Lesson 2 of 3 · 9 min
The Story in Four Movements
Creation, fall, redemption, restoration — the spine of Scripture.
One story
Creation: God makes a good world and places humanity in it as image-bearers. Fall: rebellion fractures the relationship between God, people and creation. Redemption: God calls Abraham, forms Israel, sends Jesus, and forms the church. Restoration: God renews all things, and heaven and earth come together.
Knowing the arc keeps individual passages from floating free. Every text sits somewhere on this line, and asking 'where are we in the story?' clarifies enormously.
Key passages
I will make of you a great nation... and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
Genesis 12:2-3
And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:27
And he who was seated on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.'
Revelation 21:5
Reflect
Which movement of the story do you most need to hear this week?
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Where this came from
We're not experts — these are the sources we used while researching this page. Read them yourself, keep digging, and hold us to them.
- [1]The Holy Bible — Blue Letter Bible interlinear and lexicons
Primary source for every lesson; Strong's and BDB/Thayer entries for word studies.
- [2]The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed (381) — full text and history, Britannica
The doctrinal frame for the lessons on God, Christ and the Spirit.
- [3]N. T. Wright, lectures and articles archive (NTWrightPage)
New Testament scholarship drawn on for the gospel, kingdom and resurrection lessons.
- [4]Catechism of the Catholic Church (Vatican) and the Westminster Confession of Faith
Consulted side by side wherever a lesson describes how different traditions teach a doctrine.