True Story Bible Study

By James Choung

Is the gospel really good news? What was the central message of Jesus, and how can Christians share it effectively with others? In these five easy-to-use studies, James Choung guides readers through key Scripture passages that informed his groundbreaking book True Story. Discover the four movements of the gospel's Big Story and what they mean for living and sharing the Christian faith. As companions to the IVP Signature Collection, IVP Signature Bible Studies help individuals and groups explore and apply biblical truths found in classic books. Each session features quotations from True Story matched with Scripture passages, reflection questions, and application ideas that will equip readers to connect the text to their own lives. A leader's guide and list of suggested resources are also included.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IVP Bible Studies
• Release date: May 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9780830848768

James Choung

James Choung is vice president of strategy and innovation for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA. He has been in campus ministry for over twenty years and previously served as InterVarsity's national director of evangelism. He is also the author of Real Life and coauthor of Longing for Revival.

Book preview

Cover picture

CONTENTS

Getting the Most Out of

True Story Bible Study

INTRODUCTION

Is the Gospel Really Good News?

SESSION ONE

A Crisis of Faith

Matthew 5:13-16

SESSION TWO

Designed for Good

Genesis 1:1, 27, 31; 2:15-25

SESSION THREE

Damaged by Evil

Genesis 3:1-19

SESSION FOUR

Restored for Better

Colossians 1:15-23

THE BIG STORY

SESSION FIVE

Sent Together to Heal

Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:42-47

LEADING A SMALL GROUP

SUGGESTED RESOURCES

NOTES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MORE TITLES FROM INTERVARSITY PRESS

KNOWING CHRIST is where faith begins. From there we are shaped through the essentials of discipleship: Bible study, prayer, Christian community, worship, and much more. We learn to grow in Christlike character, pursue justice, and share our faith with others. We persevere through doubts and gain wisdom for daily life. These are the topics woven into the IVP Signature Bible Studies. Working through this series will help you practice the essentials by exploring biblical truths found in classic books.

HOW IT’S PUT TOGETHER

Each session includes an opening quotation and suggested reading from the book True Story, a session goal to help guide your study, reflection questions to stir your thoughts on the topic, the text of the Bible passage, questions for exploring the passage, response questions to help you apply what you’ve learned, and a closing suggestion for prayer.

The workbook format is ideal for personal study and also allows group members to prepare in advance for discussions and record discussion notes. The responses you write here can form a permanent record of your thoughts and spiritual progress.

Throughout the guide are study-note sidebars that may be useful for group leaders or individuals. These notes do not give the answers, but they do provide additional background information on certain questions and can challenge participants to think deeper or differently about the content.

WHAT KIND OF GUIDE IS THIS?

The studies are not designed to merely tell you what one person thinks. Instead, through inductive study, they will help you discover for yourself what Scripture is saying. Each study deals with a particular passage—rather than jumping around the Bible—so that you can really delve into the biblical author’s meaning in that context.

The studies ask three different kinds of