GLST 220 Fall 2021
God’s Story Reflection
NAME: Brookelynn Rhyne
Course-Section: GLST 220-001
The term “gospel” is used in many different ways in our current Christian culture. This
assignment asks you to reflect on your understanding of the gospel story (from Genesis to
Revelation not just from Matthew to Acts) and the cultural influences that contributed to your
understanding prior to this class. How have The True Story of the Whole World by Goheen &
Bartholomew, Grand Narrative teaching, class discussions about God’s Story, and a deeper look
at the biblical text impacted your understanding?
Use this document as a template and answer each question in a 150-200 word, single-spaced
paragraph following the question. Answers should be typed in 12 point Times New Roman font.
1. Describe two examples of ways that American culture has influenced the
general understanding of the gospel in the United States (i.e. salvation gospel vs.
kingdom gospel)? (10pts)
Within the United States, what has become known as the salvation gospel has been widely
produced in such an expanse that we as a people have neglected the kingdom gospel. The nation
has lost sight of the truth. Evangelist, Kiel Tofters, put it as this, “We have such a weak
Christianity, because we have many church goers and not many disciples.” The idea of Post-
modernism has infected our culture. With the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is believed
that due to the nature of quarantine, and mandates placed upon the churches, the post-
modernistic approach is widely affecting Americans at a much quicker rate than before. For
about two years, the entire nation couldn’t meet within the church, causing a divide between the
people and the bride of Christ. Because of this, believers mindsets are transforming into one that
is increasingly more and more worldly. Meaning that they claim to be Christians, yet they
participate in sinful acts, somewhat diminishing the magnitude of those sins. This attitude is
bound to continue through generations without a return to the Gospel. Additionally, when non-
believers see certain individuals from the Christian community act out of sort, they develop a
notion about every believer, without fully understanding what we believe and how we are called
to love one another.
2. Discuss two passages of Scripture (or two parts of the Story with scriptural
references) from the Old Testament and how they have expanded your understanding
of the gospel. The first must be a specific example from Professor Dent’s
lectures (referencing the Act of the story and the scriptural passage). The second
must be from the textbook (referencing the Act of the story and page number from
the book). (20pts)
Firstly, Act 1, the stories of Genesis 1, according to Professor Dent’s lectures, effectively
refocused my mindset on the entire word of God. The way that Professor Dent presented the
story with scriptural context gave a whole new meaning to one that I had read many times
before. To review the Old Testament, and be reminded of the purpose of man is incredibly
humbling. Especially the way that Professor Dent explained it as man being the minor character,
and how God’s story is solely about Jesus Christ, and how we ultimately just fit into it. Studying
Genesis 1:28 throughout the time that Professor Dent spent with us, I have a new appreciation
for the word and the role that creation plays within it. Understanding the purpose of man is so
important in fully understanding God’s word and His plan. From the textbook, the story of
Satan really captured my attention. How the fall of man was all due to rebellion. On page, 23,
the beginning of Act 2, the book quotes Eugene Peterson when he said, “A catastrophe has
occurred. We are no longer in continuity with our good beginning we have been separated from
it by disaster. We are also, of course, separated from our good end. We are, in other words, in
the middle of a mess.” I feel as this interpretation elusively explains the role that Satan played in
the fall of man and how due to the faults, the goodness found in the beginning, is something less
apparent. This idea strengthens my understanding and desire to live more like Christ everyday,
and when faced with temptation to stray.
3. Discuss two passages of Scripture (or two parts of the Story with scriptural
references) from the New Testament and how they have expanded your
understanding of the gospel. The first must be a specific example from Professor
Dent’s lectures (referencing the Act of the story and the scriptural passage). The
second must be from the textbook (referencing the Act of the story and page number
from the book). (20pts)
The book of Revelation has played a major part in my life. Studying the truth within this
book is something I have done many times before, but again the way that Professor Dent
presented the story made everything feel so real. The scripture found in Revelation 19:11-16,
helps to better understand the gospel because it all comes full circle. The story is complete
from the beginning in Genesis 1 to Revelation 21. It is the comfort for all to know that Jesus
is coming back to reign as king. Following, in Act 5, Page 141 of The True Story of the
Whole World, it begins by explaining the name of Jesus, I never knew all of the facts
surrounding the name that is Jesus. Each translation of the name brings a new understanding
of who God is and His character. The textbook describes it as, “a title that speaks of supreme
authority.” “Supreme Lord.” It goes on to explain what Peter writes in Acts 2:32-36, and how
all the names of Jesus come to fruition after He has been raised to the write hand of God.
4. The textbook identifies several ways that culture influences our reading and/or
understanding of the story of the world. Discuss two cultural insights from the book
(with page number references) and how they impact your understanding of the story
of the world. (10 points)
Initially, The textbook, on Page 2, explains the approach that many people come with,
where they have abandoned all possibility of their being a story of a true account of the
world. Culture has tainted the premise of truth. Whether that be counts of the Bible that
some refuse to accept as the ultimate truth, but as naïve to say that things proven to be fact
by medicine, and science, and history are invalid, but bias opinions publicized on the
media are factual, and they have built this belief system off of what Fox or CBN suggest.
Furthermore, in the time of Jesus, Page 121, outlines who the Jews expected the messiah to
be. The term messiah translated as, “the anointed one.” But, the people’s expectations of
who Jesus was must have been adjusted in order to complement the reality of Jesus,
because their belief was that he who is anointed cannot also be crucified. This story sheds
light on how many people spare the unpleasant details of the crucifixion, but that in turn,
reduces the magnitude of who Jesus is as the messiah, and I think that belief system has
carried on through time. Where believers now, don’t fully understand the torture of our
savior, and the role that plays in our salvation. These ideologies impact how I see the world
in a way that I want to experience things without bias, and present the love of Jesus
wherever I go in that, so that I stray from a close-minded thinking that is not able to
comprehend certain things similar to the Jews.
5. In the textbook, the authors identify specific ways Jesus instructs and prepares his
disciples to be citizens of the kingdom distinctively in contrast to this world. Identify
two examples that are given (10pts). Discuss at least one specific example of how to
live this out today. (5pts)
Jesus prepares his disciples firstly by bringing them into evangelical situations where others
were in need. The basis of connection is so important, so, immediately sharing the Gospel with
someone who has maybe never heard the name of Jesus can be intimidating. A mentor of mine
always said, “To make a God connection you have to first make a people connection.” The
second idea of how Jesus developed his disciples was that he modeled discipleship for them.
This allowed them to better understand the purpose and the impact that it would have on God’s
people. In our world today, being a Christian means that we are commissioned, just as the
disciples of Jesus, to “…go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-
20). Therefore; it is our calling to reach the lost and the un reached with the Gospel, and a way
to do this is to partner with local and international missions, immersing yourself within the
culture, gaining the peoples trust, and ultimately sharing the truth of God’s word with them.
