The Opening
Overview
Creedal Statement
We believe in God Almighty, the sovereign Creator of all things. He is the one and only true God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He made humans, male and female, in his image. The crown of his creation, the first humans ruined God’s perfect world in their prideful rebellion. God gave his word to destroy the wicked and save believers.
God fulfilled his word by sending his one and only Son into the world. For us and our salvation, Jesus suffered, died, was buried, and rose again from the dead. After Jesus ascended to heaven, God sent the Holy Spirit to empower Jesus’ disciples and to raise his people to new life in Christ. Truly, the kingdom of God has triumphed over the forces of evil and Christians hope for the return of Jesus, the defeat of Satan, the judgment of the wicked, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting in the new creation of the world.
Key Elements
- Key Passage - Preview
- Scripture Memory - And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
- Catechism - Q: What is the foundation of the Christian life? A: Faith.
Introduction
Hold on to the pattern of sound teaching you have heard from me, with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
The Person of Christ is to me the surest as well as the most sacred of all facts; as certain as my own personal existence; yea, even more so: for Christ lives in me, and he is the only valuable part of my existence. I am nothing without my Saviour; I am all with him, and would not exchange him for the whole world. To give up faith in Christ is to give up faith in humanity; to believe in him is to believe in the redemption and final glorification of men; and this faith is the best inspiration to a holy and useful life for the good of our race and the glory of God.
Our lives are lived as unfolding stories. Human imagination is captivated by the power of a persuasive story, and human existence is experienced in dramatic terms: characters and plot, beginnings and endings, conflict and resolution, heroes and adversaries, roles and scripts, and trial and triumph. These are not only the components of good narrative; they form the fabric of life and faith. Humans understand personal identity, pursue vocational endeavors, form intimate relationships, and explore cosmic reality as characters is an unfolding narrative. In many ways, each individual has their own personal story. We live in the present time as products of our pasts and as heirs of a pending future. The individual stories of each human make up a larger narrative of the whole cosmos: the story of the world. God is the author behind this overarching story. To the extent our individual stories align with what God is doing in the world, we can experience a life of meaning, substance, purpose, and salvation. However, if we try to navigate life from a wrong script, we risk ruin, despair, corruption, and catastrophic loss.
The Scripture is the inspired account—the holy script—of God’s true dealings with humanity. As God’s revealed word to mankind, the Bible is a faithful record of the story behind it all. In this way, the Bible provides the clue to ask and answer the most important questions in the story of life. As a whole, the Bible teaches us most important truths about God, humanity, and the world in which we live. Many of these truths are recorded in the form of narrative. The stories of Scripture are doctrinal as much as they are authentic accounts of real events. Certainly, they are accurate in their written record. But they are also true in their theological intent. While the Bible’s individual stories highlight key teachings of the Christian faith, the single, overarching narrative of Scripture provides a righteous and reliable lens by which we can view the world and faithfully live in it. Sufficient upon which to build one’s entire worldview, the basic plot of the biblical narrative paints an overarching panorama of Christian doctrine, bearing witness to fundamental truths of reality.
As such, this study is an attempt to recover the storyline of God’s plan for his world. The Bible is an inspired script to this cosmic plot, helping believers embody their role in an unfolding redemptive drama. The Scripture is also a map, charting a trustworthy course for Christ’s disciples to sojourn through this transitory life into a recreated world of eternal life and unending bliss. Consequently, earnest biblical exploration is a sort of faith expedition: a voyage into the deep past, a survey of the unfolding present, and a glimpse of the imminent future. As a sacred script and reliable map, the scriptural metanarrative tells the true story of the world. The one and only true God created a good and perfect world that was tragically ruined by human sin. Faithful to his world and loving toward his creation, the Creator pledged to rescue his fallen world. God promised to send a deliverer who would restore the world, redeem sinful humanity, and vanquish the powers of darkness. Ultimately, God sent his Son, Jesus, to the earth. Fulfilling God’s ancient promises, Jesus was the appointed Savior of the world. He was humbly born into the world as a baby boy. He lived a life of righteousness and compassion, fully pleasing his heavenly Father. Jesus was executed unjustly on a cross, but this was all part of God’s plan. Jesus’ death made payment for human sin. He was buried in a tomb and three days later resurrected from the dead.
