I’ve had this Big Picture Bible on my wishlist for months. Maybe years. The title intrigued me because just as the Jesus Storybook Bible ties every story together with Jesus’ love and plan to rescue us, this one sounds like there is more to this one than just a few Bible stories thrown into a book.
I finally picked it up at the library this week and am pretty impressed with it! Asa wanted to read David and Goliath, which is his very favorite story. Well, the book is divided into chapters like God’s Big Promise, God’s People Grow and God’s People Become Great instead of individual stories. In fact, it doesn’t even tell many popular stories because the focus is the over-arching story of the Bible and God’s people–not the individual events.
This book is to be read in order like an actual…you know, book! As you read it, you see the, yes, big picture of the Bible. You see how and why God created the world, how his people messed up and how God was positioning the world to receive Jesus. It includes some big thoughts like Adam and Eve’s punishment, God’s judgement during Noah’s life and even Revelation’s end times and the New Heaven and New Earth.
I was reading on Amazon that some people didn’t like the book because it talked about punishment and God’s anger against sin. Well, guess what? That’s true. But the good news? Rather THE Good News? Jesus came and accepted all that punishment and anger as if it was his own!
This weekend I was at the Allume Conference and got to meet and hang out with one of my new BFFs, Heather Haupt and we actually talked about this book. She said when she read this book for the first time she got chills because it shows Jesus telling the disciples about how Scripture points to Him. And there is even a hidden Star of David on many of the pages to point to the lineage of Christ. Cool, right?
And ok, because I know you’re dying to see, a picture of Heather and me at Allume:
OK. One more:
Aren’t we super serious perfect holy Bible scholars?! We had SO MUCH FUN. Seriously, if you don’t think that online relationships are real—well, you’re missing out because I wish Heather was my next-door neighbor.
Anywhoo, back to the book…
It’s a great concept for a book and I love love love having my kids know more than Bible stories and actually seeing God’s plan for their own personal life began at (and even before) Creation! I also like it because it asks a lot of questions in the text, “Do you see that baby boy?” or “What do you think they did?” and if you actually ask your children the questions as you read–pausing for their answers, I think it continues to help kids see they are part of this big picture of God’s story!
If you’re new to the Bible, I think this is one would be great to read with your kids. It will help give you a firm understanding of the entire Bible for further reading.
(The only bummer is the illustrations. They are kinda…I dunno, just weird. And I was hoping it was edge-to-edge color because it is such a big substantial book. Oh, and on Amazon it comes with a CD, which you know I love. Alas, my library version doesn’t have one.)
Anyone have this book?
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