Just Walk Across the Room 3– The Power of Story

Three Seasons Community Church– 9-21-08

Stories are Powerful

Ecclesiastes 6:11– The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?

Psalm 119:130 [TEV] The explanation of your teachings gives light and brings wisdom to the ignorant.

Proverbs 12:18– Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 17:27– A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.

Ecclesiastes 9:17– The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.

Proverbs 16:24– Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Ecclesiastes 10:12– Words from a wise man's mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips.

Deuteronomy 32:2– Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.

If your closest friends or the family members who actually live underneath the same roof as you were polled anonymously about this, would they say that in the course of normal, everyday life, you can be counted on to speak words of encouragement and grace?

God Has a Story. Learn to Tell It Well!

The "Bridge Illustration" is a simple, concise and powerful way to explain the Good News

 

 

 

 

 

Key Verse:

John 5:24 – "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

Key Question:

If you were to stick an X on this picture representing how close you are to walking across the bridge, where would you put it?

You may choose to commit a different illustration to mind, but please land on one, clear explanation of who God is and what he has done, so that when the time comes that someone sitting across from you poses the question, you’re 100 percent ready to give a thoughtful answer.

Whatever illustration you use, keep in mind the types of words we looked at earlier. Humble words. Healing words. Wise words. Gentle words. Grace-filled words.

You are not responsible for transforming a human heart – that is the role of the Holy Spirit. Your role, when prompted to do so, is to open your mouth and give a tender, thoughtful, clear, and passionate understanding of who God is, of what he’s done for each person who ever has or ever will walk the planet. That’s all. Nothing more, nothing less.

You Have a Story. Learn to Tell It Well!

Luke 5:12-15 [Msg] One day in one of the villages there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus he fell down before him in prayer and said, "If you want to, you can cleanse me." [13] Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, "I want to. Be clean." Then and there his skin was smooth, the leprosy gone. [14] Jesus instructed him, "Don't talk about this all over town. Just quietly present your healed self to the priest, along with the offering ordered by Moses. Your cleansed and obedient life, not your words, will bear witness to what I have done." [15] But the man couldn't keep it to himself, and the word got out. Soon a large crowd of people had gathered to listen and be healed of their ailments.

What do you think he told every, single person who would listen from that point forward?!

Do you see a before-and-after here?

I was sick. But now I’m well. / I was diseased. But now I’m healthy. / I was outcast. But now I’m accepted.

I was defiled -- tainted. But now I’m good as new. / I was tarnished. But now I’m clean. / I was left for dead. But now I have a future.

What was your life like before you met Christ / How you met Christ / How has your life been transformed after meeting Christ?

Before and After = I was __________________ but now I’m ______________________

5 Faith Story Cautions

      Weird God Stories– it’s best not to share these with the lost because they already think we’re goofy– let’s not give them ammunition. Save those stories for other believers.

      Long Winded– your faith story should be 100 words or less and can be said in 3 minutes. LESS is MORE. Leave them wanting more and trust God to open up a dialogue if you were meant to say anything further.

      Fuzzy– Keep you faith story short, succinct and to the point. There is no need to mention every person in your spiritual linage.

      Religionese– avoid words like salvation, born again, washed in the blood and personal Lord and Savior. Why? They have no meaning at this point to a lost person.

      Superiority– avoid pious remarks and judgmental statements. If you act like you have your act perfectly together and the listener is somehow inferior to you, you’re headed for the ditch and fast, my friend. There is no quicker way to send an unbeliever to the hills than to play the piety card.

1 Corinthians 14:9 [Msg] So if you speak in a way no one can understand, what's the point of opening your mouth?

Let’s do the One whose name we bear proud as we work hard to explain God’s Story in an understandable way and hone, shape and sharpen our before-and-after stories!