Announcing good news to sinful man, God promised life, forgiveness, and healing to all (and only!) who fully trust in Jesus as King. After Jesus ascended into heaven, he sent his Holy Spirit to live within all his followers. These followers are disciples of the resurrected Christ, placing their faith in him and experiencing definitive conversion and dramatic transformation. Believing the good news of the gospel, the community of Christ’s disciples form the church: one global family of Christ followers. Transformed by Christ, disciples are witnesses of Christ in word and deed. The church is an exiled community of faith that serves as God’s kingdom representatives in the world. God has already defeated the kingdom of darkness. One day, God’s kingdom rule will come fully to earth at the second coming of Christ. The full coming of God’s kingdom will bring the fullest hopes of humanity to fruition. Upon Jesus’ return to earth, the defeat of all of God’s enemies will finally be realized, evil will be forever banished, Christ’s followers will be wholly restored to eternal life, and God will recreate his world.
In this study, we explore twelve biblical narratives that teach these foundational Christian truths. Each of these stories represents a key moment—a turning point in the story behind it all—in God’s unfolding plan, and strives to capture the major movement of what God has been doing, is doing, and plans to do in all of human history. Similarly, each of these stories is connected with a key doctrine of the Christian faith. Christianity is a historical faith: the tenets of our faith are rooted in actual events that have occurred (or will occur) in human history. This selection of scripture narratives outlines basic Christian doctrine. While the whole canonical witness bears testimony to these truths (and further elaborates upon them), these principal texts provide a narrative introduction to Christian theology.
These narratives represent seminal texts on the Christian faith, they also offer a brief sketch of the overall biblical metanarrative. A simple but dramatic plot, this grand narrative recounts God’s plan to save fallen humanity and repair his broken world. This work of salvation is an act of the triune God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. God’s redemptive sets the trajectory of cosmic history with a plan of salvation that progressively occurs over the scope of human history and also is immediately available for anyone who believes. The story of the world is heading toward a climatic finale where God will rescue people from the curse and banish wickedness in eternal perdition.
The twelve biblical texts in this study establish believers in essentials of Christian belief. The first story begins in the middle of the scriptural metanarrative. It studies the prosperity and suffering of an ancient God-fearer named Job (Job 1:1–2:13), exploring the nature of faith in a broken world. Then, we return to the very beginning of the biblical account. This opening chapter of the Bible teaches us about the character of God and the essence of creation (Genesis 1:1–2:3). The next session explores the nature and purpose of humanity (Genesis 2:4–25). Sin tragically enters God’s good world and brings creation to ruin (Genesis 3:1–24). The account of a devastating flood (Genesis 5:28–9:17) highlights God’s faithfulness to his word, a promise of judgment and salvation. God’s promise of salvation is ultimately fulfilled in the coming of God’s eternal Son, Jesus Christ (Luke 1:1–2:21). This passage offers a helpful introduction to a true understanding of Christ. Christ achieved salvation through his death on a cross and resurrection from the dead (Mark 15:1–16:8). Jesus’ ascension to heaven led to the coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:1–2:47) through whom God powerfully transforms all who accept the gospel in faith (Acts 10:1–11:18). These transformed disciples form a community called the church in him (Revelation 1:9–3:22), who are God’s kingdom representatives on earth (Revelation 12:1–14:20). Ultimately, believers look forward to the return of Christ which will bring the defeat of Satan, the resurrection of the dead, and the new creation of the world.
What we believe matters. In fact, our convictions about what is true are of utmost importance. From our foundations of belief, we form an understanding of God, ourselves, and the world. These faith foundations impact the way we live in the world and relate to others. They determine our present wellbeing and our future destiny. Our beliefs impact our emotions and drive our conduct. They shape what we consider beautiful and what we confront as evil. While no person can understand reality with exhaustive precision, it is possible to come to a true and accurate understanding of reality. With the Bible as a sure and sacred guide, disciples can understand what God is doing in the world. And, having come to a clear conviction of this narrative—the story behind it all—believers can align their own personal life story with the trajectory of God’s unfolding story.
Book Overview: Surveying the Landscape
Discipleship is a process of establishing believers in the essentials of the Christian faith. In this section, explore the core content, consider the key idea, and articulate particular areas of interest in this study.
