Genesis
Exodus
Ezra
Hosea
Matthew
1 Timothy
Nehemiah
Joel
Mark
2 Timothy
Leviticus
Esther
Amos
Luke
Titus
Numbers
Job
Obadiah
John
Philemon
Deuteronomy
Psalms
Jonah
Acts
Hebrews
Joshua
Proverbs
Micah
Romans
James
Judges
Ecclesiastes
Nahum
1 Corinthians
1 Peter
Ruth
Song of
Solomon
Habakkuk
2 Corinthians
2 Peter
Zephaniah
Galatians
1 John
2 Samuel
Isaiah
Haggai
Ephesians
2 John
1 Kings
Jeremiah
Zechariah
Philippians
3 John
2 Kings
Lamentations
Malachi
Colossians
Jude
1 Chronicles
Ezekiel
1 Thessalonians Revelation
2 Chronicles
Daniel
2 Thessalonians
1 Samuel
Click on the book you would like to review or
Zechariah
click arrows to the right to continue with slide show
4
Menu
5
Genesis
 Beginnings
• Whenever you look at this picture, you’ll see that big N right in the middle
of the word Genesis, which will remind you that Genesis is the book of
Beginnings (“Big N-ings”). In fact, the word “Genesis” is Greek for
“beginning” or “origin.”
• The heavens and the earth, night and day, man and woman, sin and
redemption—it all starts here. Genesis introduces the key events and
people God used to shape the beginnings of both sacred and secular
history. Chapters 1–11 trace four key events—creation, fall, flood,
nations—while chapters 12–50 tell the story of four key people—
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph.
• It’s the story of the one true God … whose word creates a world …
whose sovereign choice of the nation Israel will ultimately bless the entire
world … and whose watchful care determines the destiny of humankind.
Menu
6
Menu
7
Exodus
 Exit
• The children of Israel left Egypt in the Exodus. And in this
picture they walk right through the exit, because that’s the
Keyword for the book—Exit.
• The name Exodus comes from two Greek words that mean “the
way out,” or “exit.” At the conclusion of Genesis, the Jews were
a “chosen few” living in the favor of the Pharaoh of Egypt. But
after Joseph died, a new king came to the throne of Egypt who
felt no obligation to Joseph’s descendants. As a result, Israel
became a nation of slaves in a land not their own.
• But Exodus is the story of their deliverance. In the first half
(chapters 1–18), God calls Moses to declare judgment upon
Pharaoh, to take Israel through the “exit” from Egypt, and to lead
their long trek to the Promised Land. In chapters 19–40, God
begins to educate His people in the responsibilities of holy living.
Menu
8
Menu
9
Leviticus
 Offerings and Feasts
• While the priest balances on his right foot, the other man gives
his “left-foot-a-kiss!” Sounds like “Leviticus,” doesn’t it?
• The Levites and priests also balanced two key leadership roles
in the nation of Israel: collecting offerings and conducting
feasts. Led out of bondage in Egypt by a holy God, Israel had to
learn what it means to be His holy people.
• Leviticus answers the question, “How can a sinful people
worship and serve a holy God?” Leviticus focuses on the five
offerings (some of animals, others of grain; some required,
others voluntary) and seven feasts (national times of celebration
and remembrance) which God established for His people to
observe.
• And it outlines regulations concerning priests and worship in the
tabernacle, pointing to God’s provision for sinful humanity: the
blood atonement.
Menu
10
Menu
11
Numbers
 Wanders
• In this picture you see some numbers in the wilderness. That
signifies the book of Numbers. What these numbers are doing
reminds us of our Keyword—Wanders.
• Numbers begins and ends with an official count of the people of
Israel. But between the two numberings occurs the real story:
the wanderings of God’s people in the wilderness. Twelve spies
are sent into the land. Because of the negative report of 10 of
the spies, the fearful people choose to rebel against God despite
His assurances of victory.
• So, rather than enjoy their Promised Land of milk and honey, the
Israelites spend nearly 40 years wandering in the desert
wilderness. Throughout Numbers the faithfulness of God is
contrasted with the fickleness of His people.
• Even so, God faithfully leads His people through the agonizing
detour they created for themselves.
Menu
12
Menu
13
Deuteronomy
 Second Law
• Imagine a singing contest. Two sets of law tablets are singing
duets in the competition. One set of law tablets—the one
running on top of the poor man—comes in second.
• So you can remember the book of Deuteronomy if you think of
this picture of a “Duet-Run-On-Me.” Deuteronomy is about the
second time God gave the law through Moses—so the
Keyword is Second Law.
• Deuteronomy reviews the 40-year period of the nation’s walk
with God and previews their new life soon to begin in Canaan.
Taking the form of a series of sermons, the book addresses the
new generation emerging from the wilderness march. Moses
reminds them of the central importance of obedience and
stresses holiness as a way of life.
Menu
14
Menu
15
Joshua
 Conquers
• What did Joshua do? He conquered the land, so the Keyword
for Joshua is Conquers. “General Joshua” leads the nation
Israel in a conquest of the land of Canaan.
• The book that bears Joshua’s name is a tale of war and
peace. In the first 12 chapters, the people of Israel conquer
the land of Canaan. Through three military campaigns
involving more than 30 enemy armies, they learn a valuable
lesson under Joshua’s capable leadership: Victory comes
through faith in God and obedience to His Word … rather
than by military might or numerical superiority.
• In the final 12 chapters, peace reigns as the people of God
divide up their new homeland and settle there.
Menu
16
Menu
17
Judges
 Cycles
• This picture will remind you that the Keyword for the book of
Judges is Cycles. Following the conquest of Canaan, Israel
plunges into a 350-year period of national deterioration.
• A monotonous and deadly cycle develops: The people fall into
sin; God disciplines them with foreign oppression; the people
cry out in repentance; God raises up a deliverer; peace is
restored. This five-step cycle—sin, servitude, supplication,
salvation, silence—is repeated a total of seven times in
Judges.
• But God, ever faithful to His covenant people, extends His
grace again and again by sending leaders (called “judges”)
such as Deborah, Gideon, and Samson. And yet the book’s
sad epitaph reads, “In those days … every man did that which
was right in his own eyes.”
Menu
18
Menu
19
Ruth
 Love Story
• Notice the book on top of the house? That’s a romance book, of
course, but it’s also the roof. Because this is the book of “Roof,”
or Ruth! The Keyword for the Book of Ruth is Love Story.
• Against the dark backdrop of the time of the Judges in Israel—
filled with human rebellion and divine judgment—Ruth is a love
story of devotion and redemption. A young widow who leaves
her native Moab to help the mother-in-law she loves, Ruth
gleans in the fields belonging to a relative, Boaz, who grows to
love her.
• Because of her faithfulness in a time of national faithlessness,
God rewards her with a new husband (Boaz), a son (Obed),
and a privileged position in the lineage of Christ (she is the
great grandmother of David). By marrying the widow and
redeeming the family’s property, Boaz pictures Christ as the
“kinsman-redeemer.”
