The sermon that I preached on my PD trip this fall was called 'In the Story'.  A friend remarked after the sermon one Sunday that she didn't particularly like the term 'story' when applied to the Bible.  I have to admit that I also have struggled with the use of that word because for some it conveys a connotation that whatever the 'story' is about is not necessarily true.

However, I have come to use the term story to think more in terms of context.  In other words, all of us are connected somehow to the message of scripture, to the message of the gospel.  Scripture itself is given in a certain context and when we seek to understand that context better, we understand the message better and thus we understand our own connection to it better.

God knows this about human beings and from the very earliest revelation of his will in the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament), he gave instruction and law in the context of a story, reminding the people who they were, where they came from, so they would understand why he was telling them to do what he was telling them to do.  Law for the sake of law and rule for the sake of rule is dead and not compelling.  But law and rule in the context of relationship and salvation is alive and attractive.  So God says, "You were once aliens - do not mistreat the aliens."  "You were shown mercy - likewise show mercy."  The writers of the New Testament pick up this theme and throughout remind their hearers who Christ is and what He has delivered them from - that is, he reminds them of their story - as a motivation to live according to His will.

The story of God's grace and mercy working in our lives can also be very powerful and compelling.  More about that in my next post. . .