Today is Book Lovers Day!
As people around the world share their favorite stories in celebration, today got me thinking about the unique connection between stories and sharing God’s Word with others.
I recently attended a Bible study that focused on using Bible stories to share the gospel message with others. It’s an effective tool for a couple of reasons.
As people, we love to tell and listen to stories (which makes sense because our Creator who designed us is the master storyteller). They’re how we communicate from early on. Telling stories is comfortable—even if the story is as simple as “Let me tell you about my day . . .” or “You won’t believe what happened to me . . .”
Retelling stories can be even more comfortable. I might not be able to come up with new and exciting ways of sharing the gospel with someone on the spot, but thankfully, I don’t have to. The Bible is filled with exciting stories about God’s love! I can tell those familiar stories instead.
Bible stories—scriptural accounts with a narrative flow—can be far easier for us to remember than memorized Scripture verses in the tension-filled, nerve-racking moments of sharing our faith with others.
Whether confronting others with God’s law or comforting them with his gospel message, stories also have a way of getting past defenses—the walls we build around our hearts. Confrontation might not work on unrepentant hearts, and gospel application might be difficult for those weighed down by sin.
For example, think of how the prophet Nathan used a simple story about a rich man, a poor man, and a little lamb to confront King David about his sins of adultery, deception, and murder.
That story caught David off guard. He was furious about the rich man’s deplorable treatment of the poor man until he heard the words: “You are the man.” Oh. David was struck to the core, and the walls came crashing down. He repented of his sin, and the Lord forgave him.
Or think of people who doubt God could ever love them after everything they’ve done—all of their mistakes. How do you help them see that God truly loves them?
You can tell them the story of a father’s reckless love for his son who wished he was dead, demanded his money, and then went off to blow that money on wild living. How could that father ever love that wicked, wayward son? See the father in that story run out to meet his wicked, wayward son on the road while he was still a long way off, embrace him, and welcome him home with open arms because he loved him.
That’s the amazing, unfathomable love God has for us in Jesus. Oh. I never knew. I never thought about God and his love in that way. And the walls come crashing down.
Stories have a way of speaking to us—some stories more than others. We relate to certain biblical figures as we see ourselves in those individuals. Perhaps we see our faults, shortcomings, and sins, but we also see God’s grace and mercy. The same love that was shown to them has been shown to us too.
With stories, we have unique opportunities to show people how God sees them in Jesus and share God’s love in a way they might not have ever known. And as they listen, God’s Word works in their hearts, accomplishing what God desires.
So today, dear Christian, as you think of all the wonderful stories and works of literature that you love, think also of the incredible story God has given us in his Word—the most amazing story of his love, which we get to share with others.
Whether you share it as a Bible story or in some other form, God bless you as you do so and comfort you with the knowledge that he goes with you every step of the way!
Prepared to Answer: Telling the Greatest Story Ever Told provides helpful examples for sharing your faith by supplying Scripture-based responses to common objections to Christianity. Through a unique narrative approach, popular NPH author Mark Paustian gives engaging answers to frequently asked religious questions to help you feel more prepared to share Jesus and his love with the people in your life.
Alex Brown is the marketing and content copywriter at Northwestern Publishing House. He has his Master of Divinity degree from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and enjoys reading, writing, and spending time in God’s creation.