Tell me a Story – Discussion Paper – final draft

1. The current situation.

Across Australia on any given Sunday, in buildings large or small, old or new, Christian believers
gather for worship. While the content of the worship varies greatly, there is one common
constant - the sermon or homily; in other words a lecture, that aims to inform, educate, motivate
and inspire the hearers.
It may be long or short, and may include a short YouTube or film clip. Basically it is a lecture
delivered by one person to a group of hearers.

2.The dilemma
Jesus taught with parables - these forced people to think, consider and muse on their meanings.

By contrast many of His Servants give lectures. They may be accurate and true, describing
what the Bible says, but It was said of Jesus,
the common people heard him gladly; Mark 12:37
how often can this be said of today's preachers? do they truly captivate their audiences in the
way Jesus did?

3.Why the difference in presentation?

(emotions vs intellect)
The Lord's presence can often be experienced in music or any other creative expression far
more easily than in an analytical deductive approach. The Lord speaks to the heart or to our
right-brained, intuitive side, more often than to our logical sceptical side.
Quoted in “Experiencing God's Presence” by Chris Tiegreen. (here, or later?)1

Jesus told stories but most of his representatives give lectures.

Why is this so?
Stories appeal to the emotions while lectures appeal to the intellect. Stories quickly take us from
where we are to somewhere else.

Novels, drama and film which utilise the narrative form remain popular. In Australian majority
society, post moderns too have rediscovered the power of the story. Despite this, many
Australian preachers maintain an on-going love affair with purely propositional and analytic
sermon styles. This is particularly true for modern Evangelicals, which is strange given that a
significant proportion of the Bible is narrative material.This springs from our scientific, rationalist
world view. Analysis and categorisation are not comprehension. Narrative preaching allows
more powerful and effective communication.
Preaching in a multi-cultural context -Archdeacon Len Firth
Archdeacon for Multi-cultural Ministry Anglican Diocese of Melbourne
in “Better be a Good Sermon” ed. By Keith Weller and Adrian Lane

Lectures are used to convey critical information, history, background, theories, and equations. A
minister's sermon may be similar in form to a lecture.
Lectures assume our inadequate understanding of beliefs, ideas and concepts, and often tell us
what we already know.
Stories appeal to the emotions and inevitably capture the interest and attention of the hearers;
can that always be said of lectures?
Stories invite us into a different world, activating our imagination and encouraging curiosity. How
often can this be said of sermons?
Where do we find a sense of awe, wonder, majesty, mystery and intrigue?
Sermons ought to be a work of art, reflecting the creativity of our Creator God and should be
three-dimensional, and in technicolor, while lectures are often two-dimensional, and in
monochrome and they are also quite predictable.

"essays are like battering Rams; stories are like Trojan horses.” Mick Mikalotas Scripture Union
notes April-June. 2019;

Could preaching be made better and more interesting and more engrossing?
Could a deeper understanding of how Jesus communicated with his hearers provide some
clues?
Jesus was the master communicator; His messages were short and to the point.
He told stories ------
Stories draw people in and involve them in the subject matter, provoking a reaction.
Stories touch the emotions while lectures feed the intellect!
It is much easier for us to remember a story than to recall the details of solid teaching.

In many congregations, particularly with a large number of older folk, many listeners have an
education level of lower Secondary School. By contrast, many preachers have been University
trained, which means they are comfortable listening to long lectures with complex arguments.
Many of their congregation are not familiar with these aspects of teaching.

When quoting a verse of Scripture, it would be helpful to paint a picture of the setting in which
the verse appears, e.g. Who said it, the situation they were in and who their hearers were. By
doing this your hearers will be given an understanding of a wider panorama of Scripture -the
very different world of biblical times - the culture, the customs, the places and the people.
Sermons need to be a work of art, reflecting the creativity of our Creator God, and ought to be in
technicolor, not monochrome.
The Lord's presence can often be experienced in music or any other creative expression far
more easily than in an analytical deductive approach. The Lord speaks to the heart or to our
right-brained, intuitive side, more often than to our logical sceptical side. As mathematician
Blaise Pascal once said, "The heart has its reasons that reason cannot know."
Quoted in “Experiencing God's Presence” by Chris Tiegreen. Here or on page 1?

