The Story of God, the Story of Us: Getting Lost and Found in the Bible

by Sean Gladding

"The ever present ache of exile rises above the comforting sounds of the river, as the image of the house of the LORD in ruins breaks the peace. . . . Despite the warmth of the fire, he feels a chill. He wraps his cloak around him and looks into the eager faces of his people, then closes his eyes. 'Picture this scene . . .'"

Before the Bible was a book, it was flesh and blood.

In this book, you can travel with Sean Gladding between the lines of the Scriptures to listen in on the conversations of people wrestling with the Story of God for the first time. Whether sitting around a campfire in Babylon, reclining at table in Asia Minor or huddled together by candlelight in Rome, you'll encounter a tale that is at once familiar and surprising.

can be read alone but is especially rich shared with a group. Sean Gladding presents an account of the Bible that pays attention to its audience as well as its message. He introduces you to people who may remind you of yourself or your family, friends and coworkers. As much as the Bible is a story about God, it's also a story about you--and all of us--as we encounter God in a new way.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Christianity, Faith, Nonfiction, Religion, Biblical Studies

237 pages, Paperback

First published August 3, 2010

About the author

Sean Gladding is a storyteller, community gardener, backyard chicken keeper and YMCA soccer coach. He is married to Rebecca, is father to Maggie and Seth, and they live, love, work and play in the MLK neighborhood in Lexington, Kentucky. He is part of the Fig Tree Collective (www.figtreecollective.org) and is cultivating a more loving way of life with his neighbours.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way this book lays out the meta narrative of scripture through Story. It makes you feel like you’re right there with the people, sitting around the campfire, hearing the Story of God for the first time again.

[Heather Holden · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased this book and started it in June. I wasn’t moving very quickly through it, despite the fact that I found this unique way of sharing the Bible quite compelling. Later in the summer. I decided to download it on Audible. I’ve really enjoyed listening to the authors read the story. I’ve worked through it slowly, it’s a lot to process. But, for those familiar with the Bible, I think it is a fresh telling and it made me want to go back and re-read sections of scripture.

[JoDeanne Francis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a fan and definitely would recommend this book! A beautiful telling of the metanarrative of scripture. It’s not as dense theologically as other books, but doesn’t need to be and makes it accessible for all readers.

[Luke Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Story of God, The Story of Us” is an interesting concept to approaching biblical interpretation. It includes retelling of the story of the Old Testament, an interlude, and a retelling of the New Testament. Pre-interlude, the book is fantastic. It treats the OT as this campfire story with much wisdom to come out of it. However, my biggest struggle with this book is the NT. Chapters 9-10 cover all of Jesus’ ministry. Chapter 9 especially is too dense to the point it feels crammed.

[Michael Hinnen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun re-telling of the story of Scripture. 4.5/5 stars. Performance on audio was great. 4.5 stars for some the exegetical issues (such as portraying the Apostles in the wrong in Acts 6 for focusing on the ministry of prayer & the world). In this format, it is difficult to provide different viewpoints, which is understandable but only allows for a one-sided reading of the story (such as the strong egalitarianism throughout). Good read.

[TempleCollie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is so very nice to see a Christian work, analyzing the Bible, that does not take it literally, out of context, or apply its words directly to the reader's lives. The Story of God is a fascinating and inspired retelling of this sacred story that I would highly recommend to anyone exploring Christianity who has not the time or courage for the Bible itself.

[sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

a must read, your mind will be blown

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

With this the old man stands to stretch, glancing briefly at the young musician to see a thoughtful expression on his face. "Have you ever considered that our observance of the Sabbath is an act of defiance?" A smile spreads across the young man's face. He had indeed been thinking that very thing-and it was a thought that pleased him. "The Babylonians would have us work every day, and they view our taking one day in seven to rest with scorn-a waste of time, unproductive, rebellious even. Yet it is an important way for us to assert and affirm our humanity in the face of captivity-it is indeed a precious gift from God."
Location: 199

"This is what God did with Abram. God used a cultural form Abram would have been familiar with as the basis for God's covenant with him. God did not require Abram to meet any conditions; it would be God's responsibility alone to bring the promises to pass."
Location: 492

