Stories
At the time we lived among village people in Burkina Faso most of the adults never had the opportunity to learn to read and write. We started a literacy program before their language had ever been written.
We used volunteers from the states who came and stayed a minimum of one month to work with us and teach villagers to read and write. The volunteers did this without speaking their language, but they used phonetics to teach them.
I admired the village people so much for many reasons, but one of those was that they were oral learners. The history of their people was passed from one generation to another by stories that were memorized. Their memorization method was repetition. Parents would begin telling stories to their children at an early age.
When we first started working with these villagers, we did not have the well drilling rig that would later provide hundreds of wells. We could only help them with their hand dug wells. As we went each day to monitor the digging, we would share a Bible story because stories are a part of every culture. This is especially true among illiterate people. After a few weeks some of the villagers wanted to know more about this Jesus person in the stories.
Nothing stirs the heart like a story. When we ask people what they remember the most about a sermon, we most often hear that they remember a story more than anything else. I do!
Stories have a unique power to convey deeper truths and resonate with people on a personal level. This method of teaching, which Jesus masterfully utilized through parables, can bridge the gap between understanding and internalizing spiritual lessons.
Jesus used parables because they were effective in communicating truth. His stories were contemporary, contextual, and the characters were real. His stories provoked thought and encouraged transformation.
The Apostle Paul affirmed the value and power of our stories when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 3:2-3, "You yourselves are our letter of recommendation…known and read by all. You show that you are a letter from Christ…written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." This image highlights the power of personal testimony and personal experience in communicating the truth of the gospel.
Storytelling is the personal account of our life experiences and perceptions. It might be communicated in brief sentences or revealed through probing inquiry. Storytelling takes many forms, but whatever it is, it has a profound effect on those who hear it.
Incorporating storytelling into the teaching of Scripture can enrich the learning experience by making biblical principles more relevant, memorable, and compelling.
Stories communicate values via real-life examples. What better way to teach your values to your kids and grandchildren!