It's possible, and sadly common, to know the stories of Scripture without knowing the Story they tell. You can attend church, memorize verses, and understand Christian vocabulary while still missing the heart of the Gospel. 

This series explores how the Bible's many stories fit together into one grand narrative and how we find our proper place within it.

Session #1- Stories vs. Story

The Bible consists of 66 books written by more than 40 authors over a period of approximately 1,500 years. Yet together, these books tell one unified story of God's desires for humanity, His interactions with mankind, and His promises to redeem and restore His creation. If we fail to understand the Bible's overarching narrative, neither our own stories nor the individual stories within Scripture will fully make sense. The smaller stories gain their meaning from the larger story they are part of. Understanding that one grand story helps us see how God's purposes unfold throughout Scripture and how our lives fit within His redemptive plan.

Session #2- Plot vs Subplot

Every story has a main plot and a variety of subplots. The subplots are important because they support and develop the story, but they are not the story itself. Sadly, within Christianity, many of these subplots have been taught as though they were the main plot. As a result, many people have missed the Bible's central message. Jesus is not merely our Savior, He is our King. The good news is not only that our sins can be forgiven, but that God, through Jesus, is establishing His Kingdom and inviting us to become part of it. When we understand Jesus as both Savior and King, the larger story of Scripture comes into focus, and the individual stories begin to make sense within the context of God's redemptive plan.

Session #3- Our Part of the Story: Self-focused, Self-erasing, or Selfless Servant

Every story is made up of a variety of characters, each playing the role they were created to play. Unfortunately, our culture often pushes us into one of two unbiblical extremes. On one hand, we are encouraged to become self-focused, living as though we are the center of the story, a mindset often described as "main character syndrome." On the other hand, some are led to believe that they have no meaningful role to play and no value to contribute to the world around them. The Bible offers a better way. It teaches that each of us has a unique purpose and a meaningful role within God's larger story. We are not the main character, but neither are we insignificant. Jesus demonstrates what it looks like to live with humility, purpose, and selfless love. He shows us that a truly heroic life is one of faithful service; a life that impacts others for good, even when those acts go unnoticed by the world. As we follow Him, we discover how to live lives of significance, not by seeking the spotlight, but by faithfully fulfilling the role God has given us.

*These lessons can be taught in a variety of formats, ranging from three 45-minute sessions to multiple shorter sessions. The content can be adapted and divided as needed to best fit your schedule, audience, and learning objectives.  Other lessons and topics will be considered by request.