Creation
A collection of oral stories and sacred writings of many different genres, written, compiled, and edited by many authors and editors over hundreds of years.
What is the Bible?
A power couple who lived to an old age with no children, until three strangers passing by their tent brought a divine message that they would have a son.
Who are Abram and Sarai?
This was a defining event for the Israelites, an event which formed their identity as a people.
What is the Exodus?
In the time when Israel was ruled by judges, Ruth left her home country to care for her widowed mother-in-law, Naomi. Ruth was from what enemy nation of Israel?
What is Moab?
The army of this empire destroyed Jerusalem, sacked the temple, and brought the people of Israel into exile.
What is the Babylonian empire?
Imago dei is a Latin phrase indicating the unique place humans have in God’s creation, as friends of God and stewards of creation. In English, it means this.
What is “image of God”?
A human quality or disposition which can be described as belief, trust, or openness to God’s leading. Abraham is thought to have had a lot of this.
What is faith?
The midwives who were commanded by the Pharoah to kill any boy babies born to Hebrew women in Egypt, but refused to do it because of their faith.
Who are Shiphrah and Puah?
Israel wanted a king “to go out before us and fight our battles”, and for what other reason?
What is “to be like other nations”?
Much of this was written or compiled during the period when Israel was in exile in Babylon.
What is the Old Testament?
A theological term meaning separation from God, or disobedience to God’s will. Humans do a lot of this.
What is sin?
This youngest brother was a trickster and a traveler. He wrestled with God and was renamed Israel.
Who is Jacob?
God called this shepherd to return to the country of his birth, confront its king, and lead his people out of captivity and through a time of wilderness wandering.
Who is Moses?
Known as “a man after God’s own heart”, this king unified Israel and established Jerusalem as the religious and political center of Israel.
Who is David?
The reconstruction of this structure was a sign of restored worship and renewed covenant life.
What is the temple?
This is the sign of God’s covenant with Noah, God’s promise to never send a flood to destroy the earth again.
What is a rainbow?
When Joseph was reunited in Egypt with his brothers, who sold him into slavery when he was a young man, what quality of God did he exemplify in his response to them?
What is mercy?
This religious festival is traced back to the story of the Exodus and continues to be celebrated today.
What is Passover?
This wise king built the temple in Jerusalem, but later turned to idolatry through foreign alliances and his many wives.
Who is Solomon?
A young man living in exile in Babylon, he served the royal court in Babylon but held firmly to the practices of his faith and his trust in the God of Israel--even when surrounded by lions.
Who is Daniel?
A binding agreement between God and humanity, central to Israel’s identity. This agreement includes both promise and expectation.
What is a covenant?
In God’s covenant with Abraham, God promises these three things.
What are land, descendants, and blessing for all nations?
This set of laws addresses one’s relationships with God, family, and neighbors. The laws included demand no stealing, no adultery, and no worship of any gods other than the God of Israel.
What are the 10 Commandments?
They spoke to the kings & people of Israel, reminding them how God wanted them to live. They denounced abuse of the poor, injustice, and empty performance of religious rituals.
Who are the prophets?
A priest and a governor, they guided the rebuilding of the temple and renewal of the law after the exile. They each have a book of the Bible named after them.
Who are Ezra and Nehemiah?