4. Jesus the Master communicator.

It's been calculated that 1/2 of Jesus' public instruction was given in the form of parables and
comparisons. There are 164 metaphors in the synoptic gospels with 56 in the Sermon on the
Mount alone.
Stories and illustrations make truth arresting; illustrative materials can help to make truth
concrete for Hearers, illustrations serve to clarify the truth.
From 1001 Great Stories by R Kent Hughes
A . Jesus used stories
Jesus taught with parables – “a parable is something intended to throw light on something else.
It tells a story which in itself means one thing, but really points to something beyond itself.”
Layman's Bible Commentaries Saint Luke D G Miller p.89
"The parables were not meant to be read but to be heard. They were spoken to produce an
immediate impression and reaction, in which one great idea leaps out and shines like a flesh of
lightning" Barclay Gospel of Mark p.87
“For Jesus the parables were a stumbling block to outsiders. They were a mystery, plain to the
initiated, and quite unintelligible to the person who has not been initiated into its meaning. “
"Its purpose was to lead men to see that He had brought the Kingdom of God and to accept his
summons to enter it.
To those whose ears were sensitive to higher truth ,a parable would suggest a deeper meaning
about which they could think further.
The hearer determines the specific purpose of a parable for himself. Therefore said Jesus at the
end of his first Parable, if you have ears, use them!"
Parables forced people to think, consider and muse on their meanings,

During His public ministry in Galilee, Jesus addressed the crowds -

“That same day, Jesus left the house and went to sit by the sea. Large crowds gathered
around Him, and He got into a boat on the sea and sat there. The crowd stood on the
shore waiting for His teaching.
And so Jesus began to teach. On this day, He spoke in parables. Here is His first parable:
Jesus: Once there was a sower who scattered seeds. Matthew 13:1-3.

And His manner of teaching affected the people greatly

Mark 1:21-22
They came at last to the village of Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee; and on the Sabbath Day,
Jesus went straight into a synagogue, sat down, and began to teach. The people looked at
each other, amazed, because this strange teacher acted as One authorized by God, and what
He taught affected them in ways their own scribes’ teachings could not.

I'm sure many of His listeners were puzzled by some of the things he said,
I imagine many of them waking in the middle of the night with an “aha” expression, as they
realised something of the deeper meaning of what they had heard.
At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, we read of the crowd's reaction to Jesus' teaching -
With that Jesus finished His teaching, and the crowds were amazed by all He had said. But
Jesus taught in His own name, on His own authority, not like the scribes. Matt. 7: 28-29

The reaction of his hearers to His use of parables is described in Mark 4:9-13
All who have ears to hear, let them listen.When they were alone, the twelve and others close to
Him asked why He always taught in parables instead of explaining His teachings clearly.
Jesus: God has let you in on the inside story regarding the workings of the Kingdom—the
hidden meanings. But the crowds—I teach them in parables as the prophet Isaiah predicted,
So that when they look, they see and yet do not understand.
When they hear, they listen and yet do not comprehend. Otherwise, they might really
turn and be forgiven. . Do you mean to say that you didn’t understand My parable of the
sower? That was the key parable. If you don’t see what I was trying to teach there, how will you
be able to understand any of the others?
In response to His use of stories, it was said the common people heard him gladly. How often
can this be said of preachers today? (Needed?)
Mark 12:37 The crowd listened to Him with delight.
Why He used stories
Later, in answer to the questions of His disciples, He explained why He used stories -
Matthew 13:10-18 Disciples: Why do You speak to the people in parables?Jesus: The
knowledge of the secrets of heaven has been given to you, but it has not been given to
them. Those who have something will be given more—and they will have abundance. Those
who have nothing will lose what they have—they will be destitute. I teach in parables so the
people may look but not see, listen but not hear or understand.They are fulfilling Isaiah’s
prophecy:
You will listen, but you will not understand; you will look, but you will not see.
The people’s hearts have turned to flab; their ears are clogged; their eyes are shut. they will
try to hear, but they will not hear; they will try to understand, but they will not comprehend. If
they, with their blindness and deafness, so choose, then I will heal them. Many holy prophets
and righteous men and women and people of prayer and doers of good have wanted to see but
did not see, and have wanted to hear but did not hear. Your eyes and ears are blessed. This is
what the parable of the sower means.
“Are you listening to this? Really listening?”
When they were off by themselves, those who were close to him, along with the Twelve, asked
about the stories. He told them, “You’ve been given insight into God’s kingdom—you know how
it works. But to those who can’t see it yet, everything comes in stories, creating readiness,
nudging them toward a welcome awakening. These are people—
Whose eyes are open but don’t see a thing,
Whose ears are open but don’t understand a word,
Who avoid making an about-face and getting forgiven.” (Mark 4: 9-12

