Comments on: Storytellers Needed

By: almost an M

almost an M — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 23:14:37 +0000

For other future readers’ reference, here’s the audio file you are referring to where we “had that discussion”: http://www.churchplanters.com/index.php/download_file/250/

And yes, I agree. That would be awful to hear, “I had no idea you were a Christian.”

I really look forward to our time during the upcoming JetSet. Glad you are joining us! Will be good to spend time with and learn with and from others.

By: spooneybarger

spooneybarger — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 22:53:18 +0000

For sure, the story is both lived out and spoken (hmmm, seems like we have had this discussion). I had an interesting thought today. What is the worst thing that could ever be said about a professing Christ follower?

“Wow, I had no idea you were a christian.”

I think I would rather die than hear those words.

By: almost an M

almost an M — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 18:17:35 +0000

Hey Spooneyman – great to see you here! First I understand and agree with your comment. I grew up learning that the 3 points were what mattered and of course the stories were just tossed in to give me time to digest the profundity of these three points. As I think about it, it seems strange that we encouraged note-taking so much on those three important points, but never on what was relayed through song, or the obedience of giving or the time with children. Maybe these would have been good places for people to be taking notes and placing emphasis.

To a larger point, it is not about just telling stories, but about living a better story. I encounter people often that ask what I do. When we finish with that conversation they are usually asking me about the gospel though I have not given them any expositional outline. Why does that happen? Because they are moved by a story that is being lived that is outside of any story they have done more than dream about long ago before focusing on the affairs of this world. For the record, my story is not magical, but it is different. And I tell the story of gatherings I work with that are living something so beautiful together.

So to try to wrap up this too long comment, telling stories communicates much better to today’s audience. But stories of what some great saint did are not going to allow a people to identify. They are likely to be inspired, but the narrated story from another time and place may seem too far off for them. Our best stories are likely to be those that we are living together. They are stories that we celebrate and those in our community begin to wonder if there is a way they might be able to participate.

May be helpful to ask if the fairy-tale that people would naturally long for, can that be lived out. People naturally long for true peace, justice, compassion, mercy, etc. Do our lives represent tangible stories where the church is bringing this to the world?

By: spooneybarger

spooneybarger — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 05:53:58 +0000

I find great tension exists within preachers who believe we have moved into a “story” based culture but were trained to preach expositional sermons that are verse by verse and chapter by chapter. It seems like a never-ending struggle. The pressure comes from the pews as well. (if you still have pews)

By: almost an M

almost an M — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 23:07:49 +0000

I agree Tim. It is time for every person to be at the task instead of having a few “superstars” doing the work. The stories we tell will be the stories that we live. These stories will be lived in front of, toward, and with those that have yet to embrace the Savior.

By: One last laugh | almost an M

One last laugh | almost an M — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 07:11:05 +0000

[...] I recently posted an entry on The Upstream Collective blog. Throwing this out there just in case you are interested. var addthis_pub = 'johanndyck'; var [...]

By: Tim Rhodes

Tim Rhodes — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 21:29:04 +0000

Well said! Someone told me a couple years ago that “narrative has become the new sermon.” It’s time we find our place in the story.