Bible Stories

Cain and Abel

Genesis 4

The first brothers, jealousy, and the consequences of sin.

Key Themes:

Jealousy Sin Consequences Brotherhood

Key Verse:

Genesis 4:7 - If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door.

Jacob and Esau

Genesis 25-33

Sibling rivalry, trickery, and reconciliation.

Key Themes:

Sibling Rivalry Trickery Reconciliation Family

Key Verse:

Genesis 33:4 - But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.

Jacob's Ladder

Genesis 28

God's promise and presence.

Key Themes:

God's Promise God's Presence Divine Communication Faith

Key Verse:

Genesis 28:15 - I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go.

Moses and the Burning Bush

Exodus 3

God's call and assurance.

Key Themes:

God's Call Divine Mission Assurance Holy Ground

Key Verse:

Exodus 3:14 - God said to Moses, 'I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.'

The Golden Calf

Exodus 32

Warning against idolatry.

Key Themes:

Idolatry Warning Sin Consequences

Key Verse:

Exodus 32:8 - They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them and have made themselves an idol cast in the shape of a calf.

Joshua and the Battle of Jericho

Joshua 6

God's power in giving victory.

Key Themes:

God's Power Victory Faith Obedience

Key Verse:

Joshua 6:20 - When the trumpets sounded, the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout, the wall collapsed.

Gideon's Army

Judges 7

God using small things to accomplish big purposes.

Key Themes:

God's Power Small Things Faith Trust

Key Verse:

Judges 7:2 - The LORD said to Gideon, 'You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands.'

Samson and Delilah

Judges 13-16

Strength, weakness, and God's redemption.

Key Themes:

Strength Weakness Redemption God's Grace

Key Verse:

Judges 16:28 - Then Samson prayed to the LORD, 'Sovereign LORD, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more.'

Ruth and Naomi

Ruth 1-4

Loyalty, kindness, and God's providence.

Key Themes:

Loyalty Kindness God's Providence Love

Key Verse:

Ruth 1:16 - But Ruth replied, 'Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay.'

Esther Saves Her People

Esther 1-10

Courage and God's hidden hand.

Key Themes:

Courage God's Hidden Hand Providence Faith

Key Verse:

Esther 4:14 - For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place.

Elijah and the Prophets of Baal

1 Kings 18

God's power over false gods.

Key Themes:

God's Power False Gods Faith Victory

Key Verse:

1 Kings 18:39 - When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, 'The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!'

Jonah and the Great Fish

Jonah 1-4

Obedience, repentance, and God's mercy.

Key Themes:

Obedience Repentance God's Mercy Second Chances

Key Verse:

Jonah 2:2 - In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me.

Jesus Tempted in the Wilderness

Matthew 4, Luke 4

Victory over temptation.

Key Themes:

Victory Temptation Scripture Resistance

Key Verse:

Matthew 4:10 - Jesus said to him, 'Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'

The Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5-7

Teachings on love, forgiveness, and living faithfully.

Key Themes:

Love Forgiveness Faithful Living Kingdom Values

Key Verse:

Matthew 5:3 - Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus Heals the Paralytic

Mark 2

Forgiveness and healing.

Key Themes:

Forgiveness Healing Faith Authority

Key Verse:

Mark 2:5 - When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, 'Son, your sins are forgiven.'

Jesus and the Woman at the Well

John 4

Living water and breaking social barriers.

Key Themes:

Living Water Social Barriers Acceptance Truth

Key Verse:

John 4:14 - Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

Luke 19

Transformation through meeting Jesus.

Key Themes:

Transformation Repentance Acceptance Change

Key Verse:

Luke 19:8 - But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor.'

The Rich Young Ruler

Matthew 19

Choosing between wealth and following Jesus.

Key Themes:

Wealth Choice Following Jesus Priorities

Key Verse:

Matthew 19:21 - Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.'

Jesus Raises Lazarus

John 11

Power over death and pointing to resurrection.

Key Themes:

Power Over Death Resurrection Faith Hope

Key Verse:

John 11:25 - Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.'

The Road to Emmaus

Luke 24

Recognizing the risen Christ.

Key Themes:

Risen Christ Recognition Scripture Revelation

Key Verse:

Luke 24:31 - Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.

Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch

Acts 8

Sharing the gospel across cultures.

Key Themes:

Gospel Sharing Cross-Cultural Evangelism Scripture

Key Verse:

Acts 8:35 - Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

Paul's Conversion

Acts 9

Transformation from enemy to apostle.

Key Themes:

Conversion Transformation God's Grace New Life

Key Verse:

Acts 9:6 - 'Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.'

Paul and Silas in Prison

Acts 16

Joy in suffering and God's deliverance.

Key Themes:

Joy in Suffering God's Deliverance Praise Faith

Key Verse:

Acts 16:25 - About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

Creation of the World

Genesis 1-2

God creates the heavens, earth, animals, and humans, showing His power and purpose.

