Welcome to the Narthex

Welcome to the Narthex! Join Kevin, Josh, and Chris as we start a special 12-part series called, The Story of Scripture. Each week we will walk through the story of the Bible, looking to understand our place in the "true story of the whole world."

This episode is Act 6: New Creation, Scene 2

In addition to the episode we will include some questions for discussion in these show notes. Some of these questions have been adapted from "Surge School, Quarter 1: Gospel Story" ©2019 Surge Network (www.surgenetwork.com); and from "The True Story of the Whole World" Goheen & Bartholomew, (Brazos Press: Grand Rapids, MI, 2020)

Discussion Questions:

1) What part of the end of the story is most compelling for your life of faith right now?

2) How does God coming down and restoring this earth impact your understanding of the story and our life lived in it?

3) How does the believing in the "resurrection of the body" (Apostle's Creed) change your theology and life?

4) What are the four elements of the story of Revelation and apocalyptic literature from the Bible that we can anchor our understanding in? How does this give you hope for this present moment?

5) How does knowing the Story of Scripture impact your life of faith and your place in the story?

Welcome to the Narthex! Join Kevin, Josh, and Chris as we start a special 12-part series called, The Story of Scripture. Each week we will walk through the story of the Bible, looking to understand our place in the "true story of the whole world."

This episode is Act 6: New Creation, Scene 1

In addition to the episode we will include some questions for discussion in these show notes. Some of these questions have been adapted from "Surge School, Quarter 1: Gospel Story" ©2019 Surge Network (www.surgenetwork.com); and from "The True Story of the Whole World" Goheen & Bartholomew, (Brazos Press: Grand Rapids, MI, 2020)

Discussion Questions:

1) What excites you about the end of the story?

2) How does understanding genre matter for understanding the end of the story?

3) How does hope for the future work back for perseverance in the present? Share some examples of how that has occurred in your life.

4) What did you learn about God in this story? About people? About God's world?

Welcome to the Narthex! Join Kevin, Josh, and Chris as we start a special 12-part series called, The Story of Scripture. Each week we will walk through the story of the Bible, looking to understand our place in the "true story of the whole world."

This episode is Act 5: Church now, Scene 2

In addition to the episode we will include some questions for discussion in these show notes. Some of these questions have been adapted from "Surge School, Quarter 1: Gospel Story" ©2019 Surge Network (www.surgenetwork.com); and from "The True Story of the Whole World" Goheen & Bartholomew, (Brazos Press: Grand Rapids, MI, 2020)

Discussion Questions:

1) How does the church throughout history measure up to the description of the churches in Jerusalem (Acts 2:42-47) or in Antioch (11:19-30; 13:1-3)? What about the church today?

2) How does you own calling fit in the Scriptural Story? How about your church's calling?

3) Since our witness as God's church should be as wide as all creation, discuss how we might be faithful to God's original intention in the following areas of our lives: money, sexuality, family life, education, work, care for others, friendships, entertainment.

4) What did you learn about God in this Act? About people? About God's world?

Welcome to the Narthex! Join Kevin, Josh, and Chris as we start a special 12-part series called, The Story of Scripture. Each week we will walk through the story of the Bible, looking to understand our place in the "true story of the whole world."

This episode is Act 5: The Church, Scene 1

In addition to the episode we will include some questions for discussion in these show notes. Some of these questions have been adapted from "Surge School, Quarter 1: Gospel Story" ©2019 Surge Network (www.surgenetwork.com); and from "The True Story of the Whole World" Goheen & Bartholomew, (Brazos Press: Grand Rapids, MI, 2020)

Discussion Questions:

1) What is the mission of the church?

2) How does the church give people a foretaste of the Kingdom?

3) What did you learn about God in this story? About people? About God's world?

4) How do we find our place in this act of the story?

Welcome to the Narthex! Join Kevin, Josh, and Chris as we start a special 12-part series called, The Story of Scripture. Each week we will walk through the story of the Bible, looking to understand our place in the "true story of the whole world."

This episode is Act 4: Redemption, Scene 2

In addition to the episode we will include some questions for discussion in these show notes. Some of these questions have been adapted from "Surge School, Quarter 1: Gospel Story" ©2019 Surge Network (www.surgenetwork.com); and from "The True Story of the Whole World" Goheen & Bartholomew, (Brazos Press: Grand Rapids, MI, 2020)

Discussion Questions:

1) What is a "foretaste of the Kingdom"?

2) How did Jesus give the people a foretaste of the Kingdom?

3) What did Jesus accomplish on the cross? Why is it such an important part of the drama of Scripture? How is it important in your own story?

4) How does reading/hearing about the horror of the cross affect you?

5) What does it mean for us to "take up our cross and follow" Jesus?

6) How does the resurrection of Jesus impact your life and understanding of your role in God's mission?

7) What did you learn about God in this story? About people? About God's world?

Welcome to the Narthex! Join Kevin, Josh, and Chris as we start a special 12-part series called, The Story of Scripture. Each week we will walk through the story of the Bible, looking to understand our place in the "true story of the whole world."

