The Big Story: How the Bible Makes Sense out of Life

by Justin Buzzard

How would you explain your life to a stranger?

When strangers meet today, they often ask not, "What do you do?" but, "What is your story?" Everybody on the planet believes some larger story in order to make sense of the smaller story of his or her life. We want our lives to fit within a larger plot—a plot full of history, forward movement, and future.

So, the better question to ask is, "What sort of story are you in?"

Most people believe false stories that leave them disillusioned, enslaved, and hopeless. Secular stories of chasing success and religious stories of doing good works leave us feeling exhausted and empty. Only Christianity offers a story that's big enough to make sense of both the beauty and brokenness in our lives and in our world.

Genres: Christian Living, Theology, Nonfiction, Faith, Christian, Christianity

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2013

About the author

Justin Buzzard (MDiv, Fuller Theological Seminary) is founder and lead pastor of Garden City Church in Silicon Valley. Buzzard is the author of Date Your Wife, writes about culture and the church at JustinBuzzard.net, speaks widely, and is part of the Acts 29 Church Planting Network. He resides in Silicon Valley with his wife, Taylor, and their three young sons.

Reviews

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is the Pastor of the church I attend. Today we all got a free copy of this book! I am excited to read it. I enjoy his sermons so hopefully I enjoy reading this book.

Still thinking about how to review this book. I want to be honest and not let the fact that the author is the Pastor of the church I attend cloud my judgement.
So far the four stars are for subject matter, making the Gospel easy to understand and accessible to those who may not have heard or read it before.
The writing I would have to give three stars. It is jumpy in parts and doesn't always flow smoothly....

[David Goetz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid resource for introducing people to what Buzzard calls "The Big Story." He starts with Jesus and then rewinds to the beginning and progresses through the true story of the world in five acts:

Act 1: God
Act 2: Creation
Act 3: Rebellion
Act 4: Rescue
Act 5: Home

I like that he starts with the life and fullness and joy of God himself. I wish he hadn't omitted Israel, as so many of these kinds of resources do. But, all things considered, it's an excellent resource: theologically rich, super accessible, and well written. I'm having our junior high students read this over Christmas break as part of their Confirmation class; we'll see what they think.

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an invitation into the Big Story that God is telling in the World. It is winsome, approachable and very relevant. Justine Buzzard makes great connections throughout the book in a way that makes it approachable and accessible whether you have been in church your whole life or never darkened the door. Good stuff

[Chuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is the big story of your life?

Justin Buzzard boils the essence of our existential history into a five act play. In doing so, he presents a framework for sharing the gospel story with others. You should enjoy this book.

[Mike Hazen · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a great read, and I plan to use it as a primary resource in a Discipleship class.

my wife and I read this together, in preparation for leading a Discipleship class starting next week. It's engaging, using simple and clear concepts and terms.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not enjoy the first two acts of this book because it read more like a motivational help book. I was expecting a deeper dive into the Bible and making sense of life that way. I did enjoy the rest of the book more though.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Very convicting read that captivated my attention all the way through. This read explains the Story of the Bible in a way that is easy to understand

[Jeff Block · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justin Buzzard, The Big Story: How the Bible Makes Sense Out of Life. Moody Publishers: Chicago: 2013. 192 pages.

"Stories are how we remember; we tend to forget lists and bullet points." R. McKee

From the opening quote in his Introduction to the the Appendix, Justin Buzzard is telling a story. It's a timely story today for those lost in the matrix of social networking, digital friends, and shallow narratives. This particular narrative Justin advocates for is what he calls The Big Story.

We all can ask, "What's your story?" But Justin takes it further to ask, "What sort of story are you in" (pg. 10). When people today are looking for meaning out of life yet skeptical of what truth looks is, it is Justin's conviction that the Big Story is the story that is needed to answer our questions. "It's a complicated and challenging story. It's a thrilling story [...] the only story big enough to make sense out of everything you've been through and everything you and the people you love will face in the future" (pg. 11). It's evident Justin has a love for people and a passion for them to know and be changed by this great story. His strength is his pastoral spirit woven throughout his words looking to meet people on whatever path they are journeying on, inviting them to "live into" and "examine" the Big Story found in the pages of the Bible.

It's important for Justin to start in the middle of the story: the story of Jesus. Just as film and literature critics use the term in media res, (Latin for “in the middle of the action”), Justin takes us in the middle of the action within the Big Story to tell us about Jesus. "Jesus disturbs our lives" (pg. 17) and there is no way around what he said and what he did; we all have to react to him, Justin writes. Starting here, in the middle of the story, draws us in to ask how it all began and ultimately how it concludes. This is where Justin takes us, to the beginning, while allowing the plot to develop in five acts: God, Creation, Rebellion, Rescue, Home.

