Fill the Stage

Daniel Dignan

Fill The Stage

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God’s Big Picture

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The Bible contains 66 books that all contribute toward a single story. Just as reading the parts of a story is essential for understanding the whole, knowing the whole is necessary for understanding the parts.

Vaughn Roberts, pastor of St. Ebbe’s in Oxford, England, helps readers understand the Bible’s story and theme: the promised and coming kingdom of God. Roberts shows how God’s kingdom is progressively revealed through the Bible. And he provides a helpful definition of the kingdom of God as “God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule and blessing.”

Genesis (the Bible’s first book) reveals major events: God’s creation of the universe, the fall of man, and God’s promise to Abraham of a kingdom to come. The rest of the Old Testament reveals a partial fulfillment, followed by a collapse. But the New Testament, in the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, reveals the coming of the King who proclaims his kingdom, dies, and rises again to save the world. Promising to return again, he will reign over a perfect kingdom.

Well, so what? Knowing the Bible’s overarching story helps us understand the Bible’s books, God’s good news, and our own stories. In its light, we can understand what God wants us to know about his universe, what he has done, is doing, and will do, and how we should live.

Roberts quotes Psalm 95:3-7, which reveals that the Ultimate Being is both creator and King, and that man finds purpose and peace in devotion to Him.

“For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.”

If you read the book, let me know what interested you the most and why.

The Walk

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This book guides followers of Jesus through the two essential books in the Bible: the Gospel of Mark and Romans. Overall, it helps readers understand the story of Jesus, what he was about, and what it means to be a Christian.

The book assumes no prior knowledge of Christianity. The author, an experienced pastor, shares the Bible’s central story of God’s good news, what it means for us, and what we must do to benefit from it.

If you are considering Christianity, a brand-new Christian, or someone who wants to grow in their faith, I highly recommend this book. Also, if you have been a Christian for a long time, this book can support your efforts to help friends and family understand the Bible and benefit from its message.

The Walk is accessible, engaging, and well-written. If you read the book, let me know what you think.

1 Samuel For You

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Samuel is an epic story about the early days of Israel, one thousand years before Christ. The nation comprising twelve tribes had experienced almost constant war and bondage. They had rejected their God, seeking a king like their neighbors, who would fight their enemies. Consequently, a man named Saul was anointed king. He united the tribes, won a great military victory, but eventually became corrupt.

In a war between Israel and the Philistines, a giant named Goliath taunted Israel and God, demanding one-on-one combat with one of Israel’s warriors to decide the outcome. Neither Saul nor any of Israel’s warriors volunteered. Yet, a shepherd boy named David told the king he would fight the giant. Refusing the king’s armor, he stepped onto the field of battle with a sling and a few small rocks. Perhaps you’ve heard what happened.

Throughout the story, Saul turned away from God and, over time, lost everything, including his family and self-respect. On the other hand, David endeavored to live a life devoted to God. He suffered severe persecution, but over time, David gained a kingdom, a family, and friends. Though imperfect, David functions as a pointer to a greater king, Jesus of Nazareth.

Samuel is not only a fascinating story but also an entry point for understanding the Bible as a whole. Tim Chester’s commentary is a fascinating guide, one I highly recommend.

Chester’s guide will help you:

  1. Understand the Bible better
  2. Learn how to make friends
  3. Learn how to handle difficulties
  4. Learn how to lead well
  5. Learn how to become a happier person

What did you find most helpful about 1 Samuel?