How would you tell God’s story?
We challenged our students to tell The Story. To provide an example, the teachers delivered a personalized rendition. I chose to tell it from the combined perspective of grace and faith. Even in summary form, it's still an amazing story. Gets me choked up everytime.
I was asked to post it here; so here goes…
From the deep dark of eternity the Trinity existed. God spoke and created all things, as written in His inerrant Word. On the 6th day He created man and woman in His own image and breathed in them His very own breath of life. He walked with them in the garden until the day they chose not to obey His one command. They sinned against a holy God and broke fellowship with Him. In His grace, He did not destroy them. While they suffered the consequences of their sin – along with the earth, the animals, and all mankind – He clothed them and continued to provide for them.
Adam and Eve had children. Their 1st two sons were Cain and Abel. Because sin had entered God’s creation, Cain became envious of Abel and murdered him. When confronted by God, Cain tried to deny it. God disciplined Him but, in His grace, continued to provide protection for Cain.
Adam and Eve had more children and the earth’s population grew and grew. Lawlessness and sin also grew along with the population. Man behaved atrociously and God was terribly grieved.
He found Noah to be a righteous man that walked with God. In His grace, God used Noah to give man another chance. He gave Noah specific instructions and, in faith, Noah obeyed and so was saved – along with his family and the animals housed on the ark.
After the flood there were three nations with one language. The inhabitants decided to build a huge city with a tower that would reach heaven. Because of their arrogance, God frustrated their language therefore making communication difficult.
God had a plan from the beginning to restore His relationship with mankind and save them from their sins that they may be reunited to live with Him eternally. In His great grace He faithfully brought about the fulfillment of that plan.
He chose Abram to father a nation and a people for Himself. He made a covenant with Abram to give him a son and bless all peoples through his descendants. In faith Abram believed and God blessed him with a son. Isaac inherited this covenant and his firstborn sons were twins. Jacob, the younger, deceived his father into receiving his father’s blessing but God, in His grace, blessed Jacob also and eventually changed his name to Israel. Jacob fathered many sons. His sons and grandsons would become the 12 tribes of the nation of Israel.
One of Jacob’s sons was Joseph. Again, sin wreaked havoc on a family and Joseph was disposed of by his brothers. He was sold off and taken to Egypt but lived a remarkable life of faith, enduring many trials. Many years later Joseph was reunited with his family and they settled in this foreign land.
Long after his death he was forgotten and his people were enslaved by the Egyptians. They cried out to God and, in His grace, He chose Moses and his brother, Aaron, to lead them to freedom and a land of promise -- a land flowing with milk and honey. After God’s display of power and sovereignty through many plagues the hard-hearted Pharaoh finally released the Hebrews. In his grace, God protected them from death by the blood of the lamb. He went with them and aided their escape by miraculously parting the Red Sea. He led them by cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He provided for them in their journey. Many times they grieved Him and suffered consequences due to their bad attitudes and lack of faith. Eventually God brought them to the land He promised. He toppled Jericho, defeated armies and nations, and gave them a land of their own; He would be their God and they would be His people. They were to live differently – separate from the world – and were to worship Him alone and obey His laws, that they might receive blessing and be the instruments of His plan of promise and salvation.
As the nation grew and prospered they forgot their God and fell away. He would rescue them and provide leaders in the Judges but they would repeatedly turn from Him.
The time came when they no longer wanted God as their King. They wanted a king like the other countries. In God’s grace, He granted their request.
Their 1st king was Saul. He soon became wicked and sinned against God. God then chose David, a shepherd boy, to succeed Saul as king. David loved God. He was imperfect and sinned many times but he had a heart for God and, in God’s grace, He blessed him and made a covenant with him; from the line of David a Savior would come.
David’s son Solomon succeeded him as king. God have him great wisdom and riches and Solomon built a Temple for God in the city of Jerusalem. Israel grew and prospered and the people enjoyed a time of peace.
In the centuries that followed, Israel knew many wicked kings. The country split into two kingdoms and fell away from God. God allowed other nations to carry them off to captivity. God first used the Babylonians then, later the Assyrians, to bring them back to Him. But God, in His grace, never abandoned His people or forgot His promise. He continued to encourage them and warn them through messages by His many prophets.
Centuries of silence passed but there remained a remnant of His people that faithfully believed and watched and waited for their Deliverer.
To Zechariah and Elizabeth an angel delivered a message and a promise. They would have a son that would prepare the way for the coming Messiah.
Just months later angels delivered messages to Mary and Joseph. Mary, a virgin, would conceive a child through the Holy Spirit and this baby would be the Son of God that would save people from their sins.
