Meneses 1
Andres Meneses
GLST 220 – 002
September 24, 2024
God’s Story Outline
1. Creation
Everything, including the earth and all living things on it, was made by God in the beginning.
He spoke the universe into being out of nothing, giving everything a meaning and an
intention. Adam and Eve were created in God's likeness, endowing them with dominion over
the planet and the capacity to know Him intimately. God saw that everything was good and
that everything was flawless. Humans coexisted peacefully with God and the rest of creation
in this exquisite creation. This was the world as God meant it to be, complete and devoid of
suffering or brokenness.
Biblical Reference: Genesis 1-2
Bridge: But this peace didn’t last forever. Adam and Eve faced a choice that would change
everything, leading us to the moment when sin entered the world.
2. The Fall – sin
God granted Adam and Eve the opportunity to enjoy His creation, but He also gave them one
instruction: do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They disregarded
God and ate from the forbidden tree because they were tempted by the serpent. That is when
sin came into the earth and shattered humanity's bond with God. The world ceased to be what
God had intended and death, misery, and suffering became a part of everyday life. God and
humanity were divided by this fall into sin, and we were never able to close that distance on
our own.
Biblical Reference: Genesis 3
Bridge: Even in humanity's darkest moment, God made a promise—a plan to restore what was
broken and bring hope for the future.
3. The promise of future savior
God did not abandon Adam and Eve despite their fall. He said from the beginning that there
would come a Savior who would vanquish sin and death and smash the head of the serpent.
God reaffirmed this promise to His people throughout the Old Testament, informing them of
Meneses 2
a day when the Messiah will arrive to deliver them. This Savior would heal the wounds
brought about by sin and provide a path for humanity to be reconciled with God.
Biblical Reference: Genesis 3:15
Bridge: As time went on, God continued to speak through His prophets, revealing more about
this promised Savior and how He would come.
4. Prophecies
God has sent prophets throughout history to convey His messages to the populace. The life,
mission, and salvation that the Messiah would bring were all described in detail by these
prophets as they predicted the arrival of the Messiah. These predictions, which ranged from
Isaiah to Micah, offered hope that God would not desert His people. They talked of a suffering
servant, a virgin birth, and a peace-bringing monarch. These were promises that redemption was
coming and that God's purpose was still being carried out.
Biblical Reference: Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2
Bridge: One day, these prophecies would be fulfilled in the most extraordinary way—through
the birth of a child.
5. The Virgin Birth
God performed a remarkable act to fulfill His promise at the right time. The angel Gabriel visited
Mary when she was a young woman and informed her that, despite being a virgin, she would
give birth to the Son of God. The prophesies that had been made years before were directly
fulfilled by this amazing birth. Through this modest and wondrous beginning, Jesus—who is
both fully God and entirely human—entered the earth. The first indication that God's salvation
plan was coming to pass as He had promised was his birth.
Biblical Reference: Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:22-23
Bridge: This miraculous birth set the stage for an even greater revelation—the life of Jesus, God
in the flesh.
6. The Incarnation & Deity of Jesus
There was nothing typical about Jesus. He was entirely human and fully divine—God in the
flesh. God became one of us and shared our pleasures and sorrows during the incarnation. Jesus
modeled for us what God is like by leading a life filled with perfect love, mercy, and
compassion. He revealed the Father's love for His people by working miracles, healing the sick,
Meneses 3
and imparting knowledge about the kingdom of God. His life served as a wonderful example of
God's nature and a roadmap for mending our connection with Him.
Biblical Reference: John 1:1-14, Colossians 2:9
Bridge: Jesus’ life, filled with miracles and teaching, pointed to His ultimate purpose—the
sacrifice He would make for all humanity.
7. Jesus’ Life and Works
Jesus preached the good news of God's kingdom while He was on earth, going from town to
town. Demonstrating His almighty authority, He revived the dead, cast out devils, and pardoned
sins. Similar to the Sermon on the Mount, his teachings demonstrated a profound love and
exhortation to holiness. Jesus frequently used parables to convey important lessons about the
love, justice, and imminence of God. People were in awe of His strength, intelligence, and
compassion everywhere He went.
Biblical Reference: Matthew 4:23-25, Mark 1:40-45
Bridge: Yet, even as Jesus taught and healed, He knew His mission would require the ultimate
act of love—laying down His life for humanity.
