THE STORY:
THE BIBLE AS ONE CONTINUING STORY OF GOD AND HIS PEOPLE

Finding our place in God’s story together. From the pulpit to Children’s Ministry to Student Ministry to Small Groups, and everything in between, the entire Union family is discovering God’s story in a brand new way this year.Throughout the year 2013, our goal as a church is for each one of us to find our place in His story by discovering the Bible in a new way.
Our tool guiding us through the Bible is the book The Story. The Story is organized into 31 chapters and takes readers on a chronological journey of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. As we dive into God’s story in 2013, feel free to use this page as a resource to view previous sermons, find groups, read devotions, and more.
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THE STORY – FAQ’s

 

What exactly is The Story and why are we doing it at Union?

The Story is a book that condenses the Bible into 31 accessible chapters. Although it is not the Bible in its entirety, The Story is a tool that uses thoughtfully chosen and carefully excerpted portions of Scripture. The Story also includes written transitions and reads like a novel that begins in Genesis and ends in Revelation, covering the Bible chronologically.

The idea is that after reading The Story together as a church we will all have experienced the Bible in a brand new way. Hopefully you will be glued to every page, wrapped up in the lives of the characters, wanting to know more about the Author of this incredibly intense, heart-warming, life-changing true story.

For Union, 2013 promises to be an incredible year as we all immerse ourselves in the words on the pages of the Bible. We expect God to move in big ways in the lives of our church family as our faith grows stronger and deeper through inviting His words of redemption and hope into our lives.

What are the goals of The Story?

1) To present Scripture as a seamless story.  (2) Captivate the congregation’s attention (3) Increase Biblical understanding (4) Boost spiritual vitality  (5) Unify spiritual learning

Are we using The Story instead of the Bible this year?

The book The Story is not meant to replace the Bible. It is simply a tool to help us experience the Bible better. As always, the Bible will be our ultimate guide and the final authority in our lives.

Why should I have a copy of The Story when I already have a Bible?

The Story includes written transitions, timelines, discussion questions, and other valuable resources that we will be using all year long. We strongly recommend that everyone have a personal copy of The Story. You won’t be disappointed. The Story presents the Bible in a very easy-to-read format that we will be referencing all year long at Union. In addition to reading the book, you will most likely use it as a workbook, writing all sorts of notes and thoughts in the margin and highlighting what sticks out to you.

Do I need to bring both The Story and my Bible to church with me?

We suggest that you do. We will be referencing both throughout the service. We will be asking you to use it as a workbook during the messages, suggesting you make notes in the margins and underline/highlight sections along the way.

Where can I get a copy of The Story? Do my children need a copy?

The Story is available at the Resource Table. You’ll also find The Story for Little Ones (preschool age), for Children (K-2nd grade), for Kids (3rd-5th grade), and the Teen Edition. We recommend that children in third grade through high school have a personal copy of the edition for their age group. It is at the parents’ discretion whether or not the younger children have a copy.

Should I read a chapter of The Story before I come to church each weekend?

Yes. You will know in advance which chapters we will be covering when. It will be of great benefit to you to read the chapter before coming to weekend services.

Is there a reading schedule I can follow?

Yes. We will release the reading schedule in sections throughout the year as we release sermon titles.

When are we beginning The Story

The kickoff weekend is February 10. You will not need to read anything for this weekend. February 10 will just present an overview of The Story and where we are headed with it this year. However, you will want to read chapter one for February17.

Is the entire church really studying the same thing this year?

Yes. From young to old, we will all be studying the same chapters of The Story every week. We want to be threaded together as a church family this year by studying the same parts of the Bible at the same time. So you can go to the coffee shop and have a conversation with your friends in a different U Group than you and the stories will be reinforced. You can go home and have a conversation with your teenager or your third grader and the stories will be reinforced. Do you see the benefit? God’s Word will be so ingrained in us that it really does become living and breathing to us.

If I have children of different ages, why is it that they may be learning different Bible stories than my other children from week to week if we’re supposed to be studying the same thing?

Each chapter in The Story covers a large time span and often many people’s lives. For example, chapter one covers creation to the flood. Your preschoolers will learn about creation in Bible study and worship. Your elementary-age children will focus on creation in worship, Noah and the flood.

Will it really take the entire year to go through The Story

Yes. There are 31 chapters in The Story. We will study these chapters in sections with a few breaks throughout the year. You will know when we will break from The Story. Watch your weekly bulletin and The Compass for information and updates.

If I hear the message on the weekend, what would be the benefit of also discussing the same topic in my U Group?

You might be thinking that studying the same chapter of a book in every area of the church may get redundant. We promise you, though, it won’t. There is so much meat packed in every chapter that we hope when you come to weekend services you will get one perspective, your U Group another perspective and so forth.  Through these different perspectives the Word will just continue to deepen inside of us. You will still greatly benefit from attending weekend services and a weekly group study this year.

What are some ways I can incorporate The Story into my home life?

Read the chapters. Maybe go back and read the text in the Bible. Reflect on how to apply the lessons we’re learning. If you have younger children, read their storybooks with them. If you have older children, encourage them to read on their own. Ask them what they learned this weekend, and try to have a deep conversation with them that includes more than just one-word answers. Go over their memory verses. Just make The Story a part of your everyday conversations with your family.

Thank you for joining us on a journey through God’s Word as we discover His Story together!