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