The Bible as God’s Story · Vaughan Roberts' 'God's Big Picture: Tracing the...

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