A story has five basic but important elements. These five components are: the characters, the setting, the plot, the conflict, and the resolution. These essential elements keep the story running smoothly and allow the action to develop in a logical way that the reader can follow. There are some who argue that other components are also critical, like tone, theme, and point of view. But we ask our listeners to accept these initial five as the basic building blocks of any good story.
We use the five components to examine the book of Acts, the fifth book of the New Testament. And we conclude that this book is unfinished. How it ends is up to us. Scriptures referenced include Acts 1:14-39; Acts 4:5-22; Acts 5:1-10; Acts 2:36; and Luke 20:17.
In Jeremiah 29:13 we read, “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” And this was true...
In the biblical vision of Deuteronomy and the Shema, parenting is reframed from mere caregiving to a role of spiritual stewardship. God’s primary command...
James reflects on Paul’s description of him as one of the pillars of the early church. While Peter, Paul, and others traveled widely, James...
