What is the role of Story?
The people of God have always been a people of “the book.” That is Through the old and new testaments the Jewish and Christian framework has been shaped through the passing on of stories. Not just any stories, but the stories of God’s action and engagement in the world. As Christians, we believe fundamentally that the Bible is the core Story that should inform every other story. We believe that both the events and the very author’s words were carried along by the Spirit. They reveal what God has done and will do. They reveal who God is and what he is like. They also reveal who we are and what we are like. The foundational paradigm shift for mission is to begin to see your life as a story that fits into the God story.
See Our Bible Cohort Page to Explore the Bible as God’s Grand Story. Below are two exercises that guide us in prayerfully reflecting on these two movements:
Step 1: Story Timeline Exercise
Seeing Your Life as a Story
This is a foundational exercise that we practice at the beginning of our 101 Cohorts. It invites you to reflect back on your story so far. It guides you in naming the defining moments in your story and prayerfully identifying themes. Set aside about an hour to do this activity. You will need a pencil and paper. Watch the 10-min video to guide you!
Step 2: Story Lab Exercise
Fitting Your Story into the God Story
This is a foundational exercise that we practice at the end of our 201 Cohorts. It invites you to prophetically dream looking toward the future. It aims to help you clarify a controlling idea for your mission and vision. You can do it from the vantage point of your overarching calling, mission, and vision. Or you could use it as a clarifying exercise for a smaller tangible thing you want to start (maybe a discipleship group, community, outreach, business, etc). Set aside about an hour to do this activity. You will need a pencil and the pdf below printed. If you have never done this activity you can be taught and guided along by listening to the audio!