Once to avert disaster, the Baal Shem Tov went into the forest, lit a candle and prayed a special prayer. With God’s help, the disaster was averted.
Years later, another disaster confronted the Jews and it fell to his disciple, the Maggid of Mezritch to avert the catastrophe. He said, "I don't know the prayer the Baal Shem Tov used, but I know the place and I can light the candle." So he went to the same place and lit the candle, and it was enough. With God’s help the disaster was averted.
After the Maggid died another crisis awaited the Jewish people and it fell to his disciple, the Rabbi Shmelke to rescue the people. He said, “I do not know the prayer, and I do not have the candle, but I can go to the place and it must be enough.” And so he did, and with God’s help, it was enough.
After the death of Rabbi Smelke, Rabbi Moshe, his disciple was called upon to save his people from calamity. He said, “Ah me! I do not know the prayer, I do not have the candle, and I do not even know where the forest is. But I do know the story. So, I will tell it and God will help." And so it was enough, with God’s help.
The Hasidic rabbis believed that storytelling was a divine work. When God's people told stories it was said that God himself listened. Elie Wiesel once quipped that God created man because he loved stories.
A few decades ago, communication expert Walter Fisher labeled humanity as homo narrans—storytelling beings. Fisher argues that one has to be taught how to think logically and mathematically—but stories come naturally. More recently Jonathan Gottschell similarly coined the phrase homo fictus.
The Bible is narrative. Even the law codes found in the Bible swim in a sea of story. When children ask, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?" parents were to reply with story (Deuteronomy 6:20, 21). Jesus’ favored mode of discourse was story. The prophets and the epistles point back to story.
Why, then, do we continue to communicate God’s message using syllogism and argument? It would seem the best way to communicate story is by telling story. It's time to go back to our biblical roots and to the way we were created: to recapture the art of story and storytelling.
The question is how?
First, remember the stories you grew up with: the childhood folk tales, life stories and anecdotes of your parents, grandparents, and schoolteachers. Remember the way those stories were told. Think of the stories that resonated with you in church. My guess is you will remember the stories preachers told over their outlines.
Secondly, begin to collect stories. Discover the stories that capture you. They can be children’s stories, folk tales, Biblical narratives, personal tales, or literature. Then begin to create your repertoire.
Finally, tell stories. If you have young children or grandchildren, make it a point to start reading stories to them. Put your heart into it! Don’t worry about being a great actor—just imagine what you are reading/telling and let your voice rise and fall naturally as the story dictates.
These are beginning steps. Before using stories in preaching, gently enter the world of story. Begin to swim in the stream before jumping into the sea! Perhaps we can explore how to incorporate storytelling into preaching in future posts.
For now tell stories: with God’s help, it will be enough.
Views: 234
Darryl, this is a fantastic post! You have made a good case for using storytelling in preaching, with some practical tips on how to do this. Remembering the stories you grew up with, collecting stories, and practicing telling stories--those are great suggestions.
Thank you for sharing! I will send around her and post to the Preaching to Postmoderns website. Thank you!
Darryl, I posted your article on the Preaching to Postmoderns website at https://www.preachingtopostmoderns.com/guest-blog--sermon-illustrat... under the "guest blog" section.
However, would you mind one more step? Can you click on the above link and post the blog yourself? That way it will show up with your picture in the "guest blog" forum section. Thank you for everything!!
Hey, I uploaded it as per requested, but I couldn't make any html code work on it. Can you format it as it was in the original? Thanks!
And thank you for the invitation to write it.
Will do, Darryl! Thank you!!
Hey James, here's a link to one of my older sermons that utilized narrative. It is a study of a narrative in 1 Samuel 4... http://lectioscriptura.blogspot.com/2007/02/glorys-gone.html
James Nored said:
Will do, Darryl! Thank you!!
Hi Darryl! I would love to watch your sermon. That link, however, does not seem to link to anything. Can you check the link?
Darryl, I am going to be adding the guest posts in the regular post feed on my new website. Neil Reynolds, one of the guest bloggers, suggested this kind of introduction on these posts, modeled after Michael Hyatt's guest blog posts (see link below).
This is a guest post by Neil Reynolds. Neil lives in Russellville, Arkansas with his wife, Katie, and their two girls, Eden and Graceann. He is a campus minister at Arkansas Tech University. Neil regularly shares lessons learned on faith, family, and leadership at neilreynolds.me
http://michaelhyatt.com/secret-part-of-bravery.html
Could you write an introduction like this for me to use (adapt as desired).
It's not a video/audio--it's a blog with the text of the sermon.
James Nored said:
Hi Darryl! I would love to watch your sermon. That link, however, does not seem to link to anything. Can you check the link?
How is this?
Darryl is the Vice President over the Youth Camp Program for Eastern European Mission. He holds an MA in Bible from Lipscomb University. Darryl's poetry appears in several print and online journals and he shares his thoughts and reflections at https://www.coffeecuptheology.wordpress.com. His poetry blog is https://www.poema2009.blogspot.com.
James, my bio can be found at https://www.darrylwillis.wordpress.com if you prefer more options.
James Nored said:
Darryl, I am going to be adding the guest posts in the regular post feed on my new website. Neil Reynolds, one of the guest bloggers, suggested this kind of introduction on these posts, modeled after Michael Hyatt's guest blog posts (see link below).
This is a guest post by Neil Reynolds. Neil lives in Russellville, Arkansas with his wife, Katie, and their two girls, Eden and Graceann. He is a campus minister at Arkansas Tech University. Neil regularly shares lessons learned on faith, family, and leadership at neilreynolds.me
http://michaelhyatt.com/secret-part-of-bravery.htmlCould you write an introduction like this for me to use (adapt as desired).
I checked it and it works for me.
Darryl Willis said:
It's not a video/audio--it's a blog with the text of the sermon.
James Nored said:Hi Darryl! I would love to watch your sermon. That link, however, does not seem to link to anything. Can you check the link?
12 members
19 members
20 members
35 members
57 members
57 members
46 members
93 members
48 members
29 members
© 2024 Created by James Nored.
Powered by
