Genesis to Revelation: A Historical Look

Use this 30 days of content to dig through the Bible and see the Christ is woven all throughout it. We suggest using each of the bullet points for your Twitter account and choosing just one for your daily Facebook post. For graphics, click the link on the text and you’ll be taken to the graphic on our Facebook.

The Story Begins

Day 1

• Graphic: “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" Genesis 3:1
  • Text – "The moment sin enters is when we question God."
• Article: Jesus and the Intellectual
  • Text – Sickness, disease, natural disasters are not of God. It’s a result of the curse from a broken world. Sin separates.
• Graphic: "God does not allow evil and suffering to continue because He does not love us or is in some way detached and removed from us.”
  • Text – "God takes our suffering so seriously, that he took it upon himself. – Tim Keller"
• #LessonsLearned Studying the Bible is not just about gaining information, it’s about transformation.

Day 2

• “(Creation) is a glimpse at what God, our Creator, has done. As Christians, we realize that anything this intricate and detailed has to have a manager.” – Bill Bright
• Article: When was the last time you encountered God? #DailyDevotional
  https://www.cru.org/train-and-grow/spiritual-growth/devotionals/captured-by-the-night-sky.html
• #CruChallenge: Read Psalm 36:5-9. Look up at the sky and think about a love that reaches to the heavens. Have you shared that love with someone today?
• #Bible: “Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.” Psalm 36:5
• Graphic: For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things were created through him and for him. Colossians 1:16

Day 3

• #DiggingDeeper In Genesis 4 you see sin beginning to work its way through the family. Where in your life have you allowed sin to creep in?
• Graphic: “When all is said and done, the life of faith is nothing if not an unending struggle of the spirit with every available weapon against the flesh.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship
  • Text - Are you hurting from past sins? The God, the Creator of the World, cares and wants you to give Him those sins.
• “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned” Romans 5:12
• for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.” Romans 5:13
• Exploring the Old Testament: “The Drama Begins”

Day 4

• Exploring the Old Testament: “Adam through Abraham”

• Read Genesis 6. Man's wickedness became so vile that God regretted ever making a human being. But one man stood righteous. #CruChallenge

• Graphic: “This book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this book.” - D.L. Moody

• “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Hebrews 11:7

  • Twitter - “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house …”
  • Twitter - “… by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Hebrews 11:7

Day 5

• Read Genesis 11. This is where God confused the languages, but as you read you will see He had a plan to build the nations.
• Exploring the Old Testament: Adam through Abraham
• Graphic: “The calling of Abraham brought the promise of salvation. Because Abraham obeyed God in faith and love, God was able to give him a promise of blessing to the world.” – Bill Bright
• Now the LORD said to Abram, "Go forth from your country, And from your relatives And from your father's house, To the land which I will show you; And I will make you a great nation, And I will bless you, And make your name great; And so you shall be a blessing;” Genesis 12:1-2

Day 6

• Read Genesis 17. Here, the Lord is referred to as “El Shaddai” or Mighty God. He is the one true God.
• Graphic: “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless.” Genesis 17:1
• “The revelation which God here made of Himself was well suited to the occasion. This was the first time that He revealed Himself as "the Almighty." None but One who possessed all power could meet Abram’s need at this time. Ninety and nine years of age, his body dead; Sarah barren and long past the age of childbearing – how could they have hope to have a son? But with God all things are possible. And why? Because He is El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One." - A.W. Pink
  • Twitter Text - "But with God all things are possible. And why? Because He is El Shaddai, the All-Sufficient One." - A.W. Pink
• 10 Things to be Grateful for Today

Day 7

• Read Genesis 22. After many years Abraham was gifted with a son. Butthen, God asked that Abraham to climb a hill and sacrifice his beloved son.
• Graphic: God allowed Abraham to save his son. “Many years later, another Son would climb another hill, carrying wood on his back. Like Isaac, he would trust his Father and do what his Father asked. He wouldn’t struggle or runaway.” – Sally Lloyd-Jones, “Jesus Storybook Bible”
• Graphic: “God chose the test for Abraham, and Abraham neither delayed nor protested, but steadily obeyed. If you are not living in touch with God, it is easy to blame Him or pass judgment on Him. You must go through the trial before you have any right to pronounce a verdict, because by going through the trial you learn to know God better.” - Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest
  • Text - By going through the trial you learn to know God better.” – Oswald Chambers