"God's character is primarily revealed through God's hesed love for us. For God, loving us means keeping God's promises to us. Hesed is covenant loyalty, translated as lovingkindness, mercy, love and compassion. We keep Torah in response to God's favor-not in an attempt to earn it.
Location: 884

The old man turns toward the young girl. "Moses interceded for the people, pleading with God to spare them, and reminded God of the covenant. Moses had taken to heart this covenant he and his people had made with God. His identity had been formed; he understood his role as one of God's people: to act as a priest, as a mediator between a sinful people and a holy God. Instead of claiming the special rights for himself that God offered him, he stood in solidarity with his people and begged God's forgiveness for them."
Location: 929

"`And now, Israel, what does the LORD require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all God's ways and love God, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and to keep the LORD's commandments? And all the blessings of the covenant shall come upon you if you will obey the LORD your God. But it shall come about, if you will not obey the LORD your God, then your enemies will defeat you, and the LORD will bring a nation against you from afar, and you shall be torn from the land which you are about to enter.
Location: 991

Do we shape a building only to discover it begins to shape us? Do we become more invested in the building than the God the building is for?"
Location: 1293

"Let us think for a moment about the great irony of Solomon's reign, and heed its warning. Solomon's great achievements were marked by three things: affluence, oppression and static religion. The covenant God made through Moses had been almost completely reversed under Solomon. Yet Israel was the wonder of the region during his reign; God's people had indeed become like all the other nations. "So, even though we are here in exile, as far removed from those days as we can possibly be, this story should give us pause. For if we are to be faithful to the covenant, then we must beware of falling into the same three things that marked Solomon's reign: • an economics of affluence in which we become so well off that both the pain around us and the pain we cause others are not noticed; • a politics of oppression in which the cries of the marginal are not heard or are silenced; • a static religion, in which God has no other business than to maintain our standard of living, and whose prophets we try to silence when they speak words we do not want to hear."
Location: 1341

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bible is a long, complex and confusing book, especially those who are coming to it for the first time. Many books try to explain the big story of the Bible. This book is unique because it is written in narrative form. Rather than simply reading about the history of Israel, the reader is invited around a campfire in ancient Babylon where a group of Jews in exile tell their story from creation to the catastrophe of sin, the call of Abraham, the miracle of the Exodus, the conquest of the land all the way to being exiled from the land. The New Testament story is told much the same way, by placing the reader among a gathering of Christians telling the story of Jesus and the Church. It is a joy to read the story in this way.

I have many students who want to understand the big picture of the Bible and this is the book I will recommend. It is an easy and enjoyable read. The book came together as a series of Bible studies by the authors and it would be useful as a study tool for a small group. It would also be useful for those who have never read the Bible before.

One thing to note, as I can imagine some may be critical here: it is written in contemporary language. The characters use terms that no person in those days would have used such as "community of relationship" and "myth of redemptive violence". The story is set in ancient times but written in language we can understand. If you are looking to get deep into the history of the times, how people thought and articulated their faith, you may be disappointed. This does not mean the book is false, the authors simply take the biblical concepts and translate them into language people in our day can understand.

Overall, highly recommended.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an evocative, lovely exploration of the idea that the Bible is telling one story, not a lot of disconnected, separate stories. This idea of metanarrative is not new to me, but this quasi-fictional approach with individuals telling the "Story" as might have happened at different points in history is a great way to flesh out what exactly that means. I did like the Old Testament sections much more than the New Testament ones, maybe because I know less about how the Old Testament fits together. Really maybe more like 3.5 stars for me, but eh, I'll round up.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sean's written a masterful overview of the Story of the Bible. Far from drudgery, this retelling makes the story come alive. You feel like you enter into the story in the same way you do in a good theater production. What I liked was that it engaged my mind and my heart at the same time. Makes me have a renewed interest in the Bible's story. This seems to be the way the Bible SHOULD be read. Materfully done.

[Nathan Tofteland · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful retelling of a story that is both familiar and refreshing. The last page summarizes much of the message of the story of God: "'My prayer is that you will choose the Story of God, and that you will come to experience the fullness of life in the new creation--the forgiveness of sins, a return from the alienation of exile, and the vocation of partnering in the mission of God to heal and restore shalom to all that is broken in God's beautiful world."