Listen, urges Jesus, listen and understand (v 9). But even those whom he had specially called
to be with him (v 10) were not sure what he meant by the story of the sower sowing the seed
into different soils.
Jesus then gives a solemn warning about the possibility of a 'wrong hearing' (vs 24,25),
Penepole Swithinbank S U Daily Bread 4-6 – 2016
“Are you listening to this? Really listening?
“Listen carefully to what I am saying Mark 4:23-24

Might He be engaging people's attention with fascinating stories, so that they will want to hear
and know more, until eventually their faith in Him enables them to accept Him as the secret of
the kingdom?
Penepole Swithinbank S U Daily Bread 4-6 – 2016
With His fast approaching death, again his puzzled disciples asked him to explain himself.
For a little while you will not see Me; but after that, a time will come when you will see Me
again.John 16:16
Then after his explanation, the disciples said,
We hear You speaking clearly and not in metaphors. How could we misunderstand? John
16:29
Jesus gave all these teachings to the crowd in parables. Indeed, He spoke only in parables in
fulfillment of the prophetic words of the psalms:
I will open My mouth in parables;
I will tell them things that have been hidden and obscure since the very beginning of the
world.
Matthew 13:34-35;
His disciples heard the words, but the deeper meaning eluded them.Disciples: What were You
trying to say?
Jesus: The kingdom of God contains many secrets. They keep listening, but do not
comprehend;
keep observing, but do not understand.I want you to understand, so here’s the
interpretation: The voice of God falls on human hearts like seeds scattered across a field.
Luke 8: 9 -11.
His disciples heard the words, but the deeper meaning eluded them.
Disciples: What were You trying to say?
Jesus: The kingdom of God contains many secrets.
They keep listening, but do not comprehend;
They keep observing, but do not understand. I want you to understand, so here’s the
interpretation: The voice of God falls on human hearts like seeds scattered across a field.
Needed?
Further on in his ministry we read -
And so the chief priests and the Pharisees, the teachers and the elders, knew that when Jesus
told these stories He was speaking about them. Matthew 21:45
And beside Lake Galilee, He spoke to the crowds
Jesus went on speaking in parables. Matthew 22:1
After He had chosen the 12, teachers came from Jerusalem and said, He is of the devil This
was His reply
When Jesus heard this, He tried to reason with them using parables. Jesus: Listen. How can
Satan drive out Satan? A kingdom that makes war against itself will collapse. A household
divided against itself cannot stand. Mark 3:23,
 Then when crowds gathered by the lake , He said -
Jesus went out again to teach by the Sea of Galilee. When the crowd became unmanageable,
He climbed aboard a boat and sat down to teach the people listening on the shore by telling
them parables. One of His teachings went like this: Mark 4:2.
Jesus used the Here and Now to get to the there and then.

“He used parables both to reveal and to conceal truth. Whether truth was made plain or was
hidden depended solely on the quality of spiritual curiosity and receptivity of the hearer! “
Layman's Bible Commentaries – Saint Luke D G Miller

Mark 3:23 CEV uses the word "riddles" (where to insert?)

A good teacher must think with the minds of his learners and see with their eyes to encourage
their hearing.
In the Old Testament parables were an analogy, story or image grasped by those whose minds
were open. They were a veiled manner of treating the realities of faith, a mine of information to
those who were in earnest and a judgement on the casual and careless.
B. Other methods Jesus often used -
Jesus used many different teaching styles-
Parables
Object lessons
Current events
And questions
Jesus told many stories which often used -
Curiosity
intrigue
Humour
Repetition
and other means to catch and hold the attention of his listeners.
A. He asked questions; Especially in one-to-one teaching, Jesus used questions which were a
Jewish phenomenon. Questions force people to look within to consider what they already know
or at least have a hunch. Why would He ask so many questions when He had so much to tell
them?
On several occasions in the Gospels, we read of the fore-knowledge of Jesus -
John 2 :25 He knew what they were like, and could read men's hearts - he knew Human
Nature with its fickleness and instability, and how men hunger for something better. He wanted a
small number who knew what they wanted and were prepared to follow his lead. He understood
men and was not deceived or surprised when some followed him for a time and then drew
back.
Matthew 12 : 25 He knew what they were thinking.
My hunch is He knew that they already had some understanding into deeper things and He was
willing to draw this out of them as they conversed.and that He knew they had an innate
understanding and a desire for more, so He tapped, into this.
The scripture "Jesus knew what was in people" gives us a clue as to why Jesus asked so many
questions. He knew that people already had some understanding of what he wished them to
know, so his questions brought this understanding to the surface. Jesus always gave His
hearers something to think about.
My father who was not a practising believer, heard one of my early sermons, and commented
afterwards, " you told them too much; you gave them nothing to think about."

