The Power of Story

02/25/2007 Filed in: Just Walk Across the Room
The Power of Story
Matthew 3:1-3 (NLT)

 

How do we talk about God in a way that is full of clarity and passion?
How do we convey our personal faith story in a way that is humble and interesting?

 

    • Stories are powerful

Matthew 13:1-3 (NLT):  Later that same day, Jesus left the house and went down to the shore, [2] where an immense crowd soon gathered. He got into a boat, where he sat and taught as the people listened on the shore. [3] He told many stories such as this one: "A farmer went out to plant some seed.

Matthew 13:10-13 (NLT):  His disciples came and asked him, "Why do you always tell stories when you talk to the people?" [11] Then he explained to them, "You have been permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others have not. [12] To those who are open to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But to those who are not listening, even what they have will be taken away from them. [13] That is why I tell these stories, because people see what I do, but they don't really see. They hear what I say, but they don't really hear, and they don't understand.

    • God has a story. Learn to tell it well.
Romans 10:9-10 (NIV):  That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

John 5:24 (NIV):  "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
    • You have a story. Learn to tell it well.
Luke 5:12-15 (NIV):  While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." [13] Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him. [14] Then Jesus ordered him, "Don't tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." [15] Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.
    • CAUTION: Your faith story derails if you won’t shut up.
    • CAUTION: Your faith story derails if you are fuzzy about your story's core theme
    • CAUTION: Your faith story derails if you use four-syllable Christian-insider words that no one out side the "faith family" can understand; i.e. the language of Zion.
1 Cor. 14:6-9 (NLT):  Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you talking in an unknown language, how would that help you? But if I bring you some revelation or some special knowledge or some prophecy or some teaching—that is what will help you. [7] Even musical instruments like the flute or the harp, though they are lifeless, are examples of the need for speaking in plain language. For no one will recognize the melody unless the notes are played clearly. [8] And if the bugler doesn't sound a clear call, how will the soldiers know they are being called to battle? [9] And it's the same for you. If you talk to people in a language they don't understand, how will they know what you mean? You might as well be talking to an empty room.
    • CAUTION: Your faith story derails, blows up and leaves a trail of destruction a mile long if you play the superiority card.