Let’s talk about the power of telling good stories, as we pursue transformative community, as we live the inviting life.
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On a recent episode (in the audio I mention Episode 21 but it was actually Episode 20!) – we talked about why and how to ask good questions. (Listen here!) As we seek to build relationships for God’s glory and our good, we can learn how to be good listeners AND good “talkers.” One way we can build relationships that pursue transformation (after all, don’t we want to be transformed by God’s work in us?) is to tell stories: good stories.
As followers of Jesus, we are called to focus on building relationships that are Kingdom Minded (more on this in Episode 9). And knowing this WHY helps us keep “going back in” to pursue gospel-centered community. even when it’s hard!
So you may be thinking, “I’m not a librarian or a teacher or a speaker. What does storytelling have to do with my relationships?” Well… storytelling has a LOT to do with it, actually!
WHY is storytelling important?
Storytelling has the ability to capture our attention.
Perhaps the greatest example of powerful, transformative storytelling is the Bible. From the beginning hook line in Genesis 1, “In the beginning, God…” to the ultimate cliffhanger last lines, ‘He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen (Revelation 22:20-21),’” we see the way God uses story to reveal Himself to us, and to show us our place in that story with Him.
Storytelling illustrates the truth in a transformative way.
John Piper says: “It is the Biblical duty of every generation of Christians to see to it that the next generation hears about the mighty acts of God. God does not drop a new Bible from heaven on every generation. He intends that the older generation will teach the newer generation to read and think and trust and obey and rejoice.” (source) He’s referencing a sermon on Psalm 145, and verses 4-7 are especially fitting here:
“One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.”
How incredible if we follow His calling to tell of His greatness for all to hear, and especially for the next generation, so they might know Him!
Storytelling can stir our emotions.
Have you ever heard a story about a kiddo who received a Christmas Shoebox, and how it changed their life? How about someone in an impoverished country who received a well in their community? How about a grandma and grandpa’s love story? Have you read an incredible novel or watched an earth shattering movie that you couldn’t stop thinking about? If so, then you know storytelling has the power to move our emotions, which helps us understand truth in a way we otherwise might not.
My favorite class in college was a theatre class – it was called Intro to Cinema. It was taught by Professor Frank Benyousky. In this class, each week we’d watch a movie together and deeply analyze it. We’d discuss how the writing, acting, directing and production helped to illustrate a particular worldview. Then we’d align those observations with biblical truth. To this day, I can’t watch a movie or read a great book and not observe how storytelling is a powerful tool in illustrating thoughts, philosophies, and worldviews. Imagine how this tool can play into investing in relationships with the high goal of speaking the truths of God’s word effectively, an instrument of God’s transforming power on our thoughts and actions!
Storytelling can help us make meaningful connections with each other.
When used intentionally, storytelling can present “a different perspective of the world – [it] is important when it comes to connecting with each other. It gives us an opportunity to learn from another person’s experience and it can shape, strengthen or challenge our opinions and values.” (source)
One study even found that “As you hear a story unfold, your brain waves actually start to synchronize with those of the storyteller!” (Uri Hasson, psychology and neuroscience professor, via this source)
Still another writer puts it this way: “Clearly, sharing your story has the potential to help someone else feel less alone. Our stories are powerful because they evoke compassion even among strangers. We also create opportunities to understand others better and to cultivate empathy towards them.” (source)
I believe isolation is one of the most defeating emotions many people experience (you and me included!). When we tell meaningful stories to each other, we have the opportunity make others feel less alone. (Ultimately, we have the chance to invite/model the life in Christ, where He promises we are NEVER alone.) What an incredible gift!
Storytelling helps us remember things we hear.
Telling good stories “…gives us an opportunity to learn from another person’s experience and it can shape, strengthen or challenge our opinions and values. When a story catches our attention and engages us, we are more likely to absorb the message and meaning within it than if the same message was presented simply in facts and figures.” (source)
We are commanded to tell God’s story!
“So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.’” (Acts 1:6-8)
Christ called the disciples (and we are, as His children!) “witnesses” to His person and work. I’m a legal sense, an eyewitness is a vital character in a court proceeding, validating the truth of a situation. As we know God through His word and walk out lives of obedience to Him, being ever changed by His Spirit dwelling in us, we are a visible testament to His work. As we tell the stories we read of Him, and the stories He works in us, we are eyewitnesses for the world, to His glory!
The last instructions Jesus gave the disciples were:
“‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20).’”
Does God need us to speak? No! But He calls us to do it, and in doing so He invites us to participate with Him in His work in the lives of those He calls us to.
What kind of stories can we tell? They don’t have to be long or rehearsed, but they can become a habit, a pattern of how we relate to others in our daily conversation!
Tell these stories to pursue transformative community:
*Tell God’s story.
I mentioned in the beginning the earth-changing example of the Bible as a story, woven together with many parts. But to be clear, God doesn’t use stories as cute little illustrations, which can often be the way they get used by Christians today. They aren’t little punctuation marks meant to give a good giggle or cause a tear or two. God’s stories are epic and true, and they reveal His character and our place, for those of us willing to read them and mine for their treasures.
And when we dive into those stories to really understand them, He calls us to pass them along, as a way He continues to speak His nature, His work, and His hope to a lost world. We have an incredible privilege to study Him and share Him! How much would it transform our relationships if our conversations were marked by our delight in sharing with each other what we’ve learned of God from His word?!