Menu
20
Menu
21
1 Samuel
 Saul
• That’s a “sand-mule” on the beach to help you remember the
book of 1 Samuel, which tells us about the first king, Saul
(he’s holding a saw, to help you remember his name!).
• By the end of the chaotic period of the Judges, God’s people
are clamoring for a king. The book of 1 Samuel tells the story
of the transition of leadership from Israel’s last judge (Samuel)
to its first king (Saul). But it also reveals the early years of its
greatest king (David).
• Because Saul has no heart for God, he is rejected by God.
Young David—anointed by Samuel to take Saul’s place—has
to flee to the wilderness to escape Saul’s jealous pursuit.
• At last, Saul and his sons meet death on Mount Gilboa, setting
the stage for 2 Samuel and the golden age of King David.
Menu
22
Menu
23
2 Samuel
 David
• Now there are two “sand mules,” so this must be the book of 2
Samuel! And we have a king who has a harp, a slingshot, and
a whole heart for God. That’s David—and his name is the
Keyword for the book.
• The life story of King David—whom God called “a man after
mine own heart” (Acts 13:22)—unfolds in 2 Samuel. Following
the death of Saul, David rules first over Judah, then over a
united Israel, for a total of 40 years. He follows God with a
whole heart and becomes Israel’s greatest king. David’s
political and military victories bring Israel to a place of world
prominence.
• But the secret sins of his personal life ultimately cause his
downfall. A lustful look at beautiful Bathsheba leads to
adultery and murder, then to insurrection, civil war, and unrest.
Menu
24
Menu
25
1 Kings
 Solomon
• This king has a number 1 on his crown, so the book is 1 Kings.
Because he is half-hearted and has a full money bag, this is
Solomon. 1 Kings tells of the end of the golden era of David’s
reign and the preparation of David’s son, Solomon, for the
throne.
• Solomon’s reign is characterized by great accomplishments and
world renown. But while the brilliant and successful Solomon
fulfills his father’s lifelong dream by building the temple in
Jerusalem, he fails to center his life on the faith it signifies. As a
result, his many pagan wives turn his heart away from the
worship of God in the temple of God.
• Solomon’s death marks the end of a unified nation of 12 tribes
and introduces the chaotic period of the Divided Kingdom, with
Israel in the North and Judah in the South, signified here by the
split in Solomon’s money bag.
Menu
26
Menu
27
2 Kings
 Exile
• The two kings tell us this must be 2 Kings! Where are they?
They’re on an island with a big X on it—that is, an “X-isle!”
And that’s the Keyword for 2 Kings—Exile.
• 2 Kings recounts the exiles of Israel and Judah. As the glory of
the once-united kingdom erodes, both Israel and Judah
pursue a collision course with captivity. In spite of the efforts of
Elisha and other prophets, the division ultimately ends in
double deportation.
• Corrupt Israel is captured and dispersed by the Assyrians; a
century later Judah is taken to exile in Babylonia. God’s
patience is long and His pleading persistent, but His love can
also be tough. As a result, the Divided Kingdom (in 1 Kings)
becomes the Dissolved Kingdom (in 2 Kings).
Menu
28
Menu
29
1 Chronicles
 Editorial on David
• This newsboy is selling the Daily Chronicle, a newspaper with
an Editorial on David. Since there’s just one Chronicle, it
represents the book of 1 Chronicles. There’s a picture of King
David with his harp and whole heart.
• The two books of Chronicles are divine “editorials”—priestly
recollections and interpretations of the historical facts
surrounding the life of God’s people from the reign of David to
the Babylonian exile. 1 Chronicles recounts the righteous reign
of King David.
• Chapters 1–9 catalog David’s ancestry dating back to Adam,
and chapters 10–29 focus on the details of David’s
administration. Throughout the book, the emphasis is on proper
worship of the one true God—a worship that David’s life
consistently exemplified.
Menu
30
Menu
31
2 Chronicles
 Editorial on Judah
• Now we have two Chronicles, so this is the book of 2
Chronicles. And this time the newspaper has an Editorial on
Judah.
• Offering a second “editorial” on the events covered in 1 and 2
Kings, 2 Chronicles spans Judah’s history from its highest
peak to its lowest ebb—from Solomon’s reign to the
Babylonian exile. First comes the building of the magnificent
temple in Jerusalem.
• Following years of power and fame in the world, Solomon dies
… and the spiritual, moral, and military fortunes of the nation
rise and fall with the quality of leadership on the throne. The
few righteous rulers cannot stop the nation’s downward slide,
and God’s judgment ultimately fails: invasion, defeat, captivity.
Menu
32
Menu
33
Ezra
 Temple/People
• Here’s a big letter S leading a cheer-“Ra!” Put it together and
you have “S-‘Ra!’” That’s Ezra. And in the background you see
the temple and the people cheering because it’s been rebuilt.
So Ezra’s Keyword is Temple/People.
• The Jews held captive in Babylonia for 70 years are allowed at
last to return to their homeland. The book of Ezra begins with a
decree of King Cyrus of Persia and the homeward journey of
the first returnees under Zerubbabel (chapters 1–6).
• With the temple rebuilt, a second group returns under Ezra the
priest, this time to rebuild the spiritual vitality of the people
(chapters 7–10).
• Between those two homecomings, when the temple and the
people are “rebuilt,” you’ll find a 58-year interlude when the
book of Esther takes place.
Menu
34
Menu
35
Nehemiah
 Walls
• The big man in this picture is “Knee-High-Miah,” or Nehemiah!
You can tell because the wall he’s building is knee-high to him.
And the Keyword for this book is Walls.
• Though the Jews have rebuilt the temple and put away their
pagan wives, Jerusalem’s walls still lay in ruin. But God finds a
wall-builder in Persia. Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian
king, leads the third expedition of pilgrims back to the
homeland.
• Like Zerubbabel and Ezra, Nehemiah encounters fierce
opposition to his reconstruction efforts. Even so, the project is
completed in record time. The public reading of God’s Word
triggers a significant but short-lived revival within the rebuilt
walls.
Menu
36
Menu
37
Esther
 Queen of Persia
• This queen has a letter “S.” What does she do with it? Stir.
That’s the queen’s name: “S-Stir,” or Esther! And her Persian
rug and Persian cat will remind you of the key phrase: Queen
of Persia.
• While Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah led some 50,000
Jews to their homeland, many more—in fact, the vast
majority—were reluctant to leave their adopted home in
Persia. Esther’s story takes place in Persia between the
returns under Zerubbabel and Ezra.
• Chosen to replace the banished queen, Esther and her
countrymen are threatened by an evil plot. As God sovereignty
works behind the scenes, Esther’s faithful and courageous
action saves God’s people from destruction and provides the
occasion for a celebration still observed by Jews today—the
Feast of Purim.
