Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, and Living God’s Word is written by Dr. Stephen J. Nichols research professor of Christianity and culture at Lancaster Bible College and Graduate School. In this book, Dr. Nichols outlines the story of the Bible in four words: creation, fall, redemption and restoration. This book isn’t about just how creation, fall, redemption and restoration fit the storyline of the Bible, but rather goes beyond that to show why this story is fundamental to making sense of our own story. Everyone has a story full of different life experiences, but ultimately there is One story that supersedes all stories, and that is the story of the redemptive work of Christ.
Welcome to the Story does not stop at just explaining biblical or theological concepts, but rather teaches how one can read the Bible and understand the redemptive story of God reconciling people to Himself. Personally, I found Dr. Nichols book to be helpful as he proposes how the story line of Scripture (creation, fall, redemption and restoration) ought to affect how we read the Bible, and love and live God’s Word. I appreciated the fact that even when the author gets practical he keeps the story line of the Scriptures before his readers and applies that story line to what God’s story does to us, and how it affects the way we live for Him.
The most helpful chapter in the book is chapter ten. In chapter ten the author gives helpful counsel on how to get started reading, loving and living the Scriptures. The most important points the author makes in this chapter are that it’s important to pay attention to the big picture, context, to one’s life, as well as to how to dig deeper into the Scriptures. I recommend you read Welcome to the Story to learn the story line of Scripture and how the Story of God intersects with your own story.
Title: Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, and Living God’s Word
Author: Stephen J. Nichols
Publisher: Crossway (2011)
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Crossway as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
