Three Methods for Teaching the Gospel from Genesis to Revelation

It’s increasingly common for youth workers to realize they should be teaching the gospel from Genesis to Revelation. But how do we actually do that?

The short video below will capture three basic methods for Christ centered preaching and teaching: Fallen Condition Focus, Typology, and Biblical Theology.

Fallen Condition Focus: This approach was developed in Bryan Chapel.’s book Christ-Centered Preaching and he defines it as, “the mutual human condition that contemporary believers share with those to or about whom the text was written that requires the grace of the passage for God’s people to glorify and enjoy him.”

Typology: This is an approach to biblical interpretation that identifies key individuals or groups as representatives of either the promised-savior or of God’s people in need of rescue. For instance, in the story of David and Goliath, David foreshadows Jesus who rescues God’s people from the threat of death.

Biblical Theology: There is one overarching story that holds the entire Bible together: Creation-Fall-Redemption-Glorification. Identifying your passage within this broader understanding of the gospel-story will help you know where you are in the unfolding gospel, and make applications accordingly.

For more about Christ-centered teaching and preaching, consider the following resources:

The Unfolding Mystery: Discovering Christ in the Old Testament, by Edmund Clowney

Simeon Trust’s online course on Biblical Theology & Preaching (only $19!)

Biblical Theology: How the Church Faithfully Teaches the Gospel, by Nick Roark and Robert Cline

The Jesus Storybook Bible, by Sally Lloyd Jones (yes, this is a children’s Bible, but it’s one of the best examples of good biblical theology put into action)