Session 1: Seeing the Storyline of Scripture

Introduction

Illustration: Reading Out of Context

“Thank you so much for telling me to read the Bible,” the husband said. She had been trying to get him to read Scripture for years, so she was excited—but the gleam in his eye made her just a little skeptical.

“What’s got you so excited?” she asked. “Our money problems are solved!”

Now she was really skeptical. “How, exactly?” He beamed. “I’m going to the NBA—they get paid a ton!”

“Professional basketball?” she asked. “Yep.” “You’re… five-foot-eight?” “Yep.” “And… a little… chubby?” “Ye… hey!” he said defensively. “And not good at basketball.” “Not YET,” he said, “but I found the trick!”

She was beyond skeptical—somewhere between exasperated and speechless. With a deep sigh she asked, “Okay… what’s the trick?” His smile grew even wider. “It says right here: ‘I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.’ I’ve always wanted to play basketball, and now there’s nothing to it!” He pointed at his Bible. “Look, it says it right here in this verse!” His wife gently said, “Maybe we should read the whole chapter… or even the whole story.”

Illustration: Puzzle

That story is exaggerated—but the problem is real. We can take parts of the Bible out of context and make them mean things they were never meant to mean.

If you only look at one piece of a puzzle, it’s easy to misinterpret it. (hold up puzzle piece)

So what’s the solution? We need to see the big-picture storyline of Scripture.

It’s like a puzzle. (hold up puzzle box) Most puzzles have a picture on the box so you can see the image you’re putting together.

That way, when you get to a piece that’s tricky, you can look back at the picture and understand where it fits.

The “picture on the box” is the story God gives us across all of Scripture.

Clarification on the Word Story

Now, when some people hear the word story, they think fiction or just moral lessons. But the Bible is far more than that. It is God’s true Word—recording real history, teaching truth, and giving guidance for life.

And every part fits together into one grand story of what God has done, is doing, and will do.

Transition

For our Spring Bible study, we want to give you the tools to understand the big picture of the Bible and see how the smaller pieces—the specific passages you read—fit into that larger story.

This morning, we’ll start by asking why this story even matters. What difference does it make in our lives?

This evening, we’ll continue with two sessions. First, we’ll learn the storyline of the Bible in seven stages. Then we’ll see how that story connects to our own lives. Finally, in our last session on Wednesday, we’ll put what we’ve learned into practice with a guided study of a few genres of Bible passages to see how they connect to the larger story.

The Bible can feel like a giant puzzle—but if we know the big picture, every piece starts to make sense, and that’s exactly what we’ll explore in our Spring Bible study.

1. The story reveals who God is

Why does the storyline of Scripture matter? Because it reveals who God is.

From the first words of the Bible—“In the beginning God…”— to the final words of Revelation—“Surely I am coming quickly”—

The Bible is about God.

It shows:

What God has done

What God will do

What God reveals about the world

What God reveals about us

What God calls us to do

What God gives to us

But most importantly, it reveals who God is. This is not just information—it’s relational.

Biblical Illustration: Moses

Consider Moses. In Exodus 3, God’s people are slaves in Egypt, and Moses—now in exile—sees a burning bush.

When he approaches, God speaks to him and says He will rescue His people and bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey—a very good land.

Moses’ first question is, “Who am I that I should go?”

God redirects him—who Moses is isn’t the issue; what matters is that God will be with him.

So Moses pivots to a new question: not “Who am I?” but “Who are You?”

Let’s pick up the story in Exodus 3:13–15.

Exodus 3:13–15 NKJV

13 Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’ ” 15 Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’

a. God tells us directly who He is

God declares His name and identity. His personal name is YHWH, often written as “THE LORD.” He says, “I AM WHO I AM.”

We can learn about God from creation—but we would never know His name that way. The only way is for God to reveal Himself.

And here, He does.

That’s how we know who God is.

b. God shows us who He is

God doesn’t just tell us—He shows us.

He hears His people’s cries, sees their oppression, and sends Moses to rescue them.

This reveals:

God’s care—He sees their need

God’s love—He desires to rescue

God’s power—He is able to rescue

c. This is part of a bigger story

This moment reveals much—but it also fits into a larger story.

Who are these people?

Why are they oppressed?

What is the connection to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob?

As we zoom out, we see that this rescue points forward to a greater one—when God delivers people from slavery to sin.

And this is not just what God does—it reveals who He is: our loving Savior.

If we don’t see the whole story, we don’t fully know God.

Illustration / Transition

If you want to learn about Korea, you have options—you can talk to someone, search online, visit restaurants, or even travel there.

But how do you get to know an infinite, all-powerful God?

You can’t go to heaven on your own. You can’t grasp eternity.

The only way is for God to reveal Himself.

And the story of Scripture is exactly that—God revealing Himself to you.

2. The story shows us our place in God’s mission

Scripture reveals who God is, but it also shows us our place in God’s mission.

Sometimes people say, “The Bible isn’t about you—it’s about God.”

But although the Bible is definitely about God, it is also about you. As we see God’s story, we also discover where we fit within it, our place in God’s mission.

Read Genesis 12:1–3

Genesis 12:1–3 NKJV

1 Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. 2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

a. We see our need for redemption

This promise to Abraham includes us.

Some parts are specific to him—land, nation, descendants. But the mission extends beyond him:

“In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

That includes us.

When we see the big picture, we understand God’s mission—a rescue mission from a holy and loving God to restore sinful people to Himself.

That mission leads to Jesus.

