Book Review | “Welcome to the Story”

By on September 23, 2011 in Book Review

Nichols, Stephen J. Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, & Living God’s Word. Wheaton: Crossway, 2011. |

The Bible can be broken down into the categories of (1) creation, (2) fall, (3) redemption, & (4) consummation. Stephen Nichols has somehow packed the entire storyline of the Bible into 164 pages. Nichols quickly traces the story of the Bible through the Old Testament and into the New Testament and offers a helpful, although brief, treatment of Scripture’s grand narrative.

One of the more helpful parts of Nichols’ book for those new to this approach to the Bible is the last section called “Cheat Sheet for Reading the Bible.” Here he gives some answers to where?, when?, who?, what?, and why? of the Bible.

For those in my Sunday School class this would be a great little resource to help reinforce some of the ideas that we have been talking about when it comes to the story of the Bible.

FTC Rhetoric: I do not receive payment for my book reviews. I do sometimes receive free review and giveaway copies from authors, publishers, and publicists. My first responsibility is to my readers, therefore, I am committed to honest reviews.

  • http://www.craighurst.wordpress.com Craig Hurst

    Have you read “Creation Regained” by Wolters , “The Drama of Scripture” by Goheen and Bartholomew or “Heaven is a Place on Earth by Wittmer? They were my first introductions to the Creation, Fall, Redemption & Consummation outline and they are awesome!

    • Anonymous

      The only book out of that list I’ve seen is “The Drama of Scripture”…I haven’t heard of the others. I have been reading a bunch of others though in the past year or so and have found Carson’s book “The God Who is There” to be helpful. Also, a friend of mine pointed me to Christopher Wright’s book “The Mission of God.” I haven’t read it yet but I have it. The best and simplest work I’ve come across is Tim Chester’s “From Creation to New Creation.” Oh, and of course Jim Hamilton’s book “God’s Glory in Salvation Through Judgment.”