Telling the Whole Story

Humans are storytellers. We see it in our advertisements, movies, books, and songs. But what is it about stories that causes us to utilize them in nearly every area of our lives - our search for truth. We can communicate facts just by speaking them. Stories do something else. They allow us to experience the truths that we hear. So, it’s worth asking how the use of story helps us become better ministers?

The Task of Telling Stories

Christianity is a story. It has characters, plotlines, heroes, villains, and a message. It is exciting, engaging, and fantastic like many ancient myths, except this one is better because it is the truest story of all. This story starts with, is driven by, and ends in God (Colossians 1:16-17). Since our purpose as ministers is to make disciples (Matthew 28:18-20), we have to be proficient at both understanding and retelling the story of Christianity. We are to speak the truth of who God is, what He has done, and what He requires to those in our care. In doing this, we communicate the facts of the gospel in a way that is faithful to Scripture but is also appropriate for our audience’s understanding. Finding this balance is the task of every minister: too little content, and the gospel isn’t presented. Too little context, and the truth flies over their heads. We have to reach a balance, a way of communicating that both informs and captivates.

In attempting to reach this balance, many well-meaning student pastors will stick exclusively to the most significant events in Christianity: Jesus’s death and resurrection. The reason is often that these are the quickest ways to tell students about how they can be saved. Focusing on the crucifixion, for instance, elicits a response from their audience by cataloging all the painful torments Jesus went through on the way to the cross. I fear that many, in an attempt to “cut to the chase,” accidentally short-change the very gospel they hope that their audience will understand. The reason is because they aren’t telling the whole story.

Examples of Good Storytelling

Good storytelling sets the stage. You need an origin story, character development, conflict, things that will cause you to care about the major characters, understand the problems, look for the solutions, and get swept away in the journey that moves the story forward. Without these pieces, the story doesn’t land as intended. It would be like skipping to the end of a film, dodging the major plot points, and hoping to see the climax and finale before the story has even been properly developed (imagine seeing Iron Man’s climatic “Snap” in Avengers: Endgame without ever seeing any other MCU movies!).

In the early days of the Christian faith, this is what the apostles did. When they presented the gospel to a crowd, they did not merely recite terms to memorize and rules to follow; they told the whole story of the gospel. In Acts 7:1-53, Stephen doesn’t start with the resurrection or the crucifixion, nor does He even start with Jesus of Nazareth. He started centuries prior when God made promises to Abraham, Moses, Joseph, and David. These are people the audience knew. He talked about their history, struggles, and triumphs, then ends his story by showing them how the story finally reached its peak through Jesus. He draws them into the story, connects them to the need for the Savior. Only then, does he introduce Christ. He causes them to experience the truth as he presents it, so by the time he reaches the climactic moment, they are already captivated.

Stories in Scripture draw us in. We feel the hopelessness of the Israelites when they are trapped in slavery (Exodus 2:23-25). We feel hope in King David’s rise to the throne (1 Samuel 16:6-13). We feel shame and anger in the idolatry of God’s people (Hosea 11:1-9). We see the importance of this idea most of all in Jesus (Luke 15; Matthew 13:1-8; Mark 12:1-12). In his parables, he helps us understand how great God is and how much he loves us through stories. The prodigal son, the tenants, the seeds, the sheep; Jesus communicates profound truth in understandable stories (parables), but he also does it through his actions. In his crucifixion, we experience the shame and horror of our sin. In his resurrection, we feel the freedom from sin and the hope beyond death. In his ascension, we see the coming re-creation of all things.

Conclusion: Becoming Better Storytellers

So, the question remains: how do we become better storytellers?

First, practice setting the stage.

Don’t rush to “seal the deal” on the gospel story. Pace yourself. Show how the Old Testament foreshadows the ultimate fulfillment in Christ. Look at the context of the culture Jesus steps into. Lay out the major characters (God, man, Israel, the disciples). Show the recurring themes (atonement, idolatry, exile, etc.). Help students understand the secondary characters in the story, since this often helps them enter into the scene. Make sure the significance of who Jesus is and what He does is not missed on your audience because you didn’t connect them to the story.

Second, learn the art of analogies.

Jesus did this with parables. Be up to date on your culture’s stories, and find ways to connect them to the gospel. It is easy to say, “Jesus died for you.” Stories of self-sacrifice that students already love can help them relate to the gospel as the truest story of all. (I think this is what you’re getting at… is this ok?) Read and watch fiction carefully. Look for analogies in your own life as well. Analogies work best as windows to help students see their hunger that Christ fulfills, rather than as opportunities for a Jesus juke.

We are wired to tell stories because we are made in the image of a storytelling God. He communicates to us in ways we can understand: using our language and analogies that help to quantify His infinitude. Resist temptation to skip over the gospel’s plot development. We have been given the greatest truth to be known through the greatest story ever told. From beginning to end, the Bible is God’s story of redemption. Each part gives us a glimpse of God’s nature, His love for humans despite their weakness and frailty, and God’s providential guidance of history.  The details are important, because they deepen our understanding of His nature and cause us to love and appreciate Him more. The greatest story ever told is true, so let’s get out of its way and allow it to shine forth for the glory of God in our ministries.