Welcome to the One Great Story!. George B. Thompson

      Welcome to The One Great Story!

      Tracing the Biblical Narrative from Genesis to Revelation

      Copyright © 2020 George B. Thompson Jr. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical publications or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publisher. Write: Permissions, Wipf and Stock Publishers, 199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3, Eugene, OR 97401.

      Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America, and are used by permission.

      Wipf & Stock

      An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers

      199 W. 8th Ave., Suite 3

      Eugene, OR 97401

      www.wipfandstock.com

      paperback isbn: 978-1-7252-7731-1

      hardcover isbn: 978-1-7252-7730-4

      ebook isbn: 978-1-7252-7732-8

      Manufactured in the U.S.A. 09/10/20

      In grateful memory of

      The Rev. Patrick D. Miller Jr., PhD

      Charles T. Haley Professor Emeritus of Old Testament Theology

      Princeton Theological Seminary

      who died peacefully two nights after completing work on the foreword for this book with his twin sister, Mary Miller Brueggemann.

      “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God’s holy name.”

      —Psalm 103:1

      Acknowledgments

      Beverly and I had lived in Dahlonega, Georgia, for about a year when I was asked to lead the church’s youth class for vacation Bible school. Having only several days with which to provide something from which I thought the teens would learn and still enjoy, I decided to try a biblical overview. We met in the sanctuary balcony, but I still managed to use a Post-It notepad easel for writing down key names and terms. Conversation seemed on topic most of the time, although I would not vouch for how much or how well they remembered any of our time together. Still, the germ of an idea for a book took hold with me. This idea grew in my mind for the next four or five years, as I led a weekly lectionary study at that church on Sunday mornings. Several faithful adult members explored texts with me and unknowingly helped me begin to formulate the thesis for this book.

      Later, Beverly and I moved to Red Springs, North Carolina, as co-pastors of a congregation there, where the women of Circle 3 asked me if I would lead their monthly Bible study. It was all the excuse that I needed for organizing and expanding my notes, beginning with Genesis. Each month, I provided printed outlines to the Circle members and was gratified by the interest with which they listened, discussed, and asked questions. Surprisingly, they asked me back for a second year, so my file of notes grew in size and topics covered.

      When Beverly and I moved to Whiteville, North Carolina, to be interim pastors there, I was invited once again to lead an adult class. This one had been meeting on Sunday mornings for thirty years or more and called itself the “Reformed Rebels,” always willing to wrestle with theological issues that would give some church members pause. Then, over the summer, all the adult classes combined for one study, which I led from Walter Brueggemann’s small but insightful volume, The Bible Makes Sense. By this time, I had an extensive set of notes and was anticipating time for getting this book started.

      After the Whiteville experience, Beverly and I were participating in the life of Saint Andrews Covenant Presbyterian Church, Wilmington, North Carolina. There, I was asked to lead a winter study for the Wednesday night adult group who shared in a weekly intergenerational program, “Preparing Our People for Service (POPS).” By this time, most of the chapters of the book had been drafted.

      Meanwhile, a friend of ours from the Dahlonega congregation, Dea Devereaux, agreed to read the entire manuscript—one chapter at a time—and give me feedback. Although an active church member, Dea never had joined a class or study group. After reading the first few chapters, Dea then asked if she could share them with another friend from church, Susan Reese, and I agreed. Their comments and observations on all the chapters strengthened my sense that this book could speak to folks inside, and along the periphery of, the church. Hence, the manuscript has been road-tested and, I believe, found sufficiently worthy.

      Leisa McDonald tackled the formatting, copyediting, and sometimes tedious details and decisions involved in preparing the final manuscript for submission. I was glad to be able to work with her again.

      As usual, I am grateful to Beverly for reading each chapter and commenting on each one—even though she knows that I don’t necessarily heed her suggestions! To her, and to all of those who took part in the classes and presentations mentioned above, I extend heartfelt appreciation.

      Finally, I am especially grateful to Mary Miller Brueggeman and her late twin brother, Patrick Miller, for the foreword. My respect for their biblical knowledge and experience makes their contribution a great honor.

      Foreword

      This book by George Thompson, Welcome to The One Great Story!, is offered to the whole church and especially to those who wish they understood the Bible better but feel or believe it is beyond them. It works for those who are joining the church or young people in confirmation. It works for the sometime church member who feels inadequate about the ways of God both near and far. It also works for the new Council or Session member who has been chosen to lead the church in the coming years. This book was made for study groups in the church as well. It is clear that Thompson draws on his extraordinary knowledge of biblical studies as well as an awareness of regular people who sit weekly in morning worship. That is the genius of his work. He understands where the church is in its educational task. You won’t learn what each book of the Bible is about or be able to list the books of the Bible, however helpful that might be. What you will see and understand is the role of the faithful and reliable God among women and men, from creation until the “not-ending” of God’s reign among us.

      Thompson sees this story as a tapestry that is woven not only by the ancient near-Eastern world in which the story plays out. It is also part of the fabric of what is going on in our world today. No dust-covered Bible for him. Its worth is when the two worlds—the biblical world and our world of pandemics and war and love and family—meet. That is exhilarating and opens up for the reader a whole new future. Along the way are wonderful sidebars and excellent questions that will certainly help those who teach. Moreover, Thompson’s “tapestry” urges the reader to move deeper into her or his life for new understandings and energy for the living of these days.

      Mary Miller Brueggemann and Patrick D. Miller

      April 2020

      Chapter 1

      Once Upon a Time

      A Sacred Story Line

      What is the first Bible story that you remember hearing? Was it about the Israelites fleeing from Egypt? Samson pulling down the pillars to destroy a multitude of the Philistines? King Solomon deciding which of the two women would get the baby whom they both claimed was theirs? Elijah complaining to the LORD in the wilderness? The angel Gabriel visiting Mary? Jesus healing ten lepers and only one coming back to thank him? One of Jesus’ followers using a sword to cut off the ear of the high priest’s slave? Saul being struck