Comments on: Evangelism – the lost art of telling three stories, not one

By: Alice Smith

Alice Smith — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 16:40:09 +0000

Would highly recommend Hannah Steele’s recent book Living His Story which was Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book for 2021 on this subject. Accessible and with great depth and a range of associated resources and reflections online too.

By: Erin

Erin — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 07:34:44 +0000

I’m sure we have all talked nicely to someone we’d rather kick in the shins. I suppose that is what it is to be a civilized human being. I’m a little hesitant about authenticity. Maybe only kids have it? I would hope even if believers got pegged as marketing guys it would be something/one they were proud of. In the US we have a lot of people getting tricked into doing stuff and people being told things they don’t understand. I think when the apostle Paul summed up Jesus he said the guy is love.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 02:23:40 +0000

Mike,
Wonderful article and I love the “story telling” aspect that really resonates today.
One thought I had was regarding “My Story”. I wonder whether we should also think about how our story is part of God’s story – how we are joining with Him in His work of redemption, His work of kingdom-building? See through the parts of where God is turning up in my story to how those times fit into His Story? I’m reminded of the scene in Tolkien’s The Return of the King, after the ring is destroyed and Sam is saying to Frodo “‘What a tale we have been in, Mr Frodo, haven’t we?’ he said. ‘I wish I could hear it told! Do you think they’ll say: Now comes the story of the Nine-fingered Frodo and the Ring of Doom? And then everyone will hush, like we did, when in Rivendell they told us the tale of Beren One-hand and the Great Jewel. I wish I could hear it! And I wonder how it will go on after our part.'”
I recently heard N.T. Wright talking about the Eastern Orthodox concept of icons, rather than being objects of worship, were intended to be windows into the divine through which we get a glimpse of the heavenly realm. I wonder if, as we contemplate how our story forms part of God’s bigger story, it takes us out of our potential for navel gazing and lifts our eyes to Him.
Thanks again.

By: Jack

Jack — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 12:58:05 +0000

Mike,
Excellent! I am captured by the book of Acts and have been reading it over and over. The stories, the way Paul, Stephen, and others retold the story of God and their encounters with the Lord. I remember those early days in my faith being under pressure going door to door with those leading questions. I remember how uncomfortable I felt with those questions.

Sharing our faith is not about ” quoting” verses, but as you said so well; after all, the bible is a compilation of stories.

By: Wendy Potts

Wendy Potts — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 10:38:52 +0000

Thanks Mike – wonderful. Appreciate you deconstructing that, which is sometimes instinctive, into words. And describing the beauty of the intersection.

By: Scott Spence

Scott Spence — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 03:06:02 +0000

As an Atheist who has Evangelical relatives I can assure you that nothing annoys me more than rote talking points that some “trainer” taught them. Most Atheists I know get very annoyed with hearing the same arguments and “questions” over and over again. If you want to share your faith, and what it means to you, with me, then please keep it personal. I may not agree with you, but I am far more interested in your personal story than I am some prefabricated talking points.

By: Michael Frost

Michael Frost — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 01:33:53 +0000

In reply to Paul. Yes, I'm attending (and speaking at) the BiM conference this week. I heard Melinda's presentations. I would want to point out, though, that we will almost never get to take someone through all six acts in one sitting.

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 00:57:18 +0000

Thanks Mike for this practical advice. In telling God’s story I am very taken by the idea of telling it as a meta-narrative. I am attending the Baptists in Mission Conference this week. As the opening paper, Melinda Cousins of Baptist Union South Australia took us through a session on the meta-narrative of God through six ‘acts’, as in acts within a play. Creation, Fall, Promise, Redemption, the Story of the Church and Renewal. It seems like a great way of presenting God’s story to new believers and a structure that captures everything that needs to be said.

By: Eric Hatfield

Eric Hatfield — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 23:48:34 +0000

Thanks, this is really helpful. I especially like the idea of finding the intersections between the stories.

In telling God’s story, I wonder how you fit into a modern science frame? The conventional God story is that he made a perfect world and we stuffed it up. In your words: “It’s the story of a God who reigns over everything and whose realm is one of justice, beauty, freedom and love. God created this world according to his good purposes for all life, but human sin opened the door for evil, undermining those purposes.”

But if we accept the truth of evolution, there was death and suffering of animals even before humans appeared, and God’s “good purposes for all life” are somewhat double-edged. It seems that God’s creation was “good” in potential, but not entirely yet realised. I imagine many younger people would have this evolutionary meta narrative in their minds when we might speak to them about God’s story.

Do you think this changes how we speak on these matters? Do you think christians have adjusted their stories to suit?

By: Arthur Ongley

Arthur Ongley — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 23:38:52 +0000

Thank you Michael. Great to be reminded of those things that informed the mission of so many of us in the 70s, 80s and 90s through Young Life, Youth for Christ, Scripture Union, Teen Crusaders etc and still inform many of us today. It has been lost on many, and will, because you have put it out there once more, encourage and inform many in our present day in their mission-al endeavors.