Daniel Sandler - The Greatest Story Never Told: Returning To The Heart Of Biblical Narrative

Endorsements

The Greatest Story Never Told: Returning to the Heart of Biblical Narrative was one of the most enlightening books Ive read on how to read and understand the Bible. Enjoyable, readable, and full of those aha moments when something often misunderstood becomes clear. I recommend this book for all pastors and followers of Jesus who want to grow in their understanding of Scripture. It should be required reading for every student of the Bible.

Pastor Brian Lavender

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Dan is a devoted student of Scripture, a dear friend, and a modern-day explorer. In an honest, energetic approach, he invites us to join him on the adventure of laying down filters and norms through which Scripture is viewed and to rediscover tools designed to offer us greater wholeness and understanding of the nature of the Word himself. Steeped in the rabbinic tradition of asking questions, and unafraid of challenge, discomfort, or how the journey may lead away from the familiar and accepted, Dan gives permission to examine Scripture from fresh vantage points, such as overarching themes, story, and each authors original intent. It is a rare treasure to find a passionate Christ-follower as immersed in Scripture as he is in the quest for exploring and outlining the better narrative, which its closer examination reveals.

The fruit of the journey Dan has undertaken has been personally life giving. Courage, vulnerability, and graciousness have marked his way. His greatest joy is joining other intrepid traveling companions. Maybe one of them is you. God conceals the revelation of his word in the hiding place of his glory. But the honor of kings is revealed by how they thoroughly search out the deeper meaning of all that God says. (Proverbs 25:2 TPT)

Steven Jones

South Carolina

Dan makes you think. In The Greatest Story Never Told , Dan gives those of us who have been taught we only need to let the professionals decide what to believe permission and courage to ask deeper questionsthe ones no one else is asking or that are deemed too bad to ask. More importantly, he invites us into relationship with the living Word. I have never been more excited about reading, studying, and searching Scripture as I am now after reading the truths in his book. I endorse his message fully because, ultimately, I believe this is where we begin to leave behind the pat answers that have silenced us and to begin a true journey of discovery of who Jesus is, what he did, and what that means for each of us.

Cameron Jones

Mother of six and passionate Christ-follower

Dan uses his extensive background and expertise to discuss and discern what the Bible isand just as importantly, what it is not. His insights will improve every Christ-followers ability to bear witness to our Fathers love and his ultimate plan for his kingdom through his Son Jesus.

John Zimmermann

Friend and volunteer advocate for Compassion International

The Greatest Story Never Told:

Returning to the Heart of Biblical Narrative

Daniel Sandler

The Greatest Story Never Told: Returning to the Heart of Biblical Narrative

2018 Daniel Sandler

Red Arrow Media

Redding, California

All rights reserved.

No part of this manuscript may be used or reproduced in any matter whatsoeverwithout written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All Rights Reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission.

All rights reserved worldwide.

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked CEV are taken Contemporary English Version
Copyright 1995 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.

Cover Design: Vision Tank, UK

Interior Design: Vision Tank, UK

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ISBN: 978-0-9965695-8-3

Printed in the United States

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Contents

Acknowledgments

Thank you so much, Scott and Marie, for your love and friendship and for inviting me into the vibrant culture you created by teaching others how to hear Gods voice. The years you and your amazing kids mentored me were my favorite years in ministry.

Many thanks to Steven and Cameron. You have constantly encouraged me, valued me, and honored me as friend and teacher, calling out the best parts of me that God has formed. You have truly been a catalyst for this book.

This adventure that I am inside of requires traveling companions. Matt and Dixie, you have been so sweet, generous, and intentional about walking this path with us. I am in your debt.

Mom and Dad, thank you for preparing me for life so well, disciplining me to digest the Scriptures in big chunks. Thank you for your pioneering spirit and for teaching me to ask questions and find out for myself.

I wrote this book for my children. I have inherited a narrative from my parents that has been the seed from which my life has grown. I wish to leave the world you are living in with a narrative that more closely reflects the teachings of my rabbi Jesus. Scott, Chris, Cori, Jerry, Ashlee, Jimmy, Bo, Martin, and Akasia, live in Gods love, listen for his voice, trust his goodness.

And for my best friend, Karen. Thank you. Youve taught me what kindness is. Youve slathered my life in grace. You are generous, beautiful, and wise. This book is OUR seed, the result of three decades spent discipling each other and partnering as parents and as pastors.

Prologue

How Not What

This is a different kind of Christian book. I wrote it for everyone, but especially for those who identify as Christ-followers. I use the term Christ-followers intentionally to disassociate this books conversation from what has been accepted as a Christian conversation. Many ideas in the current Christian conversation have little or nothing to do with Jesus, the rabbi from Nazareth who lived two thousand years ago. Christian has become the identifier for religions, religious values, and church activities that do more to support national, economic, or social agendas than they do to represent Jesus. Being Christian has become entangled with things that I believe confuse the issue and water down the teachings of Christ.

Following Jesus is my endgame. My heart as a pastor is to give people a chance to reconsider how they approach the Bible and derive meaning from it. This book isnt about what I believe; its about how I have come to my decisions. I will leave the decision of what to believe to you, the reader. My opinions exist in an ocean of other opinions that are claiming truth and accuracy, and I do not wish to be heard on the playing field that I have inherited. Our current Christian orthodoxy is a little too sure of itselfI offer my opinions only as illustrations to point toward theological ideas that remain largely unexplored.

The culture of polarizing argument that requires agreement on what we believe in order to stay connected and continue to value each other is one of the main reasons the greatest story ever told sometimes never really gets told. I do not think absolutism (claiming absolute truths), suppositional thinking (converting word pictures and stories into universal principles), or dualism (forcing believers to choose sides) will help us hear the heart of God. I cannot wrap my past journey or your future journey into a neatly defined package. This book is only a beginning. Using tools developed over a lifetime of scriptural study, my goal is to equip readers to think for themselves, discarding the fear of questioning what they have always been told to believe. But before these tools will bear fruit, they must live through seasons of being experienced, inhabited, evaluated, and adjusted to fit. It will take time .