Menu
38
Menu
39
Job
 Sovereignty
• This miserable man is Job. The encouraging part of this picture
is that Job is in the hands of God. The Keyword tells us that
God reigns: Sovereignty.
• The book of Job examines one of life’s most perplexing
questions. It introduces a pious man of God named Job, who
lived perhaps 4,000 years ago.
• In a sudden series of catastrophes brought on by Satan with
God’s sovereign permission, Job loses his family, fame, fortune,
and fitness. For 35 chapters he searches his soul and debates
with his best friends to find a reason for his misfortune.
• After exhausting the conventional wisdom of his four
counselors, Job is confronted by God Himself, and his
demanding “Why?” melts into humble worship when he realizes
he is in the hands of a loving, sovereign God.
Menu
40
Menu
41
Psalms
 Worship
• What kind of trees are these? Palms. What book do you think
this might refer to, then? Psalms! What are these Palms
doing? One is singing, one is praying. In other words, they’re
worshipping. And the Keyword for the book of Psalms is
Worship.
• Written by at least seven authors (of which David is the most
notable), the book of Psalms spans 1,000 years of Israel’s rich
history—from the time of Moses to the return from exile in
Babylonia.
• The word “Psalm” comes from a Greek word meaning “a song
sung to the accompaniment of a plucked instrument.” Used as
the temple hymnbook, the Psalms express the diversity of
human emotion—praise to God, fear of enemies, and an
overriding confidence in God’s goodness, majesty, and power.
Menu
42
Menu
43
Proverbs
 Wisdom
• On the chalkboard in this picture is an example of a proverb.
That’s to remind us that the name of this particular book of the
Bible is … Proverbs! And on the right is a wise old owl who
pictures the Keyword of this book: Wisdom.
• Proverbs is a collection of 900 short, pithy statements of
wisdom (literally, “skill for living”). Using comparison, contrast,
and picturesque language, the author sets forth God’s
principles for wise and godly living—inspired precepts dealing
with wisdom and foolishness, laziness and work, poverty and
wealth, friends and neighbors, love and lust, masters and
servants, life and death.
• While it takes only a few seconds for you to read a proverb,
you can easily spend a lifetime working out the implications of
that proverb in your daily walk with God.
Menu
44
Menu
Ecclesiatstes
 Vanity
• Ecclesiastes is a fascinating book. The Keyword for
Ecclesiastes is Vanity, or emptiness. The writer says, “Vanity,
vanity, all is vanity.” Or as another version puts it,
“Meaningless, meaningless, all is meaningless.”
• The point is that life without God is empty. So that’s what
we’ve pictured here—emptiness! The author of Ecclesiastes
(traditionally thought to be Solomon) enjoys power, wealth,
and access to all of life’s pursuits and pleasures. After
experiencing a full measure of life “under the sun,” he declares
it all to be unsatisfying. He discovers that only as he lives
“above the sun”—with an eye toward God—does life become
meaningful and fulfilling.
• The bottom line of the book: Ultimate satisfaction comes, not
from the good things of life, but from the Giver of life, the One
we are to fear, honor, and obey.
Menu
46
Menu
47
Song of Solomon
 Love in Marriage
• Do you recognize this king? It’s Solomon, you see, because he
has a half-heart and a bag of pesos! [The PESOS represent the
books Solomon wrote—Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song Of
Solomon.] What’s he doing? Singing! So this book is the Song
of Solomon.
• The scene is a wedding (in fact, Solomon and his bride are on a
wedding cake). So that reminds us of the key phrase of the
book, Love in Marriage. Full of oriental imagery, the Song of
Solomon recounts Solomon’s marriage to a country maiden.
• While it extols the bliss of married love and the deep devotion of
spouses to one another, it also speaks of the heartaches and
challenges of marriage.
• In addition to recording a part of Solomon’s life, the book also
gives an intimate glimpse of God’s fervent love for His people
within these lovely lyrics.
Menu
48
Menu
49
Isaiah
 Groan/Glory
• There’s an “I” and it’s saying “Ah.” “I say ’ah.” Isaiah! One of
the two men is groaning with sadness; the other is shouting
“glory!” That’s the key concept of Isaiah—Groan/Glory—
because it starts with a groan and ends with glory.
• The book sets forth a lifetime of preaching by the statesman
and prophet for whom it is named. In the first 39 chapters,
which are analogous to the Old Testament, the prophet
stresses righteousness, holiness, and the justice of God,
announcing His terrible judgment upon a world stained scarlet
with sin (1:18).
• Surely there is cause to groan under God’s chastening hand.
But the last 27 chapters, corresponding to the New Testament,
portray God’s glory as He announces the good news of His
compassion and undeserved favor: Messiah will come as a
Savior to bear a cross and as a Sovereign to wear a crown.
Menu
50
Menu
51
Jeremiah
 Rotten Sash
• Here is a jury, so this must be “Jury-miah”! That is, Jeremiah.
Jeremiah’s Keyword is Rotten Sash. So here we have Jurymiah holding up a rotten sash, or belt, as evidence.
• This book is the autobiography of one of Judah’s greatest
prophets, who challenges his nation’s greatest errors.
Apostasy, idolatry, perverted worship, and moral decay—for
these and other sins God’s judgment is foretold. God pictures
the moral rottenness of the nation when He has Jeremiah
bury a sash in the mud next to the Euphrates River and later
dig it up. It is ruined and disgusting, just like the nation.
• Judah’s response is not repentance but rejection, as the
prophet experiences opposition, isolation, and imprisonment.
Through 40 years of faithful duty, Jeremiah witnesses the
fulfillment of many of his prophecies, including God’s final
judgment on Judah: her exile.
Menu
52
Menu
53
Lamentations
 Tears
• Poor little lamb! Does she remind you of a particular book of the
Bible? How about “Lamb-entations” (Lamentations)? The lamb
is crying because the Keyword is Tears.
• Jeremiah the weeping prophet has warned the people of Judah
for years of their impending doom if they do not repent. When
his prophecies are fulfilled and Jerusalem is destroyed by the
Babylonians, Jeremiah writes Lamentations, a funeral dirge for
a city.
• Written in five poems, this sad book is full of defeat, slaughter,
and ruination—the horrors promised for so long and ignored so
often. However, Jeremiah sees ultimate reason and hope
beyond the ruins of his city. His God is sovereign—after all, He
had described this judgment years before and He is gracious.
• In His mercy Jerusalem will one day be restored.
Menu
54
Menu
55
Ezekiel
 Dry Bones
• This friendly skeleton will remind you about the book of E-Z-kiel.
He’s drying himself off with a towel to tell us that the Keyword is
Dry Bones.
• Eleven years before the actual downfall of Jerusalem in 586
B.C., Ezekiel had already been exiled to Babylonia. He
prophesied among the Jewish exiles there during the last days
of Judah’s decline and downfall.
