Whole Bible Story
The Bible has many stories but it also tells a single, whole story–a mega-story or meta-narrative.
Scripture
Major Approaches
- BibleTelling – John Walsh
- Overview story of the Bible audio
- Bible in 30 Minutes video
- BibleTelling – Rog Schmidgall
- Whole Story of the Bible video summary slide transcript slides handout
(5 minutes using 2 circles/ovals,
with credit to the BibleProject: 7-minute video 30 minute-preso 4 minutes) - Learning the Whole Gospel Story video summary slide transcript slides handout
(with credit to Matthew W. Bates and The Gospel Precisely) - Ephesians Storyboard slide (The Church in God’s Plan)
- BibleProject diagram (inspiration for this approach)
- Whole Story of the Bible video summary slide transcript slides handout
- Whole Story in Chairs – drawn from various videos, unknown original author
- SYNC (See Yourself iN Christ) – Dr. Stan Nussbaum
- “C” the Story in 10 Minutes – Chuck Broughton
- Jesus, True and Better video – Dan Steve’s video, Tim Keller script
- Bible from a Box diagram – Jackson Wu
- The Bible, Jesus, and Christianity in 30 Minutes – Tim Mackie, BibleProject. Also see other relevant videos at their web site:
- “What is the Bible?”
- “The Story of the Bible”
- “Plot/Character/Setting in Biblical Narrative”
- “Gospel of the Kingdom”
- “New Testament Overview”
- Pyramid diagram – Dr. John Walton, Wheaton, The Bible Story Handbook
- 2 Marriages presentation – Dr. Randy Smith
- Circle diagram – Dr. Mark Getz
- AMPEC Circle Diagram – Betsy’s Whole Bible Story
- Progression diagram – Sandra I. Richter, The Epic of Eden
- Covenant diagram – Sandra I. Richter, The Epic of Eden
- Books and Story table – Books: Dr. William H. Marty, The Whole Bible Story;
Story: Dr. Mark Yarbrough, Dallas Theological Seminary “The Whole Story of the Bible” course - 3- to 7-Stage timelines – various scholars and authors
- In God’s Presence timeline – Dr. John Walton
- Covenants Stack diagram – Christ from Beginning to End and Covenant Chart from internet
- Map of the Bible Story – from Travel Guide to the Bible, by Tom Castor
Christian Storytelling Conference
2023
Two presentations at the 2023 conference discussed the whole story of the Bible.
- Dr. Mark Getz, “Ah Ha! the Bible is a Story!“
- Dr. Stan Nussbaum and Dr. Mark Getz, “Themes (and Story Sets) of understanding the Whole Bible“
Videos of both presentations. The slide deck for the 2nd presentation is also available at the link.
2018-19
A presentation at the 2018 and 2019 conferences documented many of the ways various Christian scholars have summarized the whole story of the Bible.
Handouts
- Collection (2 pages)
- Selected Subset (2 pages)
Slides
- Whole-Bible-Story-Preso-Slides-only
- Whole Bible Story Preso References Only
- Presentation Slides (Images)
Overview Story Sets
10 Overview Stories
2 – Adam and Eve
3 – The Fall
17 – Trial of Abraham
44 – The Law
180 – Birth of Jesus
196 – Calming Two Storms
223 – Crucifixion
224 – Resurrection
228 – Coming of the Holy Spirit
234 – Conversion of Saul
20 Overview Stories
2 – Adam and Eve
3 – The Fall
7 – Call of Abraham
17 – Trial of Abraham
40 – Passover
44 – The Law
57 – Crossing Jordan
87 – Anointing David
103 – Building an Empire
161 – Broken Pot
169 – Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
180 – Birth of Jesus
196 – Calming Two Storms
219 – Last Supper
222 – Trial before Romans
223 – Crucifixion
224 – Resurrection
228 – Coming of the Holy Spirit
234 – Conversion of Saul
243 – Singing in Jail
30 Overview Stories
1 – Creation
2 – Adam and Eve
3 – The Fall
7 – Call of Abraham
17– Trial of Abraham
29 – Sold into Slavery
39 – Pharaoh’s Plagues
40 – Passover
44 – The Law
57 – Crossing Jordan
87 – Anointing David
103 – Building an Empire
115 – Numbering the People
132 – Jehoshaphat’s Victory
161 – Broken Pot
169 – Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
174 – Rebuilding the Temple
179 – Birth of Jesus
195 – Calming Two Storms
215 – Raising Lazarus
219 – Last Supper
222 – Trial before Romans
223 – Crucifixion
224 – Resurrection
228 – Coming of the Holy Spirit
234 – Conversion of Saul
236 – Cornelius, First Gentile
243 – Singing in Jail
40 Overview Stories
1 – Creation
2 – Adam and Eve
3 – The Fall
7 – Call of Abraham
17 – Trial of Abraham
28 – Sold into Slavery
39 – Pharaoh’s Plagues
40 – Passover
41 – The Law
57 – Crossing Jordan
87 – Anointing David
103 – Building an Empire
115 – Numbering the People
132 – Jehoshaphat’s Victory
161 – Broken Pot
169 – Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
174 – Rebuilding the Temple
180 – Birth of Jesus
196 – Calming Two Storms
200 – Meal and A Walk
215 – Raising Lazarus
219 – Last Supper
222 – Trial before Romans
223 – Crucifixion
224 – Resurrection
228 – Coming of the Holy Spirit
234 – Conversion of Saul
236 – Cornelius, First Gentile
243 – Singing in Jail
Other Story Sets
Unnamed Women of the Bible
13 Lot’s Wife
62 Job’s wife
67 King of Trees (Woman with a Millstone)
103 Nurse who Dropped Mephibosheth
108 Absalom’s Return (Wise Woman of Tekoa)
118 Mothers Arguing Over 2 Babies
120 Queen of Sheba
124 Wife of Jeroboam
136 Mother Whose Oil Multiplied
137 Shunammite Woman
138 Servant Girl of Naaman’s Wife
141 Two Women Arguing During Siege
192 Widow at Nain
197 Twelve Years
216 Mother of James and John, Wife of Zebedee
218 Last Week of Ministry (Poor Widow)
222 Pilate’s Wife