8. Jesus’ Death
Jesus' selfless death marked the pinnacle of His earthly mission. After one of His disciples
betrayed Him, Jesus was taken into custody, wrongly charged, and given a death by crucifixion
sentence. He took on the sins of humanity and willingly went through unspeakable agony. Jesus
offered His life as a ransom for many by taking on the punishment we merited on the cross. His
death served as the greatest act of love and a sacrifice to mend the strained bond that existed
between God and humanity. It appeared as though the world was becoming dark as Jesus
breathed His last.
Biblical Reference: Matthew 27:32-56, Isaiah 53:5
Bridge: But death would not have the final word. Three days later, something incredible
happened.
9. Resurrection
Jesus conquered sin and death permanently when He rose from the grave three days after His
crucifixion. His bodily resurrection demonstrated that He was, in fact, the Son of God and that
the Father had approved of His offering. Jesus showed His resurrected body to His disciples and
numerous others when He appeared to them. Since He promised the same resurrection to
Meneses 4
everyone who trust in Him, His victory over death gives us hope for eternal life. The central
tenet of Christianity is the resurrection, which affirms that Jesus is alive and will always rule.
Biblical Reference: Luke 24:1-12, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
Bridge: Before ascending to heaven, Jesus gave His followers a mission that would change the
world.
10. The Great Commission & Ascension
Jesus gave His followers a clear assignment before ascending to heaven: to go into all the world
and make disciples, teaching them to obey everything that He had ordered. We call this the Great
Commission. Jesus assured His disciples that the Holy Spirit would be sent to support them on
their journey, so they would not be alone. Following His commissioning of His followers, Jesus
ascended into heaven and is currently sitting at the right hand of the Father, ruling as King.
Biblical Reference: Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 1:9-11
Bridge: The disciples didn’t have to wait long for the promised Holy Spirit, who would soon
arrive in power.
11. The Holy Spirit at Pentecost
On the day of Pentecost, the disciples experienced the predicted arrival of the Holy Spirit, who
gave them the strength and courage to share the good news with others. Believers are still being
influenced, taught, and given the ability to live out their faith by the Holy Spirit today. We can
have a direct relationship with God through the Spirit, and the Spirit provides the Church with
the means to fulfill the mission that Jesus assigned to us. The early church was founded upon the
coming of the Holy Spirit, who also continues to influence Christians' lives today.
Biblical Reference: Acts 2:1-4, John 14:16-17
Bridge: With the Holy Spirit now empowering them, the disciples began to spread the gospel,
leading to the formation of the Church.
12. The Church in Acts & Now
As described in the book of Acts, the early Church was a gathering of believers who were
committed to the fellowship, teachings, prayer, and breaking of bread of the apostles. As they
lived out their faith, they grew in number and shared everything in common while also
advancing the gospel. Today's Church is called to be the body of Christ on earth, carrying out
this mission by spreading the gospel and abiding by the power of the Holy Spirit. God is
expanding His dominion and providing the world with hope and redemption through the Church.
Biblical Reference: Acts 2:42-47, Ephesians 2:19-22
Meneses 5
Bridge: But the story doesn’t end here. One day, Jesus will return to fully restore everything to
its original perfection.
13. Jesus’ Return & Reconciliation
As promised, Jesus will return to earth one day. When He returns, He will vanquish Satan and all
form of evil, establishing righteousness across the universe. At that point, everything will have
fully restored, and God's people will live in eternal harmony with Him. The relationship that was
shattered during the Fall will be entirely restored when Jesus returns, bringing reconciliation
between God and humanity. God's dominion will rule in peace for all eternity, and there won't be
any more grief, suffering, or death.
Biblical Reference: Revelation 21:1-5, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
Bridge: As we await Jesus’ return, we live in the hope of His kingship and the eternity that He
promises to all who follow Him.
14. Kingship & Eternity
Jesus is the King of Kings, and His heavenly kingdom exists right now and forever. We live as
citizens of His kingdom, relying on His rule and reign as we wait for His return. We shall live
with Him in eternity and behold all of His glory and kindness. Following Jesus will grant one's
share in His everlasting kingdom, which will be free of death, grief, and estrangement from God.
Everyone is welcome to join Jesus, the King, in this timeless tale of love and salvation.
Biblical Reference: Revelation 22:1-5, Philippians 2:9-11
Bridge: This is God’s story—one of creation, fall, redemption, and restoration, and it’s an
invitation for everyone to be part of it.
