The big story is a true story, and it involves you. It begins with God, who made the world and everything in it. God made mankind to reflect his goodness, but our first parents rebelled against their perfect Creator. Like them, we have been rebelling against God ever since. But God had a plan from the beginning to send a Rescuer. This Savior is Jesus Christ, God's own perfect Son, who lived the life that we should have lived and died the death that we deserve to die. Though our sin has separated us from God, Jesus took our sin and shame upon himself at the cross. Through his perfect sacrifice for sin, Jesus has reconciled us back to God so that we can know him not only as our Lord but also as our Heavenly Father. We know that this big story is true because Jesus did not stay dead. He rose from the dead in the power of the Holy Spirit, conquering the grave, to prove that our sin has been paid in full and

our future is secure if we trust in him alone.