The Heart of the Story: God’s Masterful Design to Restore His People

by Randy Frazee

The Heart of the Story will help you see God’s Word in a new and inspiring light. In the Bible’s seemingly disconnected stories you’ll discover one grand, unfolding epic—God’s story from Genesis onward, and your own story contained within it.To understand the Bible, says author and pastor Randy Frazee, you need bifocal lenses, because two perspectives are involved. The Lower Story, our story, is actually many stories of men and women interacting with God in the daily course of life. The Upper Story is God’s story, the tale of his great, overarching purpose that fits all the individual stories together like panels in one unified mural.In 31 chapters, The Heart of the Story will open your eyes to God’s master-plan unfolding in the lives of the Bible’s characters—and in your own life. Discover the heart of God’s Upper Story, and the joy that comes as you align your story with God’s.

Genres: Christian, Religion, Spirituality, Christianity, Nonfiction

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 6, 2011

About the author

Randy Frazee is the lead teaching pastor at Westside Family Church in Kansas City. He is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, and a leader and innovator in Bible engagement, spiritual formation and biblical community. Randy is the architect of The Story and BELIEVE church engagement campaigns as well as the author of His Mighty Strength; Think, Act, Be Like Jesus; What Happens After You Die; The Connecting Church; Making Room for Life; and the coauthor of Real Simplicity with his wife of 40 years, Rozanne.

Reviews

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was recommended by our minister, and I liked the concept. HOWEVER, on page 17 the word "enormity" was used incorrectly -- in place of "immensity" -- but I was willing to overlook that . . . wouldn't be the first time it was used incorrectly. But on page 26 there was such an egregious error that I was unable to continue reading. Here's the paragraph containing the offending error:

"Think about this for a moment. If our solar system was reduced [note: I'm willing to overlook the incorrect use of WAS instead of WERE in the subjunctive mood] in size by a factor of a billion, the earth would be the size of a grape. The moon would be slightly larger than a basketball. The sun would be the height of a man. Jupiter would be the size of a grapefruit; Saturn, an orange. Uranus and Neptune would be the size of a lemon. . . ."

The moon would be slightly larger than a BASKETBALL when the earth is the size of a grape????? Sorry, end of this book for me. Where are the editors?????

[Dick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a different kind of book for me. It takes the view that God has – called the upper story and shows that vs the one we live on earth, called the loser story. It provides a view in the context – of here and now – vs God’s view of the larger context of history and His plan. While it may not provide a lot of answers to those things that perplex us on earth in life – it does make one feel, perhaps, a bit better about the over-all and total picture and God’s plan.

The lower story, our story, is actually the stories of mankind interacting with God in our daily course of life. The upper story is God’s story/plan - His great, overall purpose that merges all of our individual stories into one – His plan.

The forward IS by Max Lucado and in it, he explains that in the context of God’s upper story, our lower story begins to make more sense.

Maybe if you feel like your life is really going nowhere, maybe you are not looking at it from the right perspective. This book can provide a wider concept and some context to see where and how you fit into God’s plan.

This book helps you see a much larger picture – a glimpse of God’s view of the world and how you or I fit into it.

For me, a light read and fun. But if you are a new Christian, you would benefit form reading it.

[Jan Norton · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting concept of comparing the Scriptures to how we see it and how God sees it. The book is really written for someone not very familiar with the Scriptures.

[Georgia Herod · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Bible is God’s Story—the Grand Epic, without which our individual stories make no sense. Using the idea of two story lines—the Upper Story being the one from God’s perspective and heaven’s vantage point and the Lower Story being the reality we experience day to day on earth. While we may see the events and how they impact us as “out of control” or nonsensical, the Upper Story is “God’s masterful design to restore His people” to a love relationship with Him. From Genesis 1 to Revelation 22 that is the grand theme of the story.

The backcover says it like this: “The Lower Story, our story, is actually many stories of men and women interacting with God in the daily course of life. The Upper Story is God’s story, the tale of His great, overarching purpose that fits all the individual stories together like panels in one unified mural.”