Core Content
An outline of Christian teaching is like a map for the journey of faith. Survey the twelve scriptural passages and associated themes that will set the itinerary for your upcoming study.
| Session | Focus |
|---|---|
| Session 1: The Battle (Job 1:1–2:13) |
Job demonstrated genuine faith as he suffered painfully. |
| Session 2: The Beginning (Genesis 1:1–2:3) |
The eternal and sovereign God created the whole world by his powerful word. |
| Session 3: The Image (Genesis 2:4–25) |
God made the first humans and placed them in his garden paradise. |
| Session 4: The Fall (Genesis 3:1–24) |
The first humans doubted God’s word, disobeyed his command, and ruined God’s perfect world with their prideful sin. |
| Session 5: The Promise (Genesis 5:28–9:17) |
God announced his intent to destroy sinful humanity and to save his faithful followers. |
| Session 6: The Coming (Luke 1:1–2:21) |
God fulfilled his promise of salvation by sending his eternal Son into the world as a baby boy. |
| Session 7: The Cross (Mark 15:1–16:8) |
Jesus endured great suffering, died on the cross, and resurrected from the dead to save sinful humanity. |
| Session 8: The Spirit (Acts 1:1–2:47) |
After Jesus’ heavenly ascension, the Holy Spirit came upon the first Christians, making them powerful witnesses of Christ. |
| Session 9: The Change (Acts 10:1–11:18) |
Cornelius and his household heard the gospel message preached by Peter and responded to it in faith. |
| Session 10: The Church (Revelation 1:9–3:22) |
Jesus wrote seven letters to early Christian churches, calling them to faithful devotion. |
| Session 11: The Kingdom (Revelation 12:1–14:20) |
John recorded a vision of God’s kingdom overpowering Satan’s kingdom. |
| Session 12: The Finale (Revelation 19:11–22:21) |
John wrote his vision of the new creation of the world. |
Key Idea
Faithful disciples plant firm roots in the soil of biblical principles. Review the main idea of this study. Discuss how the individual narratives and corresponding themes relate to this overarching theme.
Key Idea: Disciples of Christ are as strong in faith as they are established in the essentials of Christian belief.
Personal Interest
The essentials of the Christian faith are extremely relevant to our lives. Pick one or two biblical passages or study themes that capture your attention. Briefly discuss with your community what most interests you about these narratives and topics.
1. Which biblical narrative or study topic is most relevant to your cultural context?
2. Which biblical narrative or study topic seems most interesting or relevant to you? Why?
Faith Foundation: Exploring the Terrain
God calls his people to move beyond a superficial understanding of Christian essentials. Use the discussion questions and key quote to ponder with others how the subject area of study is of great importance in the Christian faith.
Discussion Questions
Disciples progress in the faith in the context of committed Christian community. Discuss the following questions with other believers as a means to orient your community to the subject of this study.
1. How do people pursue the truth? What different methods and sources do people use to come to an understanding of the truth?
2. Why is it important to have accurate beliefs? How do your beliefs affect other areas of your life (i.e., emotions, behaviors, relationships, etc.)?
3. How would you evaluate your current understanding of basic Christian teaching? What beliefs do you understand clearly? What topics do you need to study more?
Significant Quote
Christians learn from believers who live in different generations and cultures. Read the following quote and discuss with others what it suggests about the importance of Christian witness.
A Church which is a mere boneless body, like a jelly-fish, a colourless, bloodless, creedless Pantheon, in which every one is right and nobody is wrong who is in earnest, and in which it does not matter a jot what is preached and taught, so long as the preachers are sincere, — such a Church is an unpractical absurdity, and the baseless fabric of a dream. The Church which abandons all limits, and will not proclaim to mankind what it believes, or would have its members believe, may do very well for Cloudland or Utopia ; but it will never do for a world where there are tears and crosses, troubles and sorrows, sickness and death.
Record any initial observations or community insights below.
Learning Plan: Charting the Course
Formative biblical interpretation fosters Christian growth as the faith community purposefully engages the scriptural text. Review the session framework and use the planning calendar to coordinate your learning for this upcoming study journey.
Session Framework
The Scriptures bear authority over every area of our lives. To deeply understand any particular passage, disciples must engage the text at various levels. In the Narrative Journey series, a common study framework is applied to each core session. This common framework helps disciples engage each biblical passage in exegetical, theological, personal, ministry, and missional ways. This dynamic hermeneutical approach (a spiraling process through five movements that serves to deepen your understanding as you engage the text multiple times) helps believers and churches faithfully engage the Scriptures for life transformation.
Review the five movements of this interpretive framework and discuss how this hermeneutical approach helps individuals and communities engage the biblical text in a way that reforms our thinking and changes our lives.
