For much of my life and ministry I thought the purpose of preaching and teaching was to draw out from the Scriptures basic biblical principles for living a life pleasing to the Lord. The Bible was sort of like a book of Aesop's Fables. Each particular story and text had a moral that you should endeavor to keep. You used the Old Testament strictly as illustrative material for New Testament teaching and preaching. You were urged to imitate King David when he confronts the Giant... don't imitate King David when he commits adultery with Bathsheba. Over time, this approach erodes all joy and delight in the Christian life because it focuses almost exclusively upon what we must do. Furthermore, it robs Jesus of the worship and honor that is his due.

God has used Tim Keller in my life to set me on a different trajectory when I come to read, study, and teach God's Word. The below is en excerpt from one of his lectures delivered at a Gospel Coalition Conference. Not only does it have radical implications for how we read, teach, and preach our Bibles, but also how we live, worship and serve Christ.

What is the Bible really about? Is the Bible basically about me and what I must do or is it about Jesus and what He has done? ... Do you believe the Bible is basically about you or basically about Him? Is David and Goliath basically about you and how you can be like David or about Him, the One that took on the only giants in life who can ultimately harm us? And His victory is imputed on us. Who is this all about? That’s the fundamental question. And when that happens, you start to read the bible anew.

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden. His garden is a much tougher garden and his obedience is imputed on us.
Jesus is the true and better Abel, who though innocently slain has blood that cries out: not for our condemnation but for our acquittal.
Jesus is the true and better Abraham, who answers the call of God, who leaves all the familiar comforts of the world and goes into the void, not knowing where He went.
Jesus is the true and better Isaac who is not only offered by his father on the mount but who was truly sacrificed for us all. While God said to Abraham: “Now I know you truly love me, because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me.” Now we, at the foot of the cross, can say to God: “Now we know you love us because you did not withhold your Son, your only Son, whom you love, from us.”
Jesus is the true and better Jacob, who wrestled and took the blows of justice that we deserved so we like Jacob only receive the wounds of grace that wake us up and disciple us [to give up our own manipulative, conniving ways}
Jesus is the true and better Joseph, who is at the right hand of the king, and forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his power to save them.
Jesus is the true and better Moses, who stands in the gap between the people and the LORD and mediates the new covenant.
Jesus is the true and better rock of Moses who was struck with the rod of God’s justice and who now gives us water in the desert.
Jesus is the true and better Job, He is the truly innocent sufferer who then intercedes for and saves His stupid friends.
Jesus is the true and better David, whose victory becomes the people’s victory even though they didn’t lift a stone to accomplish it themselves.
Jesus is the true and better Esther, who didn’t just risk losing an earthly palace but lost ultimately the heavenly one, who didn’t just risk His life but gave His life, who didn’t just say if I perish I perish but when I perish, I perish for them . . . to save my people.
Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so we can be brought aboard to safety.

He’s the real Passover Lamb; He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true life, the true bread.

Why don't you pause now and thank Jesus for who He is and what He's done for us using the above "true and better" statements?