Getting Started

Theological Formation;
An Introduction.

Overview

Scripture does not merely inform the church—it forms it.

The church does not grow by activity alone; it grows by being shaped in the image of Christ through encounter with God’s Word. Yet in many communities, Scripture remains distant: known by reputation but not inhabited, heard but not internalized, read but not lived.

This Formation Stories resource exists because the church in every tongue deserves more than information about the Bible. It deserves the kind of deep, communal formation that comes from sitting inside the story of Scripture together: observing it, wrestling with it, carrying it into daily life and witness.

Every community that has ever been formed by Scripture started exactly where you are now, at the beginning. Your journey begins here.

"The sufficiency of Scripture means that it contains everything necessary for the knowledge of God and of our salvation."

—Herman Bavinck
Formation Brief

The Formation Brief provides a series of dialogues to help your community begin this journey well. These discussions cover three important topics related to locally-led theological formation.

  • The first discussion explores the purpose and mission of your network. Locally-led formation keeps its focus on the spread of the gospel and the maturity of God’s people in the heart language of the local church.
  • The second discussion centers on your work in the church. It is important that your community involves key churches and leaders in this process.
  • The third dialogue relates to Christian formation itself; the aim of this approach is for the church to grow to maturity in Christ, rooted in Scripture and active in mission.

You will summarize these conversations into a brief overview. This summary will help your community engage the Open Bible Stories with a shared focus on mission, church, and Christian formation.

Open Bible Stories

Open Bible Stories faithfully recounts fifty biblical narratives. As a whole, these fifty stories survey the metanarrative of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. Each story is retold in simple language for effective use in ministry and community formation. To assist people in understanding the overall storyline of Scripture, these 50 stories are grouped into 11 major units. The flow of these units outlines the ways God has worked throughout human history: past, present, and future.

Each story is organized around a fivefold study process called the Five Movements. This fivefold structure allows your community to grow in Christian maturity and participate in God’s mission in the church and the surrounding world. On either end of these five movements is a community formation activity and a community review reflection. The structure of this fivefold process is outlined below:

  1. Biblical Interpretation: Observing the Details of the Story
  2. Theological Dialogue: Discussing the Meaning of the Story
  3. Personal Reflection: Following the Teaching of the Story
  4. Ministry Practice: Serving the Church with the Story
  5. Missional Outreach: Sharing the Truth of the Story (Evangelism)
General Outline

Here is a general outline of the journey that lies ahead:

Part One: Formation Brief

  1. Introduction
  2. Mission: Participating in God’s Purpose Together
  3. Church: Keeping God’s Church in the Center
  4. Formation: Engaging God’s Word for Transformation
  5. Summary of Formation Brief

Part Two: Open Bible Stories

  1. Beginnings (Open Bible Stories 1–3)
  2. Patriarchs (Open Bible Stories 4–8)
  3. Nation (Open Bible Stories 9–13)
  4. Kingdom (Open Bible Stories 14–18)
  5. Exile and Return (Open Bible Stories 19–21)
  6. Jesus (Open Bible Stories 22–26)
  7. Jesus’ Ministry Part 1 (Open Bible Stories 27–32)
  8. Jesus’ Ministry Part 2 (Open Bible Stories 33–37)
  9. Jesus’ Death and Resurrection (Open Bible Stories 38–42)
  10. Church (Open Bible Stories 43–47)
  11. Future Hope (Open Bible Stories 48–50)
Conclusion

We are excited that you have decided to take this step into deeper formation in God’s Word. In what lies ahead, there will be many first encounters: new insights into Scripture, new experiences of community, new ministry opportunities, and new relationships forged around the story of God. Our hope and prayer remain that the Holy Spirit will be your guide and strength as your church grows in the love and knowledge of Christ.