Course Requirements:
1. Watch the video and complete the Bible reading assignment for each lesson. The Bible readings in this course are often quite lengthy. Do not skip over them. The main objective of this course is for you to read through the entire Bible as you are doing these lessons. Even if you have previously read through the Bible, you must take the time to do it again. It takes about eighty (80) hours to read through the Bible, so each of these lessons will require a significant amount of time. There are 63 lessons in this course and you may not submit more than two per day as completed. Do the required reading in a way that you retain what you are reading. We have included links to the NET Bible which is a very helpful tool for Bible reading and study.
2. After you complete the requirements for a lesson, go to the Site-Wide Activity Feed and post a comment about something that interested or impacted you as you worked through the lesson. Your comment needs to be well thought out and at least 100 words. These posts will be counted as part of the writing requirement for the course so please write well thought out comments on what you are learning in the lesson. Please start your comment by referring to the Session or Lesson number of the course. You also need to post comments on two other students recent comments on courses they are currently taking.
3. After you have completed all of the lessons in the course, you will need to write and submit (by email) a 1500 word paper on three things that have made an impact on you during the course. At the Bachelor’s Degree Level, your paper must be well-written.
Click here if you need information on How to Write a Paper. Your forum posts can be helpful in writing your paper.
Introduction to TaNak / Old Testament
Explore the storyline and literary design of the entire Old Testament, also known as the TaNaK.
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Lesson 1
The first part of Genesis describes humanity’s downward spiral into sin, but it also offers a future hope of restoration and redemption.
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Reading Assignment: Read Genesis Chapters 1 – 11
Lesson 2
The second part of Genesis traces God’s covenant faithfulness to the family of Abraham, showing God’s faithfulness despite their repeated failures.
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Reading Assignment: Read Genesis Chapters 12 – 50
Lesson 3
In the first part of Exodus, God frees the enslaved people of Israel through his servants Moses and Aaron with an epic showdown between good and evil.
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Reading Assignment: Read Exodus Chapters 1 – 18
Lesson 4
God leads the Israelites from Egypt to Mount Sinai, where he establishes the covenant with them through a set of commandments.
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Reading Assignment: Read Exodus Chapters 19 – 40
Lesson 5
In the book of Leviticus, God establishes the moral and purity laws that serve to set Israel apart from other nations.
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Reading Assignment: Read Leviticus Chapters 1 – 27
Lesson 6
The Israelites continue to rebel and are made to wander the wilderness for forty years. Only their children will enter the land. Will they ever learn?
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Reading Assignment: Read Numbers Chapters 1 – 36
Lesson 7
The next generation of Israel finds new hope and a fresh start as an aging Moses gives a final message before the people enter the promised land.
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Reading Assignment: Read Deuteronomy Chapters 1 – 34
Lesson 8
The book of Joshua details Israel’s arrival in the promised land and serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and the terms of the covenant.
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Reading Assignment: Read Joshua Chapters 1 – 24
Lesson 9
The book of Judges details the corruption and downward spiral of Israel’s judges, but this brutal history still offers future hope for Israel.
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Reading Assignment: Read Judges Chapters 1 – 21
Lesson 10
The book of Ruth illustrates how God works through ordinary people. Here God uses a non-Israelite woman to bring about his promises to David.
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Reading Assignment: Read Ruth Chapters 1 – 4
Lesson 11
The book of 1 Samuel outlines the fall of King Saul and David’s rise to the throne as a humble servant of God.
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Reading Assignment: Read 1 Samuel Chapters 1 – 31
Lesson 12
Explore the life of King David, specifically his reign as king and his downward spiral of sin and self-destruction.
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Reading Assignment: Read 2 Samuel Chapters 1 – 24
Lesson 13
Explore the history of Israel’s kings, from Solomon to their eventual exile. Israel continues to rebel, yet hope remains for the coming Messiah.
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Reading Assignment: Read 1 Kings Chapters 1 – 22 and 2 Kings Chapters 1-25
Lesson 14
1 and 2 Chronicles summarizes the Hebrew Bible with key highlights that emphasize God’s love for his chosen people.
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Reading Assignment: Read 1 Chronicles Chapters 1 – 29 and 2 Chronicles Chapters 1-36
Lesson 15
In Ezra-Nehemiah we see the people return to their homeland after exile and attempt to rebuild the temple and set right their covenant with God.
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Reading Assignment: Read Ezra Chapters 1 – 10 and Nehemiah Chapters 1-13
Lesson 16
Though God is never mentioned, the book of Esther is filled with examples of God at work behind the scenes for the benefit of his beloved people.
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Reading Assignment: Read Esther Chapters 1 – 10
Lesson 17
The book of Job questions suffering and God’s justice. God’s response is surprising, pointing to his control over chaos and ultimate goodness.
