stories — The Gospels in English — His Glory In Our Story

Imagine it. The first man and woman lived in a glorious Garden. They had lives of perfect rest and happiness. They never had to worry about having enough food, about bad weather or illness or growing old. It was a world of endless bliss.

Story 14: Adopting God: Would you believe it if it came to you in a dream?

How strange it must have seemed to Joseph. He was supposed to be engaged to Mary. At that time in Israel, the parents decided who their children would marry. Good parents tried to make sure their child would be happy with their choice. Once both sets of parents agreed upon the marriage, the commitment was legally binding.

Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, bravery, calling, Faith, Gabriel, Holy Spirit, Incarnation, Jesus, Mary, purity, Scripture study, Spiritual formation, stories, virginJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020betrayal, Joseph

Story 15: Return to Wonder: God Becomes Man

The story of Jesus’ birth is so beautiful and clear and bright that the best way to read it is straight from the book of Luke.

Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, bravery, calling, Christmas, Faith, Holy Spirit, Incarnation, Jesus, Nativity, purity, Scripture study, Spiritual formation, storiesJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020angels, Augustus, Bethlehem, Christmas, heralds, history, Incarnation, Jesus, Joseph, Luke, Mary, nativity, New Testament, peace on earth, Shepherds

Story 16: What the Few Could See...and Everyone Else Was Missing

It must have been pretty amazing when the shepherds showed up with stories about heralding angels and the light of God’s glory shining all around them. As Mary held the Lord Jesus and washed His tiny hands and feet, what did she think of these grand events?

Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, bravery, calling, Faith, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Mary, Scripture study, storiesJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020Anna, Anounted One, Bible, Christ, circumcision, faith, God, Gospels, Joseph, Simon, Temple

Story 17: Strange Tales: The Honored Ones of God

When Prince William and his bride had their babies, it was on the cover of every newspaper and magazine. The fame and glamour of the royal couple make them fascinating. What is interesting is that they don't actually have a lot of real power or influence.

Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, calling, Christmas, Faith, Jesus, Mary, Scripture study, Spiritual formation, storiesJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020Bethlehem, blue collar, Christ, Christmas, Chrstimas, flight, frankenscense, gold, Infant, Jesus, King Herod, magi, Mary, Myrrh, Prince William and Kate, wise men

Story 19: The Son of God's Love

Have you ever tried to explain something that was so epically amazing that you couldn't quite put it into words? Sometimes I think that's what the Apostle John faced.

Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, calling, Faith, Holy Spirit, Incarnation, Jesus, John the Apostle, Metanarrative, storiesJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020beloved, Bible, Christ, Church, Gospels, Incarnation, Jesus, John, King of kings, Lord, Luke, Mark, Matthew, miracles, narrative, Revelation, stories, Temple

Story 20: The Light that Shines: Where Are You Getting Your Hope?

What do you do with your words? I've got to admit that sometimes the phrase "talk is cheap" is a good description for the things I take the trouble to say. If the Bible is right (and I believe it is) then we can know that the opposite is true of God.

Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, Faith, Incarnation, Jesus, John the Apostle, Spiritual formation, storiesJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020beloved, betrayal, Bible, eternity, forgivenss, God, hope, Incarnation, Jesus, John, Light of the world, narrative, Story, transformation, Truth, Word

Story 21: The Kid Who Was God

What would it be like to be the mother of God? He was a perfect Son. That means He never sinned or did anything wrong...ever. How did Mary and Joseph feel when they sinned in front of Him? If they lost their temper at each other or the kids...if they wanted to waste a little money or gossip?

Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, calling, Faith, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Mary, Scripture study, Spiritual formation, storiesJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020Bible, Jesus, Mary, narrative, Passover, religious leaders, stories, Temple, Twelve

Story 22: The Radical

What would it have been like to grow up knowing that an archangel had announced your birth...knowing that you have the unique and perilous calling of a prophet? That's what John the Baptist knew his own destiny.

baptism, Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, bravery, calling, Faith, Israel, Jesus, John the Baptist, Nativity, prophecy, Scripture study, Spiritual formation, storiesJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020Baptism, Bible, calling, Christ, corruption, God, Isaiah, Jesus, John the Baptist, oppression, prophesy, prophet, radical, reformer

Story 23: Preparing the Way for the Invasion of God

The oracles of a prophet seem like such a mysterious and radical concept. It's the kind of wild, supernatural work of God that we usually try to leave behind in our modern world. It's just a little too "out there" and uncomfortable.

