A Guide To Storytelling

Storytelling was Jesus’ primary means of relating to people during his ministry. Matthew 13:34, says, “Jesus always used stories and illustrations like these when speaking to the crowds. In fact, he never spoke to them without using such parables. This fulfilled the prophecy that said I will speak to you in parables. I will explain mysteries hidden since the creation of the world.” NLT

Jesus understood the power of stories. Throughout the history of mankind, we have been telling each other stories. Today’s film industry is just a reflection of the story-telling process that Jesus embraced. Jesus spoke stories and parables that were saturated with vivid, visual imagery. Everyone wants to hear and see a good story.

So how did Jesus use parables to reveal the hidden mysteries of God? First, he always had a point. All good stories are about something. We are all familiar with the story of the good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-36. In fact, Hollywood has made many versions of this story throughout the years. It’s a story about a Jewish man who is traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho and is attacked by bandits. Laying on the side of the road, he is left for dead. Along came a Jewish priest and a temple assistant, who should have offered help but passed him by. The most unlikely person, a Samaritan, helps the injured man. He soothes his wounds with medicine and bandages his wounds. Then he puts the man on his donkey and takes him to an inn where he can be cared for. Amazingly, the good Samaritan pays all the expenses for the man’s recovery.

In verse 36 Jesus asks this question, “Which one of these three men do you think was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by the robbers?” NCV It is a very profound question. Jesus was making a point that the so-called religious people are often the ones who are more interested in themselves than in loving and caring for people. The Samaritans were despised by Jewish culture and were considered outcasts. So why would a Samaritan offer help and assistance to a Jewish man? That was Jesus’ point. We are all created equal in the sight of God. We all have value. Those we think will not help us can be our greatest allies.

What a great story. No wonder Hollywood has embraced it so often. The good Samaritan story is about ideas. Strong and powerful ideas are what drive great films. Filmmakers can look to Jesus for their inspiration for telling compelling stories.

Jesus used symbolism and metaphors. Often he would start a parable by saying “the Kingdom of God is like”. Why didn’t Jesus say “the Kingdom of God is” and explain it? There is a profound difference between the two. Jesus was telling a story and trying to draw his audience into it. He wanted to make the story mysterious and intriguing because the listener would have to pay close attention and be involved in the process in order to discover the meaning. The parable might say something different to each member of the audience. By using the phrase, the Kingdom of God is like, it became more of a subjective process.

What are symbolism and metaphors? Symbolism and metaphors help to forge a connection between dissimilar objects and themes. This concept is illustrated in the parable of the sowing of the seed. The story involves a farmer planting seed. He threw it across the field. Some fell on a footpath, some fell on shallow soil, some fell among thorns and some fell on fertile soil. Each seed produced some sort of result. Some seeds were successful and some failed. Jesus used symbolism to reveal the meaning of the story. The seed represented God’s message. The soil represented those who heard the message and how they responded

The parable is interesting because it requires the listener to pay close attention to each detail. On the surface, the story seems to make no sense; however, with close examination the listener can find meaning in the multiple layers of the story. By doing so, truth becomes more real. Most Christians would prefer stories that don’t contain symbolism and metaphors because they require an interpretation. That’s not how Jesus taught. If we are looking for the heart of God in entertainment and media, he will be using symbolism and metaphors to communicate his truth.

Jesus told familiar stories that were tied to everyday activities. He didn’t talk about things that the average person wouldn’t understand. He wanted to connect to his audience. In fact, Jesus was culturally relevant. He lived in a primarily agricultural society; therefore, he talked about farmers, soil, seeds, harvesting, servants, livestock, etc. In the parable of the rich fool in Luke 12:16, Jesus offered a story that all of his listeners could relate to. A rich man produced many fine crops. He decided to tear down his barns and build bigger ones so that he would have more room to store his food. “The rich fool said, and I will sit back and say to myself, my friend you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy. Eat, drink and be merry”. NLT

In the culture that Jesus lived in, having enough food was always a struggle for survival. Those who were listening wanted to be rich. Who didn’t want to have enough food stored away so that he could take it easy and eat, drink and be merry? Finding common elements in the culture that people relate to is essential to good storytelling. Jesus had his listeners exactly where he wanted them. He went on in verse 20 to say, “You fool, you will die this very night. Then who will get it all?” NLT Yes a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth and does not have a rich relationship with God. Jesus found a way to get his message across in a way that people could relate to.

If we want to tell compelling stories and relate to the general audience, we can learn a thing or two from Jesus. Jesus is presenting to us, the Body of Christ, the ultimate storytelling concepts.

Jesus told interesting stories full of drama, conflict and personal struggles. You do not have a story unless you have some form of conflict. Jesus embraced four story concepts, which are the only concepts in the storytelling process--man vs. man, man vs. himself, man vs. nature and man vs. the supernatural. In each one of these story concepts, conflict is essential.
 
One of Jesus’ most famous parables is the parable of the prodigal son. It’s a story about a father who has two sons. One son remains on his father’s estate, working the fields and obeying the will of his father. The other son demands his share of the estate now. So the father agrees to divide his wealth.

What follows is a tragic story where the son travels to a distant land and wastes all of his inheritance on vile living--squandering his money on prostitutes. After some time, the son returns home and asks to be hired as a servant. The son then said that he had sinned against heaven and against his father and was no longer worthy to be called his son. The father responds by offering his son the finest robe in the house, a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet. The father orders the fatted calf to be killed so that they might celebrate the son’s return with a feast.

The older brother is angry and unhappy with the turn of events. He tells his father that he has worked hard for him and never once refused to do a single thing he told him to do. He feels an injustice has been committed. The father goes on to tell him that they are very close, and everything he has is the son’s. We are uncertain whether or not the son accepted his father’s response.

There is no question that Jesus could tell a good story. The prodigal son is all about conflict. The older brother was angry and upset at his younger brother for leaving the estate and throwing away his inheritance, while he had been loyal to his father and had worked hard. The younger brother has internal struggles and has to deal with his past mistakes of wild living. He also feels that he is a failure and a disappointment in the eyes of his father.

It is also a very dramatic story in which the son realizes he has made a mistake in his lifestyle choices and wants to return home. You can only imagine what the scene looks like when the father reaches out in compassion and offers everything he has to the son. It must have been a very dramatic and moving scene. The story is also about personal struggles. Why did the son feel the need to leave? What drove him to a distant land? What was his motivation? Was he unhappy at home? And what about his relationship with his older brother? I am sure that Jesus understood that by telling this vivid story his audience would be asking the same questions.

Jesus gave us the model for storytelling. Over the years, Christians have been telling boring and uninteresting stories. We have lacked imagination and intrigue. Our stories have not been mysterious but often appeared trite and conniving. Who do you think is doing a good job of storytelling? Hollywood has discovered the model. It’s an irony that they have embraced Jesus’ concept of parables to a much greater degree than the Church. Where is the heart of God in Hollywood? It’s in stories. It’s in Hollywood’s version of the parables. And, just like the parables, they are full of conflict, adventure, violence, drama, social issues and redemption.