Genesis Reflection

Writing Assignment #1

For this assignment, you will be required to outline the book of Genesis and write a brief paper reflecting on the significance of Genesis to your life and ministry. This assignment gives you an opportunity to dig deeper into one Old Testament book and consider how to apply what you are learning.

Section 1: Outline

The outline portion of this assignment must go down two “levels.” In other words, you will need to identify the main sections of Genesis with I, II, III, etc., and the immediate subsections with A, B, C, etc. Also, next to each point/subpoint on your outline, please be sure to identify which section of Scripture the point/subpoint is referring to. For example:


EXAMPLE 1

EXAMPLE 2

I.  Primeval events (1:1–11:26)

  1. The story of creation (1:1–2:3)
  2. What became of the creation (2:4–4:26)
  3. What became of Adam (5:1–6:8)
  4. What became of Noah (6:9–9:29)
  5. What became of Noah’s sons (10:1–11:9)
  6. What became of Shem (11:10–26)


II.  Patriarchal narratives (11:27–50:26)

  1. [And so on…]




Example adapted from Thomas L. Constable, Tom Constable’s Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2022), “Notes on Genesis: Outline.”

I.  The Primeval History (chapters 1–11)

  1. The story of creation (1:1–2:3)
  2. The probation and fall of man (2:4–3:24)
  3. Man under sin and death (4:1–6:8)
  4. The world under judgment (6:9–8:14)
  5. Renewal and repeopling (8:15–10:32)
  6. End and beginning: Babel and Canaan (11:1–32)


II.  The Chosen Family (chapters 12–50)

  1. [And so on…]



Example adapted from Derek Kidner, Genesis: An Introduction and Commentary, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, vol. 1 (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1967), 45.


Please note that there is not necessarily one right way to structure this outline. Yours might look a bit different from someone else’s (and it should, being your own original work). In reviewing your work, our graders will only check to ensure that you hit on the key sections and themes of the book of Genesis.

Section 2: Significance to Your Life and Ministry

After the outline section, you will need to write a brief reflection on the significance of Genesis to your life and ministry. This reflection should have three main subsections, as listed below:

  1. Briefly describe the main purpose and argument of the book of Genesis. Give references to support your statements. The “purpose and argument” refers to the major themes, teachings, and goals of the book, as well as to how the author goes about accomplishing these goals. The intention behind this is that you learn to (1) discern the importance of what this book teaches well enough to remember it, and (2) discern how the author develops and accomplishes his purpose.
  1. Write a short paragraph discussing how this book fits into the overarching message, story, and argument of the Bible. Support your statements with passages and cross-references from both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
  1. Per the instructions below, address the significance of Genesis in terms of knowing, doing, and being. The purpose of this section is to help you answer the following questions: What do I want my congregation, audience, or small group to apply after studying this book? What would I want them NOT to forget? And what does it do for me?
    • KNOWING: Describe three principles or key truths which you gleaned from this book and which you and your congregation will think of when the book is named. These should be based on the text, so please give references for each.
    • DOING: What will you lead others to do, based on or suggested by the text? Please name at least two items and give references from Genesis for support. Clarify what you want to do, how you will implement it, and how you will determine if you have met your objective(s).
    • BEING: What is one thing which touched your heart as you were reading/studying this book? Specify what the insight was and which text(s) in Genesis it came from. How might this change your life and the lives of those around you?


PLEASE NOTE: For this assignment, instead of submitting a written report, you may choose to submit an oral report recorded on audio if you wish. However, if you do this, all the same elements which are required for the written report must be covered thoroughly in your oral report. Also, at present our online platform can only take files less than 100 MB in size, so please ensure that any audio file is smaller than this. You can upload up to five files per assignment if needed, for a maximum of 500 MB per assignment, but they must all be submitted at the same time.

Reading Assignment

Instructions

To successfully complete the Old Testament Track with the DTS Global Institute, you must read all three items listed below. After reading everything listed, please submit your reading report. To do so, scroll to the bottom of this lesson, write up answers to the questions listed there, and submit your answers in a single file. This will allow you to reflect briefly on your reading and will affirm that you have in fact read all of the following:

  • All 39 books of the Old Testament in any translation (we provided NIV, ESV, KJV, NET, and LEB in Logos, and here is a suggested Daily Reading Plan)
  • Exploring Christian Scripture by Kreider, Svigel, and Yarbrough
  • Jonah: Beyond the Tale of a Whale by Mark Yarbrough


We recommend reading the following resources as well, though they are not required for completing the program:

  • Surveying the Pentateuch (Learn the Word Bible Survey Series), edited by Paul Weaver
  • Surveying the Old Testament Poetic Books (Learn the Word Bible Survey Series), edited by Paul Weaver
  • Surveying the Old Testament Prophets (Learn the Word Bible Survey Series), edited by Paul Weaver


NOTE: All the resources listed in this document are included in the free Logos package provided to you.