The Pharisees and Teachers of the Law had come from Jerusalem to Galilee, where Jesus had
been teaching by the lake, to ask him a question. He answers their question with a question of
his own.
Matthew 15:3
Jesus turned the Pharisees’ question back on them. Jesus: Why do you violate God’s command

because of your tradition?

B. Jesus used Current Events these helped people identify with known experiences and

reflect on their deeper significance. During his time in Galilee Jesus was brought some news

about an action by Governor Pilate and then this item of local news. Luke 13:4

C. Repetition -

Jesus used Pithy / Memorable sayings, repeated often, which people could remember easily.
On the Sermon on the Mount, we read
Jesus: Blessed are the spiritually poor—the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Blessed are those who mourn—they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek and gentle—they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness—they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful—they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are those who are pure in heart—they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers—they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness—the kingdom of heaven is
theirs.
And blessed are you, blessed are all of you, when people persecute you or denigrate you or
despise you or tell lies about you on My account. Matthew 5: 3- 11

D. Object lessons link people with past experiences and memories.

On his way towards Jerusalem Jesus told the three lost parables so that God loves sinners
Luke 15:8
In Matthew 17:24-27 Jesus is with his disciples beside the lake and He asks them to bring him
a coin

E. Humour -
As Jesus journeys towards Jerusalem, He is approached by a sincere young man who asked
what he must do to gain eternal life. The disciples are puzzled as the young man walks away, so
Jesus gives them this explanation
Mark 10:25
His analogy conveys a tongue-in-cheek meaning, which doesn't need any explanation ???

F. Curiosity -
During his time in Galilee, Jesus received a message from his cousin John. For John, evil
seems to triumph despite the coming of the Messiah. So Jesus says. Matthew 11:13
In Capernaum, Jewish officials saw Jesus heal a paralytic man and wondered among
themselves Mark 2:8
At Magdala in Caesarea Philippi, the disciples had forgotten to buy bread, and Jesus used their
concern to warn them of the "yeast of the Pharisees". They linked this comment with their lack
of bread, so he spoke to them
Mark 8:17-19

G. Hyperbole - How did he use sarcasm, exaggeration and other humorous techniques to have
a little fun but also teach us valuable lessons?
Jesus uses exaggeration to engage the listener's attention
Matthew 18:8-9
 If your hand constantly grasps at the things of this world rather than serves the Kingdom—cut it
off and throw it away. If your foot is always leading you to wander, then cut it off and throw it
away; it is better for you to hobble, crippled, into the kingdom of life than to burn in hell with two
hands and two feet. And if your eye always focuses on things that cause you to sin, then pull
your eye out and throw it away. It is better for you to see the kingdom of life with one eye than to
see the fires of hell with perfect sight.

In his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus exercised both his humour and exaggeration when
he stated, "Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but pay no attention to the log in
your own eye? . . . First take the log out of your own eye . . ." (Luke 6:41 – 42)

5. What of the future? What is the way forward?

The theory of how people learn and absorb information lists monologue input or passive
listening as the least effective way to retain information .
----Being an effective communicator in our professional and personal lives involves learning the
skills to exchange information with clarity, empathy, and understanding.
For communication to be effective, it must be clear, correct, complete, concise, and
compassionate. We consider these to be the 5 C’s of communication, though they may vary
depending on who you’re asking.
https://www.coursera.org/articles/communication-effectiveness

Stories abound in our personal lives, in our home, in our family in our neighbourhood and in the
wider community. The media abounds with stories also, and if any of these wells run dry, there
are many anthologies to draw from.
Matthias Media suggests several alternatives to the most common form of input in our Sunday
Worship. See Appendix
- the world-shattering message of Creator God's entry into human affairs deserves to be
communicated in the best form possible in order to maintain interest and motivate to action.
Sermons need to be a work of art, reflecting the creativity of our Creator God, and ought to be in
technicolor, not monochrome.
Surely this is their God-given right (appropriate?)

Is it coincidental that the building design of most churches determines the style of input used?
(Necessary? If so, where?)

(https://www.worldwidelearn.com/articles/how-do-you-learn/) ????

Appendix
Matthias Media

Jesus Told Stories to Make a Point By Rick Warren