This document provides an overview and summary of chapters from Peter Enns' book "How the Bible Actually Works". It discusses that the Bible leads people to wisdom rather than answers, and that gaining wisdom is the true purpose of the Bible. Key points include that the Bible is ancient, ambiguous, and diverse. It also notes that God's plan is for people to gain wisdom, not for God to micromanage people like a "helicopter parent". The document emphasizes that the Bible is not the problem and was not meant to be used as an instruction manual for how to live or raise children. It concludes that finding wisdom in the Bible leads to life and favor with God.

1. How the Bible
Actually
Works
In Which I Explain How An Ancient,
Ambiguous, and Diverse Book Leads
Us to Wisdom Rather Than Answers—
and Why That’s Great News
Peter Enns

2. Dr. Peter Enns
• PhD, Harvard University
• Abram S. Clemens professor of Biblical
Studies at Eastern University, St. Davids, PA.
• Author on more than 12 books
• Most well-known are The Sin of Certainty &
The Bible Tells Me So

3. Week 1 – Chapters 1 & 2
•“The Bible’s True
Purpose”
•“The Bible Doesn’t Really
Tell Us What to Do-and
That’s a Good Thing”

4. A Few Beginning Thoughts
• The intention of the this study is to
make you think about what you
believe
• There is no pressure to agree with
this book
•Book or No Book?
• Read Ahead or Catch-up
• Videos posted on Facebook/Website
pineislandmethodist.com

5. Chapter 1- The Bible’s
True Purpose – 3
Questions
•What is the Bible?
•Who Cares?
•What do I do with it?

6. 3 Surprising Things
•Ancient, Ambiguous, Diverse

7. God’s Plan A -
Wisdom

9. God is Not a Helicopter Parent

10. God is Not a Helicopter Parent

11. You are Not Alone

12. You are Not Alone

13. You are Not Alone

14. The Bible is Not the
Problem

15. Chapter 2 - “The Bible Doesn’t Really Tell
Us What to Do-and That’s a Good Thing”

16. Chapter 2 - “The Bible Doesn’t Really Tell
Us What to Do-and That’s a Good Thing”
Screwing up your kids biblically – The problem
with using the Bible as an instruction manual
Passages : Proverbs 19:18, Proverbs 22:6,
Collossians 3:20, Ephesians 6:3, Proverbs 22:13,
Exodus 21:20 (slaves), Deuteronomy 21:18-21

17. Chapter 2 - “The Bible Doesn’t Really Tell
Us What to Do-and That’s a Good Thing”

18. Fools and Finances

19. Fools and Finances

20. Fools and Finances

21. Fools and Finances

22. My Big Point, and then
an Even Bigger Point

23. My Big Point, and then
an Even Bigger Point

24. An Even Bigger & Final Point
• “Death” in Genesis (and other places) is
being cut off from the tree of wisdom
• “Life” is reconnection to God via wisdom

25. An Even Bigger & Final Point
Proverbs 8:22-36 (32-36 here)
Now then, my children, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.
Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not disregard it.
Blessed are those who listen to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
For those who find me find life
and receive favor from the LORD.
But those who fail to find me harm
themselves;
all who hate me love death.”

26. An Even Bigger & Final Point
1 Corinthians 1:30
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has
become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness,
holiness and redemption.
Sounds a lot like Proverbs 8

27. An Even Bigger & Final Point

28. An Even Bigger & Final Point

29. The Little & Hidden Things

30. To Sum Up…

31. Next Week – Chapters 3 & 4
•God’s Laws: Evasive & Fidgety
Little Buggers
•Wisdom = Time + Diversity