Recently, my friend Sarah and I were chatting in between classes at our homeschool co-op. She piqued my interest when she started telling me something she’d discovered in Psalm 90. We had to head off to our assignments, but I couldn’t stop thinking about what she’d mentioned until hours later when we got to touch base again. Hearing her take on a passage of scripture, the commentary she’d read, and what God revealed to her through the Word was the coolest opportunity for me to see His character through a friend’s eyes!
Maybe you’re just new to walking with Jesus, or don’t feel you know the Bible well enough to share. First of all, I encourage you, study to know it. God calls us to it (see 2 Timothy 2:15)! But even as we are all learning, we have the ability to share how God saved us, what God is teaching us, how He’s refining us. Which leads to a second kind of story we can tell as we seek to build kingdom-minded community – our own stories.
*Tell your story.
Some ideas to get your started:
I’ve often heard it said that sharing your testimony should involve three things: your life before you met Christ, how you came to know Him, and your life since you were saved by Christ. Have you ever taken the time to think through or even better, to write out your salvation story? What about a story about a situation where God refined you, rescued you, called you to a place of repentance or deeper obedience? Can you think of a time He brought you through something you didn’t think you’d survive? A time He used a life circumstance to show you He is good, kind, sovereign, loving, holy? How quickly do the stories of your walk with Jesus roll off your tongue in everyday conversation?
“A good story has conflict, but ultimately resolves. A story is messy and full of confusion, but there is meaning and completeness to it.” (source)
I can’t think of a story with more struggle, more hope, more meaning and completeness and the ongoing story of how God is actively working in and through those who love Him and are called according to His purpose (see Romans 8:28)!
“…you are the only one who can tell your story. No one can adequately describe the wonderful things that have changed in your life since you have surrendered yourself to Christ. It is your story; no one else can tell it. If Christ has done great things for you, you have the privilege of sharing that good news with others. “‘Return home and tell how much God has done for you.’ So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him (Luke 8:39).’” (source)
When in conversation, pray about what you might share of yourself that will relate to the person you’re with. We do this always with the goal of connecting more deeply, to invite fellowship with Christ!
Having this mindset is a good heart-check for us too… is this just something I’m saying just to say, or something I think will really help serve?
*Tell stories that connect people.
We already know that isolation is a huge problem. By contrast, God has called His people to community. Connecting with others is a way God’s teaching goes forth. It’s how encouragement, accountability, and growth faith can happen!
Next time you’re in a conversation with someone, try asking,
- “how can I connect this person to someone else, who loves God and might encourage them?”
- “Who can I think of whom they might encourage?”
- “What small stories can I tell to help connect my friend or new acquaintance to community in a way that ultimately points to the hope we have in Christ?”
Be mindful: our storytelling should always have a kingdom-minded purpose to it. So there are a few things our story-telling should be (See Philippians 4:8 for more in-depth goals for our not just what we speak, but what we think about!):
- Our speaking should be true: we are called to focus on what is true according to God’s word. “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another (Ephesians 4:25).”
- Our words should be loving and kind (see John 13:34!). “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ (Ephesians 4:15)…” (For more on this, listen to Episode 13 – Salted Honey – The Words We Eat & The Words We Speak, and Episode 21 – Refine Your Focus – Pursue Community in Truth & Love).
- When you speak, give glory where it’s due! Have you ever watched a movie and gotten to the end and thought, “why did I waste two hours of my life?” Let’s tell stories that have dedeeming value, versus what glorifies dark things. I’ve lived in cultures that focus on the hard things, often seeming to glorify brokenness. I think if it as “Eeyore culture.” Remember poor Eeyore, who saw all of the world through a rain cloud? By contrast, even in our honesty about the brokenness of our world, God has called us to be people of hope, pointing to our confident assurance of His goodness, glorifying Him with our words! John Piper says of Psalm 145:4 and following (which we referenced above): “Not only does it speak of the imparting of truth from one generation to another, it speaks of a certain kind of imparting. It is an imparting with exultation and for exultation. Notice the words. It does not say, ‘One generation shall merely teach Your works to another.’ It says, ‘One generation shall praise Your works to another.’ Praise is exultation in God.” (source) So when we share with each other, let’s share what gives God GLORY! Let’s share HOPE with those around us! Yes, acknowledge the hard things, but remind yourself and those around you that Jesus offers redemption for all that is not right, by the power of His life and death and resurrection, and the glorious returning that will make all things new!
- Speak what is helpful and intentional. Ephesians 5:4 says: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Sometimes we fall into the trap of just telling a story for the sake of something to say. This can happen because we’re nervous or focused on ourselves. But experts in storytelling remind us it’s important to “identify your audience and their needs,” (source), and that’s perhaps way more important when you’re talking about relationship building than even for a writer or speaker! This means LISTENING. In order to know what’s helpful, we need to listen to what that person is (or isn’t) saying, and offer thoughts that help them.
Take some time today to think through and pray through the stories you tell in your everyday conversations. What have you learned about God and His work, about mankind, through His word?
Is there work you need to do to learn more? (Hint: the answer is always yes! He’s always inviting us “further up and further in!”)
What stories is God writing in your own life? How have your experiences shown God’s kindness and saving grace, His sovereignty, His holiness?
How can you share these stories in relationship with someone in your life, to help connect them to others for their mutual benefit and transformation? How can your stories point to God and give Him glory?
EPISODES MENTIONED:
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