The Gospel Story

Iowa City is an International City of Literature. That means, we know ‘story’! But in our post-modern, post-Christian society, we have disconnected story and meaning, and, as a result, are left with the huge task of providing our own meaning and value to our lives. But that reality is not so new. As Ecclesiastes famously states,

“There is nothing new under the sun.” Perhaps.

During an exchange in ‘the greatest story ever told’, in the midst of the interrogation of Jesus by Roman Governor Pontius Pilate, the following occurred,

Jesus said, “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” And so it goes.

At One Ancient Hope, we believe that one of the reasons that Iowa City loves story is that God loves story, because as people created in his image we are created to be creative creatures.

We believe that we are all a part of God’s unfolding gospel story of his process of redeeming his creation and of renewing all things. Our story includes our rebellion against God that flows out of our desire to replace God with ourselves. Our story includes God’s continued seeking after each of us to bring us into a relationship with him: a relationship for which we were made, a relationship that is not one of drudgery but of joy, a relationship that does not stifle our existence or creativity, but gives it meaning and encourages it to flourish.

Rather than list some 4-step process on “how to come to Jesus” we would encourage you to examine what it means to be a part of God’s story by joining us at One Ancient Hope. It is a place where seekers and skeptics are welcome, and where they can bring your doubts and questions and wrestle though them in the midst of people who have done and are doing the same.

The Apostle Paul wrote,

“That they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for,

“ ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “ ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.”

God’s story is a wonderful story, because it is primarily about his love for us!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting life.”

We would welcome an opportunity to talk about story and meaning with you!