The True Story of the Whole World by Michael Goheen - A Video Teaching Series
The Bible is more than a collection of inspiring stories or religious teachings—it presents itself as the true story of the whole world. From creation to new creation, Scripture unfolds a sweeping drama of God’s faithfulness: a very good world, humanity’s rebellion, God’s covenant with Israel, the coming of Jesus, the birth of the church, and the promised renewal of all things. In this 16-part video series, we trace that grand narrative in six acts, showing how the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus stand at the center of history and how God’s mission continues through his people today. Whether you are exploring the Christian faith or seeking to understand the unity of the Bible more deeply, this series invites you to discover the story that gives meaning to all stories—and to find your place within it.
Session 1 - The Bible as the True Story of the Whole World
In this opening video, we explore why the Bible can’t be reduced to a collection of religious teachings or moral advice. Scripture presents itself as something far more sweeping: the true story of the whole world—where history began, where it is going, and what it all means in between. At the center of that story is one surprising claim: that the meaning of cosmic history is revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This session introduces the full 16-part series and invites you to begin reading the Bible as one unified drama—and to find your place within it.
Session 2 - The Urgency of Reading the Bible as One Story
In this video, we explore how powerful cultural “currents” quietly shape what we believe is normal, successful, and worth pursuing. Using vivid illustrations—from a lazy river at a waterpark to “ping pong ball” theology—this session shows why isolated Bible verses and doctrines aren’t enough to form faithful disciples. Instead, we need the Bible’s grand story to subvert the competing stories of our culture and shape the church’s life and mission.
Session 3 - Act 1 - God Establishes His Kingdom: Creation
This video begins Act One of the biblical drama: Creation. We are introduced to God—Elohim, Yahweh—the eternal Creator who speaks the world into existence and forms humanity in his image to reflect his glory. Before sin and restoration, we must first see the world as it was meant to be: very good, ordered toward flourishing, and filled with purpose.
Session 4 - Act 2 - Rebellion in the Kingdom: The Fall
In this video, we explore what it means to read the Bible not as a temporary story we “step into,” but as the true story of the real world—one we never step out of. Using the framework of a six-act drama, this session walks through the first three acts: God’s good creation, humanity’s rebellion and the curse, and God’s choice of Israel to begin restoring his kingdom. The story ends with Israel in exile, waiting for God to return and finish what he promised.
Session 5 - Act 3 - God Chooses Israel: Redemption Initiated - God Chooses a People (Genesis)
This video explores God’s promise to Abraham as one of the most important turning points in the entire biblical story. God commits himself to form a people, give them a land, and restore the blessing of creation—not as an end in itself, but so that all nations might ultimately be brought into God’s renewal of the world. Even as obstacles mount throughout Genesis, God reveals himself as the faithful covenant-maker who will accomplish his purposes.
Session 6 - Act 3 - God Chooses Israel: Redemption Initiated - God Forms a People (Exodus)
This video traces the story of Exodus as God delivers Israel not only from slavery, but from bondage to the idols of Egypt. Through the plagues, the covenant at Sinai, and the gift of the law, God forms Israel into a “priestly kingdom” and a “holy nation” meant to display true humanity before the world. The book culminates in the tabernacle, where the holy God comes to dwell among his people in mercy and faithfulness.
Session 7 - Act 3 - God Chooses Israel: Redemption Initiated - God Forms a People (Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)
In this video, we see how God continues forming Israel for their calling to be a priestly kingdom and holy nation. Leviticus shows how a sinful people can live in covenant with a holy God through sacrifice, priesthood, and laws that shape everyday life. Numbers and Deuteronomy reveal Israel’s struggle with unbelief and idolatry, and Moses’ final call to “choose life” as they prepare to enter the promised land.
Session 8 - Act 3 - God Chooses Israel: Redemption Initiated - Life on the Land (Joshua and Judges)
In this video, we follow Israel into the promised land, the stage on which they are meant to display God’s creation design before the nations. While Joshua highlights God’s faithfulness in fulfilling his promises, Judges reveals Israel’s tragic cycle of idolatry, oppression, and deliverance. The story ends with a desperate question: can a king rescue Israel from the deeper rebellion of their hearts?
Session 9 - Act 3 - God Chooses Israel: Redemption Initiated - Life on the Land (Samuel and Kings)
In this video, we trace Israel’s transition from tribal confederation to kingdom and the rise, and failure, of its kings. While David receives God’s promise of an everlasting dynasty, even his reign falls short, and Solomon’s compromise sets the stage for division and decline. The story ends in exile, raising a pressing question: how will God keep his promises when his people and their kings have failed?
Session 10 - Act 3 - God Chooses Israel: Redemption Initiated - Life on the Land (Prophets and Return)
In this video, we follow Israel into exile and hear the prophets announce a surprising hope: God will return to restore his people and establish his worldwide kingdom. The prophets promise a future son of David, a renewed covenant written on the heart, and even the renewal of all creation. Though Israel returns to the land under Ezra and Nehemiah, the restoration is incomplete—leaving them still waiting for a greater fulfillment of God’s promises.
Session 11 - Interlude: The Intertestamental Period
In this video, we step into the 400 years between the Old and New Testaments, a period marked by foreign oppression and intense expectation. Shaped by the promises of Moses, the prophets, and Daniel, Israel longed for God to return, establish his kingdom, and renew the earth. Yet their hope had become narrowed and nationalized, setting the stage for a Messiah whose arrival would shatter their expectations.
Session 12 - Act 4 - Gathering and Formation: A New People
In this video, we see how Jesus announces and embodies the arrival of God’s kingdom by gathering the lost sheep of Israel and forming a new disciple community. His message calls for repentance, faith, and a radically different way of life marked by mercy, humility, and love, even for enemies. As opposition grows, Jesus reveals that the kingdom will not come through force, but through the shocking path of the cross.
Session 13 - Act 4 - Cross, Resurrection, and Sending
In this video, the story reaches its turning point: the cross and resurrection of Jesus. What looked like shameful defeat becomes God’s greatest redemptive act. Jesus bears the curse, defeats the powers of evil, and inaugurates the new creation through his resurrection. Matthew’s Gospel culminates with the risen Christ claiming all authority and sending his gathered people to the nations, so the blessing promised to Abraham might reach the whole world.
Session 14 - Act 5 - Mission of the Church: From Jerusalem to Rome
In this video, we see how the story continues after the resurrection through the Spirit-empowered mission of the church. From Jerusalem to Rome, the risen Christ gathers both Jews and Gentiles into one renewed people, forming communities that embody and proclaim his kingdom. The book of Acts ends without closure, inviting us to take our place in the ongoing story of God’s mission to the nations.
Session 15 - Act 5 - Mission of the Church: Making Known the News of the King - To the Ends of the Earth
In this video, we consider what it means for the church today to take our place in the biblical story. We are called to continue Israel’s mission to be a light to the nations, Jesus’ mission to embody and proclaim the kingdom, and the early church’s mission to bear witness in life, word, and deed. The church is meant to be a “trailer” for the coming kingdom—a living preview of God’s restoration that is as wide as all of life.
Session 16 - Act 6 - Return of the King: Restoration Completed
In this final video, we glimpse the destination of the biblical story: a renewed heaven and earth where God dwells with his people and creation is fully restored. Revelation does not picture escape from the world, but the healing and liberation of it—resurrected bodies in a renewed creation freed from sin and the curse. The story ends with hope and urgency: Christ will return, and we are called to remain faithful as we await his coming.
