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Life's Big Questions: Six Major Themes Traced Through the Bible
How can the sixty-six books of the Bible have a single message for us today? What unites the vastly different accounts of God's work in the world? How do the various genres of the Bible work together? Vaughan Roberts believes that the Bible tells a single story for all time. He draws out the Bible's message of Jesus Christ and God's redemption through him in six big This companion volume to Roberts's previous book, God's Big Picture , will not only help you answer these questions, but also give you tools to transform your own Bible study in light of the whole story of God.
175 pages, Paperback
First published December 29, 2004
8 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
About the author
Vaughan Roberts
55 books96 followersVaughan came to faith as he read through Matthew’s Gospel for himself as a teenager. After studying law at Cambridge University and a brief spell doing student ministry in South Africa, he moved to Oxford to study Theology at Wycliffe Hall and has lived in the city ever since. In 1991 he joined the staff of St Ebbe’s Church to lead the student ministry and since 1998 he has been Rector. He is also the Director of the Proclamation Trust, an organisation that encourages and equips Bible teachers. In his spare time Vaughan writes books and plays cricket and golf.
see also Vaughan Roberts' sister Clare Heath-Whyte
see also Vaughan Roberts' sister Clare Heath-Whyte
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 15, 2018
This book would make a great home group study! It helps us understand the relevance that the sixty-six books written by 40 different human authors of the Bible have for us today. The Bible tells a single story for all time. This book draws out the Bible's message of Jesus Christ and God's redemption through him in six big questions: Who rules the world? What does it mean to be human? How should we view money? Is a perfect relationship possible? How does the Holy Spirit work in the world and in our lives? What is God's plan for the world?
This is actually the companion volume to Roberts's previous book, God's Big Picture, so I have read these out of order. A librarian’s dread! And I must say after listening to La’Mont speak about some of the big issues surrounding same sex marriage during our Christian Faith discussion after church this book was a welcome read. This book is also full of visuals and as a visual learner it is easy to understand some of the more complex issues through these diagrams while reading and building on direct links to the Bible.
Chapter 2 is entitled Naked Ape or Divine Image? As we are created by a divine God and father it was interesting to note that my body contains enough carbon for 7,000 pencils! Along with interesting facts the author of this book connects these to relevant Biblical references and the way sin is described, as a river; if it is polluted at the source, that pollution is found along the whole stretch of the river. In the same way sin is original, universal, total and fatal. If we can not articulate what we believe when discussing big issues in life then we must read this book and get the head knowledge.
With modern cultural references and Biblical references tied together this is a book that will strengthen your ability to connect the world to Biblical principles. Chapter 5 is about the Holy Spirit. La’Mont and I recently spoke about the Holy Trinity and this chapter resonated with me. I believe, as Roberts asserts, that all three members of the Holy Trinity “co-operate to accomplish the same mission; each has a vital role to play” p.115. The main point of this book is that the Bible is not an encyclopedia but a biography of God. We are reminded that when studying the Bible that we are studying and getting to know Jesus Christ.
Gen 1:27 God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them
HAPPY READING
This is actually the companion volume to Roberts's previous book, God's Big Picture, so I have read these out of order. A librarian’s dread! And I must say after listening to La’Mont speak about some of the big issues surrounding same sex marriage during our Christian Faith discussion after church this book was a welcome read. This book is also full of visuals and as a visual learner it is easy to understand some of the more complex issues through these diagrams while reading and building on direct links to the Bible.
Chapter 2 is entitled Naked Ape or Divine Image? As we are created by a divine God and father it was interesting to note that my body contains enough carbon for 7,000 pencils! Along with interesting facts the author of this book connects these to relevant Biblical references and the way sin is described, as a river; if it is polluted at the source, that pollution is found along the whole stretch of the river. In the same way sin is original, universal, total and fatal. If we can not articulate what we believe when discussing big issues in life then we must read this book and get the head knowledge.
With modern cultural references and Biblical references tied together this is a book that will strengthen your ability to connect the world to Biblical principles. Chapter 5 is about the Holy Spirit. La’Mont and I recently spoke about the Holy Trinity and this chapter resonated with me. I believe, as Roberts asserts, that all three members of the Holy Trinity “co-operate to accomplish the same mission; each has a vital role to play” p.115. The main point of this book is that the Bible is not an encyclopedia but a biography of God. We are reminded that when studying the Bible that we are studying and getting to know Jesus Christ.