The time came for the baby to be born in Bethlehem. A host of angels announced his birth to nearby shepherds and in the sky God shone the most incredible light. One the star gazers of eastern lands – known as Magi – would recognize and follow to bring gifts to honor this newborn king.
At the time, Israel was occupied by hostile Romans and corrupt religious leaders. The times were hard for the Jewish nation. This boy Jesus, both fully God and fully man, grew in favor with God and man. At the age of 30, He was publicly baptized by his cousin, John, and then began a ministry that would last only three short years.
Jesus performed many miracles and taught of the kingdom of God in parables. He fulfilled 425 prophecies recorded in the foretelling of the Messiah. When the time had come, God – in His grace – would institute a new covenant, a covenant of grace through Jesus Christ. Jesus would complete God’s perfect plan of redemption for mankind but He would have to suffer and die to do it. He chose to sacrifice his own life to save us.
Jesus was wrongly accused, endured an unjust trial, and found guilty of blasphemy. He was mocked, tortured, ridiculed, and nailed on a cross to die; shedding the cleansing blood of the Perfect Lamb of God. He was buried in a secured, stone-covered tomb and was resurrected on the third day. He appeared to his 11 disciples and over 500 for a period of 40 days, teaching His followers of God’s plan for His kingdom – the Church. He ascended to heaven where He now prepares a place for His faithful followers. In God’s grace, 10 days later He sent the Holy Spirit to those with faith to believe and obey. These new Christians spread the Good News of Jesus Christ throughout the region. They were jailed, persecuted, and killed for preaching; but, God’s plan can not – will not – fail.
Saul, a devout Jew, was miraculously converted; renamed Paul; and traveled on treacherous mission journeys that would plant churches all over Asia. His many letters to these churches became part of what we now call the New Testament.
Over 2000 years have passed in the history of the Church; but God, in His grace, has not forgotten His promise nor abandoned His people. By our faith and His grace we are forgiven, empowered to live holy lives, and boldly serve and proclaim His message. More believers are being added to His ever-expanding family as we await the promised return of His Son.
When Jesus returns, he will defeat His enemies, issue final judgment, and usher in a new heaven and a new earth where His disciples will live with Him for all eternity.
We challenged our students to tell The Story. To provide an example, the teachers delivered a personalized rendition. I chose to tell it from the combined perspective of grace and faith. Even in summary form, it's still an amazing story. Gets me choked up everytime.
I was asked to post it here; so here goes…
From the deep dark of eternity the Trinity existed. God spoke and created all things, as written in His inerrant Word. On the 6th day He created man and woman in His own image and breathed in them His very own breath of life. He walked with them in the garden until the day they chose not to obey His one command. They sinned against a holy God and broke fellowship with Him. In His grace, He did not destroy them. While they suffered the consequences of their sin – along with the earth, the animals, and all mankind – He clothed them and continued to provide for them.
Adam and Eve had children. Their 1st two sons were Cain and Abel. Because sin had entered God’s creation, Cain became envious of Abel and murdered him. When confronted by God, Cain tried to deny it. God disciplined Him but, in His grace, continued to provide protection for Cain.
Adam and Eve had more children and the earth’s population grew and grew. Lawlessness and sin also grew along with the population. Man behaved atrociously and God was terribly grieved.
He found Noah to be a righteous man that walked with God. In His grace, God used Noah to give man another chance. He gave Noah specific instructions and, in faith, Noah obeyed and so was saved – along with his family and the animals housed on the ark.
After the flood there were three nations with one language. The inhabitants decided to build a huge city with a tower that would reach heaven. Because of their arrogance, God frustrated their language therefore making communication difficult.
God had a plan from the beginning to restore His relationship with mankind and save them from their sins that they may be reunited to live with Him eternally. In His great grace He faithfully brought about the fulfillment of that plan.
He chose Abram to father a nation and a people for Himself. He made a covenant with Abram to give him a son and bless all peoples through his descendants. In faith Abram believed and God blessed him with a son. Isaac inherited this covenant and his firstborn sons were twins. Jacob, the younger, deceived his father into receiving his father’s blessing but God, in His grace, blessed Jacob also and eventually changed his name to Israel. Jacob fathered many sons. His sons and grandsons would become the 12 tribes of the nation of Israel.
One of Jacob’s sons was Joseph. Again, sin wreaked havoc on a family and Joseph was disposed of by his brothers. He was sold off and taken to Egypt but lived a remarkable life of faith, enduring many trials. Many years later Joseph was reunited with his family and they settled in this foreign land.
