The Bible Course Sample

Entering the story – quenching our thirst for meaning 

Reflect 

Marvel and Star Wars announced massive plans for 2021. Just when you thought these film franchises couldn’t get bigger, there’s more.    

We respond to the beauty of narrative. The popularity of the Marvel and Star Wars franchises comes from them opening us up to beautiful strange new worlds. Entering them feels like an escape. We forget our troubles and let ourselves (for two hours) believe in better. The Bible does this too. It opens to us a whole new world.    

When we open the Bible, says Eugene Peterson, ‘we enter the totally unfamiliar world of God, a world of creation and salvation stretching endlessly above and beyond us’.   

But the biggest difference between the Bible story and all other stories is that it doesn’t take us out of the world but places us right in it. It's God’s story, written to help us make sense of the world and give us hope that is sure.   

Life has never felt frailer. Neither have our own stories. Yes, reading the Bible means stepping into an unfamiliar world, but stick at it! Because God the author invites all to anchor their own frail story in his story.   

Could then the Bible and the beautiful story it tells be the very thing we need for navigating life and its challenges well? Hold on then – this could get life-changing. 

What do these verses say about the story we live in?  

In them, we see a world that was made by a master-sculptor who has crammed creation with traces of his hand. The world bursts with God and when we see this it changes everything. When we realize our human story has an author, the world goes from being an unfortunate accident or a sick joke to being a beautiful design. Everything has been made on purpose and for purpose.   

From these verses, what is our purpose?  

We are made for worship and relationship.  

Seeing the world’s origins causes us to see our original meaning. God crafted you into being. You are not random, nor are you insignificant. You have been fearfully and wonderfully made. He willed all this for you to know him (Psalm 95.7) and worship him (Psalm 139.14).  

See how we all belong to this larger story? We all have an author, who has written our life with meaning. If your life is devoid of meaning and true relationship, buying more stuff or seeking new experiences won’t help. We were made on purpose for a purpose, and it’s only when we see our true purpose in the one true story of the world that we enter the life we long for.  

Respond 

Pause and ask God to make this journey through the Bible story one that is life-changing.