Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Day 20, Summit Semester

Wednesday mornings we have our Bible survey course with Eric. We’re focusing on how we actually read Scripture. Too often as evangelicals, we don’t know how to read the Bible, why we read the Bible, or how to properly understand and apply it.

“We act as if there is no history or cultural context to Scripture – because it’s hard to understand, we open it up, read a verse, and wrestle it into some sort of inspirational thought for the day that might be entirely wrong and unbiblical.”

We’re discussing how the best way to understand Scripture is in the context of a story. John Stonestreet used the example of a six act drama:

The Six Act Drama – (from Bartholomew and Goheen) – focus on God

I: God Establishes His Kingdom (Creation)

II: Rebellion in the Kingdom (Fall)

III: The King Chooses Israel (Redemption Initiated)

Scene 1: A people for the King

Scene 2: A land for His People

IV: The Coming of the King (Redemption accomplished)

V: Spreading the news of the King (Church’s mission)

Scene 1: from Jerusalem to Rome

Scene 2: and into all the world

(evangelize but act as if the Kingdom belongs to the King)

VI: The Return of the King (Redemption Completed)

When looking at the Bible as a single story, it makes more sense. It’s harder to purposefully pull verses or chapters or books out of context when you’re trying to understand the larger picture of what God is doing.

Dr. Bauman’s flight was delayed in Denver, so we didn’t get to have him speak Wednesday night. We did a typical “team-building” exercise, where you have one paper plate per person, and everybody has to get across from one side of the room to the other. You can only step on a paper plate, not the floor, and if the staff catches you on the floor, you have to go back and you get a handicap – blindness, the loss of one or both legs, etc. We were easily successful, despite Eric changing the rules in the middle of the game.