The Bible as God’s Story
BBPC ABC
2 February 2020
The Living Word
Our own lives are a
story. As Christians, our
story is also shaped by
the grand story God has
revealed through
Scripture.
“As I read the Bible I find in it a quite
unique interpretation of universal
history, and therefore, a unique
understanding of the human person
as a responsible actor in history.
You Christian missionaries have talked
of the Bible as if it were simply another
book of religion.”
-Badrinath (Hindu scholar)
Richness of the Bible
Divinely inspired
66 Canonical books – inspired process
Written over 1600-year span
By ~40 male authors
3 main languages: Hebrew, Greek and
Aramaic
Covers large ancient geographical area
Many literary genres
Open Questions
What term would best
describe the Bible for you?
(3 words max)
Open Questions
Which literary genres can
be found in the Bible?
Open Questions
What are some benefits or
uses of the Bible?
Shape of a Story
Beginning X X X X X X X End
-Theme
- Conflicts/Tensions
-Climax
-Resolution
Biblical Story
Beginning X X X X X X X End
Meaning of History:
His (God’s) Story
(?) ------------------(?)-------(?)
Two Grand Perspectives
Biblical Story - Scripture; God-
centred
Modern Story – Humanist
Big bang as beginning,
science/technology as progress,
better world as the end
“The whole point of
Christianity is that it offers a
story which is the story of
the whole world.”
It is public truth.”
(N.T. Wright – theologian/pastor)
“I can only answer the question “What am I
to do?” if I can answer the prior question
“Of what story do I find myself a part?”
-Alasdair MacIntyre
(Philosopher)
“The way we understand human life depends
on what conception we have of the human
story. What is the real story of which my
life story is a part?”
-Lesslie Newbigin
(Missiologist)
Break-out Question #1
What is the Gospel to you?
How does it relate to the
Bible?
Break-out Question #2
How would you explain what
the Bible is all about to a
non-believer?
(In two sentences)
Break-out Question #3
How would you describe the
relationship between the
Old Testament and the New
Testament? Why are both
necessary?
Any Questions?
Restroom Break
Biblical Story…
Reveals God’s Purpose
Invites us to Participate
Biblical Story…
One story
Rich, diverse, textured
Progressively unfolds
The Bible tells
One unfolding Story
of Redemption.
“… the Bible provides us with an
overarching narrative in which all other
narratives of the world are nested.
The Bible is the story of God. The story
of the world is first and foremost the
story of God’s activity in creating,
sustaining, and redeeming the world to
fulfill God’s purposes for it.”
-C. Gerkin (theologian, author)
All of human life is shaped
by some story...
...If the Bible is viewed as discrete segments...
...then it will be absorbed into our cultural story...
...Our whole lives will be shaped by our idolatrous cultural story rather than the story of Scripture! We become conformed to this world.
Is the Bible Really a Single
Unfolding Story?
Diversity of literary genres
How does each fit in the whole?
An illustration with the story of the
blind men and the elephant
The Blind Men and the Elephant
Touch different parts
Draw wrong conclusions
about whole
Miss bigger whole
“And so these men of Hindustan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his opinion,
Exceeding stiff and
strong,
Though each was
partly in the right,
And all were in the
wrong.”
- John Saxe
Open Question
What are some themes/motifs
that we can find running
throughout the Bible?
Two Major Recurring
Themes to Consider
Covenant
Kingdom
The Biblical Drama –
Kingdom Perspective
Act One: God establishes His Kingdom:
Creation
Act Two: Rebellion in the Kingdom: Fall
Act Three: The King Chooses Israel:
Redemption Initiated
Scene 1: A people for the King
Scene 2: A Land for His people
Interlude: A Kingdom Story Waiting for an
Ending: Inter-Testamental Period
The Biblical Drama (cont’d)
Act Four: The Coming of the King: Redemption
Accomplished
Act Five: Spreading the News of the King: The
Mission of the Church
Scene 1: From Jerusalem to Rome
Scene 2: And into All the World
Act Six: The Return of the King: Redemption
Completed
Helpful Questions
Where is this passage located in the redemptive
story? How does it relate to us?
What does the passage teach us about God or
Christ? Does it point to Christ?
What does it mean for us personally, and our
roles in society?
What does it mean for us corporately, as the
church?
What does it mean for the non-Christian?
Case Study: Psalm 1 & 2
Biblical storyline
God/Christ
Individual Christian
Church
Non-Christian
Society
Resources
Vaughan Roberts' 'God's Big Picture: Tracing
the Storyline of the Bible'
Nigel Beynon's 'Dig Deeper: Tools to Unearth
the Bible's Treasure'
Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart's 'How to Read
the Bible for All It's Worth'
Michael Lawrence's 'Biblical Theology in the Life
of the Church'
Graeme Goldsworthy's 'According to Plan: The
Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible'
Takeaway
Encouragement to read through the Bible
Progression of God’s redemptive history:
Remembrance -> Presence ->
Destination/Hope
Recognising we play a role (personally and
corporately as the church) in God’s
unfolding grand story
Q & A
Top Related