[Scott Swires · Rating 3 out of 5]

A unique way of covering the meta-narrative found in Scripture. I enjoyed the narrative form and the questions asked, especially the ones that weren’t answered. Sometimes books attempt a resolution out of the uncomfortableness we can feel when things aren’t wrapped up in a tidy manner. They often fall short or lessen the quality of a good question. Gladding emphasizes the process of discovery which is essential to pursuing our role in the story of God.

[Nate Pequette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and simple, yet deep and insightful telling of the large, long story of God and God's people in which we too are a part of. Gladding deeply understands the contexts in which scripture was written and deeply understands that this is really all about being a people giving allegiance to this God and living life in God's kingdom in all ages of history including our own.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rated: B-
Good narrative survey of scriptures. A little too simplistic in places.

1. Creation
• “Then the LORD God said, ‘It is not good for ha-adam [Adam] to be alone; I will make a helper suitable for ha-adam.
“Did you hear that? ‘It is not good.’ Something in God’s creation was not good! And that is for the human to be alone. We were indeed created for community, for relationship, and not just with God – which ha-adam experienced – but also with each other. This is central to our identity: to be human, to be made in God’s image, means ‘to not be alone.’
2. Catastrophe
• … and instead of talking to God, ish-shah [Eve] was now talking about God.
• The subtle serpent taps into our deepest anxiety as humans: the fear that what I have, no matter how good it may be, is not enough. The haunting suspicion that someone else has it better than me. That someone else is better than me. So, not only do I not have enough, I am not enough. I am less than.
• … deciding for herself, independently of God, what is good for her to do.
• Sin is social; it always impacts the whole community.
• [Noah] ... anomaly among humanity.
4. Community (Part One)
• We need a new exodus from sin. An exodus that not only frees the oppressed from being oppressed, but that also frees the oppressors from being oppressors.

[Matt Fisk · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really love what this book was trying to do, but the execution wasn’t what it could have been.

Good: This book is trying to tell the story of the Bible the way it was first told, around a campfire and in people’s homes. Gladding ambitiously tells us the story and stories of God and his people from the beginning of Genesis to the return of Jesus. But he does it through storyteller characters in their own context telling people gathered around them. It’s a wonderful idea that got my attention and kept me interested. For you nerds out there, it’s kind of an illustration of how to understand the historical context of exegesis.

The book does a great job at giving an very high view of the entirety of the biblical story.

Not as good: The language was stiff. Not the language I. The frame stories, but when telling the story of the Bible. There was a huge difference between the language of the frame stories and the language of the Bible telling stories. My guess is the author was trying to preserve biblical wording, which is admirable. But, since no one in the boom was reading a scroll I think the story of the Bible could have been told with more real language rather than the formal prose he used in the storytelling.

I would recommend this book for people trying to get the overview of the scriptural story. But I wish I could recommend it more.

[Alex Parrish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is worth reading for many reasons. For me, the top of that list is joining believers from other times, receiving a completely different perspective on the Bible that I have on my own. Jewish captives hearing the Old Testament. An early church, struggling to stay alive, hearing this strange story for the first time. It takes me out of my context and puts me in theirs, causing me to rethink the assumptions I usually bring to reading scripture.

And then there’s Revelation. Joining first and second century believers who would have seen that book in a drastically different light is a real moment of revelation in itself.

For people unfamiliar with the Bible, this can be an incredible kickstart, I think. For people like me who have been reading it for decades, it is equally valuable (maybe more so) to prompt some thought into the history of the Bible and how that history impacts its content.

[A.J. Mendoza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gladding does a wonderful job giving the flow of "the Story" of God that is captured within the Bible. Even more brilliant his is faithfulness to keep the historical background within the flow as much as possible when writing a book for the everyday disciple. This book is a collection of fictional story-telling moments that allow a more natural revealing of the story from Genesis to Revelation. It starts with the story telling skills of an old Israelite who was a contemporary with Ezekiel and ends with the story of the Revelation from the mouth of a merchant convert in 1st century Rome. Gladding does a good job to not let the bias of a particular denomination drive the nuances of the story-telling and instead faithful hones in on the allegiance aspect of faith. Definitely would recommend.

