The Bible contains many of the most fantastic and memorable stories of all time--the great flood, David and Goliath, the empty tomb. These stories are packed with enough verve and vitality to astound and inspire readers on their own. Yet when readas parts of a larger, grander story, each of these stories reveals added depths of artistry and meaning. Still, it is easy to lose sight of how the Bible's narrative threads weave together into one beautiful tapestry.In Story of Stories readers join Karen Lee-Thorp on a guided tour of Scripture where she retells the Bible's major stories, draws out the significance of overlooked subtleties and shows how individual vignettes contribute to Scripture's overarching story of redemption. Readers will find a renewed appreciation for the breadth and depth of the greatest story ever told in these pages.Written with both individuals and groups in mind, this revised and expanded edition includes end-of-chapter reflection questions and a leader's guide for facilitating discussions.



Karen Lee-Thorp has written or cowritten more than fifty books and Bible studies, including the LifeChange series and the Doing Life Together series in the Purpose-Driven line. A former senior editor at NavPress, she is now a freelance writer living in Southern California with her husband, Greg.



Introduction: Why I Want to Tell You This Story



PART ONE: A PROMISE OF DELIVERANCE



1.Beginnings



Genesis 1--3



2. The Spread of Corruption



Genesis 5--11



3. God Chooses a Family



Genesis 11:10--50:26



4. Liberation



Exodus 1:1--15:21



5. A Treaty with Yahweh



Exodus 15:22--23:33



6. A Court for the King



Exodus 24:1--40:38



7. A Generation Lost



Leviticus; Numbers; Deuteronomy



8. March to the Promised Land



Numbers; Deuteronomy



PART TWO: THE RISE AND FALL OF ISRAEL



9. A Taste of Conquest and Defeat



Joshua; Judges



10. A Tale of Two Kings



Ruth; 1 Samuel; Psalms 18 and 22



11. David?s Glory and Shame



2 Samuel; 1 Chronicles; Psalms 32 and 51



12. Two Kinds of Wisdom



1 Kings 1--14; 2 Chronicles 1--12; Job; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; Song of Songs



13. Power Encounters



1 Kings 15--2 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 13--24



14. Enforcing the Covenant



2 Kings13--17; Amos; Hosea; Jonah



15. Meanwhile Down South



2 Kings 15--16; 2 Chronicles 26--28; Isaiah 1--11; Joel; Micah



16. Judah Seals Her Fate



2 Kings 18:1--21:18; 2 Chronicles 29:1--33:20; Isaiah 13--66



17. Strolling TowardDisaster



2 Kings 21:19--23:27; 2 Chronicles 33:21--36:8; Jeremiah 7--20; 26; Nahum; Habakkuk; Zephaniah



18. Babylon?s Triumph



2 Kings 24:1--25:30; 2 Chronicles 36:9-23; Jeremiah 21--25; 27--52; Lamentations; Obadiah



PART THREE:EXCILE AND RETURN



19. A Prophet in Exile



Ezekiel



20. Ambassador to a Pagan Court



1 and 2 Kings; Daniel



21. Return to Jerusalem



Ezra 1--6; Haggai; Zechariah



22. Looking Toward the Future



Ezra 4:6-23; 7:1--10:44; Nehemiah; Esther; Malachi



23. The Silent Years



PART FOUR: THE COMING OF THE KING



24. The Silence Breaks



Matthew 1:1--4:11; Mark 1:1-13; Luke 1:1--4:13; John 1:1-51



25. The Kingdom



Matthew 4:12--20:34; Mark 1:14--10:52; Luke 4:14--18:43; John 2:1--10:42



26. Jerusalem?s Last Chance



Matthew 21:1--26:56; Mark 11:1--14:52; Luke 19:1--22:53; John 11:1--18:11



27. The Death of Death



Matthew 26:57--28:20, Mark 14:53--16:20, Luke 22:54--24:53, John 18:12--21:25



PART FIVE: MESSENGERS TO THE NATIONS



28. A Movement Explodes



Acts 1:1--8:40; 9:32--11:30



29. The Adventures of Paul



Acts 9:1-31; 12:1--14:27



30. Breaking the Culture Barrier



Acts 15:1--16:5; Galatians



31. Strategic Bases



Acts 16:6--19:41; 1 and 2 Thessalonians



PART SIX: LETTERS TO THE CHURCHES



32. Crisis in Corinth



Acts 20:1-3; 1 and 2 Corinthians



33. Paul?s Manifesto



Romans



34. Paul in Prison



Acts 20:4-28:31; Philippians; Colossians; Philemon; Ephesians



35. Farewells



1 and 2 Timothy; Titus



36. International Mail



Hebrews; James; 1 and 2 Peter; Jude; 1, 2, and 3 John



37. The View from Heaven



Revelation



Leaders Guide



Timeline



Map: The Middle East, 2000--100 BC



Map: Palestine, 2000--100 BC



Map: The Roman Empire



Map: Palestine Under the Romans



Map: The Middle East Today



Notes



Subject Index



Scripture Index



"Karen is no stranger to tragedy. It is this Story of Stories that gives lives hope and meaning. This retelling is crystal-clear, poignant and gently humorous. Anyone who finds the kings/prophets confusing (or even boring) will see them come alive in this book. The New Testament letters are also portrayed in story form. Discussion questions make this book valuable for personal study or Bible study groups."



"Told in the most conversational, down-to-earth language, this book captures the Story of all stories with energetic pace, robust detail and scholarly insight. Karen Lee-Thorp has brought to life the sweeping arc of the biblical story, providing readers a sense of the drama and divine hand in human history. You will feel like the pieces of the puzzle have come together after you read it. I highly recommend it!"



"Lee-Thorp's ambitious endeavor covers the entire scope of the biblical narrative while maintaining accessibility and readability. Her guided tour is packed with historical and cultural background and theological reflection. Reading Story of Stories will encourage a closer reading of Scripture and remind God's people that we are each 'part of a tale much bigger' than our own."



"Readers join Karen Lee-Thorp on a guided tour of Scripture where she retells the Bible's major stories, draws out the significance of overlooked subtleties, and shows how individual vignettes contribute to Scriptures overarching story of redemption. Readers will find a renewed appreciation for the breadth and depth of the greatest story ever told."



"Church librarians will want to recommend this book to seekers and new Christians who find the Bible daunting. For Christians already familiar with these tales, Story of Stories will refresh and deepen their appreciation."



"Story of Stories is one of the most valuable books I have ever used for helping new Christians grow. As they grapple with the complexities of biblical truth, this book can quickly give them the big picture. Karen Lee-Thorp has conveyed the dramatic plot that flows from Genesis to Revelation with keen insight and wit. I've lost count of how many copies I've given away."



"Karen Lee-Thorp invites the reader into the drama of the biblical story. Her masterful hand guides us to a clear understanding of the flow of the text, and we stand in awe as we see, perhaps for the first time, how the Bible truly is an organic whole with One Author."



"Most of our Bible originated in acts of storytelling, but somewhere along the line many of us lose the story line and end up with a file drawer full of doctrines and dates and study notes. But God, in his Scriptures, is first of all a storyteller, elaborating the plot of his saving ways among us and pulling our stories into The Story. Karen Lee-Thorp recovers the story for us."