This lesson explores how the tabernacle, sacrifices, and festivals in the Old Testament form the foundation for understanding Jesus and the rest of the Bible.
Beginning with the Road to Emmaus, we are reminded that Jesus Himself explained how Moses and the Prophets pointed to Him. The New Testament repeatedly shows that what happened in the life of Jesus was the fulfillment of promises, pictures, and patterns given centuries earlier.
The lesson emphasizes that the Bible is one unified story with one ultimate Author. When read in fragments, its unity can be missed. But when viewed as a whole, the tabernacle, sacrificial system, priesthood, and festivals reveal a coherent plan of redemption pointing forward to Christ.
Each element of Israel’s worship—the altar, laver, lampstand, showbread, veil, ark, and annual feasts—served as a picture of what Jesus would ultimately fulfill. These were not random rituals, but carefully designed illustrations of cleansing, sacrifice, fellowship, intercession, rest, and final redemption. Together they form the backstory of Jesus and deepen our understanding of His life, death, resurrection, and promised return.
Following is the podcast, video, and handouts for the lesson.
This lesson completes Genesis by showing how God narrowed His focus from all humanity to one family that would become the nation of Israel. It reviews Genesis as four major events (creation, the fall, the flood, Babel) followed by four major people (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph). The lesson explains that God’s focus on Israel does not mean He stopped caring about the rest of humanity, but that through Israel God would preserve His Word, model worship, and serve as witnesses so that all nations would ultimately be blessed through the coming Savior, Jesus.
This lesson introduces Abraham as a central figure in Genesis and a key example of how God chooses and shapes His people. While Abraham is often called a hero of the faith, the lesson makes clear that the true hero throughout the Bible is God Himself. Abraham’s story is not primarily about human greatness, but about God’s grace, initiative, patience, and faithfulness in working through imperfect people.
This lesson introduces three foundational questions that shape the entire story of the Bible: Why we are here, what went wrong, and whether this life is all there is. Using the books of Genesis and Job, the lesson begins with God as Creator, establishing that human life is intentional, dependent, and designed for meaning and purpose. Job reinforces this truth when God speaks of creation as the basis of His authority and wisdom.