• The first part of his prophecy stresses the sure completion of
God’s judgment against Judah, culminating in the destruction of
the holy city. But once Jerusalem’s walls have been breached
and its citizens marched into exile, Ezekiel’s tone changes to
one of hope. God will one day restore His nation.
• The “dry bones” that had been scattered in the valley—
symbolizing the spiritually dead and physically scattered nation
of Israel—will be rejoined and returned to life.
Menu
56
Menu
57
Daniel
 Dreams
• That’s Daniel sleeping in the lions’ den. The Keyword for the
book of Daniel is Dreams. That’s because nearly all of the
chapters of Daniel deal with a dream.
• Deported to Babylon as a youth, Daniel serves in the courts of
Babylonia and Persia during the 70-year exile. Used by God as
His spokesman to both Gentiles and Jews, Daniel
demonstrates God’s power through his prophecies and his life
of godly obedience.
• The adventures of Daniel and his friends in the palace, the fiery
furnace, and the lions’ den show that even during the exile God
does not forget His chosen people. And through Daniel, God
provides dreams—and interpretations of dreams—designed to
convince Jew and Gentile alike that wisdom and power belong
to Him alone.
• His message is clear: God is in control, not only of the present,
but of the future!
Menu
58
Menu
59
Hosea
 Harlot
• See the hose? This pictures the book of Hosea. And the
Keyword is Harlot. Hosea prophesies to a corrupt and
idolatrous Israel during her last hours from the pulpit of his own
experience.
• Instructed by God to marry the harlot Gomer, Hosea finds
mirrored in his domestic life an accurate portrayal of the
unfaithfulness of God’s people. In both cases the bride of
Hosea and the people of God play the harlot and run after
other lovers.
• With this striking parallel from his marriage, Hosea carries
God’s powerful message to the streets: The wickedness of
Israel will bring swift tragedy and certain calamity. But
unconditional love keeps seeking even when it is spurned.
• In Hosea’s case, that means buying back his wife from the
slave market; for Israel it means purifying punishment followed
by restoration to the Land of Promise.
Menu
60
Menu
61
Joel
 Locusts
• There’s a shimmering blob of Jello to remind you that this
picture represents the book of Joel. Locusts are trying to eat
that delicious Jello, and that’s no coincidence because the
Keyword for Joel is Locusts.
• Joel uses a recent calamity in the nation of Judah to teach his
hearers a prophetic lesson. The locusts have come, and
suddenly every green thing is gone.
• God’s spokesman Joel uses this national disaster to bring a
dire warning of a far worse catastrophe. Not locusts, but an
army from the north will attack Judah and leave a devastation
even more complete than that of the locusts. The only hope of
escape in this day of the Lord is to repent.
• If His people will repent, then instead of devastating judgment
God will send unparalleled blessing. He will judge the nations
that hurt His people and bring peace to Zion.
Menu
62
Menu
63
Amos
 Plumbline
• What’s pictured here? A moose, of course. So who would the
prophet be? “A-moose” … Amos! And the Keyword for this
book is Plumbline.
• Times are good in Israel. The nation basks in peace,
prosperity, strength, and security. Then comes Amos.
• At God’s direction, this prophet holds up the carpenter’s
plumbline to measure the nation against God’s perfect
standard … and finds only crookedness. He breaks through
the facade of respectability to expose the rotten core of
immorality, injustice, and shallow piety.
• The people have grown soft and lax in luxurious living, so
Amos—a country farmer turned prophet—declares God’s
terrible warning, issuing His last call to repentance. But once
again, the people fail to respond, and the prophet announces
God’s coming discipline. "
Menu
64
Menu
65
Obadiah
 Brother’s Keeper
• What kind of bed is this? It’s an O-bed! It reminds us of the
book of “O-bed-iah,” or Obadiah! In the background are two
brothers. One is holding a key to remind you that the key
phrase of Obadiah is Brother’s Keeper (“Key-per”).
• Edom and Judah should have existed in brotherly harmony as
neighbors. After all, they were in the same family: Edom was
descended from Esau, and Judah from Jacob. But the feuding
between their ancestors leads to hatred between these two
nations.
• In a moment of urgent need, with Israel’s enemies knocking at
the gates of Jerusalem, the Edomites rush in to help … the
enemy! As a result, God sends Obadiah to predict extinction
for the haughty Edomites for their unwillingness to serve as
their brothers’ keeper.
• In contrast, He promises that His people will ultimately destroy
their enemies and live in peace.
Menu
66
Menu
67
Jonah
 Fish
• This picture is pretty fishy! You can tell at a glance this is for
the book of Jonah, and the Keyword is Fish.
• Jonah despised the brutal Assyrian capital city of Nineveh. So
when God tells him to go warn them of their impending
destruction, Jonah sets sail in the opposite direction! God
sends a storm to fetch him back, and at his own request
Jonah is tossed overboard.
• A huge fish swallows God’s prophet and deposits him on dry
land. Result: Jonah goes straight to Nineveh. And when the
people repent, God mercifully withholds His punishment.
• Though the preaching is successful, the preacher comes
away angry and discouraged. So God takes the resentful
Jonah to a scorching hill and there teaches him firsthand of
His compassion upon sinful people.
Menu
68
Menu
69
Micah
 Day in Court
• Here is a microphone, also known as a mike, which reminds
us of the prophet Micah. The sun represents the day, and this
day is in court. So Micah’s Keyword is Day in Court.
• Micah journeys to Jerusalem from his rural home to deliver
God’s message of judgment to a corrupt Judah. He aims his
rebukes at those who use their God-given authority to cheat
the poor and abuse the powerless, including false prophets,
priests, and princes.
• Sin has infiltrated every segment of society, so God gives
Judah her day in court with Micah as the prosecutor … and
the verdict is guilty. Throughout Micah’s ministry, three themes
ring clear: Sin will not go unpunished; judgment will be swift
and soon; and once the discipline is completed, God will
restore His people to their covenant land.
• Though justice is being trampled underfoot, it will one day
triumph.
Menu
70
Menu
71
Nahum
 Flood
• The Keyword for the book of Nahum is Flood. And here the
floodwaters are destroying the city walls, which form the name
Nahum.
• It has been more than a century since Nineveh repented under
the preaching of Jonah. And yet Nineveh degenerates and
soon becomes as wicked a city as she had ever been. But she
fears no judgment; after all, her walls are wide and high and
she is surrounded by a deep moat.
• But God speaks through Nahum of her destruction—not a
warning of doom that could be averted like Jonah’s, but a
description of her certain death. God’s prophecy comes true to
the letter as the Tigris River floods, washing away part of the
city’s walls, and the Babylonian army then sweeps through
Nineveh like violent floodwaters.
• Nineveh’s “grave” is so effectively dug that the city lay
undiscovered for 2500 ears.
