The Whole Story – Easter 2026 // Jamie Nunnally

Every great story has a metanarrative: it's the big story that all the smaller stories fit into.  In this message, Lead Pastor Jamie Nunnally shares about the whole massive unfolding  story of the Bible. 

We will walk through five key moments in the story of God and humanity.

1. God created a good world.

Genesis 1:31 NLT 

If you end the story here, it's just fantasy: the ideal we see in the garden is not what we see in the world today.

2. Sin broke everything.

When sin entered the world, the masterpiece God created was turned into a mess.

Romans 5:12 NLT 

Romans 3:23 ESV 

We didn't just mess up—we became messed up.

If you end the story here, its a tragedy: a sad story about the condition of mankind with no hope and no solution.

3. Humanity tried to fix it.

Humanity tries in its own effort to fix what is broken by attempting to reach God though systems, institutions, religions, rules, and rituals.

 Isaiah 64:6 NLT

We were created to walk with God, not just work for God. Scaling God mountain: we devise religious systems to try to reach God, but none of these efforts work.

If you end the story here, it's a mystery: Who is God? Why can't we know Him?

4. Jesus did what we couldn't do through the cross.

God is love, and God is just. So what does He do? He devises the perfect plan to satisfy both aspects of who He is by sending Jesus to fulfill both His love and justice at the same time.

John 1:14 NIV

But why did He have to die? Couldn't God have just forgiven us without Jesus' sacrifice?

2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT 

Jesus didn't just die for you—He died as you.

But why such a bloody death? Because our sin had to be paid for, and we couldn't pay it without dying because it required blood.

Hebrews 9:22 ESV  

Ephesians 1:7 NLT

5. Jesus' resurrection sealed the deal.

The resurrection is the receipt for your redemption.

Our greatest fear and our biggest enemy, death, is defeated.

 Romans 8:11 ESV 

The resurrection isn't just proof of Jesus' identity—it's power for His followers.

Remember God mountain? Here's the good news: Jesus came down off the mountain, died and rose again, and as we die to ourselves and live in Him and through Him, we now get to go back with Him to be with God.

Romans 6:7-10 MSG

And now we have the whole story, and it's not a fantasy, tragedy, mystery or drama. It's victory.

The tomb is still empty, and God's invitation is still open.

Follow Jesus, and when you die, you'll follow him all the way into heaven, because that's where He is.

You don't have to carry the debt Jesus already canceled.

What are you going to do with the whole story of Jesus?