and substance of the Bible. By that I mean it is critical to know the basic content (message) and convictions (beliefs) taught from Scripture. Obviously, I’m not talking about having a mastery of the details. I’m talking about having a framework of the Bible’s overall narrative—the Bible’s big picture—and the core beliefs held by those who embrace it. This big-picture perspective will help us discover what God is saying and why He is saying it. If you’re already starting to feel overwhelmed, don’t