What\u2019s the story of the Bible? It is full of individual stories, all connected and inter-related, but how can we tell it as one comprehensive narrative that captures its message and theme? Students in Dr. David Beldman\u2019s Religion 101 class explore these questions, using as a text The Drama of Scripture: Finding Our Place in the Biblical Story (Baker Academic, 2004), written by Professor of Religion and Theology Craig Bartholomew and former Redeemer faculty member Mike Goheen. \u201cThe Bible boldly claims to tell the true story of the whole of history and all of reality, if only we have the ears to hear and the eyes to see it,\u201d notes Dr. Beldman. \u201cThe main purpose of the course is to help students grasp the Bible as a coherent, sprawling narrative, from creation to new creation.\u201d As the major assignment for their course, students have the chance to tell the story on their own. They have the option of representing the story creatively, using methods and media of their own choosing. This year, two students used elements of spoken word poetry and chalk art to create a remarkable video. \u201cThe Story of All\u201d was developed by first-year students Angela Krone from Mississauga and Rebecca van Leeuwen of Listowel, ON. The Story of All video: https:\/\/youtu.be\/vbFVYWS-T_w The students were given some guidelines and are expected to structure their projects around the six \u2018acts\u2019 of the Bible that are studied in class. But beyond that, the students can tell the story in original and imaginative ways. \u201cDr. Beldman encouraged us to \u2018use the creative gifts that God has given you\u2019,\u201d says Angela. \u201cOther than that, his main directive was that we be truthful to the story, and keep it clear and simple.\u201d Both students had started working on the assignment individually, but came to realize that their gifts were complimentary. Rebecca worked on the layout and completed a total of 35 drawings for the project. \u201cI like using mind maps and tend to think in very visual ways,\u201d she says. Angela wrote the text that they used and oversaw the video\u2019s production. The use of the crown imagery was intentional. \u201cIt\u2019s a common, well-understood theme to both Christians and non-Christians,\u201d says Angela. \u201cIt encompasses much of the covenant and Kingdom ideas that we talked about in class and just seemed to tie the project together.\u201d A secondary but no less significant aim of this course is to help students to become more aware of the power of stories. \u201cMy hope in this assignment is that the students put their gifts and passions to use in the telling of the story of the Bible,\u201d says Dr. Beldman. \u201cThey should allow themselves to be absorbed in their talents and in the biblical story at the same time.\u201d In previous years, students have recorded an album of songs, produced a claymation video, written a book of poetry, made an illustrated children’s story book and created a miniature physical landscape. Both students enjoyed learned much from the class and by putting the video together. \u201cThis is such a well-designed course,\u201d says Angela. \u201cIt taught me how to see the Bible as one great, comprehensive story of God\u2019s work throughout history.\u201d They were are also surprised at how much attention the story has received. Within 24 hours of it being posted\u2014and shared amongst Redeemer by Dr. Beldman\u2014\u201cThe Story of All\u201d had been viewed more than 400 times. \u201cWe didn\u2019t want to be the focus; we wanted to create something that was worthy of the story it represented,\u201d notes Rebecca. \u201cIt was a lot of work, but it also shows that you never know how God will use something that you do.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Students create video project of biblical narrative for course","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"acf":{"sub_title":null,"post_featured_image":null,"post_image_vertical_position":null,"post_hero":null,"post_featured":null,"post_featured_order":null,"post_hide_me":null,"use_drop_cap_and_lead_in":null,"lead_in_num_words":null,"hide_recent_articles_sidebar":null,"hide_popular_stories_in_body":null,"cover_story":null,"cover_artwork":null,"cover_photo":null,"related_faculty_members":null,"related_academic_programs":null,"search_keywords_and_synonyms":null},"yoast_head":"\n