Why the Old Testament Still Speaks Today
Learning from the Old Testament: Patterns for the Church Today — Part 1
A Book Written for Our Learning
When most people think about the Old Testament, they picture ancient stories: Abraham’s tent, Moses at the burning bush, or David facing Goliath. For some, these accounts feel distant, locked away in the dusty past. Yet the apostle Paul tells us something startling:
“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through patience and through the comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4, WEB)
And again:
“Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come.” (1 Corinthians 10:11, WEB)
The Old Testament is not just history. It is a mirror, a teaching tool, and a prophetic pattern for the Church today.
History as a Pattern
The Israelites’ journey from Egypt to the Promised Land wasn’t only about geography. It was a drama written on the stage of history for our benefit. Their triumphs and failures are ensamples—living blueprints that reveal God’s plan for His people in every generation.
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The Passover lamb points forward to Christ, our true Lamb, whose blood delivers us from bondage.
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The Red Sea crossing foreshadows baptism, where old masters lose their hold, and we walk into new life.
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The wilderness wandering is a warning, reminding us how unbelief can keep us from entering God’s promises.
What happened to them is a map for us.
A Word for the Church Today
Why does this matter now? Because we face the same challenges Israel did. It is easy to settle for religion instead of relationship, for outward form instead of inward faith. Israel saw miracles but perished in unbelief. Paul warns us not to repeat their mistake.
The Old Testament urges us to look beyond mere survival. God’s goal isn’t just to get us out of Egypt—it’s to bring us into maturity, a dwelling place for His Spirit.
Hope Anchored in Scripture
The beauty of this truth is simple: the Old Testament stories are not just warnings, they are sources of hope.
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They remind us that God is patient.
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They assure us that His promises do not fail.
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They point us toward the fullness of His plan.
As Paul wrote, through the comfort of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Where We Go From Here
This post begins our journey into a series exploring how the Old Testament provides patterns for the New Testament Church. In the coming weeks, we’ll look at:
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Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — The Blueprint of God’s People
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Exodus and Passover — Christ Our Deliverance
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Sinai and Pentecost — God Writes His Law on Our Hearts
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The Wilderness Warnings — Learning from Failure
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David’s Tabernacle and Solomon’s Temple — God’s End Goal
…and much more.
A Question for You
When you read the Old Testament, do you see it as ancient history or as a living pattern for your own walk with God?
The answer to that question will shape not only how you read Scripture, but how you live your faith.
👉 This is Part 1 of our series “Learning from the Old Testament: Patterns for the Church Today.” In Part 2, we’ll dive into the lives of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and discover how they reveal the very nature of God Himself.
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