Gen 1:27 God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them
HAPPY READING
October 9, 2019
What does it mean to be a human? Is the Bible God's word, or was it contrived and made up by man? What is the meaning of life? How do I know the truth? Who or what is God?
These are big questions.
These are the kinds of questions Vaughan Roberts attempts to answer in his book, "Life's Big Questions: Six Major Themes Traced Through the Bible." The subtitle tells you everything you need to know: that he will be examining six major themes in the entire Bible.
I took a Hermeneutics class for seminary and this was required reading. I thought it was really appropriate for that class because you need to get a bird's eye view of the Bible sometimes. We can forget when we are in the trenches of looking at one particular passage of Scripture or one particular book of Scripture that there is an entire battlefield to survey that is equally important. It is helpful to take a step back and know what the Bible is all about.
So what are the six major themes? They are:
The King; the Divine Image of man; God's marriage; wealth and possessions; the Holy Spirit; and God's plan for the world.
In each one of these themes, Roberts dives deep into the entire Bible to answer a specific series of questions. For example, in the chapter on the king, Roberts makes clear that God is the king over the entire universe and we know this because the Bible tells us it from Genesis to Revelation. That is an incontrovertible fact about the character and nature of God from His revealed word to us. And in reality, I believe that this is a function of God that is oftentimes misrepresented in American Evangelicalism today. There is not a high view of God's Kingship in our culture today and our understanding of the New Testament suffers because of it (Jesus inaugurating the Kingdom of God in particular). There are other meaningful chapters as well: the chapter on the Holy Spirit and the plan for the world both come to mind.
What I would say about this book is that it would be great for a small group study. There are included small group questions and I could see how beneficial those would be in a pared down group of committed individuals. Any Christian can be benefitted from this book, however. Pick up a copy and let me know what you think. 5/5
These are big questions.
These are the kinds of questions Vaughan Roberts attempts to answer in his book, "Life's Big Questions: Six Major Themes Traced Through the Bible." The subtitle tells you everything you need to know: that he will be examining six major themes in the entire Bible.
I took a Hermeneutics class for seminary and this was required reading. I thought it was really appropriate for that class because you need to get a bird's eye view of the Bible sometimes. We can forget when we are in the trenches of looking at one particular passage of Scripture or one particular book of Scripture that there is an entire battlefield to survey that is equally important. It is helpful to take a step back and know what the Bible is all about.
So what are the six major themes? They are:
The King; the Divine Image of man; God's marriage; wealth and possessions; the Holy Spirit; and God's plan for the world.
In each one of these themes, Roberts dives deep into the entire Bible to answer a specific series of questions. For example, in the chapter on the king, Roberts makes clear that God is the king over the entire universe and we know this because the Bible tells us it from Genesis to Revelation. That is an incontrovertible fact about the character and nature of God from His revealed word to us. And in reality, I believe that this is a function of God that is oftentimes misrepresented in American Evangelicalism today. There is not a high view of God's Kingship in our culture today and our understanding of the New Testament suffers because of it (Jesus inaugurating the Kingdom of God in particular). There are other meaningful chapters as well: the chapter on the Holy Spirit and the plan for the world both come to mind.
What I would say about this book is that it would be great for a small group study. There are included small group questions and I could see how beneficial those would be in a pared down group of committed individuals. Any Christian can be benefitted from this book, however. Pick up a copy and let me know what you think. 5/5
May 21, 2019
With full disclaimer I did not read his first book, Gods Big Picture. I think I would have liked that one. This book had some good points and i really liked the frame work of how it approached the Bible (which is what the first book is about). But the 6 topics he writes on came out flat to me personally.
August 24, 2020
Great book for those wanting to dig deeper into God’s Word
This is a great book for those wanting to dig deeper into God’s Word. Filled with practical wisdom & Christ-centered study.
This is a great book for those wanting to dig deeper into God’s Word. Filled with practical wisdom & Christ-centered study.
August 1, 2023
Disclaimer: I did not read God's Big Picture.
Nice read, though I wonder how many people would choose these six questions as 'Life's Big Questions'.
The charts at the end of the book are very interesting.
Nice read, though I wonder how many people would choose these six questions as 'Life's Big Questions'.
The charts at the end of the book are very interesting.
February 15, 2020
Provides a good base and consistent pattern for studying any theme in Scripture. I recommend working through the study questions at the end of each chapter. They will prove fruitful and practical.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews