'The Gospel Project' Promises Unique Vision of Bible

By Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, January 19, 2012

LifeWay Christian Resources, one of the world's largest providers of Christian products and services, has planned a June debut for The Gospel Project, a three-year study plan with 13-week units that promises to present the stories behind the Bible in a brand new way.

The managing director of The Gospel Project Trevin Wax, in an interview with The Christian Post, has revealed what makes this Bible study project different from all the rest.

"We've noticed that a lot of times, people have Biblical knowledge, but are lacking in their understanding of how the Bible fits together as a whole – the story that the Bible tells, that focuses on Jesus Christ and what he has done for us. The Gospel Project begins with the Gospel as a starting point so that we interpret the Bible through the lens of what Jesus Christ has done for us, so that all of creation exists to exalt the supremacy of Jesus Christ and that our Bible readings must have that purpose as well."

Wax explained that as a Bible study recourse, the goal of the project is "for people to have an encounter with Jesus Christ, and see how He is the focal point of all of the scriptures and (so that) their hearts will be filled to worship and spread the news of what He has done."

Addressing how The Gospel Project, which targets children, students and adults, will ensure that each group gains something valuable from the study, the managing editor revealed that there are two basic approaches within the project:

"The first, the children's version, focuses on chronological Bible stories, so that children are able to see how all these stories connect and how they point to the redemption that is offered by Jesus Christ."

"The adult and student version of the project actually deal with systematic theology from the framework of the Gospel. Over the first quarter, for example, we take a theological concept, like the doctrine of Revelation - we call it 'The God who Speaks.'"

"There will be 13 lessons in that quarter, which break down into categories of our Gospel framework so that we begin with 'Who God is, this is how he speaks to us' – and we move on to 'This is man and this is our fallen response to God's word'. From then we move to Christ – how He responded to God's word, and how He suffered the consequences of our sins."

Wax added: "We end the quarter with the redeemed response to God's word. We get into issues there of the Bible being inspired, it being inerrant, authoritative and infallible. So you take this one topic and it is broken down and explained and explored in the framework of the Bible's great story, that goes from God, man and Christ."

The official website of the organization features a section on the different age groups, and explains how The Gospel Project will benefit each.

The study will offer a visual and interactive experience for kids, stating that: "Each week, these stories come to life through video, music, activities, and more as children connect biblical events to God's ultimate plan of redemption through Christ."

For students, it says: "Teenagers live in a world defined by pressure – and with no shortage of opinions on how they should handle it. Every week, in every passage, your students will encounter the gospel through the in-depth study of biblical theology, apologetics, missions, and the grand narrative of Scripture. Because nothing has the ability to influence a teen's life like the gospel."

And for adults, it promises to "guide men and women through key biblical concepts while creating a picture of the grand narrative of Scripture. If the entire Bible is the story of redemption through Jesus, then it is important to examine the theological and missional concepts within the text, as all of it is an important part of understanding the awesome power of the gospel."

On the question of how The Gospel Project will go about choosing the most accurate Bible version with which it will present its study, Wax shared: "We will be using the Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) which has been appreciated for its balanced view of translation and its approach to the Bible. It is seeking that middle ground between a dynamic equivalent approach and a more literal approach. The HCSB is there in the middle, seeking to maximize the positives of both of these approaches."

He said, however, churches that employ the study program will also be able to use the Bible version of their preference.