Many SRE lessons teach Old Testament stories as isolated episodes — Daniel in the lion's den, David and Goliath, Noah and the ark — without any sense of where they fit in the larger narrative. The stories are interesting; but without context, students miss the theological point. BibleProject's free book overview videos give you — and your students — the map that makes individual stories meaningful. They're available at bibleproject.com at no cost, and each runs 5–8 minutes.
Why Old Testament Context Transforms SRE Teaching
The Most Useful OT Overviews for SRE
Genesis (Part 1 & 2, ~10 min combined) — Essential background for creation, the fall, Abraham, and the covenant promises that the whole Bible builds on. Show Part 1 before teaching Genesis 1–11; Part 2 before teaching Abraham or Joseph.
Exodus (Part 1 & 2) — The rescue of Israel from Egypt is one of the defining events of the Old Testament and a type of the cross. The overview explains the Passover, the law, and the tabernacle with remarkable clarity.
Ruth (5 min) — A short, beautiful overview of a short, beautiful book. Perfect for introducing the themes of loyalty, redemption, and God working through ordinary people. Highly recommended for Years 3–6.
Psalms (7 min) — Explains the five books of Psalms, the different types (praise, lament, royal, wisdom), and how to read them as honest prayer. Transforms SRE lessons on the Psalms.
Jonah (5 min) — One of the clearest overviews BibleProject has produced. Explains the irony, the theme of mercy for outsiders, and how Jonah's story points forward to Jesus. Excellent for Year 4–6 and secondary.
Isaiah (Part 1 & 2) — Background for the Servant Songs (Isaiah 53 in particular), the promises of restoration, and the vision of the new creation. Important context for Christmas and Easter SRE units.
How to Integrate Videos Into Your Term Plan
A simple approach: at the start of each new unit (a new Bible book or major narrative section), use the relevant BibleProject overview as your first lesson. In subsequent lessons, you're exploring individual stories within a framework students already have. The combination of overview-then-detail is more effective than either alone — and using a 6-minute video frees your remaining 24 minutes for discussion and activity rather than scene-setting.
