Living in Increase (Part 1) - Increase in UnderstandingSample

Week 2: The Story of Scripture

The Four-Part Metanarrative

The Bible is a book about God. Yes, it shows the relationship between God and those in the Bible. Yes, we can learn about ourselves through the reading of Scripture, but ultimately, the Bible is a book about God, and that’s how we should approach our study time. If you’re like me, you may have spent most of your life reading the Bible as though it were a book about you. While the Bible certainly has the power to change us, and we learn things about ourselves as a byproduct, the ultimate goal of Scripture is to learn about the God of the universe, His attributes, and His love for you and me. We can never step away unchanged when we know more about Him.

Based on conversations I hear as I pass by, I know many believers are hungry to learn more of God’s Word. If we’re not careful, impatience can sneak in alongside that desire for learning. Good Bible studying is done through repetition. Our eagerness can sometimes elevate volume over value. One thing that can be helpful to ensure we get the most out of our time studying God and His Word is to take a step back and look at the overarching theme or story of the Bible.

The metanarrative can be expressed in four terms: creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. Over the next four days, we will look at each of these terms. However, the main purpose of Scripture can be found in our theme verse for today. As we will see later this week, all Scripture points to Jesus, the One who came to save us and give us eternal life!

Ruby Washington

Action Step: Identify a strategy or resource that has helped you study the Bible. If you don't have one yet, do some research or ask a trusted friend for a recommendation.