BIG STORY: Episode 1 | TJ Syroteuk [February 1, 2026]

The congregation is invited into a fresh reading of Scripture: not as an assortment of prooftexts or a self-help manual, but as one sweeping narrative that begins “in the beginning” and traces God’s rescue mission through history. The story opens with a pre-creation God who speaks the universe into being, whose intrinsic goodness shapes the world and whose communal nature is seen in the divine plural “let us make.” Humanity is created in God’s image to steward creation and to live in relationship with its Maker—relationship that requires genuine choice, which explains the presence of the forbidden tree.

From that hopeful beginning the plot quickly darkens. The cosmic enemy enters in the form of a serpent, temptation severs the human reliance on God, and the fall fractures the created order. Genesis 3:15 is presented as the story’s main plot line: ongoing enmity between the serpent and the woman’s offspring, with a promised bruising of the serpent’s head that anticipates a deliverer. The narrative then traces the fragile preservation of that line—Cain and Abel, Seth, Noah and the flood, Babel—and the repeated human impulse to “remove God from the equation,” which produces destructive autonomy and judgment, yet never succeeds in derailing God’s intent to bless the world.

Out of the dispersed nations the storyline narrows again to Abram, where covenant promises of land, offspring, and blessing refocus hope on one family through whom the whole world will be blessed. God’s mission is emphasized: to reconcile a broken creation by writing a redemptive plot that includes flawed, fragile people and steadfast divine initiative. Practical implications are woven through the exposition: Christians are to read the Bible as an unfolding drama that shapes identity and expectation, to notice where habits or idols replace God in daily life, and to join the communal work of embodying God’s reconciling purpose. The service closes with an invitation to small groups that will unpack the meta-narrative, individual reflection questions, and pastoral prayer for those carrying burdens, all anchored in the conviction that God is authoring a story far greater than any single episode.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Bible is one big story Reading Scripture from Genesis onward reveals an overarching plot—creation, fall, promise, and rescue—rather than disconnected advice. This single-narrative approach reshapes theology: doctrines, ethics, and daily decisions function within God’s mission to restore all things. Approaching the text as a story invites patient, chronological listening to what the Author reveals at each stage. [46:19]
• 2. God is author and main character God is not merely the source of propositions but the central actor who speaks, sustains, and judges creation; his goodness is the measure of reality. The identity of humanity—created in God’s image—flows from and points back to this divine character, so ethics and purpose are rooted in relationship with God, not autonomous moralism. That truth reframes vocation as participation in God’s sustaining and reconciling work. [48:48]
• 3. Sin removes God from the equation The recurring human tendency is to look to power, pleasure, or prestige instead of God—an act that fractures relationship and leads to death in the story’s terms. Recognizing sin as “removing God” clarifies spiritual diagnosis: many struggles are not merely bad choices but the consequence of substituting lesser authorities for the Creator. Repentance, therefore, is re-centering life under God’s lordship, not merely fixing behavior. [53:55]
• 4. God’s mission secures hope in promise Genesis 3:15 and the Abrahamic covenant show God’s commitment to a salvific plan centered on one people and one promised offspring who will undo the serpent’s work. The narrative’s promise-driven logic means setbacks (flood, Babel, family failure) do not nullify God’s purpose; instead, they stage the terrain in which divine faithfulness unfolds. Believers live as participants in this long promise, called to embody blessing toward the nations. [64:41]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [36:52] - Clothing Drive with Diabetes Canada
• [38:21] - Remembering Kirsty Duncan
• [40:00] - New Series Introduction
• [40:28] - Interactive Poll: What Is the Bible?
• [45:14] - Why Read the Bible as Story?
• [48:48] - Creation and the Image of God
• [57:33] - The Fall and Genesis 3:15
• [60:43] - Noah, the Flood, and Judgment
• [64:41] - Abram, Covenant, and Promise
• [69:32] - Small Groups and Discussion Questions
• [72:23] - Prayer and Closing Blessing

1. The sermon begins by describing God as pre-creation and communal, noting the divine plural "let us make." What does this suggest about God's nature even before creation? [50:50]
2. The narrative highlights humanity's creation in God's image to steward creation and live in relationship with God, a relationship that requires genuine choice. What is the significance of the forbidden tree in this context? [53:55]
3. Genesis 3:15 is presented as the central plot line, promising enmity between the serpent and the woman's offspring, with a future bruising of the serpent's head. How does this verse set up the ongoing conflict and the anticipation of a deliverer? [57:33]
4. The sermon mentions the recurring human impulse to "remove God from the equation." What are some examples of this impulse seen in the early biblical narrative (e.g., Babel)? [01:02:54]
5. The covenant promises to Abram include land, offspring, and blessing for all nations. How does this refocus the narrative and God's mission? [01:04:41]

1. The sermon suggests that sin is fundamentally "removing God from the equation." How does understanding sin in this way change the diagnosis of our struggles compared to simply seeing them as bad choices? [53:55]
2. The narrative traces the preservation of the line of promise through various human failures and divine judgments. What does this pattern reveal about God's steadfastness and his mission, even amidst human fragility? [01:00:43]
3. The sermon emphasizes that God is both the author and the main character of the biblical story. How does this understanding of God's role reshape our view of our own identity and purpose? [48:48]
4. The promise to Abram is that "all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." How does this promise begin to broaden the scope of God's mission beyond just one family? [01:04:41]

1. If the Bible is one big story of God's rescue mission, how might this change the way you approach reading Scripture on a daily basis? What habits might you need to adjust? [45:14]
2. The sermon points out that sin is often about substituting lesser authorities for the Creator. Where in your daily life might you be tempted to "remove God from the equation" by looking to power, pleasure, or prestige instead of Him? [53:55]
3. Recognizing that God is on a mission to reconcile creation, how can you actively participate in embodying God's reconciling purpose in your community or workplace this week? [01:07:33]
4. The sermon highlights that God's mission is driven by promise, even through setbacks. When you face personal setbacks or disappointments, how can you hold onto the hope that God's larger story is still unfolding? [01:00:43]
5. The idea of God's communal nature is presented early on. How can you intentionally foster or participate in the communal aspect of faith within your small group or church family? [51:39]
6. The sermon encourages us to notice where habits or idols replace God in our lives. What is one specific habit or area where you might be unintentionally placing something else in God's rightful place? [01:08:52]