Rags to Riches

Day 8

• Moses, Passover and the Exodus
• Read Exodus 1. Moses was in the palm of God’s hand from his birth to being found by Pharaoh’s daughter and being raised in the Palace.
• Graphic: “He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.” Hebrews 11:23-29

Day 9

• Read Exodus 3. Moses encounters a burning bush and God calls him to go, save Israel. How often do we hear God’s call and refuse to answer?
• What is God’s will for your life?
• Graphic: “Look for a burning bush like Moses found or a blinding light like Paul experienced, and there you will find the will of God.” David Platt
• “I will be with you. This will be the proof I sent you: When you bring the people out of Egypt all will worship God on this mountain.” Exodus 3:12

Day 10

• Read Exodus 4. Moses feeling inadequate to carry out God’s message makes up excuse after excuse. What excuses have you been giving God?
• Graphic: “Moses did not feel adequate. He gave excuses but none of this is news to God. God makes no useless people.” David Uth, First Baptist Orlando
• Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.” Exodus 4:11-12
• Learning to take on Spiritual Leadership

Day 11

• Read Exodus 3:13-22. God is, I Am Who I Am, Yahweh, or the verb, To Be” He is who He says He is. The most powerful, personal name there is.
• Article: Yahweh is the Sweetest Name I Know
• “God gave himself the name Yahweh. No man gave him this name. It is God’s chosen personal name. He loves to be known by this name. It is used over 5,000 times in the Old Testament.” John Piper
• Graphic: God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14

Day 12

• Article: Moses, Passover and the Exodus
• Graphic: “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it empties today of its strength.” ― Corrie ten Boom, Clippings from My Notebook
• #LessonsLearned: In Exodus 14:13-18 we see that the Lord will fight for us! Stand still, be silent and trust Him.
• Read Exodus 7-14 Homes with the blood of the lamb were passed over; the Lord withheld judgement, allowing them to live. A picture of Christ.

Day 13

• Article: Learning to love Leviticus
• Graphic: “Grace would put our desires in order, and keep our thoughts and affections in their proper places” Charles Spurgeon, sermon on Numbers
• “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26
• Have you taken the time to study Leviticus and Numbers? Read through them and see the picture of God giving laws to guide and keep safe the Israelites.
• #DiggingDeeper God gave the Israelites food laws because of their circumstance in the desert with no sanitization. It was to keep them safe.
• #LessonsLearned Romans 7:7-25 Shows us that the law is how God shows us our great need for Him.

Day 14

• Article: Law and Grace - A Closer Look at Deuteronomy
• “The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.” Billy Graham
• Graphic: “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5
• Read through Deuteronomy. These sermons were given by Moses to prepare the Israelites for the Promised Land.

Day 15

• Deliverance and Forgiveness: Looking at Joshua
• "In spite of his failures, David's unchangeable belief in the faithful and forgiving nature of God is a source of encouragement to us today." – Bill Bright
• Graphic: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
• Read Joshua 24. Notice all the things that God accomplished for the people of Israel. What do you need Him to accomplish for you?
• #GoingDeeper The Israelites had to fight for the Promised Land because it is in the struggle that you learn and grow the most. Where is God growing you?
  • Twitter Text - #GoingDeeper The Israelites had to fight for the Promised Land - in the struggle we learn and grow the most. Where is God growing you?

Day 16

• 5 Mistakes People Make When Reading the Bible
• Graphic: “Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.” – Corrie Ten Boom
• Graphic: “It is all right,” the Lord replied. “Do not be afraid. You will not die.” Judges 6:22-23
  • Text - “When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he cried out, “Oh, Sovereign Lord, I’m doomed! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!”
• Read Judges 2:11-19. God fights against His people because they are so given over to idol worship. Have you found this to be true in your life?