Menu
72
Menu
73
Habakkuk
 Watchtower
• Here’s a man carrying a huge backpack. It’s a “HA-Backpack!”
That will remind you that his name is Habakkuk! He’s standing
on a Watchtower (see the watches?), and that’s the Keyword
for this book.
• Habakkuk prophesies in Judah before its final destruction. He
raises the perplexing issue of why God is silent, and why the
cries of the faithful seem to go unheard. He sits in a
watchtower awaiting God’s answer.
• In reply, God declares a timeless principle of trust in His
sovereignty. The wicked will be dealt with … in God’s way, in
God’s time. He will use the even more wicked Babylonian
nation as His divine instrument of justice!
• When Habakkuk reacts with shock and dismay, God patiently
instructs His messenger until at last the prophet is able to
respond in praise and trust.
Menu
74
Menu
75
Zephaniah
 Day of the Lord
• The letter “Z” is fanning himself. So this must be “Z-Fan-iah”—
Zephaniah! The sun represents day, and this is the Day of the
Lord—the key phrase.
• During Judah’s history, reform comes from time to time.
Zephaniah’s forceful prophecy may have been a factor in the
reform of Josiah’s reign—a “revival” which produces outward
change but cannot remove the inward corruption
characterizing the nation’s leaders.
• Zephaniah is motivated by one concern: the coming Day of
the Lord. Judah will indeed be punished … but beyond that
cloud brightness blazes. God will purify His people; He will
restore their fortunes; He will rejoice over them with shouts of
joy; He will make them great; He will be in their midst.
• Beyond judgment there is joy.
Menu
76
Menu
77
Haggai
 Temple
• This fellow is hugging a big letter “I”. So this must be the
prophet “Hug-I,” or Haggai! And he’s on his way to the temple,
because the Keyword for Haggai is Temple.
• Having just returned from exile in Babylonia, the people are
confronted by a heartbreaking sight. Nebuchadnezzar had
made a shambles of their city, including the glorious structure
that was once Solomon’s temple.
• Work progresses on a new temple until opposition arises. For
16 years the Jews ignore the unfinished temple to pursue
personal prosperity.
• Enter Haggai, an aged, straight-talking prophet of God, who
minces no words in his call to “finish what you have begun.” He
calls the builders to renewed courage in the Lord, renewed
holiness in life, and renewed faith in the God who controls the
future.
Menu
78
Menu
79
Zechariah
 Messiah
• Here’s another Z. But this one is crying: “Z-cry-ah.” That’s
Zechariah! And the theme of this book is the Messiah, whom
the prophet foresees in the distance.
• The temple rebuilding had begun amid great excitement in 536
B.C. But the early enthusiasm has waned, and 16 years later
the temple remained unfinished. Enter Zechariah,
commissioned by God to join Haggai in motivating the workers
to finish what they had begun.
• But where Haggai is the exhorter, Zechariah is the encourager.
His message is one of consolation: The temple will be no
ordinary building, but will house Messiah Himself.
• All hands to the task, for the King is coming! And that future
blessing—including both the first and second comings of
Christ—depends on present obedience.
Menu
80
Menu
81
Malachi
 Hearts of Stone
• And finally, here is a mallet beating on hearts of stone. The
mallet reminds us of the prophet, “Mallet-chi,” or Malachi. And
the key phrase is Hearts of Stone.
• It had been years since God restored His people to their land.
But they soon lapsed into the very sins that had brought about
their captivity.
• So God sends Malachi to remind His people that, though He
loves them, they have not returned His love. The priests have
dishonored Him and led His people astray. The men have
married heathen women.
• Because they all have hearts of stone as they persist in their
sins, they can never hope to prosper. Malachi gives them a
final warning of the purifying Day of the Lord—after which
follows 400 years of silence in the Biblical record … until the
light of the New Testament dawns.
Menu
82
Menu
83
Matthew
 King
• What do you get when you combine a “mat” and a “U?” That’s
right—Matthew! And this welcome mat leads you directly to a king,
the Keyword of Matthew, since this book presents Christ as King.
• Matthew, a Jewish tax collector, becomes a disciple of Jesus, the
Jewish Messiah, and ultimately writes a book to His fellow Jews to
prove Jesus’ kingship. This most “Jewish” of the four Gospels sets
out to establish the identity and authenticity of Jesus’ claims to
Messiahship.
• Through liberal quotations from the Old Testament prophets
concerning the birth of Messiah, and a presentation of a
genealogy linking Jesus with the Davidic throne, Matthew
convincingly places Christ squarely in the context of Israel’s
history—the King of Kings! He then charts Jesus’ miracles,
discourses, and parables. Moving beyond Israel to all mankind
with the Gospel, Matthew concludes with the familiar Great
Commission.
Menu
84
Menu
85
Mark
 Servant
• From now on, when you read the book of Mark, you’ll picture a
giant “M Ark!” And what is the waiter doing with the tray? Why,
he’s “serving an ant!” “Serve Ant” will remind you of the
Keyword for Mark—Servant.
• In this gospel account, Mark portrays Christ as the Servant of
God. Mark is the Gospel which tells the most brief and to-thepoint story of the life of Christ. Adding little embellishment of his
own, Mark focuses on the acts of Christ as a servant of man.
Mark’s probable close association with the apostle Peter lends
authority to his record.
• his gospel’s characteristic word is “immediately,” showing
Mark’s view of Christ as one who came to do the Father’s will,
staying focused on His mission throughout His life. A well
known verse in this Gospel says that Jesus did not come to be
served, but to serve. Faithful to this theme throughout the book,
Mark presents Jesus serving the disciples even after His
resurrection!
Menu
86
Menu
87
Luke
 Perfect Man
• "What’s the doctor in this cartoon doing? He’s looking
“LUKEing!”—at a man who is receiving “perfect 10s” from a
crowd of judges representing all the world’s people. In the
gospel of Luke, Christ is presented as the Perfect Man, able to
save any and all who trust in Him. So when you think of Luke,
remember the author is “LUKEing” at a Perfect Man, the
Keyword of this book.
• Luke, a Gentile doctor, writes his gospel based on his own
thorough study of the facts surrounding Christ’s life (1:1–4). It
is the longest of the four Gospels. The genealogy of Christ
which Luke gives traces His lineage beyond David, former
king of Israel, all the way back to Adam, the first perfect man.
Christ, for Luke’s readers, becomes the Savior of all mankind,
Jew and Gentile alike. Luke uses the term “Son of Man” to
describe the Perfect Man, Jesus Christ."
Menu
88
Menu
89
John
 Son of God
• "This “J” is turned “on” with his picture! When you recall the
Gospel of John, you’ll immediately recall a “J On” painting the
“sun” of God! “J On” (John) paints a picture of Christ as the
Son (sun) of God, the Keyword for this book.
