3 in 1: Story Time, Shopping, and a Giveaway

A while back, I talked about finding ways to tell the stories of the Bible through everyday events.  Recently, I’ve been trying to find new ways to bring up Bible stories through everyday life. And at the same time, trying to link all the stories– both in the Old and New Testament –to Jesus.

When I lived overseas for several years, my team and I worked with our local friends to develop a Bible Storytelling cloth using their local batik (wax relief) art.  Our friends looked at images of Bible stories and interpreted them using their own artistic methods.

I’m writing this post about this story cloth for three reasons.

1I wanted to share this group of stories with you and the way they work so well together to tell the story of Jesus with the thought that you could use this series in a Bible study, a Sunday school class, or even in conversation with friends.

2To point you to an opportunity to purchase one of these cloths if you’re interested.

3To give each of you a chance to win a free one of these cloths by commenting below.

If you’d like to purchase one, head here to read more about them.

If you’d like to win one, go to the bottom of this post and provide a comment.  I’ll announce the winner(s) on Tuesday.

Here are the 21 great stories and the way they all relate to Christ.

Old Testament

These Old Testament stories lay the foundation for the need of Christ and the failure of humans in all our strivings for perfection, achievement, and satisfaction.  These stories all link to Christ as they reveal a need for a perfect Sacrifice.

1. Creation. God created the whole world.  He is the responsible author of everything in this world and rules it now by his power and wisdom.  (Genesis 1-2)
2. The Fall and Curse. Man chose His Own Desires over Fellowship with God and the Consequence was Separation from God and Eventual Death. (Genesis 3)
3. Cain and Abel. The distance from God, began through Adam and Eve’s rebellion, also created enmity between people.  Jealousy and striving could even cause a man to kill his own brother.  (Genesis 4: 1-15)
4. Noah and God’s Covenant with Creation. God mourned the rebellious hearts of his creation and chose to destroy all that He had created besides one family and the animals of the world.  After the flood, He promised to never destroy the earth in that way again and began a new covenant through Noah and his family.  (Genesis 6-8)
5. Sodom and Gomorrah. Even after God created a new family through which his covenant would be sustained, people again turned from Him and He once again destroyed a people, this time through fire. (Genesis 19)
6. Abraham and Isaac. As these people were destroyed, God began His new covenant with Abraham and his son Isaac.  When God requested a sacrifice for this firstborn son, He graciously provided a ram in the place of Isaac’s life. (Genesis 21-22)
7. The Slaying of the Hebrew Children in Egypt. As God’s people grew, they became a threat to other powers and Egyptian kings sought to destroy them.  But, God was at work to keep His covenant and establish his people.  (Exodus 1)
8. Moses and the Burning Bush. (my favorite, of course!)  God meets with the new leader He has chosen to direct and govern his people as He saves them from the hands of their enemies. (Exodus 3)
9. Moses Receiving the Ten Commandments. After God rescued his people, He established a new way of life for them through His laws and commandments.  But even as He was providing for their direction,  His people turned away from Him and to idols.(Exodus 20)
10. Moses and the Bronze Serpent. Continuous rebellion led to all sorts of problems for God’s people, even plagues and sickness.  But even through punishment, God provided a way of healing and restoration as seen in this story when Moses lifted the snake on the rod for the people to see. (Numbers 21: 4-9)

New Testament

These New Testament stories are clear fulfillments of God’s work in the Old Testament.  As you tell these stories, link them back to the Old Testament stories to reveal how Jesus has always been the Savior of the World.

1. Jesus’ Birth. After many prophets had foretold the coming of the Son of God who would save God’s rebellious people once and for all, the Son of God was born in a quiet obscure manner.  This story relates to #7 above (the slaying of the Hebrew children).  Jesus is the powerful ONE that was feared by all.  And His birth again incited the ruling King to kill all the male children once again.  (Matthew 1-2)
2. Jesus’ Baptism. Jesus’ first act of ministry was asking John the Baptist to baptize him.  During his baptism, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am pleased.’  This story relates to #6 (Abraham and Isaac) above.  Jesus was the replacement for Isaac, Abraham’s beloved son.  He was the son who would be sacrificed in Isaac’s place.  (Matthew 3)
3. Jesus Calms the Storm. As a storm rages around Jesus and his disciples, Jesus reveals that He has ultimate power over nature.  This story relates to  #4 (Noah and the Ark) above.  Jesus’ perfect life and sacrifice was the payment needed for God to stop the storm in Noah’s day and save him and his family.  (Matthew 8:23-27)
4. Jesus Heals the Demoniac. Jesus reveals his power over evil when He casts demons out of a man and sends them into a herd of pigs.  This story relates to #5 (Sodom and Gomorrah) above.  Jesus’ righteousness is greater than all the evil of Sodom and Gomorrah and his sacrifice was sufficient to save Lot and his family from such evil.  (Matthew 8:28-34)
5. Jesus Heals Jairus’ Daughter. Jesus reveals his power over death when He brings a young dead girl back to life.  This story relates to #3 above.  The curse of death that was seen in the murder of Abel is undone here by Jesus’ power and love.  (Matthew 9:18-25)
6. Jesus Feeds Five Thousand. Jesus reveals that He has ultimate power of the provision of earthly needs by feeding thousands of people with just a few loaves of bread and two fish.  This story relates to #8 above.  As Jesus rescued the Israelites, He provided manna and quail for them in the desert.  Jesus later revealed that He himself was the bread from heaven.  (Matthew 14:13-21)
7. Jesus Heals the Blind Man. As Jesus healed a blind man, He revealed His power over sickness.  This relates to #10 above (Moses and the Serpent).  The perfect sacrifice of Jesus satisfied God so that He could heal the sickness of the Israelites. (Matthew 20:29-33)
8. The Last Supper. At this moment, Jesus reveals that He not only has power over the provision of earthly needs, but that His body will become the spiritual food and drink that we all need in order to have eternal life with Him.  (Matthew 26:17-30)
9. The Crucifixion. By His death on the cross, Jesus fulfilled all of the Law.  This relates to #9 above.  Jesus’ death satisfies the law’s demands and provides the perfect righteousness that God requires of His rebellious people. (Matthew 27)
10. The Resurrection. As He defeated death, Jesus reversed the Curse placed on Adam and Eve.  This relates to #2 (The Fall and the Curse) above.  By rising from the dead, Jesus proved to have power over the evil that Adam and Eve committed and an ability to break the curse of death. (Matthew 28)
11. The Ascension. This relates to #1 (The Creation) above.  As Jesus ascends into heaven, He sends his disciples out to teach the whole world to follow Him.  Jesus begins a new Kingdom and leaves a promise of new heavens and earth where there is no more dying.(Acts 1:1-11)

Don’t forget to leave a comment below for a chance to win one of these Bible story cloths (your choice-small or large, white or navy). The giveaway ends this Monday evening at 10 pm Eastern time.

In case you’re having difficulty linking, the web address for the store is: www.burningbushes.bigcartel.com

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