2. People Love Stories…

4. The Greatest Story Ever Told

5. The Greatest Story Ever Told:
Scene 1: Happiness
Acts 17:24–25 (NKJV) 24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.

6. The Greatest Story Ever Told:
Scene 1: Happiness
Genesis 1:31 (NKJV) 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

7. The Greatest Story Ever Told:
Scene 1: Happiness
Genesis 2:16–17 (NKJV) 16 …the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17 but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

8. The Greatest Story Ever Told:
Scene 2: Introduction of the Villain/Tragedy

9. The Greatest Story Ever Told:
Scene 3: Peril/Climax

10. The Greatest Story Ever Told:
Scene 4: Rise of a Hero
(John 7:45-46) Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why have you not brought Him?" The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this Man!" (NKJV)

11. The Greatest Story Ever Told:
Scene 5: Despair
(Mat. 26:63-64)
“I put You under oath by the living God: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
Jesus responds:
“It is as you said…”

12. The Greatest Story Ever Told:
Scene 5: Despair
Matthew 26:65
“Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, "He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy!”

13. The Greatest Story Ever Told:
Scene 6: Happy (Surprise) Ending
“Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (Lk. 24:5)

14. The Greatest Story Ever Told:
Scene 6: Happy (Surprise) Ending
(Philippians 2:9) Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, (NKJV)

15. The Greatest Story Ever Told:
Scene 6: Happy (Surprise) Ending
John 20:19 (NKJV) 19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

16. The Bible is the Greatest Story Ever Told…
…because all other events are measured by it.
Best-selling book of all-time
Its influence on our legal system
Its influence on human rights
Its stories have influenced more art than any other book

17. The Bible is the Greatest Story Ever Told…
…because it was all part of God’s plan from the beginning.
1 Peter 1:10, 12
“…prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to…” us and he calls these prophecies “…things which angels desire to look into…”

18. The Bible is the Greatest Story Ever Told…
…because it was all part of God’s plan from the beginning.
Matthew 25:34
"Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (NKJV)

19. The Bible is the Greatest Story Ever Told…
…because Salvation came to a people who did not deserve it.
Romans 5:7–8 (NKJV) 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

20. The Bible is the Greatest Story Ever Told…
…because of its impact on man’s eternal destiny.
Acts 4:12 (NKJV) 12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

23. Only Jesus Has Proven
He Can Promise
Life After Death!

24. Jesus Said…
“…he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life…” (John 5:24)
“…if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.“ (John 8:24)
“…Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:15)
“…whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” (Mat. 10:32-33)
"He who believes and is baptized will be saved…” (Mark 16:16)
“You are My friends if you do whatever I command you…” (John 15:14 – live a faithful life)
(Revelation 2:10) “…Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.”