• The apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, is the
author of this final Gospel. His record of Christ’s life and
ministry is distinctly different than the other three. John
records a more thematic, and often very intimate, account of
the Savior’s ministry, and especially His interaction with the
disciples. John’s purpose in writing is to prove that Jesus is
the Christ, and that eternal life is found in Him.
• While the synoptics (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) present Christ
in the fullness of His humanity, John shows us that Christ is
indeed Deity—God incarnate, the Son of God. He is Light,
Truth, Life, the Way, the Door, the Bread of Life, Water of Life.
In fact, He is all God is, because He is Himself God. "
Menu
90
Menu
91
Acts
 Church
• From now on, when you think of the Book of Acts, you’re going
to remember it as the Book of “Ax”, which is going to remind
you of its Keyword and theme, the Church. Luke, the author of
the Gospel of Luke, here presents volume two of his record of
Christ’s life and ministry.
• In Acts, the central figures become Christ’s apostles who carry
His Gospel to all people. Acts is structured around a key verse
where Christ tells the Apostles to go to Jerusalem and Judea
(the Jews’ home), Samaria (neighboring countries), and even to
the ends of the earth (all Gentile peoples). Saul, the converted
Jewish scholar, becomes Paul the missionary evangelist who
takes Christ to the Gentiles.
• Peter leads the effort to continue evangelizing Jews both in
Palestine and those dispersed in other countries as well. Acts
records the spreading of the Gospel, and the building of the
Church, throughout Asia, lower Europe, and as far west as
Rome.
Menu
92
Menu
93
Romans
 Paid in Full
• This Roman soldier (note the “Row-man” in the background!) is
experiencing the Keyword of the Book of Romans, Paid in Full.
So when you think of Romans, remember that, like the soldier,
our debt of sin has been Paid in Full!
• Romans, revealing both the heart and intellect of Paul, is the
most systematic and profound presentation of the
righteousness of God in the Bible. Paul shows that because all
men are sinners, the righteousness of God requires their
condemnation. But because God is righteous, He alone can
provide, enact, and accept as adequate a payment to satisfy
His own demands.
• That our debt is paid in full produces Paul’s worshipful doxology
where he proclaims the depth of the riches of the wisdom and
knowledge of God. Then, in light of God’s grace, he exhorts
believers to live in a manner consistent with being justified
freely by grace, as living sacrifices to Him.
Menu
94
Menu
95
1 Corinthians
 Spanking the Saints
• Here we have “One Core Indian” (get it? 1 Corinthian?)
spanking a saint. Ouch! A reminder that God used a strong
letter from Paul to discipline the church. You’ll never hear “1
Corinthians” again without thinking of “One Core Indian”
Spanking the Saints!
• So you think the modern church has a few problems? Then
you haven’t read this letter of Paul’s to the most “metropolitan”
of his young churches. Corinth was a center of commercial
confusion and cultural congestion. Unfortunately, much of the
metropolis had been brought into the church through the lives
of new converts. Factionalism, immorality, doctrinal confusion,
abuses of spiritual liberty—you name it, and the Corinthians
were struggling with it.
• Paul displays a firm, but loving, apostolic hand as he provides
answers to questions from the church leaders. His corrections
and exhortations for righteousness and unity in the body will
strengthen the modern church as well.
Menu
96
Menu
97
2 Corinthians
 Anatomy of an Apostle
• Here we have “Two Core Indians” checking out the Anatomy
of an Apostle. How do you know the x-rayed one is an
apostle? Because his cap declares he is “one sent!” An
intimate glimpse of the life of Paul appears in 2 Corinthians
and these “Two Core Indians” will remind you of this Anatomy
of an Apostle.
• After writing his first letter to Corinth, Paul finds his apostleship
under attack—and thus his authority. False teachers had
come among the Corinthians and accused Paul of being
selfish and without true authority from God. Heartbroken for
his young church, Paul sends Titus to Corinth to assist the
members.
• Upon Titus’ return, Paul finds that the church has changed its
heart toward him. This emotional letter to Corinth is Paul’s
defense of his apostleship and his appeal to the Corinthians to
continue to accept his apostolic authority.
• He also asks them to give generously to the afflicted church in
Jerusalem.
Menu
98
Menu
99
Galatians
 Unshackled
• This picture of an unshackled gull laying a shining egg will stick
in your mind forever. “Gull Lay Shine” will remind you of the
book of Galatians. And the heavy chain falling off our friendly
gull will reminded you that the Keyword of Galatians is
Unshackled.
• The fine line between the obligation to obey the Law of God and
the freedom to obey Him is at the heart of this letter of Paul. It is
the basic distinction between the Old and New Covenants of
God with man. Does man have to satisfy God’s law to be
forgiven, or once forgiven, i.e., unshackled from the curse of the
Law, does man have power and freedom in the Spirit to please
God?
• To the Galatians, Paul re-establishes the primacy of life in the
Spirit. The Judaizers, whose teachings placed believers back
into slavery to the Law, are rebuked, and the Galatians are
exhorted to walk in the Spirit rather than the lust of the flesh.
Menu
100
Menu
101
Ephesians
 Body Building
• Look! An “E Fishing!” And of all things to catch—a body builder!
When you try to remember the theme of the Book of Ephesians,
this “E Fishing” is going to remind you that the Keyword is BodyBuilding.
• Paul writes a letter to build up the body of believers at Ephesus.
For the believer in Christ, life is lived in two planes. The heavenly
one, where we are seated with Christ positionally, and the earthly
one, where we are in, but not of, the world.
• In this letter Paul sets forth both realities to the Christians at
Ephesus. One of the most balanced books in the Bible,
Ephesians’ six chapters are divided into two parts of three
chapters each. In the first section, Paul presents the reality of our
spiritual riches in Christ, all based on the grace of God we are
saved by grace through faith.
• In the last half, the walk of the believer is made clear. In light of
our wealth, we then should walk in a manner worthy of the calling
we have received.
Menu
102
Menu
103
Philippians
 Happily Humble
• Picture this: a happy bull flipping “Ns.” What? That’s right—but
not just any bull. This is a “Hmmm Bull.” A “Hmmm bull flipping
Ns.” Congratulations! You’ve just learned Philippians (Flippin’
Ns) and its Keyword, Happily Humble.
• Paul was happily humble as he wrote from prison to the
Philippian church. If the church of Jesus Christ is going to
endure in difficult times, it stands to reason that its leaders
would be the examples. Christ suffered in an exemplary way,
and in Philippians we find the Apostle Paul experiencing the
joy of the Lord while chained in prison—a “happily humbling”
experience, to be sure.
• Joy in adverse circumstances is the theme of this book, and
Paul urges believers to focus on Christ, for He is true life.
• He also urges them not to be anxious, to live in peace and
harmony with one another, and to have the mind of Christ in all
their suffering. "
Menu
104
Menu
105
Colossians
 Commander-in-Chief
• What happens when a Commander and a Chief run into each
other? A giant collision! This “Commander ’n Chief” are going to
be in your mind from now on when you hear the word
Colossians (Collision), whose Keyword reminds us that Jesus
Christ is Commander-in-Chief of all creation.
