How to Tell a Good Story

     There is a power in a story.  We are all captivated by a great story.  Hollywood tells stories.  Pop music and country music tell stories.  News media report on (and sometimes create) stories.  I think it’s critical for followers of Jesus to tell stories too.   

       In his essay, “On Stories,” C.S. Lewis wrote, “The story does what no theorem can quite do.”   Lewis had been skeptical of Christ as a young man and story was critical in his conversion.  He could rationalize all the logical arguments made for the Christian faith (the "theorem").  But ultimately, he was so compelled by the story of Christ.  He recounted his late night conversations with J.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings), and the revelation that the Christian story was "the true myth" that "really happened."  

        Christians have always been story-tellers.  In fact, most of Scripture is in the form of story.  Here are a few examples: Ex. 15:1-18; Deut. 6:20-25; many Psalms, including 116; Acts 2:22-24; I Cor. 15:1-11; II Cor. 11:16-33.  With regularity Israel recounted what God had done for them.   The Psalms regularly refrain the great and mighty actions of God.  The early Christians were constantly re-telling the life events of Jesus of Nazareth.     

     Story-telling is a necessary skill for Christians.  It always has been, but it’s especially critical in the 21st century.  In our age, we have an access to information that has never existed in human history.  Almost any information we desire is accessible through a device we can hold in one hand.  The great question of our day is not, "What do you know?"  It is, "What does it mean?"  Story has a powerful way of giving meaning to information.  Thus story-telling has a heightened value in this era.  
     Every follower of Jesus tells two stories - God’s story and their own personal story.  This is an important intersection.  It means we tell what God has done for all and what God has done for you personally.  

1.) What God has done for all.  This is the timeless story of what God has done for the whole world.  An example is the simple gospel pattern of Christ's life, death, and resurrection.  Peter does this clearly in Acts 10:34-43.  The Creed is also an example of telling the story of what God has ever and always done - creation, redemption, sanctification.  

2.) What God has done for you.  This is your personal story.  The clear and specific places in your life where God has demonstrated his activity.  Upon prayerful reflection, we make note of where God has invaded our story and done powerful things.  

    Story-telling is more challenging that you think.  It can be difficult to evaluate our own personal story and recognize where God has been active.  Often, we overlook the things God has done for us.  Or we think our story is too mundane, ordinary, and boring to tell.  Rarely do we spend adequate time reflecting on our life's story and what God has been doing in it.  

      Spend a quiet hour reflecting on your story.  Ask these questions:

• Think of an instance in your life when you powerfully experienced God’s presence?  His forgiveness?  His comfort?
  
• What has been the most uncertain time of your life?  It's likely that God has been with you there, and there's a story to tell. 
  
• What was the worst day of your life?  This might be painful to reflect on, but it's likely God was at work on that day (think Good Friday).  There's a story to tell.
  
• What are the greatest blessings God has given you?  There are stories to tell in our blessings.  
  

    There is power in a story.  And it doesn’t have to be a Hollywood story.  God works powerfully in mundane and ordinary stories.  God may be preparing you to share your story this week.  Get ready to tell it because it’s a good one.  It’s a good story, not because you wrote it, but because it is penned by the most powerful Author.