Every year my church gathers together for VBS. I always volunteer for the drama, a play that illustrates through a story what the kids have been learning every day. Whenever we ask the kids what their favorite part of VBS is, seven out of ten of them will say, “The drama!” It’s a big deal to them. They love watching the play acted out on stage with the bright lights and the costumes.
Storytelling is a powerful tool. We see Jesus use parables over and over to illustrate his points. Sally Lloyd Jones, author of the Jesus Storybook Bible, put it well when she described stories as things that ‘steal around your barriers and capture your heart’. People love stories. People are moved by stories. The gospel has been shared with millions of people through the book The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and gone places where missionaries and tracts sometimes couldn’t reach because it was ‘just a story’.
As a Christian storyteller and writer, I specifically use stories as my platform to share deep truths and messages. And for me, the drama has been one of the best places to do that. Even when I’ve been the villain of the piece, or the comedic character, or the game-show genius, I’m still getting the opportunity to share the gospel. Hearing the kids laugh, or seeing their faces light up with joy, reminds me of years before when I was sitting in that audience just like them and feeling the awe and the joy and the beauty of God’s story.
So, tell stories. Sing songs. Make life beautiful with truth. Read good, true books. Wonder at mysteries. Life is a story, and God has a story he’s writing for you. Today I challenge you to tell the world a story, whether through the testimony of your life, your work, or even (if you’re a writer like me) a book. Sometimes stories reach the people who would never hear the gospel otherwise, and they almost always plant seeds—seeds that are waiting to blossom forth in the knowledge and truth of Jesus Christ.
If you would like to read more of Emma's writing here is her blog link: Home | E.G.Runyan (emmathebard.wixsite.com)
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Amen!