God's Greater Narrative

Dear Reader,

I recently read a fantastic piece written by Paul Kaak (2024) on faith integration in higher education. He notes that shifts in Christian culture, including a long decline in biblical literacy within the church and society, have influenced teaching and learning in Christian schools. I know this all too well.

Growing up, my own experience with the Bible felt like trying to assemble a million-piece puzzle without the picture on the box to show how the pieces fit together. I was taught many of the stories throughout the Old and New Testaments, but never that they explicitly formed one unified story, let alone one in which I'm called to play an active part.

In 2016, when tasked with the profound responsibility of teaching the Bible to fourth graders, God made it very clear that I had much to learn. My search for more clarity led me to the Bible Project video series on how to read the Bible. Through their videos, I experienced the revelation that the narrative plot diagram, which I had taught my students for years, originated with God's Story! Yes--truly ALL things, including the plot diagram, were made through him and for him!

The image and explanations below reflect my understanding of the Bible, which I have used to share God's story with my students. Though the insights may seem simple to some, it is precisely that simplicity that made all the puzzle pieces fit for me. The pure delight that washed over me as I realized the full picture stirred in me a desire to pursue a deeper understanding of His complete story.

I pray you take as much time as you need to sit with this visual and explanation. Compare and contrast it with your own understanding, explore the Bible Project videos, and most importantly, dive into the Word. God's greater narrative is the very foundation of our Christian faith and the cornerstone for integrating faith and learning in our classrooms.

• Creation reflects the exposition with the setting and characters. Genesis 1 illustrates the creation of the world. Genesis 2 illustrates the creation of humanity and shows Adam & Eve walking with God in the Garden of Eden.
• Adam and Eve's choice to disobey God in the Garden became the catalyst for the Fall, leading to broken relationships with God, others, and ourselves.
• The Fall (Genesis 3) reflects the rising action, illustrating the internal and external conflicts that mark the human story alongside God's faithful pursuit of His people (Genesis 3).
• Redemption for those who receive Jesus as King and Savior illustrates the climax of our individual stories as we are forgiven, sealed for all eternity, equipped with the Holy Spirit, and invited into the divine dance with the Triune God.
• The Falling Action is where Christ's believers stand in a world still broken by sin. It is where His people are called to be the hands and feet of Jesus, living out the Great Commission to "make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything [He] commanded" (Matthew 28:20).
• The ultimate resolution to God's greater narrative will occur when Jesus comes again to restore what the Fall damaged and consummate, or bring to completion, God's final redemptive plan for all creation, including humanity.

Lord--Please bless the educator reading this piece. Bless, watch over, and protect their families. Help them clearly see the honored role you call them to play in your story as teachers and leaders. Continue to equip all of us to share your story with those in our care. Amen.

References:

BibleProject. (n.d.). Learn how to read the Bible | Watch animated explainer videos. https://bibleproject.com/videos/collections/how-to-read-the-bible/​

Kaak, P. (2024). Sharing the Gospel with [non-Christian] students and the task of academic faith integration. Christian Higher Education, 23(1–2), 223–241.

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