About David Haken The Bible Charts Guy
A Love for Scripture That Started in the Details
I grew up in Northern California, where I came to know and love Jesus. But even early on, I sensed there was a depth to Scripture I hadn’t yet encountered — and I wanted more. That hunger was finally met in college, when I stumbled across the teaching ministry of John Piper. What captivated me wasn’t just his passion — though that was unmistakable — but his laser focus on the minute details of the biblical text. Through him, I began to see Scripture not just as true, but as infinitely rich and worth mining for every drop of meaning.
Around the same time, I was also discovering the value of reading the Bible for myself — all of it, not just the familiar passages. D.A. Carson’s For the Love of God reading plan and commentary helped me do just that. Through Carson, I was exposed to biblical theology and an academic precision which was balanced by pastoral warmth.
Seeing the Whole Before the Parts
That love for the Word eventually led me to seminary, where I completed graduate studies in Biblical and Theological Studies, and later earned a Master of Theology. Early in my studies at Western Seminary, Professor Gary Tuck gave me a foundational lens for reading Scripture: macro before micro. His words shaped everything that followed: No single verse or passage can be rightly understood without first seeing how it fits into the structure and message of the entire book.
That conviction was the perfect preparation for learning under Tim Mackie, whose visual approach to biblical teaching ignited a passion in me. You may know him from the Bible Project. In the classroom, his full-book diagrams and literary structure charts changed the way I saw the Bible — and how I wanted to teach it.
Teaching Scripture Where It’s Rarely Heard
After graduation, the Lord opened the door for my wife Liz and I to serve in missions overseas. For the past five years, we’ve been teaching at the International Graduate School of Leadership (IGSL), a Bible school in the Philippines with a remarkable vision: to train church-planters and missionaries from all across Asia to become disciple-makers in their home countries.
Our students come from places like Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Mongolia — many from regions where the name of Jesus is scarcely known. At IGSL, I’ve had the joy of putting everything I’ve learned into practice. And I’ve seen firsthand how visual tools make deep truths easier to understand, remember, and teach. Over time, I’ve developed hundreds of charts and diagrams — not just for students, but for anyone who wants to teach Scripture faithfully and clearly.
Helping You Teach the Bible with Clarity
Through weekly videos and in-depth courses, I now create chart-based resources for pastors, Bible teachers, and students around the world. Whether you’re preparing a sermon, leading a study, or simply exploring Scripture, these charts are designed to illuminate the rich layers of meaning in the text — and help you share it with confidence.
Ready to see for yourself? Start with a free visual walkthrough of the book of Jonah - and download the charts to use in your own teaching.