Would give this to anyone with a high school reading level who is either a Christian or is interested in Christianity.

Key words/phrases:
- Story
- Allegiance
- Empire
- Christian

[Dani Aguilar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a beautiful metanarrative of the bible. As someone who has never read the bible cover to cover, I thought it was a great way of understanding the overarching story or “the big picture”. Great for people who are curious or seeking, easy to read and understand!

The story is told from the perspective of the people back then, for instance the Torah or old testament story is told by an elder israelite while they are in Babylonian captivity. This really helped me understand the better understand the story, as it gives you great context. The Jesus story is woven into and presented as an integral part of the larger narrative. They do make a point about his divinity, while also highlighting his humanity, compassion and how he would always go out of his way to bring people in the margins back into society. He also highlights the redemptive power in Jesus’s death and resurrection, as the ultimate act of love.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook version that was read by both of the authors.
It was a really interesting take on learning about the stories from the Bible. It is told in two parts. Part one is told through an old man sitting around with his people while exiled in Babylon. The second part is told through a woman passing on the stories to a merchant during the Roman republic.
I think the audiobook is the best way to experience this novel, as it adds the depth of the scene you wouldn’t get while reading.
It was a good experience for someone that’s new to he bible (like me)

[Makenna Hix · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It left me hungry for more scripture. It left me with a sense of awe and passion to teach this story to others.

I liked that this book spanned generations and showed the perspectives of different cultures. I think the only reason I didn’t rate it higher was because I felt like it summarized the scripture too much at times. I wanted it expanded upon more and discussed. However, it is good to note that this would be the oral telling of the scripture.

Either way, this book and God’s Word through it touched me. As it always does.

[Beth Withers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of God and Jesus is shared in the way it was originally shared, with story tellers in front of a group. I liked getting the feel of how people originally heard the Bible stories, and I think this book did an exceptional job of that. I have read the Bible through a few times, so the stories themselves were not new to me. I enjoyed the fresh perspective, however. I think the authors did a good job of including the high points, so to speak, since it would have taken many books to cover everything in the Bible.

[Silvanus Bhandari · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gladding has narrated stories from Genesis to Revelation so beautifully in titles. This can be one of the best books to gift to others, mostly to those who are not familiar with the scripture or has no personal relationship with the Creator. This is not a theological book, but it is very much inspirational book. When you begin to read first chapter "Creation", you can't wait to read Catastrophe...... then on--and on to the Consummation narrative. Actually this book tells your story. I love it!

[Parker Friesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

It does exactly what it sets out to do. The book tells the story of God succinctly and artistically. The only issue I had with the book was that it claimed Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes, Proverbs and Song of Songs. Any serious work in text-critical theory would show that is not the case. Besides that, I would happily give this out to any new believer or person interested in Christianity. Really approachable and fun read.

[Sarah Hazelrig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a vivid recounting of the story of God -- from Genesis to the early church -- through the voices of storytellers reflecting on God's faithfulness in their own circumstances. I have now read this book in an academic setting as well as in a college small group and the book led to great conversations in both settings. I deeply appreciated how this book helped to tie together stories and themes throughout scripture in fresh ways.

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally finished this book! It was a long time coming, and it took me starting over to get me there, but I finally have read this. I really enjoyed reading this book; I've never actually read the whole Bible or heard the whole story chronologically. This was such a good way for me to get a general overview/read of what the story of the Bible is.

[Allegra · Rating 5 out of 5]

So beautifully written that it pulls you right in! Gladding does a fabulous job of illuminating nuances and pointing out why they are important. Good to be reminded that God keeps looking for us and meeting us where we are. I will have to read this one again.

[Nathan Ezzell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good idea and so well executed. Worth revisiting annually for the reminder and the perspective. A good connecting-of-the-Messianic-dots throughout the history recorded in the Bible.
[4 Stars = Great]

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The old, old story written in a new way. A good way to become familiar with the story from beginning to end before observing the details and asking questions.

[Laurel Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well crafted chronological overview of the Bible. I don’t agree with all of the author’s points, but he gave me an enjoyable and profitable experience.