• It’s great to have a scholar like Paul on the team, isn’t it? When
a complicated heresy concerning the person of Christ surfaced
in Colossae, the Apostle Paul immediately penned a letter to
the church clarifying exactly what Christ did for us and what
Christ does through us.
• His supremacy (which makes Him “commander-in-chief”) is
what requires our submission, an attitude unlikely to be
manifested by anyone with a faulty view of Christ and His deity.
• The doctrinal basis of being in Christ is followed by practical
exhortations on living for Christ, whether parent, spouse, or
employer. "
Menu
106
Menu
107
1 Thessalonians
 Stay On Target
• This “One Thistle and Onion” are trying desperately to do one
thing: Stay On (the) Target! You guessed it! That is the Keyword
and theme of 1 Thessalonians (One Thistle Onion). Now when
you hear this New Testament book discussed, you’ll be on target
with the theme and Keyword at hand.
• The relationship between Paul and the believers at Thessalonica
was like a father with his children—encouraging, comforting,
urging them to live lives pleasing to God. The faith, steadfastness,
service, and joy of these believers were reasons for
commendation by Paul. And he urges them to stay the course—to
stay on target!
• In order to alleviate fears that those who died as believers would
not participate in Christ’s parousia, or return, he clarifies matters
concerning the Day of the Lord.
• He sets their sanctification before them as their goal until Christ
returns. "
Menu
108
Menu
109
2 Thessalonians
 Work While You Wait
• This time it’s “Two Thistles Onions!” And the farmer is working
while he weighs! When you hear the name 2 Thessalonians, the
picture of Two Thistles Onions is going to remind you of the
Keyword—Work While You Wait—which was Paul’s message in
this letter.
• A tranquil church today may be a struggling church tomorrow.
Such is the reality of spiritual growth, especially for new believers.
Paul, following his commendatory letter to Thessalonica, in this
letter responds to bad reports. False teachers have convinced the
believers that the “day of Christ” has already occurred, and
idleness and laziness were becoming a problem.
• His fatherly calm in the first letter is replaced by apostolic
authority: If anyone doesn’t work, neither will they eat, i.e., work
while you wait! A review of what transpires before the day of
Christ’s return is followed by exhortations to be patient and to
withdraw from disruptive elements in the church.
Menu
110
Menu
111
1 Timothy
 Leadership Manual
• Here’s a species of moth you’ve not seen before—a “Tie Moth!”
This “One Tie Moth” (1 Timothy) is leading his young protégés in
the charge. And what’s he leading them with? A leadership
Manual, the Keyword of 1 Timothy (One Tie Moth). Now, when
you hear 1 Timothy you’ll recall this book’s Keyword, since this
letter was a Leadership Manual from Paul to Timothy.
• As the apostles planted new churches, the need for leadership
became paramount. One of Paul’s protégés was Timothy, to
whom he wrote this letter when Timothy was in Ephesus
overseeing the church.
• Knowing how to conduct oneself in the house of God is the goal
for Timothy. This means not only developing his own life as a
young leader, but the appointment of other godly leaders to keep
the church free from destructive doctrinal heresies.
• This practical letter has served as the “leadership manual” for
myriads of local churches since. "
Menu
112
Menu
113
2 Timothy
 Combat Manual
• What are these “Two Tie Moths” up to? They’re training a young
bat (a “calm bat,” from all appearances!) in the art of spiritual
combat—and they’re using a Combat Manual! This is the
Keyword and theme of Paul’s second letter to Timothy.
• This book represents Paul’s last letter before his death at the
hands of the Romans. Written from a Roman prison to Timothy,
it is an exhortation to be faithful and to persevere, enduring
hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
• Warning Timothy against coming apostasy in the church, Paul
reminds him of the central place of the Word of God. It is
inspired by God for doctrine, reproof, correction, and
righteousness for the purpose of equipping the man of God for
good works. Paul knows his days are numbered, and that the
Word of God must be Timothy’s combat manual in the difficult
days ahead.
• Good advice for the church in any age.
Menu
114
Menu
115
Titus
 Conduct Manual
• And now the third of Paul’s manuals to young church leaders.
In this cartoon, we have a “con duck” taking a try at the “Tie
Toss” (Titus). He’s getting tips from a Conduct (con duck!)
Manual, the Keyword for the Book of Titus. So whenever you
hear the name of this book—Titus—you’ll think of the “con
duck” and his Conduct Manual.
• Another protégé of Paul, a young pastor named Titus, is given
the task of organizing believers into a local church on the
Mediterranean island of Crete. In light of the dubious moral
reputation of "Cretans,’ this was not an enviable task. But it
does explain the emphases of the letter, a conduct manual of
sorts. Church leaders (elders and deacons) must be of the
highest integrity, above reproach in their character, loving
leaders of their families, and able to preserve the spiritual
purity of the church.
• This last assignment would need apostolic authority behind it,
which Paul’s letter provided for Titus.
Menu
116
Menu
117
Philemon
 Bondage of Brotherhood
• Check out this file of lemons coming out of jail. They’re
excited—they’ve done their time and are being set free. They’re
going from Bondage to Brotherhood. Here’s something exciting
as well: “File Lemon” will remind you of Philemon, and it’s
Keyword, Bondage to Brotherhood. Restitution by one who has
done wrong, and forgiveness by the one wronged, are the
themes of this book.
• In Rome, Paul meets and converts a young runaway slave
named Onesimus, who has wronged his master Philemon and
fled to Rome. Paul knows that Onesimus must return to his
master Philemon in Colossae, and writes this brief letter urging
Philemon to accept Onesimus just as he would accept Paul
himself.
• Not even speaking to the ethics of slavery itself, Paul shows
that the bonds of Christ are stronger than those of human
servitude, as evidenced by Onesimus’ transition from bondage
to brotherhood.
Menu
118
Menu
119
Hebrews
 Milk to Meat
• What is this first-century Hebrew Christian up to? Why, it looks
like “He Brews!” And what is he brewing? Everything from Milk
to Meat! That’s how you’ll always remember the theme and
Keyword of this important New Testament book. Hebrews (He
Brews) is about going spiritually from Milk to Meat.
• The author of this letter seeks to dissuade Hebrew Christian
believers from reverting to Judaism as a means of averting
persecution for their new faith in Christ. His approach is to
demonstrate how Christ is superior to all parts of their old
religion.
• Yet it was at the same time the foundation of His coming. But
a foundation is to be built upon, not lived in. To be persecuted
for Christ is better than returning to an empty religion. He
warns them against turning back, and exhorts them to move
even further ahead, going from milk to meat in their quest for
godliness.
• The deep message of this letter is for the church in every age.