baptism, Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, bravery, calling, Israel, John the Baptist, prophecy, purity, Scripture study, Spiritual formation, storiesJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020Baptism, Bible, confrontation, hills, Israel, Jesus, John the Baptist, Messiah, narrative, Preparation, prophecy, radical, Story, Truth, valleys

Story 24: Hardened Hearts

When was the last time someone caught you doing something wrong? Did you get embarrassed? Angry? Did you start to argue? Make a joke? Hide? Or do you get sad and quiet? Did you repent?

baptism, Bible Learning, Biblical Narratives, bravery, calling, Faith, Israel, Jesus, John the Baptist, prophecy, storiesJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020Abraham, Anounted One, Baptism, Bible, confrontation, corruption, Covenant, God, Gospels, Isaiah, Israel, Jesus, John the Baptist, Lord, Luke, Messiah, Old Testament, oppression, prophecy, prophet, radical, righteousness, Salvation, sin, Story, Temple, transformation, Truth, Word

Story 25: A Firestorm of Faith: Making Way for the Glories of God

The crowds continued to flock to John, the wild preacher who gave his message in the open places, far from the Temple in Jerusalem. As he baptized the repentant in the waters of the Jordan River, the people could see that his bold declarations were full of the Spirit of God, and so they began to wonder who he was. Is he the prophet Elijah come back to life as foretold in Malachi 4:5?

Story 26: The Ultimate Kill

The Spirit of the Lord had come to anoint the Son of God in a special and powerful way. After Jesus’ baptism, the Spirit led Jesus away from the Jordan and the bustle of ministry that surrounded John. Jesus was compelled to go out to the wilderness and to the silence of utter nature.

Story 27: Epic Adventure: The Chosen Ones of God

After his baptism, Christ was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to face the temptations of Satan. Meanwhile, the counsel of the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, the most powerful religious leaders in the country, sent more priests to question John the Baptist.

Story 28: A New Way to Party: Changing Water into Wine

The time had come for the most important work in human history to begin...the ministry of Christ. But He didn't go it alone. During His final days at John the Baptist's encampment, John continually pointed out to his own followers that Jesus was the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. This lit a fire under some of the men and they went to Jesus, seeking Him as their rabbi.

Story 29: Proof to Believe: What Can Satisfy the Resistant Soul?

Jesus performed an amazing miracle for His mom. It was quiet and unseen by most, but a few of the people at the wedding feast understood what happened. The parents of the bride had failed to bring enough wine, and to save them from their shame, Jesus had turned many gallons of water into the fine drink.

Story 31: Divine Paradoxes and the Sin-Shattering Power of Humility

After the Lord and His disciples left Jerusalem, they went out to the hilly region of Judea. Jesus spent time with His disciples there and they baptized those that came to Him. John the Baptist was baptizing people in an area called Aenon. There was plenty of water there and many people journeyed to him as well. His disciples began discussing something that they thought was a real problem.

Story 37: Leaving Everything You've Known for Everything You've Needed

How different were the people of Capernaum from those in Nazareth! They heard the words of Jesus and believed! Many were healed of their suffering. Can you imagine the excitement the people felt as they watched people being set free?

Apostle Paul, Bible Learning, Bible Lesson, Biblical Narratives, calling, Christianity, disciples, Faith, freedom, Galilee, Israel, Jesus, Jewish History, John the Apostle, Mark, Messiah, Metanarrative, New Testament, Peter, radical, Scripture study, Spiritual formation, stories, truthJennifer JagersonOctober 17, 2020Bible, calling, faith, fishermen, Galilee, God, Gospels, history, hope, Jesus, John, Lord, Luke, Mark, Matthew, Messiah, miracles, narrative, New Testament, overcoming, Peter, radical, reformer, righteousness, Salvation, Scripture, Simon, stories, Story, theology, transformation

Story 40: Tell Me Who the Real Sinners Are

Jesus was out once again walking along the shore of the sea. What a beautiful view with the yellow, rolling hills that molded themselves around the blue, shimmering waters of Galilee. It was probably some time in the fall, but the nation of Israel is in a land where the weather is mild, even in the middle of winter.

Story 43: The Right Side of Belief Part 1: Hearing what He really said

The book of John was the last of the three Gospels to be written. At the end of his book, John tells the reason he wrote his Gospel. It was so that, “…you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name’”