THREE BIBLE STORIES TO TELL AS YOU SHARE THE GOSPEL

For someone who thinks they’re fine with God (like the Pharisee) or thinks God could never accept them (like the tax collector) - Luke 18:9–14 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

For someone who thinks they don’t need Jesus - Luke 5:29–32 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

For someone wondering about suffering - Luke 13:1–5 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

GROUP OR PERSONAL REFLECTION

1. What stories have you found helpful in sharing the gospel with others?

2. Think of someone you would like to share the gospel with. What story from the Bible do you think would resonate most with them?

3. What stories could you use to introduce people to Jesus and who he is - e.g. his love, his compassion, his treatment of women, his care for all people?

4. What stories could you find useful sharing the gospel with others?

PRAYER FOR STORYTELLING THE GOSPEL

Heavenly Father,

As we think of sharing the gospel through storytelling in Christians Engaging Culture, we praise you for the cosmic drama of redemption. For the wonderful true story of the saviour come to rescue his people. Thank you for catching us up into this amazing story. Thank you that you have given us so many stories about you and about your Son to share with the world. Thank you that they are so beautiful. Thank you that your stories resonate so deeply with the human heart. Please enable us to boldly tell the great and true story of Jesus. Please bring stories to mind when we are sharing the gospel. And Lord, please use us to bring others into good relationship with you as we tell these gospel stories.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.