The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation

Julie Storr reviews the updated Bible study program by Jeff Cavins, available from Ascension Press.

The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation

By Jeff Cavins

Published by Ascension Press

I love Bible studies. I must admit that I’ve started more studies than I’ve finished and what I learned about Bible studies is that not all studies are the same.

There are studies that cover a book of the Bible, such as the Gospel of Luke. There are studies that help us get to know a person in the Bible, such as Esther. In addition, and perhaps the most well-known studies, there are ones that lead us deeper into a topic, such as grace or hope.

The Great Adventure Bible Timeline study is a bit difference because it does all of those and more. It is a study of the Bible.

An Easy Way to Study the Bible

My previous experience with the Bible Timeline study was the “quick’ 8-week version on DVD with Jeff Cavins and some colored boxes. (I could be wrong about the boxes; I’m not very good at visual memory.) However, the new 24-session study was filmed on location, so as you’re learning about the temple in Jerusalem, you can see the ruins and get a better picture of what is was like long ago.

Jeff Cavins truly has a gift of teaching others about the Bible, and it is visible in the way the study is presented. He found that there are 12 periods of time in biblical history. This makes the study so much easier because studying a gargantuan amount of history is so much easier when it’s divided up into sections that make sense. This study also only follows genealogy from Adam to Jesus, so not every book is studied, but as you go through the study, the supplemental books will make sense because you will know how they fit in the story.

Helpful Features in This Bible Study

In the new beautiful study guide, each lesson gives you a map so you know the area where the lesson is taking place, and the overview of the lesson gives you insight into what you are about to study. In each session, Jeff is joined by a guest who brings new insight on each area of study.

One of my favorite parts of the study is the Timeline chart. The chart not on only includes the 12 periods of history, it follows the genealogy of Jesus and includes events in world history. For example, when was Stonehenge being built? About the time of the fall from Eden and Noah and his family survived the flood. We learn that the founding of Rome and the first Olympic games were happening during the time that the Israelites were divided into northern and southern tribes.

Why Study the Bible?

As you progress through the study, you will find yourself amazed when you go to Mass and the lector says, “A reading from the book of Exodus.” Your mind will already be telling you, “Listen up: The Israelites are going into the desert.” The reading’s from Isaiah? Divided Kingdom, and you will know how to listen to the reading because you know what is happening in Scripture at the time.

The Bible Timeline Study isn’t just a story. It is your story. We have ancestry programs to find our family tree; we have the Bible Timeline to introduce us to our spiritual family. This program is a wonderful way to introduce your OCIA classes to Scripture.

The Bible Timeline Study is also a lesson in faith, hope, and love. We have great hope for the future when we look back and see the faithfulness of God, how He has never forsaken His children. Where we are right now, between faith and hope is love, the eternal love God has for his own.

The Bible Timeline: The Story of Salvation is available through the publisher, Ascension Press.

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Copyright 2026 Julie Storr
Images: Ascension Press