Firstly... personal stories are good... they are real, they are full of life lessons and they connect with the living story. There are a couple of comments i wish to make on Steve's blog that i agree / disagree with.....
They make great introductions, serving to capture attention...
Sorry Steve, I disagree! As previously said in the last blog - stories are pivotal to a sermon... even biblical text is story... it's history, it's about real people living real lives.... story does not belong in the introduction. I do think however, we can get a little 'its all about me me me'... and i frequently find personal stories boring right from the get go.... do they really capture my attention? I think we need a better introduction to a personal story. We need to communicate the story more effectively. I think frequently, our presentation of the story needs work.
The bible is full of story.... and there is nothing more exciting and engaging to me... to go to church and hear a passage quoted from the bible... because i often hear it... but don't relate to it.... the woman at the well... what does that have to do with me anyway? YET, I am shocked when someone gets up to tell us their story, relating with the biblical text and relating with my own. I hear the story and i think... this person, like the woman at the well, had obstacles (a colourful, sinful story) that was in the way from a relationship with Jesus Christ... what obstacles are in my life? Wait a minute... i thought this story didnt relate? Through personal testimony, I connected with the biblical text... the bible comes to life.... how the heck did that happen? All of a sudden, im sitting further forward in my chair, waiting to hear the next amazing thing. It happens so much to me... and I never stop being shocked by it.
You know where i think good stories go bad? When the preacher does not connect and tie together the story with the message. Often, someone is asked to give a testimony... but the testimonial is not introduced well or connected with the message to begin with... then there is often a lack of 'pulling it all together.' A testimony should not be given, just to fill the programme or provide 'good feelings.' There should be a strategy for using it... because stories are so valuable.
Hi Vicky,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughts here. I'm not sure you are quoting me fairly :) You have quoted the first sentence, which was about introductions, but then omitted the next few sentences.
"They make great introductions, serving to capture attention, orientating people from their world to the world of the Biblical text. They can aid application, serving to illustrate exegetical material or embody the gospel in life today. They can provide a way to engage the Bible, amplifying plot and character in the narrative genre’s of the Bible."
The intent of the paragraph is not to limit introductions, but to show the range of ways that a story can work, at start, middle, end,
Steve
Hi Vicky, I agree with your comments concerning connection, as with any tool used in preaching, art, interaction or story, there must be a sense of interconnectedness with scripture. Otherwise there is a danger of it becoming just entertainment. With stories or any of these preaching tools - they can be part of the introduction or the middle or used as a way to conclude depending on the shape of the sermon. Like any tool they must be fit for purpose and sometimes a story is the perfect introduction to contextualizing the message of God’s story in scripture. Like a craftsman the preacher must select the right tool for each job and that is the challenge we face. Linda
ReplyDeleteHi Vicky,
ReplyDeleteI had to add lib a children’s sermon the other day, so with Steve’s beautiful story of Bill and Ben in mind I took a deep breath and told the story of Abraham entertaining angel’s unawares adding as much atmospheric detail as I could remember. (And yes it was related to the sermon, the theme was hospitality).
Too my surprise it was the children’s sermon that made the impression on the adults (I was the preacher as well). Weeks later I am still getting comments about angels and “if people are winding you up, think of them as angels”. Thanks Steve