Day 17

• Learning about David and Forgiveness
• Graphic: “Now I am giving him to the Lord, and he will belong to the Lord his whole life.” And they worshiped the Lord there.” 1 Samuel 1:28 (Hannah talking of her son, Samuel)
• Read 1 Samuel 8. God purposed to be the king over His people but when they begged for a King God called Samuel to find one.
• #DiggingDeeper God made a promise that David would be on the throne forever because Jesus came from the line of David. Today, we have a king who sits on David’s throne. The King of Kings, the Great I Am. (Psalm 132:11-12)
  • Twitter Text - #DiggingDeeper Jesus came from David's line. Today, our king sits on David’s throne. The King of Kings, the Great I Am.
• #LearningMore: Elijah – The Power of a Spirit-Led Man

Rhyme and Reason

Day 18

• There is strength in surrender: Learning from Job
• “Faith is caught rather than taught.” – Henrietta Mears
• Graphic: "But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold.” Job 23:10
• Read the book of Job. We don’t get to choose our hardship, but we do get to choose our response. What do you do when you are going through a hardship?
• #DiggingDeeper Job’s story likely happened around the same time as Abraham's.
• Kings and Chronicles are history chapters

Day 19

• Article: "Proverbs shows us that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. When we seek counsel He meets us there." https://www.cru.org/train-and-grow/help-others-grow/the-worst-way-to-counsel-a-friend.html
• Graphic: “He has brought me to his banquet hall, And his banner over me is love.” Song of Solomon 2:4
  • Text - God is love, the only source of true love. True love is only in Him. Solomon wrote about true love.
• #DiggingDeeper Psalms shares the message that we were created to worship God and love Him forever. The Hebrew Hymnal of Psalms is 66 love letters to you.
• #DiggingDeeper Ecclesiastes is the diary of a billionaire who proves that meaning in life is found only in God. It is the last book written by Solomon.

Rebellion and Restoration

Day 20

• Article: "Hosea’s marriage is a living illustration of God’s love for us and how He will never give up on us."
  https://www.cru.org/communities/families/does-a-good-god-want-me-in-a-bad-marriage.html
• How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. Habakkuk 1:2
  • Text - He asks the Lord, “Why”, but even in the end He praises God.
• Graphic: The LORD replied, "Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it. - Habakkuk 1:5
  • Text - “Look and be amazed!”
• #DiggingDeeper Isaiah is known as the “Prince of Prophets” for giving the clearest picture of Jesus’ coming.

Day 21

• Graphic: “For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17
  • Text - “He will take delight in you with gladness.”
• Read the story of Jonah. God gives us choices with consequences; He calls us to trust Him. When we don't, He promises hope forevermore.
• #DiggingDeeper Jonah is a book of love for God’s people despite them running away. Have you seen something similar in your life?

Day 22

• Article: Jeremiah - A Witness Who Stood Alone
• Graphic: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
  “... O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel.” Ezekiel 37:12
  • Text - In spite of our sinful choices God is with us and merciful in His faithfulness to us: Dry bones will become flesh.
• #DiggingDeeper In 609 B.C.The Israelites are sent into exile to Babylon. In spite of our sinful choices God is with us and is merciful.
• #DiggingDeeper Jeremiah is known as the weeping prophet, yet Jeremiah 29:11 is the most hopeful verse given to a people in exile.
• #DiggingDeeper (without hashtag for Twitter) Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego were thrown in a fire, but we see that when everything goes wrong Jesus will be the fourth person in your fire.
• What is Exile? Exile is when God does to us what only He can do. A potter is working on you. He is shaping you to be just like Him.
• When 42,000 Jewish slaves were let go, what was the first thing they did? Build a temple to worship their merciful God! #LessonsLearned

Day 23

• Article: "In 52 days Nehemiah led God’s people to restore the wall."
  https://www.cru.org/communities/campus/lifeonmission/calling-and-vocation/discerning-gods-leading.html
• “He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers.” Malachi 4:6
• Graphic: “Perhaps you were born for such a time as this.” (Esther 4:14)
• #DiggingDeeper Ezra, Nehemiah Esther, Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi take place Post Exile: 538-400 B.C.
• #DiggingDeeper Malachi prophesize 400 years beforehand that God would send a messenger to prepare the way. That messenger was John the Baptist. (Malachi 3:1)

