Bible — The Gospels in English — His Glory In Our Story

Imagine it. The first man and woman lived in a glorious Garden. They had lives of perfect rest and happiness. They never had to worry about having enough food, about bad weather or illness or growing old. It was a world of endless bliss.

Story 5: The Day of the Lord

There are many ways that humans have viewed the world. In our deep hunger for meaning and purpose, we tend form beliefs into systems that make sense of all the different aspects of human life. Are we karmic souls, moving from life to life, that will one day enter into a cosmic pool as a drop of water joins the ocean? Are humans and animals and stars simply masses of chemicals that will decompose at death?

Story 7: The Gospels: Introducing Matthew

Imagine meeting someone who told you things you had never heard before...things that you somehow knew were true. What if He started doing things that nobody else could do...healing the blind, making paralyzed people walk, bringing the insane to their right minds?

Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, Scripture study, Spiritual formation, UncategorizedJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020Bible, faith, genealogy, Gospels, King David, Matthew, Messiah, New Testament, prophecy, Scripture

Story 8: The New Beginning

When you read the genealogy of Christ that begins the first chapter of the New Testament, it is like reading a very short version of the history of the whole Old Testament.

Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, Scripture study, Spiritual formationJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020Abraham, Bible, Christ, Covenant, genealogy, history, King David, Matthew, New Testament, Old Testament, Salvation, women

Story 9: The Line of Kings

When Matthew wrote his book about the life of Jesus, he started by showing how the ancestors of Jesus went all the way back to Abraham. God had promised Abraham that through his descendants, He would bless all the nations of the world.

Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, Scripture study, Spiritual formationJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020Bible, genealogy, God, Jesus, King David, Messiah, New Testament, Old Testament

Story 12: Women of Extraordinary Life: Elizabeth and Mary Together

When the angel Gabriel came to Mary, she was living up in the north of Israel, in the town of Nazareth a few miles from the Sea of Galilee. When she realized the amazing thing that God was going to do in her, she went away from her hometown.

Story 16: What the Few Could See...and Everyone Else Was Missing

It must have been pretty amazing when the shepherds showed up with stories about heralding angels and the light of God’s glory shining all around them. As Mary held the Lord Jesus and washed His tiny hands and feet, what did she think of these grand events?

Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, bravery, calling, Faith, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Mary, Scripture study, storiesJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020Anna, Anounted One, Bible, Christ, circumcision, faith, God, Gospels, Joseph, Simon, Temple

Story 18: God Mourns Our Griefs Ahead of Us: The Mothers of Bethlehem

Imagine it. One evening you are at home with your family and there is a knock at the door. When you open it, there are many strangers standing there. They are not only strange because you have never met them before, but because they look different than anyone you have ever seen.

Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, calling, Faith, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Mary, Scripture studyJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020Bethlehem, Bible, Christ, Egypt, flight, Herod, Joseph, Mary, prophecy, Ramah, Story

Story 19: The Son of God's Love

Have you ever tried to explain something that was so epically amazing that you couldn't quite put it into words? Sometimes I think that's what the Apostle John faced.

Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, calling, Faith, Holy Spirit, Incarnation, Jesus, John the Apostle, Metanarrative, storiesJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020beloved, Bible, Christ, Church, Gospels, Incarnation, Jesus, John, King of kings, Lord, Luke, Mark, Matthew, miracles, narrative, Revelation, stories, Temple

Story 20: The Light that Shines: Where Are You Getting Your Hope?

What do you do with your words? I've got to admit that sometimes the phrase "talk is cheap" is a good description for the things I take the trouble to say. If the Bible is right (and I believe it is) then we can know that the opposite is true of God.

Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, Faith, Incarnation, Jesus, John the Apostle, Spiritual formation, storiesJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020beloved, betrayal, Bible, eternity, forgivenss, God, hope, Incarnation, Jesus, John, Light of the world, narrative, Story, transformation, Truth, Word

Story 21: The Kid Who Was God

What would it be like to be the mother of God? He was a perfect Son. That means He never sinned or did anything wrong...ever. How did Mary and Joseph feel when they sinned in front of Him? If they lost their temper at each other or the kids...if they wanted to waste a little money or gossip?

Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, calling, Faith, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Mary, Scripture study, Spiritual formation, storiesJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020Bible, Jesus, Mary, narrative, Passover, religious leaders, stories, Temple, Twelve

Story 22: The Radical

What would it have been like to grow up knowing that an archangel had announced your birth...knowing that you have the unique and perilous calling of a prophet? That's what John the Baptist knew his own destiny.

baptism, Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, bravery, calling, Faith, Israel, Jesus, John the Baptist, Nativity, prophecy, Scripture study, Spiritual formation, storiesJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020Baptism, Bible, calling, Christ, corruption, God, Isaiah, Jesus, John the Baptist, oppression, prophesy, prophet, radical, reformer

Story 23: Preparing the Way for the Invasion of God

The oracles of a prophet seem like such a mysterious and radical concept. It's the kind of wild, supernatural work of God that we usually try to leave behind in our modern world. It's just a little too "out there" and uncomfortable.

baptism, Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, bravery, calling, Israel, John the Baptist, prophecy, purity, Scripture study, Spiritual formation, storiesJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020Baptism, Bible, confrontation, hills, Israel, Jesus, John the Baptist, Messiah, narrative, Preparation, prophecy, radical, Story, Truth, valleys

Story 24: Hardened Hearts

When was the last time someone caught you doing something wrong? Did you get embarrassed? Angry? Did you start to argue? Make a joke? Hide? Or do you get sad and quiet? Did you repent?

baptism, Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, bravery, calling, Faith, Israel, Jesus, John the Baptist, prophecy, storiesJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020Abraham, Anounted One, Baptism, Bible, confrontation, corruption, Covenant, God, Gospels, Isaiah, Israel, Jesus, John the Baptist, Lord, Luke, Messiah, Old Testament, oppression, prophecy, prophet, radical, righteousness, Salvation, sin, Story, Temple, transformation, Truth, Word

Story 26: The Ultimate Kill

The Spirit of the Lord had come to anoint the Son of God in a special and powerful way. After Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit led Jesus away from the Jordan and the bustle of ministry that surrounded John. Jesus was compelled to go out to the wilderness and to the silence of utter nature.

Story 27: Epic Adventure: The Chosen Ones of God

After his baptism, Christ was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to face the temptations of Satan. Meanwhile, the counsel of the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, the most powerful religious leaders in the country, sent more priests to question John the Baptist.

Story 28: A New Way to Party: Changing Water into Wine

The time had come for the most important work in human history to begin...the ministry of Christ. But He didn't go it alone. During His final days at John the Baptist's encampment, John continually pointed out to his own followers that Jesus was the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. This lit a fire under some of the men and they went to Jesus, seeking Him as their rabbi.

Story 29: Proof to Believe: What Can Satisfy the Resistant Soul?

Jesus performed an amazing miracle for His mom. It was quiet and unseen by most, but a few of the people at the wedding feast understood what happened. The parents of the bride had failed to bring enough wine, and to save them from their shame, Jesus had turned many gallons of water into the fine drink.

Story 30: Delving into the Mysteries of God: Nicodemus the Brave

The world of the Jews was being shaken. In the midst of their great, national Passover celebration, the young man named Jesus was turning everything upside down.

Story 33: The Messiah's Preaching in Galilee Begins: Will the People Hear His Call?

As the Lord travelled to Galilee to begin His ministry there, He stopped for several days in Samaria. The people there had responded to His message of freedom and transformation with great faithfulness. Then the Lord journeyed to Cana.