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

[deacon blues]

This is what I don't get about someone like Charles Stanley. I mean how does the guy get so many to listen to him and follow his ministry at the local level as well as tv and radio? He rambles in monotone, making point after point, speaking in sound bites and three to four sentence paragraphs. No stories, no illustrations, no word pictures. Just nebulous phrases and utterances.

A friend (and a good preacher to boot) told me once "A sermon without illustrations is like a house without windows."

[RevDWW]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

This is what I don't get about someone like Charles Stanley. I mean how does the guy get so many to listen to him and follow his ministry at the local level as well as tv and radio? He rambles in monotone, making point after point, speaking in sound bites and three to four sentence paragraphs. No stories, no illustrations, no word pictures. Just nebulous phrases and utterances.

A friend (and a good preacher to boot) told me once "A sermon without illustrations is like a house without windows."

Bros. Jerry Jones, Rex Johnson, Paul Mooney, & Sis. Nona Freeman are great story tellers. Chuck Swindoll ain't bad at story telling either.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

This is what I don't get about someone like Charles Stanley. I mean how does the guy get so many to listen to him and follow his ministry at the local level as well as tv and radio? He rambles in monotone, making point after point, speaking in sound bites and three to four sentence paragraphs. No stories, no illustrations, no word pictures. Just nebulous phrases and utterances.

I've only heard CS once ... He had some depth but he is monotone. No doubt that voice inflection can affect the listener. Yet, PP does make a good point about the level of separation and consecration of the messenger.

I know I talk a lot about my Dad here a lot, maybe ad nauseum. He was never a skilled orator ... but because he lived the message and was a disciple maker folks hung on his every word. It amazed me, at times.

Having read the depth of your posts and artistic use of language ... I'm sure you can spin a good relevant bible-based yarn ... I'd love to hear you preach, DB.

[Bishop1]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

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.


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.

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.

---------------------------------------------------

Who are your favorite preacher storytellers?

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

Some Preachers

Are

Good Storytellers


And Some Preachers

Are

Just Plain Ole

STORY TELLERS ! !


jmho
Bishop1

Bishop1

[SDG]

Originally Posted by Bishop1

Some Preachers

Are

Good Storytellers


And Some Preachers

Are

Just Plain Ole

STORY TELLERS ! !


jmho
Bishop1

Bishop1

Who are the best storyteller preachers you know, Bishop? I'm sure you can spin with the best of them!!!!

[SDG]

Originally Posted by RevDWW

Bros. Jerry Jones, Rex Johnson, Paul Mooney, & Sis. Nona Freeman are great story tellers. Chuck Swindoll ain't bad at story telling either.

Jerry Jones is very good. I remember one message in particular. It was at GC in North Carolina years ago.

If I remember correctly he was masterful in telling the story of the servant girl Rhoda who opened the door for Peter when he was freed by the angel and escaped.

[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Daniel Alicea

Jerry Jones is very good. I remember one message in particular. It was at GC in North Carolina years ago.

If I remember correctly he was masterful in telling the story of the servant girl Rhoda who opened the door for Peter when he was freed by the angel and escaped.

Lee Stoneking did an excellent job of telling the story of Jesus walking on the water and bidding Peter to Come at the LA campmeeting this year. I don't think he embellished/added to it but he made it personal with the listeners.

[deacon blues]

My favorite Jerry Jones story was about a man who told JJ the tale of how he was on some scaffolding above the platform of his church changing bulbs in the canned lights located there. Something happened and the man lost his balance and tripped falling 30 feet to the ground. Before he hit the hard surface of the platform, the bulk of his body struck the podium and it was just enough to absorb his fall that he did not die from the accident. He told JJ, "Brother Jones, I was saved by the pulpit!"

That was the opening story to a message to preachers about the power of preaching. Man, was it a memorable message and memorable story.

[deacon blues]

Paul Mooney is a great sermon illustrator.

[SDG]

Originally Posted by mizpeh

Lee Stoneking did an excellent job of telling the story of Jesus walking on the water and bidding Peter to Come at the LA campmeeting this year. I don't think he embellished/added to it but he made it personal with the listeners.

From inference, I share your concern for when preachers embellish and add to the Word ... and it happens ... a lot ... especially when storytelling.

We know that God's Word never changes and should not be tampered with but I thank God that He's not boring!!!!

He allows us flexibility, elasticity, malleability and creativity in delivering it. He also has given us a colorful and vibrant palette of preachers and teachers in the Body that help bring the Word alive.

Probably the most fun I ever had preaching/teaching was when I shared a message entitled "If These Rocks Could Cry Out" ... using personification and the first person point of view ...I knitted the stories of a handful of rocks in the bible as if I were them ... each sharing a spiritual nugget ....

I started with a rock manifesto declaring their need to speak up ... and proceeded to tell their stories all leading to Golgotha and the stone that was rolled away at His tomb ....

I had so much fun ... Can a wanna-be preacher admit to as much???? Were they fed? Yeah.