Can We Be Discipled by A Story?

August 7, 2012 in Spiritual Formation with 3 Comments

One of my highest concerns for our congregation right now is how we’re learning to follow Jesus – commonly called discipleship – which I believe is the intentional move that opens the door for Christian spiritual formation.

In other words, following Jesus leads to becoming like Jesus.

When you do a casual search of “The Google” or Amazon, what you’ll find is a wide and surging stream of books and resources on discipleship.

Plans.

Programs.

Studies.

Perspectives.

It’s encouraging to see that my passion is not an isolated one – that others are writing and teaching and hopeful about discipleship in this culture.

I’ve been thinking about writing my own, simply because I don’t believe that just because someone else has already said it that I shouldn’t add my voice to the conversation. However, I think we need a different tactic and that leads me to a question.

Can we be discipled – encouraged and guided in following Jesus – by story? Can the characters, plot, setting, conflict, climax and resolution of real life stories be vehicles that lead us into following Jesus more closely? I believe they can. Why?

Because of parables.

Preparing to preach on Luke’s account of the Good Samaritan parable, I wrote the following: “Jesus made up these stories on the spot. He knew His audience and He crafted his characters and plot on purpose.”

If Jesus did this, is the Christian community today gifted enough as storytellers to take someone who is learning to follow Jesus and say “Once upon a time…” instead of “This is what you have to believe…”? Eugene Peterson’s statement that we should “ordain storytellers” the way we ordain pastors and priests is appropriate here. Have we allowed and encouraged storytelling – the way the early church most definitely did – to a great enough degree that we’re able to lead people to follow Jesus through means of story?

Wrestling with this question today, so I’d love your input. What has been more impactful in leading you to follow Jesus:

A statement of doctrinal fact?
A story of God’s working in real life?
An exegesis of Philippians 2:5-11?
An account of someone setting himself aside for God’s sake and the sake of others?

Can we form a story-based culture of discipleship in the church today? What do you think?

 

  • Pthomas06

    A story-based culture will be most effective (meaning: missional) when it is combined with a foundation of biblical truths. We all have a story; each a player/star in his own story. Someone has to know biblical truth in order to help others make sense of their story. I love hearing others relate how God has moved in their lives to do things they normally would not do, whether it is to volunteer at a retirement home; re-hab a house in the inner-city, or move to the Middle East to live and share the gospel. Others’ stories remind me to see God in my own story and see chapter after chapter unfold toward the Epilogue. Thanks for making me think about this.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=631008430 Jim Harmon

    Been thinking about this alot also. It’s one thing to identify with sitting in the first chair and it’s another thing to know how to live it out and totally another to actually do it. Are there 10 pastors on staff, capable in living the Christian life, who could mentor 10 men each, showing them how to do the same? Can each of those 100 men be trained to mentor 10 men each? Then Parkview would have 1110 men connected within two steps of the staff and all working in concert to actually live for Christ. That would be a men’s ministry. That would be spiritual formation. That would be much more powerful than a book. As you have read in Spirit of the Disciplines our churches and our books are failing to develop true disciples of Christ. We need to connect with people who are willing to SHOW others that this life can be lived and how to do it. This is the kind of story that has the opportunity to create a culture of discipleship in our church today. Can you live the story?

  • Joel Stai

    Looking back on my jouney, I think stories of faith have encouraged and guided (discipled) me. I grew up with The Cross and the Switchblade, The Hiding Place, Through Gates of Splendor – all which captured my young heart and helped nurture my growth. Even more powerful though were real life examples (my parents, friends, missionaries) who showed me by their life what being a disciple meant- what laying down your life actually looked like. Which isn’t to say that my heart hasn’t thrilled with a good exegesis of a biblical text (which, sad to say, happens less frequently these days but perhaps that’s just my issue). I hate to sound like I’m saying, “Different strokes for different folks”, but perhaps the Spirit’s tactics do change as we change. Paul said he became all things to all men that by all means he might save some – so sometimes a story, sometimes a meaty doctrinal teaching, and sometimes a tentmaker.