![]() There are a number of tremendous benefits that can be experienced from using a Bible storying or chronological Bible storying method to communicate the timeless truths of scripture. These benefits may not be self-evident at first but upon taking a serious look they are easily identified. This method creates a user-friendly approach to learning and communicating the Bible. Remember this simple yet profound reality, “Clothing truth in a story is a powerful way to get people to open the doors of their minds to you and the truth you carry.” One of the first clearly discernible benefits that storying provides is the memorization of large portions of scripture. We would all probably agree on the importance of memorizing scripture. If we state that we believe the scriptures are the divinely inspired Word of God, the written record of God’s self-revelation to mankind, and teach others that each one of us should memorize Bible verses, then storying is the perfect method to accomplish that aim. The storying method allows the person presenting the story to memorize and then verbalize the biblical story with the goal of internalizing its timeless truths. Through the use of the biblical narrative materials, Bible stories, the ability to recall large portions of scripture becomes much easier. The story format provides a sequential order of events thereby enhancing one’s ability to retrieve the truths that have been stored in the human computer we call the mind. The storying method permits us to learn the full story of God’s self-revelation to mankind by beginning with Genesis 1:1 and working through the Bible chronologically using select stories. The storying method that is used by missionaries around the world is call the Chronological Bible Storying method. Such an approach to communicating the story of God’s self-revelation to mankind is highly effective. An individual who has been taught in this manner has a much better understanding of the progressive nature of God’s self-revelation. In every instance that I am aware of, and I’ve spent a lot of time researching this, the individuals, families, or groups that have been taught in such a manner are highly cognizant of God’s holiness, man’s sinfulness, and the need to be forgiven. The need for and acceptance of a redeemer who will pay for the penalty of sin is easily and clearly understood. The storying method encourages individuals of all ages to tell, discuss, and apply the scriptures. We are admonished in the scriptures to transmit the belief in and knowledge of God to individuals of all ages. Psalm 78:3-7 states, Which we have heard and known and our fathers have told us. We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done. For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers that they should teach them to their children, that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments. The results of using such a method speak for themselves. Not only adults, but small children have pronounced and incontrovertible insight into God’s eternal purpose of salvation found only in Christ. In fact, small children seem to be the first to understand spiritual matters and have keen insight. There are times when the adults are not sure what the answers are to specific questions but the small children can respond with the correct answer. Spiritual insight is not limited or restricted to certain age groups such as adults. God speaks to children as well. Remember Samuel. The storying method makes the scriptures come alive when communicated orally (not read from a written text). there is something that happens when a Bible story is communicated orally. The thoughts, feelings, and emotions of Bible characters seem to come to life more through the use of The simple reading of the text at times seems to only give the facts of the story while orally recalling the story gives new a life and feeling to the narrative. The storying method encourages individuals to love God with their mind. The first and greatest commandment given to us by God and restated by Jesus is the following, “and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Too many times we seem to focus on loving God with all of our hearts but forget about loving Him with our minds. A lot could be said about this point. It is an act of worship to use your mind to a live a life, which honors God. This particular benefit relates to the first three benefits mentioned previously; the memorization of large portions of scripture, learning the full story of God’s self-revelation to mankind, and individuals of all ages to telling, discussing, and applying the scriptures. An Old Testament example of someone who did used his mind was Ezra. Here is what the scriptures say about him, “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel. We are given numerous examples of this principle throughout the scriptures. The Apostle Paul tell us to, “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” The storying method opens up new methods of communication The storying method is a form of expository communication. Many ministers and some seminaries believe and teach that the only correct form of preaching and teaching the scriptures is the expository method. But what about those who don’t have a written language? For them, there is no chapter and verse to have them find during the sermon. What about those who have a written language but are not educated enough to use it as a form of communication? What about all the individuals who prefer oral forms of communication even though they can read? For those of you who think the expository preaching is the way to communicate eternal truth then consider this, the chronological Bible storying method teaches the scriptures in the sequential order that God revealed Himself to mankind. In essence the full story is brought to life one story at a time. Additionally, the Bible storying method also takes a specific passage of scripture and deals with it in an expository form. Someone who knows how to communicate eternal truth through the use of a Bible story can do so in such a way that everything that an expository sermon would express will be expressed through that story. The storying method communicates eternal truth in a way that facts and outlines cannot. The storying method takes the inspired Bible story as it is presented in the scriptures and orally recalls it without embellishing or making changes. The storying method teaches us morals, values we should emulate, truths we should live out, The storying method teaches us what we aspire to be like (stories from Acts teach us what a church is to be and to do) The storying method allows us to see correct or incorrect behavior from an outsiders point of view. When we listen to a story being told, we are in the position understanding the characters, events, plot, etc from the point of view as an onlooker. As we view from a distance the story as it unfolds, we are able to see the actions and reactions of the characters. by doing so we can determine if the actions and reactions are correct or incorrect. Being an outsider we are able to see and understand the full picture or ‘beginning to end’ The storying method allows us to connect with the feelings and emotions of those in the story. By understanding the specific characters of the story we are able to empathize with – emotions – family situations that we have faced, The storying method allow us to search for meaning in life, to see how story characters handled a situation The storying method permits information is remembered better and longer when presented in story form.
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