He’s Here

Day 24

• Article: The Mighty, Might Power of the Gospel Explained
• Graphic: "The GOSPEL is one story told by four men."
  • Text: The best story of all time.
• #DiggingDeeper There were 400 years between the book of Malachi and the time written about in Matthew.
• ...Now, the Philistines are in control, but the Greek power is growing strong.
• #DiggingDeeper The king at the time of the New Testament is believed to be the father of Alexander the Great.
• #DiggingDeeper During the 400 years, law became king. Jews thought bad things were happening to them because they weren’t keeping the law.
• #DiggingDeeper The messianic hope began to grow among the people as a political figure.
• #DiggingDeeper Matthew – Talks of the prophesied king. He teaches us and is an evangelist to the Jews
• #DiggingDeeper Mark – Shares of the suffering Son of God. He walked with Paul and gave an eyewitness account from Peter’s perspective.
• #DiggingDeeper One-third of the book of Mark is about the cross.
• #DiggingDeeper Luke – The Savior of all mankind. Luke is the only Gentile author. He wrote for all nations.
• #DiggingDeeper John – He speaks of the “I Am”. He is the theologian of the group (20:30-31). He says “I Am” seven times.
• #DiggingDeeper The book of John tells a love story to the people.

He’s Unstoppable

Day 25

• Article: "We have seen that the gospel is the way that anything is renewed and transformed by Christ" https://www.cru.org/train-and-grow/spiritual-growth/the-centrality-of-the-gospel-part-2.html
• Graphic: “All real, life-changing love is costly, substitutionary sacrifice.” – Tim Keller
• “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8
• Acts shares the power of the gospel (Acts 1:8)
• #DiggingDeeper In chapters 1-7 of Acts we see the gospel going out into all of Jerusalem.
• #DiggingDeeper In chapters 8-12 of Acts we see the gospel going out into all of Judea and Samaria.
• #DiggingDeeper In chapters 13-28 of Acts we see the gospel going out into the Ends of the Earth.

Day 26

• Article: 4 Ways the Modern Church Looks Nothing Like the Early Church
• Graphic: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
• #DiggingDeeper Just 50 days after denying Christ, Peter is standing in Jerusalem proclaiming the gospel. ( Acts 2:22-24)
• #DiggingDeeper As Paul travels he writes letters…
• ...Paul traveled 13,000 miles, touched three continents and started churches all over the world writing letters to encourage them.
• #DiggingDeeper Paul wrote letters to churches in 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians
• #DiggingDeeper Paul was writing to specific leaders in 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon

Day 27

• Article: Digging Deeper into Paul’s Writings
• Graphic: Grace and Peace
  “May grace and peace be yours in abundance through full knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord!” 2 Peter 1:2
• “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8
  • Text - You matter because the gospel proclaims you are worth saving.
• #DiggingDeeper Paul’s letters to the churches were meant to be read by many churches. He always says, “Grace and Peace”.
• #DiggingDeeper Galatians is the only book without commendation to the leaders because they were being legalistic.
• #DiggingDeeper Paul always included theology and practical teachings in his writings. He also always included the phrase “Grace and Peace”.
• #DiggingDeeper The Book of Timothy is Paul encouraging the young leader while he was in Ephesus.
• #Summary Philemon was a slave owner. He had a slave run away and that slave became a believer. Paul tells Philemon to invite him back as a brother in Christ.

Day 28

• Article: "The Gospel is still going on. We are the Gospel and it moves through us."
  http://www.familylife.com/articles/topics/faith/essentials/reaching-out/the-lived-out-gospel
  Graphic: “If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world.” – C.S. Lewis
• “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
• The Gospel is the anointing of God and is a powerful truth. There may not be an Acts 29 in the bible, but it’s there because it’s in your life. We are Acts 29.

He’s Coming!

Day 29

• Article: "Taking a deeper look at the General Epistles. Sounds boring? Not even a little bit!"
  https://www.cru.org/train-and-grow/10-basic-steps/10-the-new-testament.8.html
• For God is greater than our heart and knows all things. (1 John 3:20)
  • Text - Trust the One who knows all things!
• “Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.” 1 John 2:28
• #DiggingDeeper Each of the general letters: Hebrews, James 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John, Jude, Revelation - have a different feel but the same message: Hope!

Day 30

• Article: The Revelation of Jesus Christ
• Graphic: “Praise the Lord! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.” (Revelation 19:6-9)
• “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it...because the time is near” Revelation 1:3
• #DiggingDeeper Revelation is the only apocalyptic writing that came out of the first century that was not pseudonymous.
• #DiggingDeeper John wrote Revelation from the island of Patmos, where people at the time were sent as prisoners.
• #LessonsLearned There’s only one thing that opens the door to the marriage supper of the Lamb. #Jesus