I always like to know a little something about an author before I sit down to open their book. Today I’m thrilled to interview Bible teacher and author Elizabeth Woodson about her new Bible study, From Beginning to Eternity: A Study of the Great Scripture Story. This book guides you through the story of the Bible, showing how the 66 books combine to form a unified narrative. From beginning to eternity will be released on October 3, and you can pre-order a copy here!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I am a Bible teacher and author based in Dallas, Texas. I grew up in a Christian home, but it wasn’t until college that I began to fully understand the gospel. At that time in my life, I yearned to grow spiritually, but I didn’t know how. This led me on a quest to learn more about my faith and the Bible, which eventually led me to seminary. My journey of discovery has formed a deep conviction in me that everyone should have access to the tools and resources they need to deepen their faith.
The Lord has increased this conviction through my time as a staff member of two different churches in Dallas. I served as the Single Life Coordinator at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship and as the Director of Institute Courses and Curriculum at The Village Church. Both roles have helped me learn what it means to guide and energize people on their discipleship journey.
I loved what I learned so much that in 2021 I left vocations ministry to form an organization that helps believers grow spiritually as followers of Jesus. So most of my time is spent writing articles or books, speaking at conferences, training leaders, and consulting with different churches to help them create pathways for discipleship and theological education.
When did you first start writing? What do you like?
I started writing a few years ago during my first job at the ministry. At that time, I was writing shorter articles that I would publish on my blog or via my church. I like to write because it allows me to communicate deeply about a specific idea. The writing process requires you to be clear, which isn’t always easy. But, as I struggle with my thoughts, weeding out what’s unnecessary and expanding on what’s good, I’m able to create something that can meaningfully connect with the reader.
Writing also allows me to create beauty with my words. For me, every writing project is like a blank art canvas. I usually know a bit about what I want the “canvas” to look like. But, the writing process, full of brainstorming, researching and contouring, somehow takes on a life of its own. As I work on my ideas and uncover new information, the artwork begins to form. Honestly, I love that part, seeing words, sentences, and paragraphs work together to communicate truth with beauty.
Is writing sometimes difficult for you? How?
Oh yes! One of the reasons it’s hard is because I’m a perfectionist. I spend too much time on the front end editing my words instead of just pushing to create a first draft that I can then go back and edit.
It’s also difficult because I’m a slow writer. It takes me a while to get into the “zone” where the words start flowing fast. When I started writing, I felt like the difficulty of writing meant I wasn’t a good writer. But then I learned that I was not alone in my “slow writer” struggle. After talking with and studying the writing process of some of the great authors of our time, I realized that most of them don’t write quality content quickly. Their success was tied to finding a process that worked for them and sticking to it. So, I tried to do the same.
What led you to write From beginning to eternity?
In my life, I have had a few moments that significantly marked my journey of spiritual growth. One of them was the first time I heard about the metanarrative of scripture. Although I grew up in church, it wasn’t until I was in seminary that I learned how all of the scriptures tell a unified story about God’s work of redemption and restoration. I still remember the “ah-ha” moments when the light bulbs went off in my head. I gained new clarity about the Bible and much-needed conviction about how the gospel related to my daily life.
The truth is that all of Scripture is concerned with trying to come back to life with God as He was in the Garden of Eden and the fulfillment of His garden plan for the world.
Eventually, I was able to teach a course at The Village Church on the subject for several years. With each new group of students, I saw how many were overwhelmed with the scriptures, not knowing how to approach the hard-to-understand books. Others knew how to dig deep into a particular book of the Bible, but they could not grasp how that book related to the rest or pointed to Christ. Yet, by the end of the semester, they would gain a clarity and confidence in the Bible that would transform their faith.
I wanted to write this book to share this same truth and experience with other believers. I want to help them understand and love their Bible as they see how it gives us a beautiful vision of who God is and what he calls us to be and do in his world.
What is the central message you hope readers will take away from your book?
I hope readers will see how the 66 books combine to form a unified narrative of God’s redemption, seeing the eternal significance of what God does in the world and how he invites us to be a part of it.
I also hope that by the end of this study readers will understand how the whole story of Scripture helps us know who God is, who we are, and what we are called to do in his world. The goal is for them not only to know facts but to study information that will transform their motivation to live and their love for God.
How has writing this study affected your own life?
Writing the book was definitely a labor of love! This forced me to synthesize a lot of information in a clear and accessible way. But, the process greatly honed my ability to see Scripture comprehensively, weaving together the topics of biblical truth, theology, and spiritual formation.
Personally, it has provided me with a constant source of hope and encouragement. No matter where I am in scripture, I always find myself focusing on what God is doing at that point in redemptive history. The magnitude of God’s work in the world overwhelms me in all the best ways. It also leaves me in awe of who he is and how, through Christ, he graciously allows us to relate to him!
For an overview, here are some quotes:
“The truth is that all of Scripture is concerned with trying to come back to life with God as He was in the Garden of Eden and the fulfillment of His garden plan for the world. If we don’t see history through that lens, we’re going to pursue some less narrative. For example, we could reduce the Bible to a set of encouragements Christian life quotes or advice. While the Bible provides both encouragement and tips for living well as a Christian, it does so much more! Specifically, the creation story shows us what life on earth should be like. In other words, it shows us shalom – how we should live in community with God, with each other and all creation. »
I hope readers will see how the 66 books combine to form a unified narrative of God’s redemption, seeing the eternal significance of what God does in the world and how he invites us to be a part of it.
“The living kingdom that Jesus spoke of was very different from the values of the world in which Jesus lived. In the overthrown kingdom of Jesus, to be first was to be last, to be greatest was to be least, and to be exalted was to be humble. The most vulnerable, marginalized and neglected members of society were not cast aside but welcomed into the kingdom. Jesus got into a lot of trouble while on earth because he was around sinners and outcasts. He rejected the elitism and legalism of Jewish religious leaders. True life in the kingdom was characterized by a love for a God that manifested itself in a sacrificial love for one’s neighbor (Matthew 5:43-45).
If you had an afternoon to do whatever you want, where would we find you?
You would find me in a museum, at a play or at a concert! I love art, music and history. So, an afternoon where I can listen to good music or spend time wandering around a museum would give me so much joy!
