The Gospel from Genesis to Revelation in 13 Minutes
/As a Pastor, I have the task of preaching a Christmas Eve service each year. Technically, it’s an Eve of Eve sermon because the church I pastor does an event on December 23rd. It’s basically the same things church all across the country do, just a day early. Lots of music, a short sermon, evangelistic, and well-attended by friends and family who only step into a church building once or twice per year. Sermons on this night typically come from Matthew 1 or Luke 2. Attendees have gotten this part of the Gospel story down but know nothing of the rest of the story. This was frustrating me this year. I wanted to do something different so we’d hear the story from Genesis to Revelation.
Biblical theology is important. The story of the entire Bible is necessary. I believe in the sufficiency of Scripture. But what would be the best way to share the story in such a short blip of time?
I decided that I would link as much Scripture together as possible with a limited amount of my own words getting in they way. I could read a large section of Scripture, but how would I cover the story for Genesis to Revelation? I decided to string together Scriptures, or parts of Scriptures, in such a way to tell the story. I’d let God’s words have as much of the time and all the speaking. To let people know that’s what I was attempting to do, we put up the references as I went.
Preparation was was a difficult task. One challenge was determining which Scriptures to pull together. Another challenge was being sure it was clear. At times the way a verses was worded, I was concerned someone unfamiliar with the Bible would be confused. But the most significant challenge was going through each Scripture and doing my best to be sure I was using the verses as they actually communicate in their own context. At times, I pulled from them as if they were the prophecy rather then fulfillment, but I would have to change the tense. Other times, I spoke only parts of the verse. But it would need to communicate as God’s Word intends to communicate. I’m sure it wasn’t spot-on right, but I labored to get as close the mark as I could.
In thirteen minutes, I read from 85 references that covered parts of verses or entire multiple passages. They spanned from Genesis to Revelation. I think the gospel story was told and I believe it worked. I was well received. You can decide for yourself in the video below. Also, the list of Scriptures I used are below the video.
Scripture references in the order they'll be read (or said):
Hebrews 1:1, Genesis 1:1, Genesis 1:31, Genesis 3:1, John 8:44, 1 Peter 5:8, Genesis 2:17, Genesis 3:23, Romans 5:12, Genesis 3:16, Revelation 22:3, Isaiah 25:9, Genesis 12:1, Genesis 12:3, Exodus 3:4, Genesis 18:18-19, John 1:29, Exodus 12:13, Hebrews 10:4, Hebrews 10:1, Acts 4:12, 1 Samuel 13:4, 2 Samuel 7:12-13, Psalm 53:6, Micah 7:7, Amos 3:7, Luke 24:27, Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, Jeremiah 31:15, Isaiah 40:3, Matthew 12:18-21, Matthew 13:14-15, John 1:11, Deuteronomy 21:23, Isaiah 53:3, Philippians 2:6-11, Luke 2:8, Luke 2:11, Matthew 1:23, Matthew 1:25, Matthew 1:21, Hebrews 1:1, John 1:14, Luke 2:52, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Hebrews 4:25, 2 Peter 2:22, Romans 3:23, Matthew 3:16, Mathew 4:1, Matthew 4:17, Matthew 7:22, Romans 6:23, John 3:16-18, John 1:10-11, Matthew 21:5, Matthew 21:9-10, Luke 23:21, John 19:18, 1 Peter 2:24, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Isaiah 53:5, Hebrews 10:10, Luke 23:53, Luke 24:1-3, Luke 24:6, Acts 1:9, Romans 10:9, John 1:12, Matthew 13:16-17, Romans 8:34, Hebrews 13:3, Matthew 11:28, John 14:6, John 14:3, Matthew 16:27, Revelation 20:10, Isaiah 43:19, 2 Corinthians 5:15, Romans 8:1-2, John 14:27, Revelation 22:17, Revelation 22:20, and Revelation 22:21.