Stories


Stories. Everyone has them. They are shared around a campfire on a starry summer night. They are sad, joyful, and everything in between. They are of lessons learned, often the hard way. They serve as warnings and inspiration. Jesus used them to get his point across. The Bible is full of them. True stories.
My church has, for a long time, encouraged the use of stories to be employed in services and as a means to help others. For a while I resisted this idea, thinking “Shouldn’t Jesus be enough? Whatever these people tell me I can just hear right from Jesus.” As I was pondering these thoughts I was confronted with more issues in which the element of story was used very powerfully in my life. I heard a sermon series on Jesus’ use of parables [a fancy word for stories], which really helped me experience for myself some of their power and effectiveness. Then during Founder’s Week this year I heard an incredible story from one of the speakers, Virelle Kidder, author of “Meet Me At The Well”. In addition, I will be preaching on one of Jesus’ parables in just a couple weeks, and I became more interested in His use of parables.
At this point I began realizing what a powerful impact stories can have and that they are not depleting Jesus of His glory or credit; rather, they are just another means of worshiping Him for everything He has done in our lives. As long as the glory is pointed to Jesus and not to self, I believe stories can be some of the most influential means of communicating the Gospel and God’s continual work in our lives.
I have been able to identify many areas of my life that have been touched deeply simply because someone was willing to communicate their story. With that in mind, I am no longer so resistant in listening to others’ stories, and I have been inspired and convicted to share more of my own personal stories for the purpose of contributing to the growth and maturity of my spiritual life, as well as others’.    
So what are you stories? What are the ways you have seen Jesus at work in your life? Who have you shared your story with lately? Who do you give the credit to for the stories of redemption and sanctification in your life?

Comments

  1. GraceApril 23, 2011 at 4:49 PM

    You have a lovely blog. :)
    It is such a beautiful thing to hear stories of people's testimonies of faith, a reflection of the power of the gospel. Christ has been working in my life, teaching me patience and to fully rely on Him for everything. I am a senior in high school hoping to go to MBI next year, if it be in God's plan for me. :)
    Hope you have a wonderful Easter Sunday.

    kingofalldays.blogspot.com

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