A Christian story untethered from the reality of Christ and his mercy toward sinners becomes a mere fable, while a sermon disconnected from the hearts of its listeners remains a hollow oratory.
In a world inundated with competing stories and preachments, it's easy for the presence of the divine to get lost in the noise. Yet, the ancients knew the true power of storytelling lies not merely in its ability to captivate listeners' attention but in its capacity to bind the ears of the heart to the words of higher, heavenly truth. We can all recall a well-told story from our childhood, a tale that has taken up permanent lodging in our memory (for me, it's Maurice Sendak's "Where The Wild Things Are"). But that does not mean it also functions to remind us of Christ and his mercy. As a story, it may have fulfilled its mission, but a well-told story is not necessarily a proclamation of Christ.
The essence of Christian storytelling must extend beyond mere entertainment; it must transcend earthly expectations of what a story does and become a vessel for conveying eternal truth. Whether conveyed through the spoken word or written prose, the impact of Christian story lies in its ability to evoke faith, hope, and love in the One through whom and for whom all things were created (Col. 1:16).
Similarly, a well-preached sermon, while delivering eloquent words, falls short if it leaves hearers weak in the knees, stumbling along on clay feet upon exiting the sanctuary of the church. If the message dissipates amid the chaos of everyday concerns, it loses its Spirit-breathed potency in the lives of believers. For a Christian story to also serve as proclamation, it must captivate the imagination and heart of the hearer, rooting them in the reality of Christ and his mercy, the One who is presently speaking to them through the mouth of a preacher.
The crux of compelling Christian storytelling and preaching lies in its alignment with the Logos — the Lamb of God crucified from the foundation of the world. It is Jesus who imposes divine order and reason upon the cosmos. And so, he invites us to participate in this divine work when he addresses us. Stories that express the truth of the Logos as Truth itself engage the mind and nourish the soul by revealing reality to his hearers. This way of storytelling has a rich tradition dating back to biblical times.
For a Christian story to also serve as proclamation, it must captivate the imagination and heart of the hearer, rooting them in the reality of Christ.
The parables of Jesus, such as the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan, exemplify the power of narrative to convey complex Spiritual truth in relatable and memorable ways. These stories resonate across cultures and generations because they transcend the boundaries of time and space. Jesus explains reality and the hidden meaning behind everything through simple stories so that we can comprehend (as much as it is possible for us as fallen creatures) what it means to have a God and how he wants to be known by us.
Christian literature throughout history has also attempted this with narratives that inspire and edify. From the medieval works of Dante and Chaucer to the more recent insights of C.S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, stories have served as vehicles for exploring the depths of reality from the perspective of God's Word and the Christian faith. These timeless classics continue to shape the hearts and minds of readers worldwide, inviting them to seek a deeper relationship with Jesus and to enter into communion with the divine.
And just like a great Christian story, the same holds true for any pulpit: effective communication is essential for conveying the Gospel message. However, unlike a story, it is not enough for sermons to be eloquent or intellectually stimulating; they must pronounce the truth about Jesus Christ crucified for the sin of the cosmos. This is a phenomenon that covers all human experience with meaning and addresses the totality of questions that weigh on the hearts of believers by turning them to the self-sacrificing God rather than personal rumination. A sermon that fails to deliver the forgiveness of sins with the Spirit-breathed intent of producing new life and hope of eternal salvation in believers risks falling on deaf ears, regardless of its theological sophistication. A great sermon can be simple enough. Christian preaching possesses within itself the miraculous power to bridge the gap between theology and lived reality because it is a vehicle for Christ to be present for his people as the embodiment of both.
Finally, in the digital age, storytelling has evolved, with new mediums and platforms emerging to reach diverse audiences. From podcasts and online sermons to social media and interactive websites, Christian storytellers and preachers have unprecedented access and opportunities to engage with listeners, not just other Christians. By harnessing the power of technology, Christian storytellers and preachers can amplify the volume of the gospel and deliver it almost instantaneously across geographical and cultural boundaries, fostering a global audience united by faith in Christ.
That, again, is the power of narrative in Christian discourse. It is profound yet delicate. It is a sacred art that requires reverence for Jesus as the Way, Truth, and Life, whom it seeks to convey. A Christian story untethered from the reality of Christ and his mercy toward sinners becomes a mere fable, while a sermon disconnected from the hearts of its listeners remains a hollow oratory. So let's strive to stay faithful to our callings as the priesthood of believers, as apostles for the world's Savior, and as holy storytellers so that our stories and sermons glorify the Logos, the Lamb of God crucified from the foundation of the world, anchoring our hearers in the eternal truth of faith and redemption won for us on Calvary, and delivered presently in wondrously provocative, mind-boggling, faith-evoking stories by the mouths of Christ's messengers.
