The Need and Power of Stories
We are a people of stories. When asked to share stories from our own experience or our own childhood we are all quick to have something to share. Stories shape our worldview and define us. Recently, I was attending for the first time a conference for housechurch church planters. Many of those at the conference have known each other for some time. They were quick to share about life, family and ministry. However, what really struck me was the great amount of time they devoted to telling stories. So often I heard the request, “Tell us a story” during the weekend. Stories of people coming to faith, stories of discipleship communities thriving, stories of failure and stories of challenge. Even session speakers did less classic, lecture style teaching and simply shared stories. During one of the talks, the speaker took a good part of the time asking others to share stories during his teaching. I know, some of you might be thinking because he didn’t prepare. But, as I have gotten to know him, I know he gave time to others to share with intention. So, I was intrigued and inspired. It got me thinking about how important and powerful stories are for teaching, growth and inspiring. I hope that some of my reflections here will inspire you to tell more stories as you make disciples in whatever context you are.
JESUS TOLD STORIES
To state the obvious, Jesus told stories….lots of them. Short and long. Detailed and simple. He was a master story-teller. After two thousand plus years we still find ways that Jesus’ stories connect with our everyday life. And that’s just it, Jesus told stories from everyday life. Often it is the everyday situations and stories that have a profound effect on others. I am often surprised as someone reminds me of an everyday story I told that I had forgotten, however for the listener the story was a pivotal moment in their discipleship. Seeds, coins, wayward sons…Jesus made truths about God accessible to everyone whether learned adults or children. So, maybe we should take more seriously the craft of everyday storytelling as a means to make disciples just as Jesus did.
OUR OWN STORIES
Each of us has a story. Dramas that play out in peaks and valleys. We need to share our life stories with one another. At the start of our housechurch, we took several weeks to listen to each life story from those in our core team. Once a week, we would gather and the evening was spent listening to one person’s life story. They could take as long as they needed to share. As each person ended, those of us listening would ask clarifying questions, shared ways in which their stories inspired or challenged us and prayed for that person at the end. It was an incredibly powerful time and all of us were deeply thankful and in awe of how God had worked in our lives. I still remember each person’s story vividly. For our community, it was through each person’s story that we grew in meaningful connection and affection for one another.
Even beyond those times, we regularly ask people to share stories as we gather. As well, when we are gathered one-one we try to make a point to hear their stories from the past days or weeks. Those stories connect us and teach us how to live out following Jesus in our own lives.
THE STORIES OF OTHERS
As followers of Jesus we have a treasure of stories throughout the Bible and countless others among followers of Jesus both past and present. My own life has been deeply impacted having read the lives of men and women who decided to live their whole lives for Jesus. To this day, whether in preaching or sharing with others, I will often use stories of these people to encourage and inspire others to live their whole lives for God. As disciples of Jesus, we can teach others and learn from those who have gone before us both through their mistakes and their successes.
STORYTELLING TIPS
So, as you grow in storytelling. Here are some simple tips to consider…
Character: give a description of who you are talking about. Help people to picture in their mind whether they know the person(s) or not who you are talking about.
Details: Engage people with details that help them picture better what’s happening, however don’t get to bogged down in unnecessary details such that you lose people’s attention. Who, what, where and when are great questions to be thinking through as you share details of your story.
Tension: all good stories have tension whether big or small. Highlight the tension in the story as you share.
Jesus: how is Jesus evident or working through the story you are sharing? Whether you mention him explicitly or not. If it’s appropriate and possible, make the connection to Jesus in the story. Share how you felt he was working or speaking in the situation.
I want to grow as a person of stories, both in listening and sharing. Stories are easy to remember because they engage both our hearts and minds. As disciples of Jesus we want to take steps that help people grow in heart and mind as followers of Jesus. Storytelling can be a useful tool as we invest in the lives of others. So get out there, share some stories and ask for them as well. You will be encouraged and grow deeper as you do.
