The Bible's Big-Picture StorySample

STAGE 7: STARTING OVER. A new beginning, the church.

This stage of the Bible’s big picture is where God’s Spirit comes; it’s the stage we live in today… which is so very exciting!

His coming was promised and prophesied. Jesus, choosing to be fully human, was limited to one place at one time. He wanted to go back to heaven and send The Helper (aka God’s Spirit) because He knew how good it would be.

The Helper wants to make us more like God, bringing healing and wholeness which enable us to live together and engage with the world in a way that reflects the character of God—the same mandate as the people of Israel. 

But unlike the earlier stages of the Bible’s big picture, we get The Helper all the time—He is changing us literally from the inside out! As part of the Trinity, He works through relationship, offering choice; He loves to build, restore and protect relationship with Him and other people if we will allow Him.

That relationship develops our character, encouraging love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control—the Bible calls it fruit.  The Helper also gives gifts which equip and strengthen us and others like serving, teaching, faith, wisdom and working miracles. All that Jesus did while on Earth was by the power of God’s spirit, He showed us what’s possible in a relationship with The Helper and said YOU will do even greater things!

As the Bible’s big-picture story continues, we see The Helper’s impact on Jesus’ closest friends, who go from hiding for fear, to speaking with courage to the crowds that called for Jesus’ death. 3000 people believe, get baptised and are filled with God’s Spirit, too, which is the birth of the church (aka Pentecost).

With The Helper and Jesus at the centre, the church flourished, growing exponentially. Through relationship, community, risk, danger and with plenty of adventures had by men and women, the brilliant news of Jesus and God’s heart for relationship with us spread across the world. This stage of the story hasn’t ended—you are part of it now.

It is such an exciting stage we live in, one of tension between seeing amazing things happen as heaven touches Earth, but also sharing the pain of working alongside those who are in need. With The Helper, we get all the nourishment that relationship brings amongst the suffering and pain.  We hope and long for the final stage of the Bible’s big picture where all of creation and our relationship with God is restored and made completely new. This is not the end!

An invitation to interact with God and His life-giving Word:

You may want to go back to today’s Bible verses. Ponder your part in this stage of the story. Is there any part of yourself you would like to invite The Helper into? Just chat to him about it and enjoy! 

Part of your interaction may look like visualising it with words, images, poetry, song, movement or quiet meditation... Freedom reigns!