Matthew + Mark + Luke + John
The Gospels record the (1) birth, life, miracles, healing ministry (2), teachings, death and resurrection (3) of Jesus Christ. Each Gospel has a slightly different purpose and audience, but together they give us an amazingly clear picture of who Jesus Christ was in His earthly ministry, and they invite us to believe in the Savior of the world (John 4:42) who conquered sin, Satan and death on the cross.
Acts
The Holy Spirit comes comes with power (1) at Pentecost, just as Jesus promised. Soon thousands of Jewish people believed that Jesus was in fact the Messiah, the “coming One” God had promised through the Law and prophets. After a few years of growth, the Jewish church decided that Gentiles (2) can be full participants in salvation without having to submit to the Mosaic laws. This momentous decision enabled thousands of Gentiles from around the Mediterranean to freely come to Christ, thanks to missionary bands led by people such as Paul the apostle and Barnabas (3).
Romans + 1 Corinthians + 2 Corinthians + Galatians + Ephesians + Philippians + Colossians + 1 Thessalonians + 2 Thessalonians + 1 Timothy + 2 Timothy + Titus + Philemon
The apostle Paul vigorously pursued relationship with the churches he established on his three missionary journeys through the letters (Epistles) he wrote. These letters instruct us that: Christ is over all and all; Christ has all authority in heaven and earth; Christ is Head of His Church; Christ saves us by grace through faith, not by works of the law; through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross we are reconciled to God and to one another; and Christ is coming back soon!
Hebrews + James + 1 Peter + 2 Peter + 1, 2 and 3 John + Jude
The General Letters are letters of encouragement to believers, many of whom have suffered persecution for their faith. The General Letters remind us that Jesus Christ is the pinnacle of God’s revelation to us; that our true citizenship is not in this world, but in heaven; that God uses persecution to purify our faith; that following Jesus may very well bring hardship upon us; and that we can trust God to do what is right because the day is coming when evil will be punished and faith rewarded.
Revelation
The book of Revelation describes the end of human history. There will be severe trials and tribulations; Satan will deceive nations; he will viciously persecute believers. But those who believe will overcome Satan by the blood of the Lamb (1), the word of their testimony and the sacrifice of their lives (Revelation 12:11). God will bring those who believe Him (2) into His heavenly kingdom. Satan and all his demons and those who followed him will be thrown into the lake of fire (3) forever. But believers from among every people, tribe and tongue and language will worship the Lamb forever.
