We are considering the way that the biblical canon of the Old Testament and New Testament forms a theological and literary unity. One way to see this unity is by considering the story that the entire canon tells and the major themes that it highlights.

In this conference talk, pastor Mark Dever overviews the message of the entire Bible. Dever insists that having a basic grasp of this grand overarching storyline will help us understand where a particular text or an individual story fits within the big picture of the Bible.

In at least 2-3 well-written paragraphs, discuss your reaction to thinking about the Bible in this way. In your response, consider these types of questions:

• Why might you think this "big-picture" is significant? Also, why do you think this type of perspective on the Bible is oftentimes neglected?
• What are some of the challenges you have encountered as you have sought to think about the Bible in this way?
• Do you typically tend to think about the "big picture," or do you tend to think in terms of the details or the "small picture" when you read the Bible?