Menu
120
Menu
121
James
 Faith Gauge
• Here’s our “J” again! And what’s he up to now? Looks like we’ve
got a “J Aiming!” And when “J Aims” (James) what does he aim
for? The Faith Gauge, of course! He’s aiming to make his faith a
strong faith, as this letter of James counsels believers to do. This
letter to Hebrew Christian believers is one of the earliest penned in
the young church.
• This fact, coupled with the author’s close relationship to Christ
Himself (probably His half-brother), makes it not surprising that it
focuses on doing the faith. This is no letter of theory. Rather, it’s a
“faith-gauge.” It says that if faith is not evidenced by good works, it
is a dead faith.
• This sounds like Christ speaking to the Pharisees, doesn’t it? A
living faith is one which is not defeated by trials, is no respecter of
persons, is a mirror of God’s Word, is a controller of the tongue,
and displays heavenly wisdom.
• And above all, it waits patiently, but actively, for the return of the
Lord. "
Menu
122
Menu
123
1 Peter
 Pain With A Purpose
• Here we’ve got “One Pea and a Tear.” But don’t worry.
Thankfully, this pain is with a porpoise (Pain With a Purpose!).
And this is the Keyword of 1 Peter. Peter writes to remind
Christians that suffering has a purpose.
• The apostle to the Jews writes a letter of encouragement to
those persecuted Jewish believers scattered throughout Asia
Minor. The proper response to suffering becomes the theme of
the epistle—and their perspective will determine their
response!
• First, don’t be surprised at suffering.
• Second, count suffering as a way of sharing in the sufferings of
Christ.
• Third, make sure your suffering is for righteousness sake, not
unrighteousness. There is no reward for suffering for sin! And
finally, remember that you do not suffer in vain—pain has a
purpose! Believers are part of a royal priesthood, born into a
living hope, and our lives should reflect our royalty, even when
suffering.
Menu
124
Menu
125
2 Peter
 Poison in the Pew
• Now we’ve got “Two Pea Tears.” But this time their tears are for
a different reason. Now it’s because there’s Poison In the Pew.
Peter’s second letter (Two Pea Tears) is to convey the
message of the Keyword, that false teachers are at times found
in the church, making Poison In the Pew!
• Peter writes a second letter to his original audience, but now on
a theme even more serious than his first letter. All Christians
can expect at times to be persecuted for their faith. But when
defection and false teaching, and persecution as well, come
from within the body of Christ, then a serious condition exits—
poison in the pew!
• Peter warns that judgment awaits those who teach falsely, and
that believers must be on their guard so as not to be led away
by the error of wicked teachers. The basis for truth is the
Scriptures which have their origin in God, not in man, and
therefore stand in authority over man.
Menu
126
Menu
127
1 John
 Fellowship Barometer
• This Scandinavian fellow is your key to remembering the theme of
1 John (he would pronounce it 1 Yawn, yah?) And what’s he
checking out? Why it’s a Fellowship Barometer. 1 John provides a
test of true fellowship—with God and other believers.
• The writer of the Gospel of John in this letter follows the example
of Paul and confronts heresy head on. Gnosticism, a heretical
belief denying the reality of Christ and therefore salvation through
Him, was emerging in John’s day.
• He exposes the false teachers and then assures believers that
their salvation in Christ is true and secure. John counters
Gnosticism by saying that sin does matter to God, and that it
matters so much He has provided forgiveness and continual
fellowship for us even when we do sin.
• His letter serves as a “fellowship barometer” for who is truly
walking in the light—and who is not. Confession, fellowship, and
love for the brethren summarize John’s message.
Menu
128
Menu
129
2 John
 Bolt the Door
• Now we’re looking at the book of 2 John (2 Yawn, as they would
say). And though these two are yawning, they’re still alert enough
to Bolt the Door, the Keyword of 2 John. It’s unwise to grow weary
and not stay spiritually alert to danger, as 2 John points out.
• First-century evangelists and teachers, traveling by foot to spread
the gospel, would usually find hospitality in the homes of Christian
families. But just as wheat and tares appear similar until fruit is
borne, heretical teachers could be hosted by unaware believers
who were not wise enough to know the difference.
• Therefore, John writes to remind Christians that deceivers are
traveling about and that Christians should not welcome them or
take them into their house lest they share in the wicked work of the
false teacher.
• In our day, when false religious teachers have multiplied
dramatically—and often come in the name of Christ—“bolt the
door” remains wise counsel for the church.
Menu
130
Menu
131
3 John
 Open the Door
• Now we have 3 John, pictured by this trio of 3 Yawns. These
three fellows will help you remember forever the Keyword of 3
John, which is Open the Door—to other believers in true
hospitality.
• Gaius, the trusted friend of the apostle John, has acted
hospitably in receiving and supporting some teachers sent to
his church by John. John commends his love and faithfulness.
• However, Diotrephes, another leader (apparently a false
leader), is gossiping maliciously about the apostle John,
refusing to welcome those teachers sent by John. This false
leader is going so far as to put out of the church anyone who
shows hospitality to John’s emissaries.
• John’s admonition to Gaius is not to follow in the steps of
Diotrephes, but to continue in the right way, opening the door to
John’s teachers. John’s letter, while to Gaius, indirectly warns
Diotrephes that anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
Menu
132
Menu
133
Jude
 Fight for the Faith
• This saint’s event—“Judo”—is brought to mind whenever you
hear the Book of Jude mentioned. And this judo contestant is
giving his all because he’s in a Fight For the Faith. This is the
Keyword of the little book of Jude-fighting for the faith against
spiritual enemies.
• Jude, the brother of James and half-brother of the Lord, here
writes a passionate letter urging his readers to fight for the faith.
In language reminiscent of Jesus’ discourse in Matthew 23, Jude
condemns the outsiders as heretics set on dividing the church.
He promises that God has not been slow about judging similar
ones in the past and will surely judge these evil doers.
• The believer’s response? Build yourself up, pray in the Holy
Spirit, remain in God’s love while waiting for Christ’s return.
• Without judging, reach out to those who may be wavering in the
faith. Snatch from the fire any who have fallen, and show mercy
to all.
Menu
134
Menu
135
Revelation
 Coming Events
• We’ve put the Keyword for Revelation on a stand so you can’t
miss it. This saint, by pulling back the curtain of time, is enjoying
a “Revelation” of Coming Events, just as you can when you read
this book.
• The aging apostle John, towards the end of the first century,
writes to encourage the churches to purify themselves and to
stand firm against coming persecution. Roman emperor worship
was becoming a critical issue as believers were threatened with
death for unwillingness to submit.
• John warns that terrible and dark days were ahead for the
church, and that believers must remain steadfast until the
glorious return of Christ. Judgment would come with Him, and by
the sword of His Word all scales would be made to balance.
• The beautiful picture of the returning Lord, and the heavenly
Jerusalem as the eternal abode of the church, are painted in
words which gave hope to the church then, and the church today
as well.
Menu
136