Thursday, October 18, 2007
And signs and wonders accompanied ...
I was reading this story from India (see our Stories page) and was staggered again by the power of the Word of God to heal. Scripture tells us that "faith comes by hearing". One of the results that also comes from Bible storying is faith in the hearts of the hearers.
Many of us have seen the power of the preached word working in the lives of hearers. Here we see a modern day example of what can happen as we tell the stories from the Word of God when faced with human need and the depths of human despair and depression.
God be praised! Let us tell the story with faith that others may believe as God accompanies that Word with signs and wonders!
Many of us have seen the power of the preached word working in the lives of hearers. Here we see a modern day example of what can happen as we tell the stories from the Word of God when faced with human need and the depths of human despair and depression.
God be praised! Let us tell the story with faith that others may believe as God accompanies that Word with signs and wonders!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Jesus the Storyteller
I find the Matthew 13 description of Jesus as Storyteller even more fascinating than the Mark 4 one:
vv34-35
"All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 'I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world'"
Wow! Not only the truth that He only taught using stories, but the incredible revelation that He used stories as His (God's) way to reveal secrets way back from the dawn of time... His method of revealing intimate truth from the Father was through stories. And He did it all in fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy!
Outstanding verses.
vv34-35
"All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 'I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world'"
Wow! Not only the truth that He only taught using stories, but the incredible revelation that He used stories as His (God's) way to reveal secrets way back from the dawn of time... His method of revealing intimate truth from the Father was through stories. And He did it all in fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy!
Outstanding verses.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Recasting
One of the skills and vital aspects of storying is of course making our message relevant and engaging to our listeners.
It is vitally important therefore to 'recast' the story that you are communicating to your audience and his/her/their needs, especially in those one on one storying moments.
For instance, when telling the story of Abraham and the birth of Isaac to a woman who might be barren, you are not at all twisting the account to tell the story as being about Sarah and to therefore relate how the Lord God caused a woman so old to succeed in having a child.
It is vitally important therefore to 'recast' the story that you are communicating to your audience and his/her/their needs, especially in those one on one storying moments.
For instance, when telling the story of Abraham and the birth of Isaac to a woman who might be barren, you are not at all twisting the account to tell the story as being about Sarah and to therefore relate how the Lord God caused a woman so old to succeed in having a child.