Planning Calendar
Wisdom calls believers and the community to approach an ordered process of faith development with diligence and preparation. Use the following calendar to plan out dates and teachers for the various sessions in this study.
| Biblical Passage | Teacher | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Session 1: The Battle (Job 1:1–2:13) |
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| Session 2: The Beginning (Genesis 1:1–2:3) |
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| Session 3: The Image (Genesis 2:4–25) |
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| Session 4: The Fall (Genesis 3:1–24) |
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| Session 5: The Promise (Genesis 5:28–9:17) |
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| Session 6: The Coming (Luke 1:1–2:21) |
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| Session 7: The Cross (Mark 15:1–16:8) |
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| Session 8: The Spirit (Acts 1:1–2:47) |
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| Session 9: The Change (Acts 10:1–11:18) |
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| Session 10: The Church (Revelation 1:9–3:22) |
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| Session 11: The Kingdom (Revelation 12:1–14:20) |
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| Session 12: The Finale (Revelation 19:11–22:21) |
Core Project: Synthesizing the Faith
Genuine disciples integrate the truth of God’s word into their personal and community life. In this section, you will preview the capstone project, view an example confessional statement, and imagine how God might want to change your life through this study.
Project Preview
A firm conviction of Christian truth is foundational to a mature faith. Therefore, at the end of this book, you will be asked to write a creedal statement. This creed is a condensed and memorable summary of the core biblical teachings on Christian belief. It is also a capstone project for this study. You can write this individually or as a community. The aim of this project is to help you synthesize all that you will learn over the course of this study as it relates to the essential teachings of the Christian faith. As we trek through the next twelve sessions, it will be important to keep this project in your mind.
The following criteria will help guide your thinking about how you (and your church community) might draft such a statement. The creedal statement should be
- short: summarizes the key biblical teachings in a condensed and accessible format
- memorable: articulates biblical principles in a way that is easily memorizable
- usable: expresses the creed as a statement that can be affirmed and confessed together as a church community
- accurate: makes correct, biblical affirmations of Christian belief
- comprehensive: addresses all major areas of Christian teaching
Example Creed
As we journey toward Christian maturity, we should learn from other disciples. As we study the Scriptures together, the community of Christ followers helps each of us hone our thinking around what is true. As you prepare to write your own mission manifesto (and share it with other believers), review the following statement as an example of this capstone project.
We believe in God Almighty, the sovereign Creator of all things. He is the one and only true God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He made humans, male and female, in his image. The crown of his creation, the first humans ruined God’s perfect world in their prideful rebellion. God gave his word to destroy the wicked and save believers.
God fulfilled his word by sending his one and only Son into the world. For us and our salvation, Jesus suffered, died, was buried, and rose again from the dead. After Jesus ascended to heaven, God sent the Holy Spirit to empower Jesus’ disciples and to raise his people to new life in Christ. Truly, the kingdom of God has triumphed over the forces of evil and Christians hope for the return of Jesus, the defeat of Satan, the judgment of the wicked, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting in the new creation of the world.
Imaginative Storytelling
Believers in Jesus look forward to the future with hope and anticipation. As you consider the overarching topic of this study, think about how God wants to mature you in the faith. Specifically, imagine how your life would be different as God grows you into a mature Christian.
If I could know the truth about life, these are some things I would want to understand…
If I could grow in my understanding of the truth, this is how my life would look…
Faith Practice: Following the Way
Discipleship involves a lifetime of following Jesus in a context of Christian community. Familiarize yourself with the growth outcomes of this study, identify an area of focus, and pray for God’s transformative work in the course of the upcoming weeks.
Growth Outcomes
Setting growth goals helps to refine our Christian walk. As you look ahead to the upcoming study, read through the following outcomes to clarify ways in which God would have you grow in your faith.
As a result of this study, disciples, families, and churches will …
- establish a mature Christian understanding of the essentials of the Christian faith
- cultivate a deepening commitment to biblical truth
- demonstrate clarity and capability in articulating Christian truth
- participate in teaching basic Christian truths to others
Focused Area
Growth in the Christian life often happens one step at a time. Identify one of the above outcomes in which you want to grow. Name this specific outcome to your community, asking them to support you in prayer.
Community Prayer
We depend upon God’s power to grow each step in our Christian journeys. Pray that God would help each person in your community mature in the identified growth areas. Feel free to use the space below to write out a personal prayer or record requests from other members that you can keep in prayer throughout the course of this study.