Introduction:Introduction:The Bible as a Grand StoryThe Bible as a Grand Story

Our whole lives

are shaped

by some story.

Shape of a StoryShape of a Story

Beginning X X X X X X X End

ThemeTension/Resolution

Grand StoryGrand Story

ComprehensiveComprehensive: Account of : Account of wholewhole creationcreation

NormativeNormative: Claim to be : Claim to be truetrue

“… a story… is… the best way of talking about the way the world actually is.”

(N.T. Wright)

Two Grand StoriesTwo Grand Stories

Biblical StoryBiblical Story Modern StoryModern Story

– HumanistHumanist

Biblical StoryBiblical Story

Beginning(Creation)

X X X X X X X End(New Creation)

Meaning of History:Coming of the Kingdom

“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)

Humanist StoryHumanist Story

Beginning(Big Bang)

X X X X X X X End(Better world)

Meaning of History:Progress by science/technology

Living at the CrossroadsLiving at the Crossroads

Westernstory

Modernitycollapsing into

postmodernityBiblical

story

Creation, fall

redemption

“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

“The way we understand human life depends on what conception we have of the human story. What is the real story of which mylife story is a part?”

-Lesslie Newbigin

The Bible tells

one unfolding story

of redemption.

“As I read the Bible I find in it a quite unique interpretation of universal history, and therefore, a unique understanding of the human personas 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)

Scripture is “an immense, sprawling, capacious narrative.”

-Eugene Peterson

“… 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

“Scripture teaches one universal kingdom history that encompasses all of created reality: past, present, and future…its vision of history extends backward all the way to the beginning of time and forward all the way to the last day…the biblical vision of history spans time from the first creation to the new creation, encompassing all of created reality.”

-S. Greidanus

Problem!Problem!

This is This is notnot a minor matter of a minor matter of misinterpretation...misinterpretation...

...but a serious matter of which ...but a serious matter of which story is shaping our lives!story is shaping our lives!

Living at the CrossroadsLiving at the Crossroads

Westernstory

Modernitycollapsing into

postmodernityBiblical

story

Creation, fall

redemption

Absorption of Biblical StoryAbsorption of Biblical Story

Westernstory

Modernitycollapsing into

postmodernity

(Bible bits)

All of human life is shaped All of human life is shaped by some story... by some story...

...If the Bible is fragmented into little bits......If the Bible is fragmented into little bits...

...then it will be absorbed into our cultural ...then it will be absorbed into our cultural story...story...

...Our whole lives will be shaped by our ...Our whole lives will be shaped by our idolatrous cultural story rather than the idolatrous cultural story rather than the story of scripture! (We are conformed to story of scripture! (We are conformed to this world.)this world.)

Scriptural DramaScriptural Drama

Act OneAct One: God Creates His Kingdom: God Creates His Kingdom Act TwoAct Two: Rebellion in God’s Kingdom: Rebellion in God’s Kingdom Act ThreeAct Three: Promise of Restoration of Kingdom: : Promise of Restoration of Kingdom:

Israel’s MissionIsrael’s Mission Act FourAct Four: Kingdom Restored: Jesus’ Mission: Kingdom Restored: Jesus’ Mission Act FiveAct Five: Kingdom Tasted and Displayed: : Kingdom Tasted and Displayed:

Church’s MissionChurch’s Mission– Scene 1: Church Begins Its Mission to the Nations Scene 1: Church Begins Its Mission to the Nations – Scene 2: Our Place in the Story: Church Continues Its Scene 2: Our Place in the Story: Church Continues Its

Mission to the NationsMission to the Nations

Act SixAct Six: Consummation of God’s Kingdom: Consummation of God’s Kingdom

Biblical Story…Biblical Story…

RevealsReveals God’s purpose God’s purpose

InvitesInvites us to participate us to participate

Biblical Story…Biblical Story…

OneOne story story

ProgressivelyProgressively unfolds unfolds

Rich, diverse, texturedRich, diverse, textured

Is the Bible a SingleIs the Bible a SingleUnfolding Story?Unfolding Story?

Diversity of literary genresDiversity of literary genres

How does each fit in the whole?How does each fit in the whole?

Two illustrations:Two illustrations:– ElephantElephant

– CathedralCathedral

1) The Blind men and the Elephant1) The Blind men and the Elephant

Touch different partsTouch different parts

Draw wrong conclusions Draw wrong conclusions about wholeabout whole

Miss bigger wholeMiss bigger whole

“And so these men of Indostan

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

2) Cathedral2) Cathedral

What is What is ‘Main Entrance’‘Main Entrance’ to toStory of Scripture?Story of Scripture?

CovenantCovenant

KingdomKingdom

The Biblical DramaThe Biblical Drama

Act OneAct One: God establishes His Kingdom: : God establishes His Kingdom:

CreationCreation

Act TwoAct Two: Rebellion in the Kingdom: Fall: Rebellion in the Kingdom: Fall

Act ThreeAct Three: The King Chooses Israel: : The King Chooses Israel:

Redemption InitiatedRedemption Initiated

– Scene 1: A people for the KingScene 1: A people for the King

– Scene 2: A Land for His peopleScene 2: A Land for His people

InterludeInterlude: A Kingdom Story Waiting for an : A Kingdom Story Waiting for an

Ending: Inter-Testamental PeriodEnding: Inter-Testamental Period

The Biblical Drama The Biblical Drama (cont…)(cont…)

Act FourAct Four: The Coming of the King: Redemption : The Coming of the King: Redemption

AccomplishedAccomplished

Act FiveAct Five: Spreading the News of the King: The : Spreading the News of the King: The

Mission of the ChurchMission of the Church

– Scene 1: From Jerusalem to RomeScene 1: From Jerusalem to Rome

– Scene 2: And into All the WorldScene 2: And into All the World

Act SixAct Six: The Return of the King: Redemption : The Return of the King: Redemption

CompletedCompleted