"Have you heard the one about " ?"
"Did you hear what happened to " ?"
"I would never have believed that " ?"
We all love a good story. After watching Bindi Irwin (Steve Irwin's daughter) speaking at her father's huge memorial event I am certain she will have many stories to tell should she choose to do so - and that's what intrigues me.
Leave Bindi for a moment and come with me into the home of a regular church goer or church worker (minister, pastor, Bible study leader, etc.). There are children running around doing whatever children do. The spouse is in the other room waiting for someone to come and help clean up the latest mess " usual stuff is going on.
Now (metaphorically) hit the "freeze frame' button. Let's go over to the children and individually ask them what they think is of major concern or interest to their parents. More particularly, if they were your kids what answer would they give? Walk over to the wife or husband and ask the same question. What do you think they will say?
Will their answer be the Grand Final, gardening, a particular TV show or a project in which you are currently engaged? What is it that drives you, what do you just love taking about?
Now come back to Bindi Irwin. We know what Steve Irwin was passionate about. His daughter knew what her daddy had on the top of his agenda. She wants to be a "Wildlife Warrior' just like him. She seemed to have little difficulty expressing her daddy's ambition and her desire to emulate him.
Have we ever communicated to our children or our spouse just how we feel about people treating God as if He is not there? Read Acts 17 for an insight into how Paul felt. Have we ever let it be known that we really are excited about the fact that someone turns to Christ, and stays "turned' throughout their life, even when the going gets tough?
Have we ever shared with our children or those closest to us, how we came to be rescued by Jesus? Could we do it in 100 words or less? Have we even shared it intentionally with our normal circle of Christian friends?
When children are very young it is exciting for them to hear how Uncle or Aunty, Grandpa or Grandma, came to Christ. It need not be stilted or contrived. Just the normal way of telling a story would suffice.
Unfortunately that's where it gets hard. We often think that our "stories' need jazzing up. However, the simpler they are the better they will be. Keep them clear and normal, no weird and wonderful spooky stories, just how it was that you came to follow Jesus. A more telling account could be why it was that you were brought back to Jesus after turning away, or why you did drift away and how God brought you back.
It's hard to tell your story, mainly because we haven't worked out what we want to say. If you want to get better at it then have a go at completing this homework. Using 100 words or less write out an answer to each question in ordinary English:
Q.1 What is Jesus' story? (Who is He? Why did He come and what did He do?)
Q.2 What is your ordinary life story? (What have you been doing with your life?)
Q.3 What happened when Jesus' "story' and your "story' intersected? (How have benefited?).
If you can keep the answer to Q.3 under 100 words why not email it to me and I will give you some feedback.
In olden days we spoke of giving Testimonies. Telling your story is really about how Jesus changed our lives. It will indicate that we are now forgiven and that we have been given eternal life. Practice your "story' with family and friends. Ask them how it sounds and if a non-Christian could relate to it. Don't forget to share it with your children or grandchildren. Story-time may take on a whole new meaning!
Jim Ramsay is the CEO of Evangelism Ministries, the evangelism support arm of the Sydney Diocese of the Anglican Church.
Photo courtesy Richard Giles
