Part One: Stories and teachings from the Old Testament 1 In the beginning 3 2 The age of the patriarchs 12 3 Joseph in Egypt 29 4 Moses and the exodus 38 5 The Promised Land 60 6 The story of Samson 64 7 The story of Ruth 68 8 Samuel and Saul 72 9 The exploits of David 79 10 The golden age of Solomon 99 11 Elijah and Elisha 103 12 The story of Jonah 109 13 Daniel in Babylon 111 14 Esther, Queen of Persia 117 15 Scenes from the Apocrypha 123 16 Selections from the Psalms 133 17 Sayings of the Wise 136 18 Lines from a love song 143 19 Words and visions of Isaiah 145 Part Two: Stories and teachings from the New Testament 20 The birth and boyhood of Jesus 150 21 Jesus begins his ministry 172 22 The miracle worker 178 23 Sayings from the Sermon on the Mount 188 24 The meaning of love 191 25 Being a disciple 198 26 The road to Jerusalem 206 27 The darkness gathers 214 28 The willing sacrifice 226 29 The defeat of death 244 30 The Church is born 256 31 Early Christian wisdom 275 32 Visions of the end 279