And when we see the story clearly, we see ourselves clearly: we are sinners in need of a Savior—and Jesus took our sin on the cross.

b. We see our role in God’s plan

But we don’t just see our need—we see our role.

Just as God called Abraham into His mission, Jesus calls us into His mission.

As we read the New Testament, we realize something: we are living in that same story.

We are part of the Great Commission. We are Christ’s ambassadors in the world.

You are not just reading this story—you are living in it.

And God invites you to take part in His mission.

3. The story centers on Christ and gives life purpose

Finally, I want to invite you to consider the heart of the story of Scripture: Jesus Christ and remind you how Jesus gives purpose to your life.

In his letter to the Ephesians Paul shares a powerful word about Jesus.

Ephesians 1:9–10 NKJV

9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him.

This is a theologically rich passage with a lot of truth packed into it.

a. God’s plan

Paul speaks of God’s plan—a mystery we could not discover on our own, but one God reveals according to His good pleasure.

b. All things gathered in Christ

And that plan centers on Christ.

At the right time, God will bring all things together under Jesus—everything in heaven and on earth.

There’s a sense in which this has already begun. All of the Old Testament promises are brought together and fulfilled in Jesus. God’s plan brings together not just Jewish people, but all people into one people of God united in Jesus.

But the Bible also tells the end of the story, what is to come. Christ will return, and all creation will be united under His rule.

When we understand the story of Scripture, we see that everything points to Him. He is the rightful center of the story.

c. Making ourselves the center of the story

But naturally, we tend to put ourselves at the center of the story.

And where does that lead? Not to purpose—but to emptiness.

It’s like Edmund in The Chronicles of Narnia. The Turkish Delight looks satisfying—but the more he eats, the hungrier he becomes. Never satisfied.

That’s what happens when we center life on ourselves.

But we were created for something more—for relationship with God.

And that’s where God’s plan comes in.

God loved the world so much that He sent Jesus to die on the cross for us, so that we could have life in Him.

And in Him, we find purpose—not just for this life, but for eternity.

Conclusion

I urge you to cherish God’s Word and make it part of your life.

Read it with the big picture in mind.

As you do:

You will come to know God more deeply

You will understand His mission and your place in it

And as you center your life on Jesus—the center of the story— you will find a life anchored in Christ and filled with purpose.

John Reading Plan

Week 12 (March 22–28, 2026)

John 14–15 – Jesus comforts His disciples with the promise of His presence, the gift of the Spirit, and the assurance that He is the true vine. He calls them to abide in Him and to bear fruit through love and obedience. These chapters emphasize the intimate union believers share with Christ and the power of the Spirit at work within them.

☐ Day 1 – John 14:1–14 + Isaiah 41:8–10

☐ Day 2 – John 14:15–31 + Ezekiel 36:26–27

☐ Day 3 – John 15:1–8 + Isaiah 5:1–7

☐ Day 4 – John 15:9–17 + Psalm 92:12–15

☐ Day 5 – John 15:18–27 + 2 Timothy 3:10–13

Notes & Further Study

1. Bibliography

I used the following books in preparing for the Spring Bible Study:

Holman Illustrated Bible Handbook, by B&H Editorial Staff, (Holman Bible Publishers, 2012).

This is an extremely helpful handbook for understanding the big-picture of the Bible and reading each book in context. This has much of the same content as Holman Quick Source Guide to Understanding the Bible (2002).

40 Questions about Biblical Theology, by Jason S. DeRouchie, ed. Benjamin L. Merkle, 40 Questions Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2020).

The 40 Questions series is one of my favorite scholarly works aimed at ordinary believers. This volume on biblical theology is an excellent

You can read this through straight, or jump into any of the 40 questions. Some sample chapters/questions include:

What Is Scripture’s Storyline? (ch 2)

How Does Biblical Theology Help Us See Christ in thee Old Testament? (ch 3)

How Do the Old and New Testament Progress, Integrate, and Climax in Christ? (ch4)

Does the Bible Have One Central Theme? (ch15)

What is a Biblical Theology of {Covenants; the Serpent; the People of God; the Law; Sabbath; the Temple; Mission; the Land; Resurrection} (ch 22-30)

How Should a Christian Relate to the Old Testament Promises? (ch 37)

How Should Biblical Theology Impact the Christian Life?

The Story of Scripture: An Introduction to Biblical Theology by Matthew Y. Emerson and Heath A. Thomas, (Nashville, TN: B&H Academic, 2017).

This is an excellent introduction to Biblical Theology as a way of reading the Bible and connecting the various parts to see the bigger picture.

It provides a quick high level summary of the the story of the Bible and how it all points to Jesus.

How to Preach & Teach the Old Testament for All Its Worth, by Christopher J. H. Wright (Zondervan, 2016).

My 7-stage framework for understanding the story of Scripture was drawn from his “The Single Big Story of the Bible” on page 33 and 88.

I make two significant changes:

He uses 6 stages. I add a seventh stage, judgement.

I flipped the arrow for Mission from pointing forward to pointing back to Jesus.

The Unfolding Word: The Story of the Bible from Creation to New Creation by Zach Keele, (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020).

This book offers a “fast reading” of the story of Scripture covering the entire Bible in 13 chapters. He writes from a reformed, covenant theology position.

2. Bible Translation

I’m choosing the NKJV for preaching because I believe it offers the strongest balance of faithfulness to the historic text of Scripture, clarity for modern readers, and continuity with the church’s worshiping tradition.

At the same time, I deeply value other faithful translations—such as the NASB, ESV, CSB, and NIV—which also serve the church well and can enrich our understanding of God’s Word.