The Bible as Improv: Seeing and Living the Script in New Ways [Paperback]

Ron Martoia (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 16, 2010

Every Christian desires to follow the Bible. But many of the things the Bible teaches---such as its instructions on how to treat slaves or its direction to sell everything one owns---seem to have little relevance to modern life. Picking and choosing what applies today leaves many readers frustrated and confused. Is it possible that Christians are asking the wrong question of Scripture? Ron Martoia suggests that the narrative sweep of the Bible is lost when it is reduced to quips and maxims. Faithfulness to the text requires faithfulness to its narrative form. Reflecting a high view of Scripture and a profound belief in its power to change lives, Martoia helps readers read the Bible so that its story shapes their own stories. In this new light, readers can move beyond the confusion about what is true today and what is 'outdated.' With a passion for seeing people experience revolutionary change in their spiritual lives, Martoia shows readers how to look at the big picture of the Bible. As they will soon find out, the view is incredible.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Ron Martoia is a deep and elegant thinker and a clear and engaging writer. Not only do I love what he writes, but I've had the chance to see him in action, leading groups and creating space for people to think, learn, discover, and grow. Reading this book feels like being in a group facilitated by Ron, so I know it will help people rediscover the Bible and find their place in its ongoing, life-transforming, world-changing drama.' -- Brian McLaren, author/speaker brianmclaren.net

From the Back Cover

Every Christian desires to follow the Bible. But many of the things the Bible teaches---such as its instructions on how to treat slaves or its direction to sell everything one owns---seem to have little relevance to modern life. Picking and choosing what applies today leaves many readers frustrated and confused. Is it possible that Christians are asking the wrong question of Scripture? Ron Martoia suggests that the narrative sweep of the Bible is lost when it is reduced to quips and maxims. Faithfulness to the text requires faithfulness to its narrative form. Reflecting a high view of Scripture and a profound belief in its power to change lives, Martoia helps readers read the Bible so that its story shapes their own stories. In this new light, readers can move beyond the confusion about what is true today and what is 'outdated.' With a passion for seeing people experience revolutionary change in their spiritual lives, Martoia shows readers how to look at the big picture of the Bible. As they will soon find out, the view is incredible. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (February 16, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310287707
• ISBN-13: 978-0310287704
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,738,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Ron Martoia has spoken to more than 25,000 leaders in a variety of conference settings. A popular speaker and Bible teacher, Ron examines the new and shifting cultural landscape and proposes what churches can do to reach the present generation. He is the author of numerous articles, including key articles in "Great Preaching" and "Preaching to Postmoderns," and his first book project, "Morph!", was welcomed with widespread critical acclaim. In addition to church consultation, Ron facilitates a new experimental learning community, called Vortex, in Jackson, Michigan. Ron's mission is to help followers of Jesus understand and interact with the new cultural context in which they live.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Life as Community Theatre, September 23, 2010

By 

Orville B. Jenkins "Research Guy" (Arlington, Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bible as Improv: Seeing and Living the Script in New Ways (Paperback)

Thoughtful reflections on how we approach the Bible from our particular cultural and personal assumptions and social-historical background. Martoia uses several helpful models to illustrate how we live out the story, extend the story into our own time an culture by understanding the variety of stories and circumstances presented to us in Scripture.

Questions of how the Bible becomes practical when it arises out of and is presented in terms of a variety of communities over a variety of social and cultural settings. Martoia presents very practical guidelines on making sense of the Bible, helping people today make sense of the many aspects of the Bible that do not make sense if it is approached in the modern manner as a propositional rulebook or universal principles.

Martoia teaches us how to live the Story, improvising the acts of our daily lives based on the original stories. We become co-creators with God as we extend the Story in our individual stories, creating new chapters tha have never been lived before, but that are authentic in continuity with the true-life meaning of the orignal stories that became the Story.

Martoia declares this is what the Bible means as Story, not the wooden legalistic adherence to mental proposition to obedience to command because it is command. The Story is about authentic Life.