Read through the Gospels and you cannot help but notice that creative storytelling was one of the key characteristics of Christ's teaching and preaching. Jesus captured the listener's attention, sparked their imagination, and stirred their hearts to bring profound spiritual and life-changing truths to light. The familiar is used to explain the unfamiliar. The concrete is used to explain the abstract. Abstract principles and concepts are illustrated in practical, real to life actions. His stories always had an interesting beginning, were incredibly vivid and gripping, and painted pictures and images that not only fired the imagination, but called people to action. They were simple stories that were quickly understood, but held truths of great depth that were not quickly forgotten! They were simple enough for a child to understand, but rich enough for scholars to discuss for the past two millennia. His stories met people where they were, but Jesus was never content to leave them there. With every spoken truth came a call to action. He didn't tell stories simply to entertain or inform but to transform lives. Our stories are transformed by "His story".
Key elements of Compelling Storytelling for Youth Sermons
1. Paint the Scene
Start with the facts. Write them down. What do you know? Then take a deep breath and close your eyes. Picture the scene and let it come alive in your mind. Who is there? What's happening? What are the sounds? Smells? Actions? The sights? Place yourself in the scene, in the middle of the action. Where are you? Why? What are you doing? Feeling? Focus on the main action. Who's the focus? What is he doing? Saying? How is he feeling? Imagine that you are there in the middle of the action and look around. Describe everything you see. Let your mind fill in the gaps. Later, when you tell the story, your first step is to paint this scene that you saw in your mind's eye. With words paint a vivid picture of the scene where the story takes place. Show the youth what they need to know about the time, place, atmosphere and situation for the story to make sense. Paint vivid portraits of key people in the story - so that youth can see them and relate to them. Use descriptive adjectives and include the unique little quirks that make people real and not just a caricature.
2. Plan the Journey
Choose your beginning and your destination before you explain the journey. Every story is a journey - from confusion to understanding, from danger to safety, from obstacles to breakthroughs, from where we are to where we need to be, from the known to the unknown, from disinterest to curiosity, from simple understanding to zealous action. What is the starting place? What are the key events in the journey? Where are you going with it? What is the final conclusion? What is the lesson? What is the intended response?
3. Build Up to the Crux
Find the crux of the story. What is the turning point? Where is the lesson? What is the obstacle? The most powerful stories build up the drama at the crux of the story. Some of the most powerful stories present an obstacle that needs to be overcome -- and the bigger the obstacle the more powerful the story. At other times the crux of the story is a surprise, an "aha" moment, or the point of realization. It may be a touching moment, the point of decision or a defining moment. The story is all about that moment. Spend your time focusing on the crux. Before the crux you build up the tension and highlight the emotional struggles, the feelings, the frustrations, the excitement. A good story doesn't just stimulate the mind, it pulls at your heart. Organize the progression of thoughts, decisions, reactions and actions in a linear fashion so that it moves the story along to the crux and lays the foundation for the conclusion - the point where the tension is finally released.
4. Reflect On the Meaning
Make the point. This step is about your experience. What is the point or the lesson learned? Be concise - one point for each story. Transition that lesson to your listener. Even though the story was about your experience or the experience of someone else, your audience members relate to it as if it happened to them. Help them to see the connection - Make it relevant to their lives. What should they learn from it? And most importantly how should they respond. The best stories aren't just told, they are lived and experienced. Creative story tellers bring the listener into the story and they soon feel that this is their story, a story they want to be part of. That is me. That could have been me. I want that to be me. They are engaging and real and ultimately demand a response.
To find out more about how to prepare youth sermons that will make your youth sit up and listen, visit: http://www.CreativeSermonIdeas.com
Ken has been actively involved in youth ministry for almost 20 years and has been writing youth materials since 1988. He has written for numerous Youth weekends and summer camps around the world. He also does training workshops for youth leaders and teachers in Asia and is recommended by others for his creativity and for his passion in mentoring youth. You can visit his website at http://www.creativeyouthideas.com
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