A Few Tips on How to Read Well

  • AFTER reading a chapter/section, make a few notes on what the main point was, what you learned or what intrigued you, what questions you have, how this might be helpful in your life/context/ministry, etc.
  • Schedule a regular time at a consistent set of locations to read
  • Read with good posture and with a good light
  • If possible, keep background noise to a minimum
  • Before beginning a reading, think about its purpose in your overall course/program
  • Survey the reading’s headers before doing the reading
  • Take a moment before and/or after reading to turn your heart to the Lord in prayer, asking for his guidance/wisdom and for an open heart to what he might have to teach you
  • It’s OK to scan through sections which are less relevant to you and to read in more detail the sections which are more relevant to you
  • If you get stuck, think about where and why you got stuck, and how you might break through
  • If reading a nonbiblical text, ask yourself how much of what you’re reading aligns with the teachings of Scripture
  • Ask yourself to what extent this reading does or does not align with the prevailing perspectives of your cultural context
  • When reading Scripture, be sure to engage in the three steps of “observe, interpret, apply,” and also ask yourself how this passage connects to the overall biblical story, the drama of redemption
  • It’s OK to reread a difficult section right away, but consider some other options: coming back to it later, taking a break, or talking about it with a friend. Try to read in faith that if something doesn’t make sense right away, clarity will come as you progress. Also, discussing your readings with friends is a good idea in general!
  • At the same time, take advantage of the opportunity to look up unfamiliar terms/concepts
  • Pace yourself, breaking long assignments/books into many shorter sittings (exception: we encourage you to read any book of the Bible through in one sitting if it’s your first time reading it)
  • Read prefaces and summaries, as these can provide important context for a work
  • C. S. Lewis wrote a short book on how to read well entitled An Experiment in Criticism, a helpful summary of which can be found at https://compassclassroom.com/blog/read-well-cslewis/. His main suggestions for those preparing to pick up a text are as follows:
  • Lay aside your skepticism
  • Be receptive
  • Read with your eyes, ears, and imagination
  • Look beyond the mere facts/events to encounter beauty, goodness, and truth
  • Surrender yourself to the experience of the text


Reading Reflection Questions

Once you have finished the assigned reading for your Track, please submit brief answers for the reflection questions listed below. Each “takeaway” can be just a sentence or two long. This will serve as confirmation that you have completed the reading assignment.

  1. Please name ONE brief takeaway from each of the 39 books of the Old Testament which you read. Make sure each insight listed is unique to the book in question and fits the book’s overall message/themes.
  1. Please name 3-4 brief takeaways which you found to be impactful in reading Exploring Christian Scripture by Kreider, Svigel, and Yarbrough.
  1. Please name 3-4 brief takeaways which you found to be impactful in reading Jonah: Beyond the Tale of a Whale by Mark Yarbrough.
  1. If you have any other thoughts about the readings which you’d like to share, please do so here. (Optional)


PLEASE NOTE: For this assignment, instead of submitting a written report, you may choose to submit an oral report recorded on audio if you wish. However, if you do this, all the same elements which are required for the written report must be covered thoroughly in your oral report. Also, at present our online platform can only take files less than 100 MB in size, so please ensure that any audio file is smaller than this. You can upload up to five files per assignment if needed, for a maximum of 500 MB per assignment, but they must all be submitted at the same time.

Old Testament Integration

For this assignment, you will examine ways in which the Old Testament is interconnected, especially in terms of comparison to Deuteronomy (the covenant summary of the Torah). To do this, please use the chart provided below. Here, you will see a list of “Instruction” passages on the left and “Application” passages on the right. Look up the instruction passage and briefly summarize it. (It is not necessary to use any sources or commentaries.) Next, look up the application passage and briefly summarize it. Then explain why the instruction passage relates to and impacts the interpretation of the application passage.

Do this for any five rows. Each response need only be about two solid paragraphs in length.


PLEASE NOTE: For this assignment, instead of submitting a written report, you may choose to submit an oral report recorded on audio if you wish. However, if you do this, all the same elements which are required for the written report must be covered thoroughly in your oral report. Also, at present our online platform can only receive submissions less than 100 MB in size, so please ensure that any audio file is smaller than this. You can upload up to five files per assignment if needed, for a maximum of 500 MB per assignment, but they must all be submitted at the same time.


