In the Beginning, Again: A Modern Re-Telling of the Bible

In the Beginning, Again tells stories of the Bible in the western 21st century. Jonah is a surgeon, Jesus is a professor and a King is a Mayor. The book places ancient wisdom into modern settings, emotions, and questions, showing that the Bible is not far removed from everyday life, but speaks directly into chaos, uncertainty, and the longing for meaning.

This book is a collection of modern short stories that faithfully retell biblical narratives by translating their ancient cultural, emotional, and theological logic into contemporary settings, allowing today's readers to feel what the original audiences would have felt.

"In the Beginning, Again, Sarah's retelling of biblical texts is a refreshing look at how the ancient arc of redemption can 'land' afresh today. And 'The Story Behind the Story' follow-up to narrative demonstrates the quality of historical and textual scholarship that undergirds her updated version of the Good News. Creative, refreshing, good for the heart."
Bradley Jersak - Author, A More Christlike trilogy

"With an inspired imagination and deep historical study, Sarah Martin-Mills has written a beautiful book with which to explore sacred Scripture. She places the ancient truth in settings familiar to a new generation, and challenges us with an inward to outward focus on the love of God."
Lorna Dueck - Podcast Host at Scripture Untangled with The Canadian Bible Society

"'Let me tell you a story'" is a sure way to get people to listen. Most of us, I assume, remember Bible stories better than we do passages of doctrine, as stories first catch our interest and then hold our attention.

Sarah's In the Beginning, Again works from Bible stories, creatively imagining what that might look like in our world, taking the biblical story and weaving it into stories of today. For example, the story of Jonah is retold in the life of a surgeon, who like Jonah gets caught up in his own duplicity, disagreeing with what God does even as he grudgingly obeys.

This book is one of a kind. It is mind stretching for devotional reading and a sure starter for group conversation. Sarah's retelling in today's world offers rich and challenging applications, unwrapping the original story and applying them to life.

Storytellers of all kinds-pastors, Sunday school teachers, Bible group leaders-will learn from her creative approach, all the while having in hand material which will enable us in our calling and ministry.

In the Beginning, Again takes us back into what we've read, kick-starting a rethinking of what the story was about and why the beauty and mystery of the Scriptures is timeless. Sarah has brought to us an ingenious way to read and understand Bible stories. A book for everyone's library."
Brian Stiller - Global Ambassador, The World Evangelical Alliance

In the Beginning, Again is a modern retelling of the Bible that brings the ancient stories of the Bible into the lived experience of today's world. Blending biblical storytelling, Middle Eastern cultural context, and accessible theology, this book invites readers to rediscover Scripture through story.

It is especially suited for those who are curious about faith, returning to the Bible after time away, or looking for a fresh perspective on familiar Scripture. This book is ideal for readers searching for: creative biblical fiction, faith-based storytelling, accessible Christian theology, biblical themes explained through story or ancient Scripture with modern relevance

Perfect for personal reflection, book clubs, and small group discussion, In the Beginning, Again offers a fresh, thoughtful way to engage with the Bible, rooted in scholarship, told through story, and written for the world we live in now.