Category: A Narrative Preaching Story

So, I wanted to teach myself Narrative Preaching – and I was about to commence at a new church community.

Where do I begin?

I wondered how many of my elderly parishioners had heard the greatest story ever to be told. I thought, after years of following the liturgical calendar (which, by the way, retells God’s story each year), it may be that God’s overarching story may have been forgotten – or atleast, stored in a forgotten part of the mind.

So … I decided to preach God’s Big Story – after all, many people had done that before so I had lots of resources upon which to draw.

Finally, as I was cruising the internet, looking for how to divide God’s overarching Bible story into segments for preaching, I landed upon,

God’s Big Picture by Vaughan Roberts – Hallelujah! A video and Bible study course, divided into 9 units – all for free! What a find!

But, I wanted to weave God’s Story into my preaching – and use children’s stories as a teaching tool. Hmm … there was certainly no shortage of Bible-related, moral-forming children’s books to choose from.

But …. I love drawing, I love writing, I love making up stories …

Why don’t I have a go at writing short little stories, which I can structure around my message theme, and have a go at illustrating the images – just why not!

And so … Little Books of Blessing was started!

2020 will be a good year!

The past year brought the realisation that it was time to move from school chaplaincy into a more mission-focused ministry. The process of studying my Masters of Missional Leadership at Morling College, Sydney brought with it a passion to engage in vital, engaging mission-focused ministry.

And so, this year, I will be ministering with the SouthLakes Anglican community as we transition towards serving and bringing the good news about Jesus to the community at Morisset, Dora Creek and Coorangbong, and beyond.

I have also decided to take a new approach in my preaching style. Over the course of last year I read many very informative books on Storytelling, Narrative Preaching and how to use stories as a vehicle for evangelism and Gospel ministry. The following are some of the books I have found extremely helpful:

Telling the Gospel Through Story,
Evangelism that keeps hearers wanting more – by Christine Dillon

The Homiletical Plot,
The Sermon as Narrative Art Form – by Eugene Lowry

Telling God’s Story
Narrative Preaching for Christian formation – John W. Wright

So … let’s dive in and learn Narrative preaching and see what stories can do!