Long after his death he was forgotten and his people were enslaved by the Egyptians. They cried out to God and, in His grace, He chose Moses and his brother, Aaron, to lead them to freedom and a land of promise -- a land flowing with milk and honey. After God’s display of power and sovereignty through many plagues the hard-hearted Pharaoh finally released the Hebrews. In his grace, God protected them from death by the blood of the lamb. He went with them and aided their escape by miraculously parting the Red Sea. He led them by cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He provided for them in their journey. Many times they grieved Him and suffered consequences due to their bad attitudes and lack of faith. Eventually God brought them to the land He promised. He toppled Jericho, defeated armies and nations, and gave them a land of their own; He would be their God and they would be His people. They were to live differently – separate from the world – and were to worship Him alone and obey His laws, that they might receive blessing and be the instruments of His plan of promise and salvation.
As the nation grew and prospered they forgot their God and fell away. He would rescue them and provide leaders in the Judges but they would repeatedly turn from Him.
The time came when they no longer wanted God as their King. They wanted a king like the other countries. In God’s grace, He granted their request.
Their 1st king was Saul. He soon became wicked and sinned against God. God then chose David, a shepherd boy, to succeed Saul as king. David loved God. He was imperfect and sinned many times but he had a heart for God and, in God’s grace, He blessed him and made a covenant with him; from the line of David a Savior would come.
David’s son Solomon succeeded him as king. God have him great wisdom and riches and Solomon built a Temple for God in the city of Jerusalem. Israel grew and prospered and the people enjoyed a time of peace.
In the centuries that followed, Israel knew many wicked kings. The country split into two kingdoms and fell away from God. God allowed other nations to carry them off to captivity. God first used the Babylonians then, later the Assyrians, to bring them back to Him. But God, in His grace, never abandoned His people or forgot His promise. He continued to encourage them and warn them through messages by His many prophets.
Centuries of silence passed but there remained a remnant of His people that faithfully believed and watched and waited for their Deliverer.
To Zechariah and Elizabeth an angel delivered a message and a promise. They would have a son that would prepare the way for the coming Messiah.
Just months later angels delivered messages to Mary and Joseph. Mary, a virgin, would conceive a child through the Holy Spirit and this baby would be the Son of God that would save people from their sins.
The time came for the baby to be born in Bethlehem. A host of angels announced his birth to nearby shepherds and in the sky God shone the most incredible light. One the star gazers of eastern lands – known as Magi – would recognize and follow to bring gifts to honor this newborn king.
At the time, Israel was occupied by hostile Romans and corrupt religious leaders. The times were hard for the Jewish nation. This boy Jesus, both fully God and fully man, grew in favor with God and man. At the age of 30, He was publicly baptized by his cousin, John, and then began a ministry that would last only three short years.
Jesus performed many miracles and taught of the kingdom of God in parables. He fulfilled 425 prophecies recorded in the foretelling of the Messiah. When the time had come, God – in His grace – would institute a new covenant, a covenant of grace through Jesus Christ. Jesus would complete God’s perfect plan of redemption for mankind but He would have to suffer and die to do it. He chose to sacrifice his own life to save us.
Jesus was wrongly accused, endured an unjust trial, and found guilty of blasphemy. He was mocked, tortured, ridiculed, and nailed on a cross to die; shedding the cleansing blood of the Perfect Lamb of God. He was buried in a secured, stone-covered tomb and was resurrected on the third day. He appeared to his 11 disciples and over 500 for a period of 40 days, teaching His followers of God’s plan for His kingdom – the Church. He ascended to heaven where He now prepares a place for His faithful followers. In God’s grace, 10 days later He sent the Holy Spirit to those with faith to believe and obey. These new Christians spread the Good News of Jesus Christ throughout the region. They were jailed, persecuted, and killed for preaching; but, God’s plan can not – will not – fail.
Saul, a devout Jew, was miraculously converted; renamed Paul; and traveled on treacherous mission journeys that would plant churches all over Asia. His many letters to these churches became part of what we now call the New Testament.
Over 2000 years have passed in the history of the Church; but God, in His grace, has not forgotten His promise nor abandoned His people. By our faith and His grace we are forgiven, empowered to live holy lives, and boldly serve and proclaim His message. More believers are being added to His ever-expanding family as we await the promised return of His Son.
When Jesus returns, he will defeat His enemies, issue final judgment, and usher in a new heaven and a new earth where His disciples will live with Him for all eternity.
The Beginning
Now, you try.
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Thank you for sharing your heart.