Everybody loves a good story. If you sit with a child to read a story to them, watch out! You may find yourself being asked to read it again and again and again. If you open your house for a movie night on Friday, you will likely have a big group of friends show up to hang out and watch a story unfold on the screen. When you visit family over the holidays, if one of the “older generation” starts to tell about times gone by, regardless of their age, many people will likely gather around to listen, ask questions, and find out more.
Everybody loves a good story.
Jesus knew we loved stories and so He often told stories in His teaching. The type of stories he most often used were called parables. The word ‘parable’ comes from two Greek words which mean “to throw” and “alongside.” A parable is literally a story thrown alongside of a truth to shed light on it in a dramatic or powerful way. It’s a story that deals with earthy things in order to talk about deeper things. It’s what you could call “God Stories.”
In Matthew 13, we encounter Jesus telling story after story to His hearers to explain what God is like:
- “Then He told them many things in parables…” (13:3)
- “Jesus told them another parable…” (13:24)
- “He told them another parable…” (13:31)
- “He told them still another parable…” (13:33)
- “He did not say anything to them without using a parable.” (13:34)
Jesus told parables in order to draw out truth about God. He talked about everyday things they were familiar with: taxes, fishing, house cleaning, farming, or family. But as He drew the story to a close it became clear – for those who were really listening – that He was also hitting at a deeper meaning. He was telling a “God Story.”
When we think of sharing our faith or teaching God’s truth, we often think of the logical points that we need to share. There is nothing essentially wrong with this approach. In fact, it is important because we need to be clear with the truth of God. At the same time, however, we may need to remember that more often than not Jesus told “God Stories” to capture His listeners’ attention. He spoke of everyday things to highlight the radical truth of who God is and what He is doing in the world.
Have you told someone a “God Story” recently?
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Matthew Erickson 
Hello Matt! Thanks for sharing this. You’re absolutely right — everyone loves a good story. Jesus was THE master storyteller. His stories were simple, direct, packed with truth and hit us right in the heart. You’re also absolutely right that we need to share our “God stories” with others. Rather than filling our non-believing friends’ ears with theology (which I, as a lawyer, am fond of doing), it’s often much more impactful to (1) ask ’em for their story and then (2) tell ’em ours. Thanks for the reminder!