Stories about jesus

I've been thinking about preaching more (maybe)... Gah!!!

First, I need to get better at it. Period. Speaking in front of people, minimizing nervous habits, etc.; but also what I talk about!

I want to talk/preach about Jesus.

I found this stuff from Fresh Expression on "How To Tell Stories About Jesus," and it looks interesting. Not that I need another bible, but I also went ahead and ordered their 'Jesus Stories book.' There wasn't a lot of info about it, and it was only $5, so we'll see.

In the above link they offer this guide to help tell stories about Jesus or that he told:

STEP 1: Let the story get inside you!

Choose a story. Start with a shorter one, such as “A Storm” as told by Mark (found in Jesus Stories, page 85) or “A Dying Girl and a Sick Woman” as told by Matthew (found in Jesus Stories page 19).

Later, try a longer one, such as “An Official who Refused to Forgive” as told by Matthew (found in Jesus Stories, pages 43–44). 

Read the story a few times silently and aloud. Ask others to read the story to you. Listen to them as they read it. Once you’ve read and heard the story a few times, ask and discuss the following questions:

• What do I like about this story? 
• What bothers me about this story? 
• What does it say about God? 
• What does it say about me and other people?
• What is one thing I can do to make this part of my life?
• What will I do with this story? Share it? Apply it? Spend more time with it?

STEP 2: Let the story affect you! 

Ask and discuss these questions to help you notice how the story of Jesus is affecting you:

• How does the story make me feel? 
• Is there conflict?
• Who is Jesus talking to? 
• Are there any characters I identify with? 
• Are there details that have particular meaning for me? for my community? for the world?
• What parts don’t I understand?
• Does this story make me want to change?
• Does this story make me think of someone to share it with?

STEP 3: Let the story flow out of you! 

• Practice telling your Jesus story to someone else.
• Be yourself! There’s no need to be dramatic when you tell the story. 
• Use these questions to help you learn to tell the story naturally without memorizing it:
• What aspect of the story do I want to highlight? 
• What details help make that point? 
• What details seem confusing or less helpful?
• How do I introduce the story to different people in different contexts—dinner tables, casual conversations, different events?
• Have I put the story in words that are understandable, accurate, and interesting?
• How will I help my listener want to tell the story to someone else?
• After you tell your story, describe the experience to a friend or small group. What happened!?
• If possible, invite new listeners to go through the questions in Steps 1 and 2. What new perspectives do they bring?

 

So, that's what I'm thinking about at the moment...