Understanding the Bible as One Unified Story
The moment I knew we’d broken through came at the most unlikely time. We were sitting on a deck, dripping wet from zip-lining into a pond, when my wife casually asked the residents, “So what have you learned this week?” Without missing a beat, one of the residents—a future rural pastor—gave the answer that made my heart leap: “Scripture is one unified story.” He said it with the confidence of someone who had just discovered a treasure that had been hiding in plain sight all along.
The Challenge That Started It All
I had thrown down the gauntlet on day one of teaching biblical theology to the inaugural class of the Brainerd Institute for Rural Ministry. These men were training for long-term, Word-centered leadership in some of America’s most challenging ministry contexts. They needed more than seminary theory—they needed to see how Scripture actually works.
“I’m going to convince you,” I told them, “that the Bible is one unified story.”
It’s a bold claim in an age when many Christians read Scripture like a collection of inspirational quotes or moral lessons. But biblical theology—the discipline of reading the Bible as one story by one divine author that culminates in Christ—isn’t just an academic exercise. It’s the difference between pastors who stumble through disconnected sermons and those who preach with the confidence that every text points to Jesus.
Jesus Shows Us the Way
We opened that first morning with Luke 24, a pivotal passage for understanding Scripture as one unified story. After his resurrection, Jesus walked with two discouraged disciples and did something remarkable in verse 27:
“Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”
Think about that. Jesus didn’t just quote a few messianic prophecies. He took them on a tour through all of Scripture—every book, every story, every promise—and showed them how it all pointed to him.
If the Son of God himself read Scripture this way, shouldn’t we train our pastors to do the same?
Five Days That Changed Everything
Over the next five days, we embarked on an Emmaus journey. Genesis to Revelation. Creation to new creation. Promise to fulfillment. We traced the scarlet thread of covenant through Scripture, watching God’s promise to Abraham of land, seed, and blessing unfold across centuries until Paul could declare in Galatians 4 that all of it finds its “yes” in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20). We saw how David’s throne, Solomon’s temple, and Isaiah’s suffering servant all converge in the person and work of Jesus.
But here’s what made the difference: we didn’t just study about biblical theology. We did biblical theology. Every day. Every book. Every connection. And something beautiful happened. These future pastors began to see the one unified story unfold on every page, in every chapter, and with every verse.
When the Lights Came On
That breakthrough moment on the deck wasn’t isolated. Throughout the week, I watched as the pieces clicked into place. Suddenly, Leviticus wasn’t just ancient ritual—it was pointing to the ultimate sacrifice. The genealogies weren’t just lists of names—they were tracing the promised seed. The prophets weren’t just moral reformers—they were heralds of the coming King.
“I’m seeing new ways about how it all connects,” one resident reflected. Another reflected on how this way of reading will help in preaching and teaching.
They were right. When you understand the big picture of Scripture, you can understand the details better because you see how each piece fits into the grand narrative. And for pastors, this isn’t just intellectually satisfying—it’s practically transformative.
Why This Changes Everything
Consider what happened when we worked through Paul’s letters with this unified storyline in mind. Suddenly, practical ministry implications jumped off the page:
Gospel clarity became non-negotiable when you see Paul’s fight against works-righteousness as part of the larger story of grace versus human effort that runs from Genesis 3 to Revelation 22.
Church unity became urgent when you understand that Paul’s vision of one new humanity fulfills God’s promise to bless all nations through Abraham’s seed.
Spirit-empowered transformation became the focus when you see how Paul’s theology of sanctification connects to Ezekiel’s promise of new hearts and God’s Spirit within us.
Suffering in ministry became meaningful when you understand Paul’s afflictions as participation in Christ’s sufferings and the continuation of God’s pattern of strength through weakness.
Each insight flowed naturally from seeing Paul’s letters not as isolated theological treatises, but as part of the one story God has been telling since the beginning.
The Difference It Makes
Here’s what I realized watching these men: many pastors are trying to preach and counsel and lead without the most essential tool in their toolkit. They’re like surgeons operating without understanding anatomy, or architects building without blueprints.
When pastors grasp Scripture’s unified storyline, everything changes. They preach with confidence because they know how their text connects to Christ. They counsel with precision because they understand how God’s promises apply to human struggles. They lead with clarity because they see where the story is heading.
But when they don’t? They’re left with moralistic sermons, therapeutic counseling, and pragmatic leadership that may be well-intentioned but lack the transformative power that comes from understanding how God’s Word actually works.
An Urgent Invitation
The rural churches these residents will serve desperately need this kind of pastoral leadership. In contexts where false gospels of works-righteousness often flourish, where cultural divisions run deep, where suffering and hardship are daily realities—these communities need pastors who can open Scripture and show them Jesus.
But here’s my challenge to you: Who could you recommend for next year’s residency?
Is there a young man in your church with pastoral gifting who needs this kind of intensive, hands-on training? A college graduate wrestling with a calling? A faithful servant leader who could benefit from immersive ministry preparation?
The Brainerd Institute’s residency program offers exactly what these future rural pastors experienced—full immersion in Word-centered ministry training that doesn’t just teach about ministry but actually does ministry while learning to handle Scripture with precision and preach Christ from all of Scripture.
The Treasure Hidden in Plain Sight
That moment on the deck keeps coming back to me. The joy in his voice when he said, “Scripture is one unified story.” The excitement as the other residents began connecting dots they’d never seen before.
This is what happens when we train pastors the way Jesus trained disciples—not just with information, but with transformation. Not just with theory, but with the practical skills to open God’s Word and show people Jesus.
After all, if our Lord himself interpreted all the Scriptures concerning himself, shouldn’t we be training the next generation of pastors to do the same?
The question is: Who will you help us train?
Applications for the Brainerd Institute for Rural Ministry residency program are open year-round. For more information, visit https://www.brainerdinstitute.com. Help us prepare the next generation of rural pastors to preach Christ from all of Scripture.
Aaron Batdorf
Aaron was born in Pottstown, PA but after attending Lock Haven University, God opened a door for ministry with Big Woods. Aaron is married to Brianna, and they have two children, Zadok "Zae", and Eleanor. Except for a year and a half away for education, Aaron and Brianna have been in Lock Haven since college and enjoy the outdoors, coffee, sitting on the porch, reading, and helping people follow Jesus faithfully by applying God's Word to all of life. Aaron has a burden to see people grasp the deep things of God and teaching others to go and do likewise through discipleship. Aaron earned his PhD at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