Through personal adventures in his own life, Justin is candid, funny, and passionate. He has a big view of God and is enthralled by the story God is writing in his own life. "A true view of God will both radically disturb your life and set you free" (pg. 26). He is a testimony of this.

Through each of the acts, Justin demonstrates God's goodness toward us and how the Gospel comes alive to change us. One of his greatest strengths in this book is Justin's ability to be gospel-centered throughout.

In a book about a story, Justin does a phenomenal job at retelling the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15). The chapter Act Four: Rescue is clearly Justin's pivotal and best written chapter in the book and probably his favorite to write. He expounds on the story of the prodigal son returning home after a life of rebellion and the father's act of running to his beloved son, welcoming him home. "This is the heart of Christianity," Justin writes, "God takes the initiative to run after sinners [...] so that the sinner may be set free and forgiven" (pg. 96). This chapter is so well done, it beckons us to re-imagine the kind of love God has for the rebel in all of us and to celebrate the grace given in Jesus Christ.

This book is strong and is calling us to reflect, re-imagine and react to the story of God. Justin doesn't want us to just be found in a narrative, but to react and respond to the good news within it. He challenges us to "action steps" at the end of each chapter and that is the heart of this book: find yourself in The Big Story, be transformed and retell it others!

[Spencer Cummins · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Big Story by Justin Buzzard
How does the Bible relate to life and why does it matter to us? These questions are at the heart of Pastor Justin Buzzard’s mind as he takes us the world of the bible and its story. Divided into five acts and eight chapters, The Big Story takes us into the larger narrative at work in the Bible starting with Jesus and ending with Life. The five acts that Justin describes follow this order: God, Creation, Rebellion, Rescue, and Home. Using insights from biblical and systematic theology, culture, and his own life, Justin weaves together a powerful case for the overarching story of the Bible centered upon Jesus and how God is making all things new.
Writing from a Silicon Valley context where work is king and ideas are bandied about, Justin gets to the heart of the issues pretty quick. In thinking about belief in God by writing, “But if you don’t believe in the God of the Bible, the Trinitarian, happy God, then you have to believe in something else that requires just as much (if not more) faith.” (30) Often, it takes more faith to believe in systems such as atheism or eastern philosophy because they ask you to give up your quest for answering truth by sticking to a concrete system of answers devoid of mystery. Justin commends a view of God as happy and not needing our existence to complete his being but offering his perfect love to us by creating us. Furthermore, “Becoming a Christian, choosing to believe the Big Story, is simply a matter of getting serious about the pursuit of happiness. It’s a matter of ditching the cheap pleasures that never satisfied in order to experience the happiness that we are designed to enjoy.” (33) Happiness in fellowship God is what we’re after, not a happiness dependent upon our bank accounts or life’s circumstances.
Justin has a wonderful way of describing grace that will help Christians from all backgrounds better imbibe the gospel. He writes, “This reminds us that followers of Jesus, those who know the reality of His grace, are called to go into the world and help these people know that same grace, to know Jesus. Followers of Jesus should be a community that is like the party from this parable – a celebration of grace that draws people in with joy, hope, and gladness.” (106) Grace is not a one-time event we experience and then put in our hip pockets, but an overflowing abundant gift we share with others out of the sheer grace that we have received. We are all prodigals and the Lord has called each believer to himself by grace, and oh are we thankful for this!! The ending section of the chapter on Rescue is important because it asks the question, “What kind of stories do people tell about how to fix their brokenness?” I think this question is important because quick fixes are inevitable in our culture, even when they cause devastating results. Secondly, the gospel is no quick fix but a message to let down your striving and receive God’s glorious grace. Too many times we make people are amazed that they don’t have to offer up anything for God’s grace but empty hands.
I really enjoyed this book and hope you will enjoy it also. Further chapters focus on the resurrection, God making all things new, and how we are supposed to live now that we know the Big Story. With keen insights and biblically faithful encouragement, Justin blazes a clear path to understand God’s story.
Thanks to Moody Publishers for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

"We can't live without a sense of story" (p. 25).

Justin Buzzard writes a much needed book. A book about the gospel story for those still seeking and those seeking to share the story with others; a conversational book challenging the foundations of life. Justin writes,
My conviction is that only one story is big enough to adequately answer this question, to explain all the beauty and all the brokenness we see in this world, to make sense of our desires, dreams, and disappointments. (p. 15)
Justin riffs off the creation-fall-redemption-consummation. He starts with God moves to his creative act. He examines our rebellion and our rescue. He ends with home and life. In the midst of telling the gospel story Justin stops and explains what partaking in the story of Jesus means.

What I loved. Justin writes matter of factly and simply. You can feel confident giving this book to your friends and family who are seeking. Even for those uninitiated with the gospel story, unfamiliar with Jesus, The Big Story will penetrate and be understandable. As a matter of fact, I could see The Big Story used as a discipleship tool for those seeking the truth of Jesus Christ in a one-on-one context and also in a church setting.

