EPIC: Relational Evangelism

One way we communicate, which has been a part of human existence since the beginning of time, is through storytelling. In fact, until things were written and people had ready access to printed materials, storytelling and oral tradition were the ways information was transferred from person to person and generation to generation. Storytelling is still the primary mode of communication today, even with so many tools and gadgets to deliver the story or message. That's why developing your storytelling skills is essential to communicating faith in the 21st century.

Jesus, as you may be aware, was something of a storyteller, and he went to significant lengths to make himself heard. If you doubt this, try giving a sermon while standing in an open boat. But Jesus was more than just a good storyteller. He had something urgent and extremely important to say, and he said it in extremely creative ways. His message: The reign of God is at hand.

One storytelling technique that Jesus used was the parable. Through this technique, Jesus explained complex theological truths in language that fishers, tax collectors and those living on the margins of society could understand. He told stories that were vivid, memorable and open to deep exploration.

Jesus understood how important it is to speak in fresh and inventive ways. Jesus let his audiences know he understood their world, their hopes, their failings and their fears by infusing his stories with characters, landscapes and situations familiar to those with whom he spoke.

What does this mean for us today? We are called to share compelling accounts of what our faith means to us through clear explanations of the nature of our spiritual experiences, descriptions of our church communities as places where people are committed to working for justice and peace, and stories about the ways God has changed our lives and the lives of people we know. We do this most effectively by sharing something in which we are experts, such as our own faith journeys and lives. Tell the stories of what God is doing in your life. Tell the stories of what God is doing in your community.

As Leonard Sweet suggests, we must tell stories that are EPIC: Experiential, participatory, image-rich and connective. These stories, Sweet says, are told as though our lives depended upon it.