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.
Mark's Gospel stands out from the other Gospels in several ways. It opens abruptly with Jesus' baptism and ends with a cliffhanger, omitting the...
In recognition of the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, we explore the importance of living lives of gratitude, even in the midst of...
The world that God once declared "very good" quickly spiraled into corruption, leading to divine judgment through the Flood. Violence, immorality, and unchecked sin...
