Everyone has a story to live by. For Christians, two questions arise regarding this story: “Which story tells the true story about God, our world, and life?” and “Does my story line up with the true story?” What constitutes a basic story line is much the same in novels, TV shows, movies, and plays. Typically, the story opens with things going well. The characters are introduced, and we are given essential background information. Everything is good (or at least stable) at the start, but then a problem or crisis threatens the characters and their future. Much of the story is taken up with solving this problem (conflict resolution). Usually, during this period of resolution, the tension builds to a critical point (the climax), and the heart of the problem is solved. Finally (though this may take awhile), the resolution is worked out so that things are not just good but great. When there is no happy ending, the story is called a tragedy. The phases of a grand story are summarized as follows:
The Bible claims to be God’s story for the whole world. In the Bible we find the one grand story that best explains reality:
To put the grand story of the Bible into a memorable format, consider the outline below, which uses the k sound:
Creation—The story begins with the creation of the world and human beings (Gen. 1–2).
Crisis—When tempted by Satan, humans choose to satisfy self and rebel (or sin) against God. Sin brings disastrous and deadly consequences: pain, suffering, death, and separation from God (Gen. 3–11).
Covenant—God begins to solve the sin problem by choosing Abraham and establishing a covenant with him so that he might become the father of a people who will worship God. God wants to make Abraham into a great nation and use this one nation to bring the rest of the world into a relationship with himself (Gen. 12, 15, 17).
Calling out—Genesis tells the story of the patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Israel), and Joseph. Through a series of events the patriarchs move to Egypt, and their small group grows into a nation, but they become enslaved. God uses Moses to deliver his people from slavery through the exodus event. God’s miraculous deliverance of his people from bondage in Egypt becomes a pattern that foreshadows God’s ultimate deliverance of his people from spiritual slavery.
Commandments—After God rescues his people, God enters into a covenant with them (the Mosaic covenant). He gives them the law (summed up in the Ten Commandments) and calls his people to holiness. God’s expectations for his covenant people are spelled out in the book of Deuteronomy.
Conquest—God uses Joshua to help his people take the promised land (Canaan).
Kingdom—God’s people acquire a king. Samuel becomes the link between the judges and the kings of Israel. The first king is Saul, followed by David and Solomon.
Kingdom divided—After Solomon, a civil war leads to the division of the kingdom: Israel = northern kingdom, Judah = southern kingdom. There are many kings; some are good but most are bad.
Captivity—Because God’s people have failed to worship him alone, they face terrible judgment, including the loss of the promised land. Their enemies take them captive. Israel is conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BC, while Judah is conquered and taken captive by the Babylonians around 586 BC.
Coming home—The people finally return from exile under Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Nehemiah (538–430 BC).
Christ (climax to the story)—About four hundred years later God sends his Son, Jesus the Christ, to save his people from their sins. Jesus announces the coming of God’s kingdom through his teachings and miracles. His death and resurrection form the climax to the biblical story.
Church—Those who accept Jesus become part of the church—the people of God— comprised of both Jews and Gentiles. God continues to use his people to extend his offer of salvation to a sinful world.
Consummation—God closes history with a final victory over evil. Those who have rejected God will suffer judgment while those who have accepted him will live with him in a new heaven and new earth. God’s promises are now fulfilled (see Rev. 19–22 and esp. 21:1–4).
The Bible is a collection of sixty-six books, but it also functions like a single book. The Bible’s great story answers the basic questions of life better than any other story because it’s true. We can count on it. When a person comes to faith in Christ, he or she is basically saying, “I want God’s story to become my story.” That’s what conversion is—embracing the great story of Scripture as our personal story.