The Bible was written in a world very different from our own. Its authors lived in cultures that thought, spoke, and viewed the world differently from how we do today. Yet many of us instinctively approach Scripture as though it were written directly to twenty-first-century readers. As a result, we sometimes miss important details and occasionally misunderstand the author's intended message. The good news is that there is a way to read Scripture that can greatly enhance our understanding.

Many believers have been taught to think of the Bible as a story about rules and requirements. Yet when we step back and look at the larger biblical narrative, a different picture emerges. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture tells the story of a God who desires a relationship with the people He created. The Bible is not primarily the story of humanity searching for God. It is the story of God pursuing humanity.

Despite how frequently the Bible speaks about sin, many believers struggle to define it. Ask a group of Christians what sin is, and you'll likely hear a variety of answers. Some describe it as breaking God's rules. Others define it as moral failure or disobedience. While those answers contain truth, the biblical picture is richer and more profound.