The Big Story also encourages those who may be unsure of how to share their faith. Knowing the gospel story helps place our own story within a context that's easy to share with unbelievers. Justin deconstructs "evangelism" in a way which makes it approachable for the average Christian.

I also loved that The Big Story was God-centered. The story isn't about us ultimately. It's about Him.
The story of the Bible is about God. It is not about us working our way up to God. It's about Him working His way down to us, to our broken world, in order to fix us and free us. (p. 44)
We are just rescued.
Rescued. That's what we are forever, in Jesus. We are rescued from ourselves, our own self-destruction. We are rescued from the judgment we earned through our rebellion. We are rescued from the wrath of God which is rightly poured out on those who refuse the gracious work of Jesus. (p. 111)

I highly recommend The Big Story. It's a book you'll love if you love the gospel.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Big Story by Justin Buzzard was a fantastic book about the Big Story. The gospel is a big story and Buzzard unpacks it scene by scene. I remember recently being in church and our pastor going over the gospel and the big story. Now it wasn’t word for word what Buzzard writes but both are similar and based solely on scripture.

The Gospel in four simple words: Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration. This is it. That’s the big story broken into four phases. Buzzard explores and backs with scripture these four phases. Jesus is the hero, we are not. We are called to live between His redemption and the restoration. Buzzard is a great story teller using personal experiences, collected stories, and information to describe each phase. The way he writes is right to the point, and clear. You can expect to be drawn into this book and it will keep you attention. This kept my attention and I have been a follower of Christ for a little while now and I know that this is the perfect type of book for a new believer or someone who is investigation who He is.

I believe in this book and believe that Christ will touch those who believe and trust in Him. To use this book for a new believer would be perfect and this is also one of those books that you can give to a mature Christian to get back to the basics. The Gospel can be a difficult thing to understand, but knowing that it is as simple as Creation, Fall, Redemption, Restoration is important.

I highly recommend this book and suggest that you buy the e-book, the paperback or wait to rent it from your local library. It’s worth your time and worth the money. It would also be great as a gift for someone investigation Jesus.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review purposes by Moody Publishers. I was not required to post a positive review and the views expressed in this review are my own.

This review was originally posted on BattleBornNV website.

[Troy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best parts of this book were in the middle third. Buzzard does a great job of contextualizing the teachings of Jesus from a Ancient Near Eastern perspective. Buzzard is also great about calling for action and living out the resurrection life now. That is something the reformed, in particular, tend to be weak on, and Buzzard is better than most.

That said, Buzzard approaches with a very strong reformed systematic as opposed to a broader theological approach. He also is a bit more focused on systematic theology than he is biblical theology. The strength of the meta-narrative of scripture comes from a biblical theological approach, not the presuppositions of systematic theology.

Overall, a good book worth 4 stars. - 1 star because of the narrow reformed perspective.

[Katerina · Rating 3 out of 5]

In The Big Story Justin Buzzard distills the narrative of the Bible into a simple, overarching story. He tells the story in five acts: God, creation, rebellion, rescue, and home. He adds another chapter, called "Life," to explain the time we are now living in, the time between rescue and home.

This book is useful for those seeking a framework for explaining the Christian faith. I found the chapters on God, rescue and life to be excellent. This book has helped me better understand God's grace.

[Giovanni Generoso · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains a simple yet extremely profound concept. All people have a philosophy of life, a worldview, that we each use to make sense out of life. For some people, it's atheism. For others, agnosticism. For another person, Hinduism makes the most sense out of life. Buzzard submits that the Bible, more so than any other worldview or system of thought, succeeds in bringing clarity to this life. Where all other philosophies fail, the Bible succeeds.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read! It puts all the bits and pieces of the various Bible stories into the context of a 5 act play. We're not used to thinking of the Bible in terms of a main character, hero, villain, and plot. Much food for thought for both believers and non-believers alike. I enjoyed it and had my Worldview class of high school students read it too.

[Kelly]

I tried reading this book as if I had no context for Christianity beforehand. Interesting to read a book that way. Some illustrations I found applicable and easy to understand, other points made in the book I I wish had some additional support. The author's enthusiasm and passion for church really comes through in the book.

[Lawson Hembree · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy-to-read and basic account of the Big Story of the Bible and how it relates to the individual. Written on a level that even those who aren't familiar with "Christianese" can read it and understand it.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good. As a easy to read beginning book on the over arching “story” of the Bible. For one who is familiar it will be review but still a good explanation of the story and how it all works together.

[Greg Thaggard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hmmm, I'm starting to see things differently. What pharisees we are.

[Hank Pharis · Rating 3 out of 5]

This a very good overview of the message of the Bible in 5 acts. Well done.