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Reading Assignment: Read Job Chapters 1 – 42
Lesson 18
The book of Psalms is an intricately designed collection of poetry that recounts Israel’s history and God’s covenant promises.
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Reading Assignment: Read Psalms Chapters 1 – 150
Lesson 19
The book of Proverbs shares short sayings of God’s wisdom. They remind us to fear the Lord and offer practical instructions on how we can live well.
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Reading Assignment: Read Proverbs Chapters 1 – 31
Lesson 20
Ecclesiastes paints a picture of life that can seem bleak. But despite death and injustice, hope can be found in wisdom and fear of the Lord.
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Reading Assignment: Read Ecclesiastes Chapters 1 – 12
Lesson 21
Song of Songs is Hebrew love poetry that depicts the beauty and mystery of sexual love within the context of marriage, one of God’s gifts to humanity.
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Reading Assignment: Read Song of Songs Chapters 1 – 8
Lesson 22
The book of Isaiah is filled with sobering accounts of Israel’s sin and rebellion and warnings of their coming judgement. But along with warnings, Isaiah also offers a message of hope—a suffering servant, a coming Messiah, who would come to establish God’s Kingdom on Earth and create a new Jerusalem.
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Reading Assignment: Read Isaiah Chapters 1 – 66
Lesson 23
God sends Jeremiah to give rebellious Israel his final warning. But the people refuse to listen. Despite the resulting tragedy, hope persists.
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Reading Assignment: Read Jeremiah Chapters 1 – 52
Lesson 24
This collection of poems captures Israel’s expression of grief in the chaotic aftermath of their exile and Jerusalem’s destruction.
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Reading Assignment: Read Lamentations Chapters 1 – 5
Lesson 25
The book of Ezekiel can be vague and confusing for some readers, but with careful reading, we can see key details of God’s character and his care for his people. Many of Ezekiel’s divine visions point to God’s plans for reconstructing the present world and restoring his people to ideals of the garden of Eden.
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Reading Assignment: Read Ezekiel Chapters 1 – 48
Lesson 26
The book of Daniel is prophetic and apocalyptic literature about a faithful servant of Yahweh living in Babylonian exile.
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Reading Assignment: Read Daniel Chapters 1 – 12
Lesson 27
Northern Israel’s continued rebellion threatens their covenant with God, but God sends Hosea to warn them of coming judgement and compel them to repent.
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Reading Assignment: Read Hosea Chapters 1 – 14
Lesson 28
The book of Joel describes the Day of the Lord through locust swarms, battles, and powerful imagery so that readers can understand its magnitude.
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Reading Assignment: Read Joel Chapters 1 – 3
Lesson 29
God calls a Judean shepherd named Amos to confront the wrongdoing of the people of Israel, offering them one more chance before facing God’s judgement.
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Reading Assignment: Read Amos Chapters 1 – 9
Lesson 30
Obadiah tells of God’s harsh judgment against Edom and other ungodly nations. It’s a sobering picture that is still relevant today.
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Reading Assignment: Read Obadiah Chapter 1
Lesson 31
Through satire and intricate storytelling, the book of Jonah invites readers to consider God’s compassion and mercy that extends to us and our enemies.
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Reading Assignment: Read Jonah Chapters 1 – 4
Lesson 32
Micah describes God’s coming judgment on Israel, but it also outlines God’s promise to be merciful and restore his people to the land.
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Reading Assignment: Read Micah Chapters 1 – 7
Lesson 33
Nahum announces the destruction of Assyria and reveals that God will protect his faithful people and punish all arrogant, violent, and evil nations.
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Reading Assignment: Read Nahum Chapters 1 – 3
Lesson 34
Habakkuk offers hope by recognizing how dark and chaotic the world is and inviting us to trust that God will one day remove evil forever.
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Reading Assignment: Read Habakkuk Chapters 1 – 3
Lesson 35
Zephaniah shows how God’s justice and love work together to give the world hope, purifying his people and restoring Jerusalem.
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Reading Assignment: Read Zephaniah Chapters 1 – 3
Lesson 36
Haggai encourages those who have just returned from exile to remain faithful, obedient, and hopeful for God’s promise of a new Jerusalem.
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Reading Assignment: Read Haggai Chapters 1 – 2
Lesson 37
Through a series of dream visions, Zechariah offers the hope of a new Jerusalem to the Israelites and reminds them to stay faithful and they wait.
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Reading Assignment: Read Zechariah Chapters 1 – 14
Lesson 38
Malachi exposes Israel’s corruption, but it also offers hope. Even after exile, God promises to purify a faithful remnant and establish a new Jerusalem.
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Reading Assignment: Read Malachi Chapters 1 – 4
New Testament Overview
The New Testament is a continuation of the biblical story introduced in the Old Testament, telling the story of the long awaited Messiah, Jesus.
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Lesson 39
The Gospel of Matthew tells the story of Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection as a fulfillment of the whole biblical story.
