Master the Bible: How to Get and Keep the Big Picture of the Bible's Story

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Mas ter the B i b l e : How to Get and Keep the B i g P i c ture of the B i b l e ’ s Stor y

warrior would come and crush the head of the serpent (Satan, the devil), bringing an end to the reign of death and making the entire creation new once more. In the person of Jesus Christ and through his death and resurrection, God’s promise to Abraham and the patriarchs has been fulfilled for the world. Soon, Christ will return in glory and consummate the Story of God’s redemption, restoring God’s reign and refreshing God’s universe under his rule. As disciples, we are called to learn and live out this Story in our worship, lives, and service. “Aren’t you reducing things down too much?” In a Bible study class where the “Before to Beyond Time” storyline was presented and taught, one mature Christian well versed in the Scriptures posed an important question. “This outline is helpful to comprehend the Bible’s essential story from Genesis to Revelation, and it is most helpful in that it focuses on the person and work of Jesus Christ in God’s divine plan. I am wondering, though, how can you prevent the opposite reaction from happening–an over-focus on the ‘big picture’ and a neglect of the many, many wonderful stories of different characters in the Bible. Also, the Bible is not all story. There are many portions that are in prose form, like the Epistles, that involved teaching and preaching. What are some practical ways to appreciate the ‘big picture’ of the entire Bible, yet, at the same time, master some of the other portions which are not so story ordered?” How would you answer his question? Is it a valid one? How do all portions of Scripture fit into the Story? Over coffee, two friends are discussing the implications of looking at the Scriptures through the lens of a single battle, a single drama of God involving his intent to restore creation under his reign. Although they both see how such a view helps them keep the “big picture” of God’s salvation plan in mind, one of them is nervous about describing God’s salvation actions in terms of warfare. “You know,” she says to her friend, “with the constant chatter on the TV about war in the world, the prospect of terrorist violence, and the threat of fresh military conflicts everywhere, I don’t know if it is helpful to always be talking about the Bible’s Story in terms of cosmic warfare. I know that Jesus came to put down the works of Case Studies “I feel a little uneasy about viewing all things through the lens of cosmic war!”