Key Themes:

God's Power Purpose Creation Order

Key Verse:

Genesis 1:1 - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Adam and Eve in the Garden

Genesis 3

Teaches about temptation, sin, and the need for redemption.

Key Themes:

Temptation Sin Redemption Consequences

Key Verse:

Genesis 3:15 - And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers.

Noah's Ark

Genesis 6-9

God saves Noah and his family from the flood, a story of judgment and mercy.

Key Themes:

Judgment Mercy Salvation Obedience

Key Verse:

Genesis 7:1 - The LORD then said to Noah, 'Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation.'

Tower of Babel

Genesis 11

Explains pride, human ambition, and God's sovereignty.

Key Themes:

Pride Human Ambition God's Sovereignty Consequences

Key Verse:

Genesis 11:4 - Then they said, 'Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens.'

Abraham and Isaac

Genesis 22

A story of faith, trust, and obedience to God.

Key Themes:

Faith Trust Obedience Sacrifice

Key Verse:

Genesis 22:8 - Abraham answered, 'God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.'

Joseph and His Brothers

Genesis 37-50

A tale of jealousy, forgiveness, and God turning evil for good.

Key Themes:

Jealousy Forgiveness God's Providence Reconciliation

Key Verse:

Genesis 50:20 - You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done.

Moses and the Exodus

Exodus 1-14

God delivers Israel from slavery, showing His power and covenant love.

Key Themes:

Deliverance God's Power Covenant Love Freedom

Key Verse:

Exodus 14:31 - And when the Israelites saw the great power the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him.

The Ten Commandments

Exodus 20

God gives His law, a foundation for living faithfully.

Key Themes:

God's Law Foundation Faithful Living Commandments

Key Verse:

Exodus 20:2 - I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

David and Goliath

1 Samuel 17

A lesson in courage, faith, and God's strength through the weak.

Key Themes:

Courage Faith God's Strength Victory

Key Verse:

1 Samuel 17:45 - David said to the Philistine, 'You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty.'

Daniel in the Lion's Den

Daniel 6

Shows God's protection and the reward for remaining faithful.

Key Themes:

God's Protection Faithfulness Reward Trust

Key Verse:

Daniel 6:22 - My God sent his angel, and he shut the mouths of the lions.

Birth of Jesus

Matthew 1-2, Luke 2

The fulfillment of prophecy and God coming to live among us.

Key Themes:

Prophecy Fulfillment Incarnation God's Love Humility

Key Verse:

Matthew 1:23 - The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel.

Baptism of Jesus

Matthew 3, Luke 3

Marks the beginning of Jesus' ministry, with God affirming His Son.

Key Themes:

Ministry Beginning Divine Affirmation Baptism Trinity

Key Verse:

Matthew 3:17 - And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.'

Jesus' Miracles

Various Gospels Various

Healing the sick, calming storms, feeding the 5,000—showing His power and compassion.

Key Themes:

Miracles Power Compassion Faith

Key Verse:

Matthew 14:14 - When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

The Good Samaritan

Luke 10:25-37

A parable about loving others beyond social or cultural boundaries.

Key Themes:

Love Social Boundaries Compassion Neighbor

Key Verse:

Luke 10:37 - The expert in the law replied, 'The one who had mercy on him.' Jesus told him, 'Go and do likewise.'

The Prodigal Son

Luke 15:11-32

A parable about forgiveness, repentance, and God's love.

Key Themes:

Forgiveness Repentance God's Love Grace

Key Verse:

Luke 15:20 - So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him.

Jesus Walks on Water

Matthew 14:22-33

Teaches about faith and trust in Christ during trials.

Key Themes:

Faith Trust Trials God's Power

Key Verse:

Matthew 14:31 - Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' he said, 'why did you doubt?'

The Last Supper

Matthew 26, Luke 22

Jesus institutes communion, pointing to His sacrifice.

Key Themes:

Communion Sacrifice Remembrance New Covenant

Key Verse:

Matthew 26:26 - While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples.

The Crucifixion

Matthew 27, Luke 23, John 19

The central story of salvation—Jesus' sacrifice for humanity's sins.

Key Themes:

Salvation Sacrifice Sin Redemption

Key Verse:

Matthew 27:46 - About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, 'Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?'

The Resurrection

Matthew 28, Luke 24, John 20

The triumph over sin and death, the heart of Christian hope.

Key Themes:

Triumph Victory Over Death Hope Eternal Life

Key Verse:

Matthew 28:6 - He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Pentecost

Acts 2

The coming of the Holy Spirit, empowering the church to spread the gospel.

Key Themes:

Holy Spirit Empowerment Church Gospel Spreading

Key Verse:

Acts 2:4 - All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.