Preachers as Storytellers: Who Doesn't Like a Good Story?

SDG · #1 07-24-2007, 09:25 PM

There is no substitute for Spirit-filled and anointed preaching and teaching. However, even the best teacher, Jesus, was a crafty and captivating storyteller. We need to look no further than His parables in the Gospels.

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Interpreter C.H. Dodd, in his 1935 classic Parables of the Kingdom, defined a parable as "a metaphor or simile drawn from nature or common life, arresting the hearer by its vividness or strangeness, and leaving the mind in sufficient doubt about its precise application to tease it into active thought" (page 16). The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia states that parables are "almost always formulated to reveal and illustrate the kingdom of God" (vol. 3, page 656).

Today, in Christianity, Max Lucado is arguably the best modern-day preacher storyteller. There are many others...

Pentecost has, and has birthed, some of the best, also.

In reading Tommy Tenney's recent book, The Ultimate Comeback, I've come to appreciate his insightful and skillful ability to use personification and other creative figurative devices to tell a good story while still relating biblical truths.

In the book, he tells a heart-wrenching, yet fascinating, tale of the almond tree whose hopes and dreams of ever being fruitful were dashed when it was uprooted, stripped, made bare, and dried so it could be fashioned into a rod for his Master. The rod is later taken from his new comfort zone, his master's hand, and placed in a dark room.

The rod was Aaron's rod. The same rod that bore his name and joined the other 11 rods laid up in the tabernacle before the Ark of the Covenant, as described in Numbers 17.

This hopeless dry rod never imagined that in the presence of the Almighty he still could bud, blossom and yield almonds.

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So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and their princes gave him staffs, twelve in all, one from each tribal prince; and Aaron's staff was with them. 22 Then Moses laid the staffs down before the LORD in the tent of the commandments. 23 The next day, when Moses entered the tent, Aaron's staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted and put forth not only shoots, but blossoms as well, and even bore ripe almonds!

Having heard his dad, TF Tenney, speak twice in person, I know Tommy's gift of storytelling was passed onto him.

Yet there is a delicate balance, in my opinion, with preachers who engage in storytelling. I know of one who is probably the worst ever!!! He has mistaken telling anecdotes for the Word of God. Some make the mistake of becoming entertainers and leave you hungry for the Bread of Life.

Although, who doesn't like a good story? ... especially if it leads you to the Way, the Truth and the Life - Jesus Christ .... the greatest story ever told.

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Who are your favorite preacher storytellers?

What are your opinions and thoughts about storytelling when preaching and teaching the Word of God?

Felicity · #2 07-24-2007, 09:30 PM

I don't mind a story here and there. Actually many of the texts preachers use and sermons that are written/preached from those texts are just that - stories! The stories are used to drive home a message.

I don't like all stories though. I like to hear "Word" and I like some depth.

I think as in everything else you need "balance".

Nahum · #3 07-24-2007, 09:31 PM

Charles Grisham is hands down the best story teller I have ever been privileged to hear. So much depth and wisdom in a 40 minute sermon.

I am always disappointed when the sermon is over. His pamphlet about gradualism is one of the most simple - yet biblically correct writings I have seen on the subject.

Joy Haney would run a close second. She can weave a story into a topical sermon like few can.

SDG · #4 07-24-2007, 10:00 PM

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Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Charles Grisham is hands down the best story teller I have ever been privileged to hear. So much depth and wisdom in a 40 minute sermon.

I am always disappointed when the sermon is over. His pamphlet about gradualism is one of the most simple - yet biblically correct writings I have seen on the subject.

Joy Haney would run a close second. She can weave a story into a topical sermon like few can.

I for one, PP ... want to be able to be fed when I go to the house of the Lord ...

I know some preachers like instantaneous feedback and response from their listeners ... but I love when I go home full ... and it takes days, even weeks, to digest the Word of Life planted in my belly.

J-Roc · #5 07-24-2007, 10:03 PM

Here's a 4 minute audio of one of those good stories by Tommy Tenney:

http://www.esnips.com/doc/96716acf-3...enney-Comments

SDG · #6 07-24-2007, 10:06 PM

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Originally Posted by J-Roc

Here's an audio of one of those good stories by Tommy Tenney:

http://www.esnips.com/doc/96716acf-3...enney-Comments

Is this the story about the sycamore tree ... J ... from God Chasers CD?

BoredOutOfMyMind · #7 07-24-2007, 10:07 PM

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Originally Posted by Pastor Poster

Charles Grisham is hands down the best story teller I have ever been privileged to hear. So much depth and wisdom in a 40 minute sermon.
.

Unless it was destroyed in the October Disaster, (Hot water heater decided to be a slow drip irrigation system into the Garage full of boxes....) My Favorite book by Charles Grisham was "Gladiator in the Ministry."

J-Roc · #8 07-24-2007, 10:09 PM

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Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Is this the story about the sycamore tree ... J ... from God Chasers?

B - I - N - G - O

Nahum · #9 07-24-2007, 10:23 PM

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Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

I for one, PP ... want to be able to be fed when I go to the house of the Lord ...

I know some preachers like instantaneous feedback and response from their listeners ... but I love when I go home full ... and it takes days, even weeks, to digest the Word of Life planted in my belly.

I am going to share something that may be hard for some to imagine, and may be hard to communicate via this medium.

One of the things Jesus has birthed in me in my year-long journey to the wilderness and back is a spiritual depth I have never known. I suppose the best way to describe it is a pilgrim's journey. Daniel, it is one thing to tell a cut and paste a story purchased on a sermons-r-us website and another entirely to be able to impart nuggets of spiritual wisdom gleaned through a consecrated life.

The depths of God's wisdom cannot be imparted with someone else's story. The preacher must not only believe the message, he must live the message. He must become the message. The man and the message become inseparable and indistinguishable.

Men who have this level of separation and consecration never have a problem relating to the congregation. They do not demand specific responses from the congregation. They have a level of faith, trust, and confidence in their message and their relationship that allows perfect comfort in the pulpit.

These men are disciple makers Daniel. Mark them. They will become the Joshuas and Calebs of this day. They will survive in faith and inherit the promises of God. All who follow men of brokenness and consecration will inherit the same.

Truly Blessed · #10 07-24-2007, 10:54 PM

I enjoy hearing others weave a good relevent story into their message, simply because I'm not a gifted story teller myself. However, I am always disappointed when I have sat through a one-hour message and yet if you removed the stories you wouldn't have 15 minutes of Word. It can be entertaining, but you don't feel as if you've been fed.