Topical Guides
The Fresh Start Topical Guides are a resource to help you navigate through the supplemental material of the Fresh Start Bible. These guides serve as building blocks for character and topic-based Bible studies and are designed both for individual reflection and for small groups.
The path to understanding the Bible is a life-long journey. The Fresh Start Bible offers over 500 articles and helps to provide direction and illuminate the truth of Scripture. As you read the Bible and encounter these characters and concepts, allow and expect the Holy Spirit to come beside you, lead you into all truth, and even tell you about the future (John 16:13)!
FRESH START STORIES
As you study each story, ask yourself the following questions:
What makes this story a fresh start?
What choices were made to keep this from being a false start?
How can I use this example to help my own fresh start?
FRESH START STORIES TOPICAL GUIDE
FALSE START STORIES
As you study each story, ask yourself the following questions:
What makes this story a false start?
Why did this false start happen?
How can I use this example to help avoid a false start?
FALSE START STORIES TOPICAL GUIDE
FRESH START WITH A DETOUR STORIES
As you study each story, ask yourself the following questions:
What detours, if any, can you identify in the story?
Why did these detours occur?
What could the characters have done to avoid taking these detours?
FRESH START WITH A DETOUR STORIES TOPICAL GUIDE
INFLUENTIAL MEN IN THE BIBLE
As you study each story, ask yourself the following questions:
What made these men influential?
Which traits or behaviors of these men should we emulate? Why?
Which traits or behaviors of these men should we avoid? Why?
INFLUENTIAL MEN IN the Bible TOPICAL GUIDE
INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN THE BIBLE
As you study each story, ask yourself the following questions:
What made these women influential?
Which traits or behaviors of these women should we emulate? Why?
Which traits or behaviors of these women should we avoid? Why?
INFLUENTIAL WOMEN IN the Bible TOPICAL GUIDE
PROPHETS
The prophets served as spokesmen of God to the people of Israel as well as to the surrounding nations. They forewarned of impending punishment for sin and rebellion, and they also proclaimed God’s blessings to those who obeyed His commands. Discover how these prophetic warnings and encouragements apply to our lives today.
PROPHETS TOPICAL GUIDE
FREEDOM
“If the Son sets you free, you are truly free” (John 8:36). Spiritual freedom is a gift available to every believer. Learn how to walk in this freedom daily and live your life to the fullest.
FREEDOM TOPICAL GUIDE
WORSHIP
Even before the Creation of the world, God was worthy of the worship of the beings and things He created. Discover more about the nature of worship and how and why we should worship God.
WORSHIP TOPICAL GUIDE
STEWARDSHIP & GIVInG
God is a giver by His nature. He has given us the greatest gift of all in the offer of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. Discover in these reading why giving is so important and how we should take care of what God gives us.
Stewardship & giving Topical Guide
Marriage & Sex
Society’s views on marriage and sex may waver, but the Word of God is constant and unchanging. Discover the importance of purity, the unique roles of husbands and wives, and the secret to a happy and blessed marriage.
Marriage & Sex Topical Guide
Parenting & Family
Bringing up godly children can be a daunting task, especially in today’s society. However, the Bible provides answers to even the most complex parenting questions and difficult family situations. Discover how you can point your family toward Christ today.
Parenting & Family Topical Guide
Holy Spirit
For many people, the Holy Spirit is the most misunderstood member of the Trinity. They wonder, “Who is He, and what does He do?” Discover who this third member of the Godhead really is and how embracing His power will change your life!
Holy Spirit Topical Guide
Satan & Demons
Have you ever asked, “If God is good, why does evil exist in the world?” Evil came into existence when Satan rebelled against God and led one-third of the other angels to do the same. Learn how to recognize and combat the enemy’s plans against you and your loved ones today.
Satan & Demons Topical Guide
Leadership
Godly leadership begins with hearing God’s voice. You may be asked to step into your calling immediately, or you may have to wait, as King David did, for many years. Either way, God’s timing is perfect, and only with His blessing will you succeed in leadership.
Leadership Topical Guide
Priests & Priesthood
The role of priests in ancient Israel was to serve as intermediaries between the people and God. Only once a year could the high priest come into God’s presence. Discover how Jesus now serves as our eternal high priest, and we are welcome to come into God’s presence every day.
Priests & Priesthood Topical Guide
Trials & Persecution
Jesus warned His disciples, “Here on this earth you will have many trials and sorrows” (John 16:33a). Every person, regardless of age, gender, or race, faces difficulties at times. However, we can take comfort in Jesus’ promise: “Take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33b).
Trials & Persecution Topical Guide
Covenant
Throughout history, God has kept relationships with His people through covenants. Learn how God established these covenants and how they lead to the knowledge that we are now saved through Jesus, who “ratified an eternal covenant with his blood” (Hebrews 13:20).
Covenant Topical Guide
Pride & Humility
The sin of pride damages many relationships, yet it is one of the most difficult things for us to avoid. Discover in these readings how to overcome the natural sin of pride and act in humility toward others.
Pride & Humility Topical Guide
Festivals
Festivals in the Hebrew culture are more than just fun celebrations or solemn occasions. They teach very important principles about how God wants His people to live. Learn what the various festivals represent and how they are still of significance to us today.
Festivals Topical Guide
Sacrifice
We make choices every day that involve some sort of sacrifice—giving up one thing for another. God’s people used sacrifices for thousands of years to help maintain their relationship with God. As a Christian, we now are to offer our bodies as a “living and holy sacrifice” to the Lord (Hebrews 12:1) to do His will.
Sacrifice Topical Guide
Obedience
God is our Father, and just as we are expected to obey our earthly parents to keep us safe, we must learn how to obey God to help us grow and prosper as disciples. Jesus is our perfect example of how to obey God.
Obedience Topical Guide
Prayer & Intercession
We talk with someone almost every day. One of the greatest blessings of being a disciple is to be able to talk with God and have Him hear and speak to us. Learn about how to communicate with God and how the power of prayer helps bring about change.
Prayer & Intercession Topical Guide
Fasting
Most of us have a difficult time when we don’t eat, but Jesus fasted for 40 days. Learn the real meaning and purpose behind fasting and discover the benefits it brings to our body, soul, and spirit.
Fasting Topical Guide
Wisdom & Knowledge
Luke 2:52 says that “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature … with God and all the people.” Discover the foundational sources of knowledge and wisdom and how we can faithfully apply what we learn as we grow in our faith.
Wisdom & Knowledge Topical Guide
Forgiveness
We have all sinned and fallen short. One of God’s main purposes in sending Jesus was as a sacrifice to enable the forgiveness of our sins. Discover not only the importance of seeking forgiveness but also the power and blessing of giving forgiveness to others.
Forgiveness Topical Guide
Heaven & Hell
Everyone wants to go to heaven, and nobody wants to go to hell. Discover in these readings what heaven and hell really are and represent—and how there is much more to the concepts of heaven and hell than many people realize.
Heaven & Hell Topical Guide
Miracles
The Bible starts with the miracle of Creation, and God never stops doing wondrous things in the lives of His people. Learn the nature and purpose of miracles and how they are still present and applicable to us today.