In 31 chapters the reader will see the master plan unroll in the lives of Bible characters both familiar and unknown—and perhaps even recognize his or her own story.
Well written, fast paced, The Heart of the Story captures God’s character and His ways as He woos His people to Himself, again and again.

Definitely the "heart of [God's] Story"--well written, insightful, interesting! I'd recommend for the uninitiated as well as the lifelong reader of the Bible.

[Steven Jacke · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as part of a Sunday school class.

This is a retelling of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Frazee uses each story tip highlight what he calls God's "lower story," what happened in the individual story, and God's "upper story," the ultimate plan of God restoring humanity.

I recommend this book to Christians who are not that familiar with the Bible. Maybe you know Sunday school stories, maybe you don't. But if you've tried Redding the Bible and not succeeded because it's too long, or boring, or it just doesn't keep your attention, thus book may help.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes it's hard to understand the connection between all of the Old Testament events and the New Testament's more philosophical nature. But Frazee does a good job at outlining the major point that connects it all, God loves us and is working to bring us back to Heaven. I just wish he had developed each chapter with more details. It seemed like too much summary. This book is great for new believers or those who are not familiar with the Bible.

[Byron Fike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as our church did a study of "The Story." We were also using Randy's dvd's in our Sunday School and other "Story" materials. This book was advertised as a companion to The Story especially for preachers who were preaching lessons to go with each chapter of the Story. I found much repetition in the materials and thus did not gain a great deal of useful information. However, I did benefit from a few stories and illustrations that were unique to the book.

[Esme Lorraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surprise, is all I can say. I really did not think this book would grab me like it did. It went through the bible and picked out the major, life changing stories and put them in narrative terms... and then... THEN... it explained how the story relates to your life. A definite read for people that want to live a Christian life. Loved it!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read. Randy Frazee takes 31 books of the Bible and pieces them together into a story. He discusses the Lower Story and the Upper Story and how everything worked together from the Old Testament to the New Testament. I am looking forward to reading the Story by Randy Frazee and Max Lucado.

[Marilyn Eichorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This explains God's Masterful Design

This book helped me to put the Upper story, or Heavenly Father's story, in perspective of the Lower story, what goes on in the earthly realm. It helps me to see that God wants to be with His family forever and came to die for us to make it come true.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Randy Frazee does a wonderful job of capturing the essential details of the major stories of the Bible. He summarizes in a few paragraphs the core message and moves you along to the next connecting story. You will enjoy this "Heart of the Story" account of the message of the Bible

[Leslie Fields · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book, in a nutshell,is a spinoff of "The Story," a narrativized version of the Bible. It represents three degrees of separation from the actual Scriptures. Readers wanting to understand the Bible can do better elsewhere.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally understand!

This is one of the best explanations of the Bible that I have ever read! Whenever I try to read passages from the Bible, I get confused and discouraged. Thank you Pastor Frazee for making the Lower Story and the Upper Story much easier to understand!

[judith jerez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jesus the one and only

So well written it touched my heart. It made me smile it made me cry. Thank you for reminding me of how much Jesus loves me and how important He is in my life and how much I love Him.

[Guna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book hooks together all the stories in the Bible into one big story, and also how it aligns with our lives.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! And, what a perfect book for the Christmas season--to focus on what is truly important.

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved having this resource as I prepared to lead our group discussions of "The Story" and DVD sessions each week.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed it. Frazee writes like Lucado. Simple, elegant and joyful to read. Great overview of the over-arching story of the Bible. Good stuff.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far, very good.

[DocHolidavid · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a rewrite of the Bible in novel fashion. I can make the "Greatest Story" more understandable, and it makes The Bible come alive.

[Crizzle · Rating 3 out of 5]

To read along with "The Story" version of the Bible, if desired.

[David Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful companion book to "The Story"...which I highly recommend!

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a companion to The Story by Lucado. It takes the major themes and explains them, gives illustrations and applications for daily life. Well written.

[Cathy S.]

Read this in my Sunday School Class.