This episode is Act 4: Redemption, Scene 1

In addition to the episode we will include some questions for discussion in these show notes. Some of these questions have been adapted from "Surge School, Quarter 1: Gospel Story" ©2019 Surge Network (www.surgenetwork.com); and from "The True Story of the Whole World" Goheen & Bartholomew, (Brazos Press: Grand Rapids, MI, 2020)

Discussion Questions:

1) What is God's mission?

2) What does the "Kingdom of God" mean? What language can we use to communicate that in today's world?

3) What aspects of Jesus' life do you see as important for us to learn from and to imitate?

4) What do you learn about God in this story? About people? And about God's world?

Welcome to the Narthex! Join Kevin, Josh, and Chris as we start a special 12-part series called, The Story of Scripture. Each week we will walk through the story of the Bible, looking to understand our place in the "true story of the whole world."

This episode is Act 3: Promise, Scene 2

In addition to the episode we will include some questions for discussion in these show notes. Some of these questions have been adapted from "Surge School, Quarter 1: Gospel Story" ©2019 Surge Network (www.surgenetwork.com); and from "The True Story of the Whole World" Goheen & Bartholomew, (Brazos Press: Grand Rapids, MI, 2020)

Discussion Questions:

1) Prophets, Priests and Kings are prevalent throughout Act 3, Scene 3. How did God use each of these offices for His glory? Where did these fall short of God's calling on their lives?

2) The Old Testament prophets warned about where unfaithfulness would lead the people, and gave hope to those who were trying to live faithfully. How are these messages of hope and of warning still relevant to us today?

3) What do you learn about God in this story? About people? About God's world?

4) The theme of God's people forgetting and yet God always remembering appears over and over in the narrative through this point. How has this theme been visible in your story? Where have you noticed God remembering you in your life?

Welcome to the Narthex! Join Kevin, Josh, and Chris as we start a special 12-part series called, The Story of Scripture. Each week we will walk through the story of the Bible, looking to understand our place in the "true story of the whole world."

This episode is Act 3: Promise, Scene 2

In addition to the episode we will include some questions for discussion in these show notes. Some of these questions have been adapted from "Surge School, Quarter 1: Gospel Story" ©2019 Surge Network (www.surgenetwork.com); and from "The True Story of the Whole World" Goheen & Bartholomew, (Brazos Press: Grand Rapids, MI, 2020)

Discussion Questions:

1) What was God's plan with Moses and the Israelites? How did this plan fulfill the covenant God made with Abraham?

2) What was Israel supposed to do in this part of the story? Did they do it? If so, how? If not, why?

3) What do you learn about God in this story? About people? About God's world?

4) How do you see God's sovereignty in the lives of the Israelites throughout the exodus from Egypt and the entry into the Promised Land? How is faith forged in the wilderness? What is God calling you to respond with 'here I am'?

Welcome to the Narthex! Join Kevin, Josh, and Chris as we start a special 12-part series called, The Story of Scripture. Each week we will walk through the story of the Bible, looking to understand our place in the "true story of the whole world."

This episode is Act 3: Promise, Scene 1

In addition to the episode we will include some questions for discussion in these show notes. Some of these questions have been adapted from "Surge School, Quarter 1: Gospel Story" ©2019 Surge Network (www.surgenetwork.com); and from "The True Story of the Whole World" Goheen & Bartholomew, (Brazos Press: Grand Rapids, MI, 2020)

Discussion Questions:

1)What is God's promise to Israel?

2) What were Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob and Leah and Rachel, and Joseph supposed to do? Did they do it? If so, how? If not, why?

3) What do you learn about God in this story? About people? About God's world?

4) How do you see God's sovereignty in the lives of these four families? What about in times of testing/trial/tribulation? What about in your own similar family situations?

Welcome to the Narthex! Join Kevin, Josh, and Chris as we start a special 12-part series called, The Story of Scripture. Each week we will walk through the story of the Bible, looking to understand our place in the "true story of the whole world."

This episode is Act 2: Rebellion

In addition to the episode we will include some questions for discussion in these show notes. Some of these questions have been adapted from "Surge School, Quarter 1: Gospel Story" ©2019 Surge Network (www.surgenetwork.com); and from "The True Story of the Whole World" Goheen & Bartholomew, (Brazos Press: Grand Rapids, MI, 2020)

Discussion Questions:

1) What truth did man exchange for a lie?

2) How was peace destroyed?

3) Where do you see God's grace in the story?

4) What do you learn about God in this story? About people? About God's world?

5) We often diminish the gravity of sin, thinking of it as something trivial, as if it were merely breaking God's rules, in the same way that some of us break the speed limit on the highway. How does Genesis 3 change this?

6) Sin has marred our relationships with God, with each other, and with the creation. Discuss concrete ways in which each of these relationships has been twisted out of shape by sin.

7) Sin does not ordinarily destroy what God has made, but it does distort it. Discuss some ways in which God's good gifts (such as food, drink, sexuality, family, work, and leisure) have been distorted by sin.