5 Storyworthy lessons for preachers

Have you ever noticed how often great preachers start with a story? Sure, they might have a prayer or reading just before the tell their story, but often a personal story is one of the opening salvos of their sermon.

Well, I noticed it. And I'm not the only one.

In the last century we've become more aware of the power of storytelling to help us remember more and persuade others of our opinions. Perhaps that's why the use of sermon illustrations and stories is so widespread.

But not every story is equal. And not every story teller can hold an audience in the same way. For the preacher, this might be the difference between capturing the congregation's attention or a sea of blank faces staring back.

While the Holy Spirit is the most important factor in a sermon, God has also given us talents and abilities which we can develop.

With that mind, I recently read the book Storyworthy by Matthew Dicks to help improve my sermoncraft. Here are a few lessons I picked up for crafting stories for sermons.

A Good Story is About a Moment of Transformation

Matthew says that all good stories are about a five second moment of transformation. A single point where a person changes from how they were, or what they thought to something new.

This often applies to our sermon and the Gospel too.

Part of the good news is that we can be changed instantly, become sons and daughters of God.

There's no greater before and after.

Likewise in sermons, we frequently hope that the preaching will result in a transformation in the hearts of our listeners. That they will

• catch a deeper revelation of Jesus
• have their existing incorrect views corrects
• and be inspired in how they can live out their faith today.

Sharing other stories of transformation can aid this process. We can show how our old ways of thinking or being were challenge and transformed. This can help guide those listening us to think how they might be wrong or how they can change too.

A story without a moment of transformation often ends up as bragging which people don't want to hear.

The Best Stories Are Relatable

Dramatic stories about major and (hopefully) rare life events sounds like they should make the best stories, but Matthew says they can be harder to tell.

The bigger the event, the less the audience can relate to it. But stories about mundane events can make the best stories as everyone can relate to them.

When we tell big stories, we need to make sure we make them relatable by showing the relatable moments in them, the thoughts and feelings we had at the time.

When we tell smaller stories, this relatable nature is basically built in. Instead we can focus on other techniques to make them more dramatic.

The Start of the Story Should Contrast the Moment of Transformation

When we tell a story about, for example, how we now understand peace through difficulties, we should start our story showing the opposite of that. A moment where we weren't peaceful and things were easy.

By exaggerating the contrast we make the moment of transformation more dramatic.

Just try to keep the start as close to the begining of the story as possible too. If it's years before, we'll have to jump around in time a lot which is uncomfortable.    

Connect Scenes with "But" and "Therefore" Not "And Then"

A string of events connected by "and then" is boring. It's what we expect to happen. We just role through the list.

But using BUT or Therefore adds more tension. Suddenly there are obstacles and concequences.

Here's an example.

• I woke up to read my bible and then spent some time with my daughter and make pancakes.
• I woke up but soon so did my daughter. So instead of my desired hour long bible reading, I ended up making pancakes.

Which is a more interesting story?

Tell Your Story in the Present Tense

This is the most diffuclt point for me, but Matthew points out how stories in the present tense are more dynamic and active.

We actually can feel the expereinces more when they are told in the present tense.

In fact, when we use the present tense more, we can then tactically use the past tense to add more distance for painful or disgusting moments. This can help the listener not feel too shocked at a key moment.

It can take some practice but Matthew insists it's worthy trying.

How to Collect Ideas for Sermon Illustrations and Stories

Matthew shares a few ways to collect stories but one of the most useful is the process of "Homework for life."

All you need to do is write a sentence or two capturing "the most storyworthy moment in this day".  You can then revisit this list and see if there's a possible story in it. Some days, the most storyworthy moment won't really be that great, but if you do it enough, you start to find material for stories all over the place.

There are more storyworthy lesson

These are just a few examples of how preachers can use Storyworthy to enhance their preaching. The whole book is pact with other practical tips.

If this article has piqued your interest, you can grab a copy for yourself and see what other lessons you can draw.

Grab a copy of storyworthy.