Planting the Gospel - The Story Diamond
Episode Summary
In this episode, Breanna Wiebe discusses the concept of the 'dominant story' that shapes individuals' perceptions of God and the world. She introduces the 'story diamond' as a tool to understand the overarching narrative of the Bible, which consists of four movements: creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. The conversation emphasizes the importance of recognizing Jesus as the center of this story and encourages us to engage with the scriptures in a transformative way, both personally and within community.
Key Themes & Takeaways
1. Everyone Lives from a Dominant Story
Your “dominant story” is the controlling narrative shaping how you see God, yourself, and the world.
Common scripts: the American Dream, pleasure, power, achievement, romance, retirement.
Reflection prompt: “What story am I living in and who gave it to me?”
2. The Bible Is One Story (Not Just 66 Moral Lessons)
Scripture is a sweeping narrative, not a self-help manual or rulebook.
“Jesus’ invitation is to get out of our seats and into His story.”
Reading the mini-stories inside the big story prevents arrogance and reductionism.
3. Four Movements of the Story (The Diamond’s Facets)
Creation (Gen 1–2): God creates a world of shalom, of universal flourishing; we are His image-bearers, co-creators, priests, and kings.
Fall (Gen 3): Humanity rebels; shalom fractures; relationships with God, self, others, and creation break.
Redemption:
Prepared (Gen 4–Mal 4): Covenant people called to bless all nations; prophets foretell a Messiah.
Provided (Gospels): Jesus fulfills the covenant, proclaims the Kingdom, dies and rises; by grace we’re invited in.
Restoration:
Proclaimed (Acts–Rev 19): The Church manifests the Kingdom; Jesus is present through His Body.
Perfected (Rev 20–22): Jesus returns; evil is judged; new heavens & new earth; shalom restored.
4. Jesus Is the Center of the Story
“When God shines, He looks like Jesus.” (Hebrews 1:1–3)
Jesus is the interpretive key. All Scripture points to and is fulfilled in Him (Luke 24; John 5).
5. Let the Story Shape You (How to Read Formationally)
Spirit-Led: Ask the Spirit for illumination (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1).
Historically Grounded: Attend to genre, context, and credible scholarship.
Communally Enhanced: Read with others for wisdom, accountability, and courage.
Personally Applied: Don’t just inform, but be transformed; keep “eating” the Story daily.
Final Thoughts
Jesus offers a better, truer story than the scripts we inherit. The Story Diamond helps us locate our lives inside God’s narrative, with Jesus at the center, so we’re formed by the Spirit, shaped in community, and sent to embody the Kingdom in everyday life.