Instruction Title

Instruction Passage

Application Title

Application Passage

Dealings with Peoples Inside Canaan

Deut 20:16-18

The Gibeonites’ Covenant with Joshua

Josh 9:1-27

Curses for Disobedience

Deut 28:51-52

Israel’s Enemies and Gideon’s Reasoning

Jdg 6:1-5

Laws for the King

Deut 17:14-20

Gideon’s Rejection of Kingship

Jdg 8:22-31

Nazarite Requirements

Num 6:2-21

Samson’s Nazarite Vow and the Lion

Jdg 14:8-9

The Ten Commandments

Deut 5:7-21

The Mother’s Thanks, The Dedication of Micah the Priest

Jdg 17:1-5

The Laws of Gleanings; The Treatment of Widows and Aliens

Lev 23:22; Deut 24:19; Deut 10:17-19

Boaz’s Reasons for His Treatment of Ruth

Ruth 2:6-7, 11

Restrictions: Marrying Brother’s Widow

Deut 25:5

Naomi’s Reasons for Sending Daughters-in-law Back to Moab

Ruth 1:11-13

Test of a False Prophet

Deut 13:1-11

Naomi’s Request for Ruth

Ruth 1:15

Fat of Sacrifices; Judgment by Priest/Judge, Rebellious Children

Lev 3:16; 7:25; Exo 22:22-30; 38:8; 40:9; Num 15:30; Deut 21:18-23

Eli’s Sin and the Sins of His Sons

1 Sam 2:14-36

Promise of Conquering in the Land

Lev 26:6-8; Deut 7:17-21; 20:1-4

Saul, Israel, and Goliath; David vs. Brothers, David vs. Saul

1 Sam 17:1-58

Witchcraft, Vows

Deut 18:9-12; 23:21-23

Saul and the Medium

1 Sam 28:10

Laws for the King

Deut 17:14-20

David’s Failure

1 Sam 25:43; 27:3; 30:5, 18; 2 Sam 2:2; 5:13

Cities of Refuge

Deut 19:1-10; Num 35:14-25; Josh 20:7

Joab Kills Abner

2 Sam 3:27

Instructions for Worship

Deut 12:5

Jeroboam’s Failure

1 Kgs 12:29

Covenant Provision

Deut 8:10, 12; 11:15; 12:26

Provision

Ruth 2:14, 18

Passover Laws

Deut 16:1-8

Lot’s Hospitality; Passover in Egypt; Renewing the Covenant

Gen 19:1-3; Exo 12:8-18, 34:18

Curses for Disobedience

Deut 28:46-59

Promise of Babylonian Invasion

Jer 19:3-6, 20:4-6

Care for Foreigners; Honest Dealings; Cleanness Laws

Lev 19:33-37; Num 19:14

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication

1 Kings 8:41-43


Teaching Assignment

Instructions

For this assignment, you will be required to teach through the Old Testament book of Jonah. Please feel free to do this in whatever way best fits your ministry context! To help you get started, we have provided you with a sample curriculum for three different settings—preaching, small group leadership, and one-on-one discipleship. We suggest you adapt these resources as needed for your ministerial and cultural contexts. You will find them all posted as downloadable files below.

The one stipulation for how to go about teaching this book is that you split it into four (4) lessons, one for each chapter of Jonah. This should be true whether these are four sermons, four small-group sessions, four one-on-one sessions, or something else. This will give you multiple instances of practice and will help you have more to reflect on for your final self-evaluation.

Once you have finished all four teachings on Jonah, please complete and submit the “Self-Evaluation Report” outlined below. This will serve as confirmation that you have completed the teaching assignment.


A Few Tips:

  • In addition to the sample curriculum posted below, you will likely find it helpful as you prepare your lessons to review both the Jonah course you took and Dr. Yarbrough’s book Jonah: Beyond the Tale of a Whale from your assigned reading.
  • You are welcome to teach these lessons in whatever language you like, so long as the final self-evaluation is submitted in English.
  • Read through the self-evaluation questions before beginning your teaching experience so that you have an idea of what to look out for.
  • It may help to keep a journal/notebook throughout your teaching experience so that you can recall your thoughts when you fill out the self-evaluation at the end.
  • Remember: Be “text-centered and audience-focused”!


Self-Evaluation and Reflection

Once you have finished teaching all four lessons on Jonah, please submit your answers to the self-evaluation questions listed below (in a single file). This will serve as confirmation that you have completed the teaching assignment.

  1. Looking back on this experience, what were the strong points of my teaching? Weak points?
  2. What would I change if I taught this again?
  3. What did I find most interesting/exciting about this teaching experience? Most frustrating/challenging?
  4. What were my goals in teaching through this book of the Bible, and why were these chosen?
  5. How well did I meet these goals? Did I encounter any particular obstacles?
  6. Throughout this experience, did I witness any growth in those I was teaching? If so, what specifically?
  7. Throughout this experience, did I witness any growth in myself? If so, what specifically?
  8. Any additional thoughts? (Optional)


PLEASE NOTE: For this assignment, instead of submitting a written report, you may choose to submit an oral report recorded on audio if you wish. However, if you do this, all the same elements which are required for the written report must be covered thoroughly in your oral report. Also, at present our online platform can only take files less than 100 MB in size, so please ensure that any audio file is smaller than this. You can upload up to five files per assignment if needed, for a maximum of 500 MB per assignment, but they must all be submitted at the same time.


Please download and review the sample curriculum below. Although you may end up teaching in a different setting, we have provided curriculum for preaching, for small-group leadership, and for one-on-one discipleship sessions. Feel free to use any of these as they are, alter them as needed, or develop your own lesson plans. Regardless of which option you choose, however, we encourage you to adapt your four teachings to best serve the needs of your current cultural and ministerial context.

OT Sample Teaching Curriculum - Sermon Outlines.pdf

OT Sample Teaching Curriculum - Small Group Leadership.pdf

OT Sample Teaching Curriculum - One-on-One Discipleship.pdf