LEARNING THE STORYTake Your Place in the Cosmic Drama

The Story of Jesus As the Tale of All Tales

A fateful discussion between J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis on the nature of fairy stories, and the Greatest Tale of all . . .

~ Jim Ware. God of the Fairy Tale: Finding Truth in the Land of Make Believe., Kindle electronic ed.

I. The Great Tradition: our consensus on the Bible’s Main Storyline A. The question of our time: “Who gets to

narrate the world?” (Robert Webber)1. Flattened story-ville: politically correct

approaches to the “big question” narratives 2. Contradictory, competing narratives:

evolution, religious and political ideologies, privatism

I. The Great Tradition: our consensus on the Bible’s Main Storyline A. The question of our time: “Who gets to

narrate the world?” (Robert Webber)3. Christian worldview: the image and the

drama

The Equipping Ministry, Module 15, The Ministry of Teaching, Lesson 3, Segment 2. March 2, 2010

I. The Great Tradition: our consensus on the Bible’s Main Storyline B. Starving for A Story: Distilling Wonder

(Leland Ryken)

STARVING FOR A COSMIC DRAMA

STARVING FOR A COSMIC DRAMA

STARVING FOR A COSMIC DRAMA

I. The Great Tradition: our consensus on the Bible’s Main Storyline B. Starving for A Story: Distilling Wonder

(Leland Ryken)1. The centrality of human experience2. The richness of human affections 3. The use of sanctified imagination

I. The Great Tradition: our consensus on the Bible’s Main Storyline B. Starving for A Story: Distilling Wonder

(Leland Ryken)4. The impact of concrete image, action,

symbol5. The immediacy of heightened reality

I. The Great Tradition: our consensus on the Bible’s Main Storyline B. Starving for A Story: Distilling Wonder

(Leland Ryken)6. The enjoyment of artistic craftsmanship 7. The power of identification and

participation

I. The Great Tradition: our consensus on the Bible’s Main Storyline C. Key Propositions of Story Theology

(Bausch)1. Stories introduce us to sacramental

presences.2. Stories are always more important than

facts.

I. The Great Tradition: our consensus on the Bible’s Main Storyline C. Key Propositions of Story Theology

(Bausch)3. Stories forever remain normative

(authoritative) for the Christian community of faith.

I. The Great Tradition: our consensus on the Bible’s Main Storyline C. Key Propositions of Story Theology

4. Christian traditions evolve and define themselves through and around stories.

5. The stories of God precede, produce, and empower the community of God’s people.

6. Community story implies censure, rebuke, and accountability.

I. The Great Tradition: our consensus on the Bible’s Main Storyline C. Key Propositions of Story Theology

7. Stories produce theology. 8. Stories produce many theologies.9. Stories produce ritual and sacrament.

I. The Great Tradition: our consensus on the Bible’s Main Storyline C. Key Propositions of Story Theology

10.The stories in the canonical Scriptures are neither fiction nor invented; rather, these stories are true and are history.

I. The Great Tradition: our consensus on the Bible’s Main Storyline D. Our Sacred Roots: The Church as story-

formed community based on the canonical, divinely authorized tale of the Kingdom of God in Scripture

II. Our Sacred Roots: the divinely authorized, canonical Story that narrates creation A. The objective foundation: our triune God’s

unfolding drama in creation, Israel, and the Church1. The Alpha and the Omega2. Christus Victor

II. Our Sacred Roots: the divinely authorized, canonical Story that narrates creation A. The objective foundation: our triune God’s

unfolding drama in creation, Israel, and the Church3. Come Holy Spirit4. Your Word is Truth

II. Our Sacred Roots: the divinely authorized, canonical Story that narrates creation B. The subjective practice: our joyous response

and historical fidelity to the apostolic witness of Christ and his Kingdom1. The Great Confession2. His Life In Us

II. Our Sacred Roots: the divinely authorized, canonical Story that narrates creation B. The subjective practice: our joyous response

and historical fidelity to the apostolic witness of Christ and his Kingdom3. Living in the Way4. Reborn to Serve

In the Church, our spiritual

formation is a pilgrimage, our

community sharing a

journey

The Christ event: the compass for

personal lives, marriages,

families, and congregations

III. The Story of ChristA. AdventB. ChristmasC. EpiphanyD. LentE. Holy WeekF. Easter

G. AscensionH. PentecostI. Season after Pentecost

1. Christ’s Headship2. Christ as Lord of the Harvest3. Christ our Hope4. Remembering the Saints,

Exalting the King

IV. Implications of the Drama of All Time: Learn the Story of God!

Beginning with the affirmation of God as the one who comes (and who will come), the Church moves through the narrative of Christ's birth, of his baptism and revelation to the world . . . .

– John E. Colwell. The Rhythm of Doctrine.Colorado Springs, CO: Paternoster, 2007, p. 7.

IV. Implications of the Drama of All Time : Learn the Story of God! A. The sovereign God underwrites all time

and happenings in human history.

IV. Implications of the Drama of All Time : Learn the Story of God! B. The Story of God in Christ told in Scripture

is the heart of our common identity and shared spirituality, and is the narrative whose theology we confess, whose Hero we worship, whose life we participate, and in whose hope we hold, Luke. 24.44-48; Matt. 28.18-20.

IV. Implications of the Drama of All Time: Learn the Story of God! C. As the people of the Story of God, we

acknowledge its dominance in every facet of our personal, family, and congregational lives.1. In our confession and baptism, i.e.,

theology2. In our handling of the Scriptures

IV. Implications of the Drama of All Time: Learn the Story of God! C. As the people of the Story of God, we

acknowledge its dominance in every facet of our personal, family, and congregational lives.3. In our preaching and Lord’s supper, i.e.,

worship 4. In initiation and incorporation

IV. Implications of the Drama of All Time: Learn the Story of God! C. The Great Tradition of the Church reveals

how the Story of God can shape every facet of our personal, family, and congregational lives.5. In our discipleship and spiritual formation 6. In our spiritual gifts and body life

IV. Implications of the Drama of All Time: Learn the Story of God! C. The Great Tradition of the Church reveals

how the Story of God can shape every facet of our personal, family, and congregational lives.7. In our counseling and soul care8. In our service and outreach

IV. Implications of the Drama of All Time: Learn the Story of God! D. Revel in the People of the Story! We are

its authentic witness—the there-and-then on display right here-right now!1. As locus (The evidence of the Kingdom

come)2. As agent (Ambassadors of the New

Jerusalem)

IV. Implications of the Drama of All Time: Learn the Story of God! D. Revel in the People of the Story! We are

its authentic witness—the there-and-then on display right here-right now!

Will you swap your preoccupation with your own little story for the Greatest Story ever told?

ARE YOU ON A LEAF, ROWING AGAINST THE MIGHTY AMAZON?

The Bottom Line:

Let us as those who love the Church

come take our place in the Greatest

Story ever told, the Story of God’s saving work in

Jesus!