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Reading Assignment: Read Matthew Chapters 1 – 28
Lesson 40
The Gospel of Mark introduces Jesus as a leader who suffers to save his people, leaving the reader to decide if Jesus is the promised Messiah.
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Reading Assignment: Read Mark Chapters 1 – 16
Lesson 41
The Gospel of Luke emphasizes the upside-down nature of God’s Kingdom—a place where all are welcome and power structures are reversed.
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Reading Assignment: Read Luke Chapters 1 – 24
Lesson 42
The Gospel of John emphasizes Jesus as God incarnate and the reality to which the entire biblical story points.
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Reading Assignment: Read John Chapters 1 – 21
Lesson 43
The book of Acts is a continuation of the Gospel of Luke, following Jesus’ followers as they go into the world to spread the good news of his Kingdom.
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Reading Assignment: Read Acts Chapters 1 – 28
Lesson 44
The book of Romans is a detailed explanation of the Gospel message written by Paul to the church in Rome.
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Reading Assignment: Read Romans Chapters 1 – 16
Lesson 45
1 Corinthians challenges believers to examine every aspect of their lives through the lens of the Gospel.
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Reading Assignment: Read 1 Corinthians Chapters 1 – 16
Lesson 46
2 Corinthians encourages believers to embrace and follow the way of Jesus that transforms lives and values generosity, humility, and weakness.
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Reading Assignment: Read 2 Corinthians Chapters 1 – 13
Lesson 47
Galatians teaches that believers are justified by Jesus alone. They are a part of a diverse family and equipped by the Spirit to love God and others.
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Reading Assignment: Read Galatians Chapters 1 – 6
Lesson 48
Ephesians teaches that the Gospel makes way for a new multi-ethnic family of God, transforming how we live as a new humanity unified in love.
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Reading Assignment: Read Ephesians Chapters 1 – 6
Lesson 49
Philippians makes clear that our stories are living expressions of Jesus’ story. Knowing Jesus is a deeply personal and transformative encounter.
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Reading Assignment: Read Philippians Chapters 1 – 4
Lesson 50
Colossians addresses problems in the church and challenges believers to examine their lives and be transformed through the love of Jesus.
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Reading Assignment: Read Colossians Chapters 1 – 4
Lesson 51
In this letter, Paul celebrates the church’s future hope as they remain faithful to Jesus and flourish in their faith despite persecution.
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Reading Assignment: Read 1 Thessalonians Chapters 1 – 5
Lesson 52
2 Thessalonians addresses persecution, Jesus’ return, and our need to remain faithful, reminding us that what we hope for shapes what we live for.
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Reading Assignment: Read 2 Thessalonians Chapters 1 – 3
Lesson 53
In this letter, Paul addresses church leadership and makes clear that a church should be known for its devotion to Jesus and the way of love.
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Reading Assignment: Read 1 Timothy Chapters 1 – 6
Lesson 54
Explore Paul’s last letter, an encouragement to Timothy to accept his calling and endure suffering as he deals with corrupt teachers.
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Reading Assignment: Read 2 Timothy Chapters 1 – 4
Lesson 55
Explore Paul’s message to Jesus’ followers in Crete, a city known for corruption, sin, and evil.
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Reading Assignment: Read Titus Chapters 1 – 3
Lesson 56
When Paul asks Philemon to forgive his runaway slave Onesimus, this is the Gospel in action. All people are equal partners in the new humanity.
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Reading Assignment: Read Philemon Chapter 1
Lesson 57
Hebrews challenges Jesus followers to remain faithful to him as the one who is the ultimate revelation of God’s love and mercy.
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Reading Assignment: Read Hebrews Chapters 1 – 13
Lesson 58
The book of James references key points from the Sermon on the Mount and calls on Jesus’ followers to live wisely.
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Reading Assignment: Read James Chapters 1 – 5
Lesson 59
1 Peter is a powerful letter written to persecuted Gentile Christians, reminding them that they are chosen by God and have a future hope in Jesus.
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Reading Assignment: Read 1 Peter Chapters 1 – 5
Lesson 60
2 Peter issues stark warnings against corrupt teachers and encourages believers to hold fast to their hope in God and the new creation.
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Reading Assignment: Read 2 Peter Chapters 1 – 3
Lesson 61
1-3 John reminds Jesus followers to reflect God’s light and love as they stay true to their beliefs amidst false teachers who are spreading fear.
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Reading Assignment: Read John 1, John 2, John 3
Lesson 62
The book of Jude refutes corrupt teachers and encourages godly living, reminding Jesus followers that their lives indicate what they truly believe.
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Reading Assignment: Read Jude Chapter 1
Lesson 63
The book of Revelation is a letter written to seven churches as both encouragement and challenge. It uses visions and symbolic imagery to offer a glimpse of God’s plan for a new creation.
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Reading Assignment: Read Revelation Chapters 1 – 22
