Matthew Wright’s Reviews > The Bible, Simplified: Learn the Story, Live the Story > Status Update

Ch. 25 1-Sentence Recap:
A gospel is the proclamation of good news that a new and better kingdom – – the kingdom of God – – is here.

How to apply this lesson to your life:
We need to recognize that times of waiting or silence from God can be times of preparation and growth, so long as we trust that God is moving behind the scenes.

How to find Jesus in the story:
During this time frame, the expectation of the Messiah was increasing because of the mini prophetic writings that foreshadowed is coming. Further, the widespread establishment of Greek and Roman culture eventually made the rapid spread of the gospel message possible.

Ch. 24 1-Sentence Recap:
400 years of silence was a time of continual political turnover in Judea, but each change, prepared the world for the arrival of the Messiah.

How to apply this lesson to your life:
This story should inspire us to build a foundation of our live lives on God’s principles, obeying the word and trusting his guidance when opposition comes our way.

How to find Jesus in this story:
As close as God’s people were to ushering in the messianic era, their hearts weren’t ready yet. Jesus would soon arrive to bring the peoples hearts back to God and fully restore that relationship.

Ch. 23 1-Sentence Recap:
Ezra and Nehemiah were sent to Jerusalem to help rebuild the Jewish community through spiritual reform, covenant renewal, and the restoration of Jerusalem’s walls, but things didn’t go according to plan.

How to apply this lesson to your life:
No matter how difficult our situation, we need to trust in God sovereignty and remain hopeful that he is working behind the scenes. We should also be encouraged to pursue our faith even more diligently whenever outside pressures increase.

How to find Jesus in this story:
The prophets of exile spoke of a coming, Messiah, who would bring the ultimate restoration and create a new covenant between God and his people.

Ch. 22 1-Sentence Recap:
The Babylonian exile was an emotional roller coaster for the Jewish people, as their temple was destroyed, and they were taken into captivity; but they also grew stronger through their understanding of God’s sovereignty and the Hope of restoration.