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Storytelling and Stories
Oral Biblical Storytelling:
The core activity of the Church’s apostolic ministry has always been, the telling of God’s story, especially as revealed in Scripture, & in particular, in the life ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, and, to tell the story of Jesus & the stories told by Jesus.
Storytelling presentations:
Jeff is open to share the Scripture stories in liturgies and church services, Bible study groups, schools, Synod gatherings, retreats, conferences, rallies and retreats, for varying audiences, pre-schoolers to residents of nursing homes, school students or theology students.
Or, Jeff can be available to present an evening or day of storytelling, where he can select a program of stories to present, or tell Scripture stories of your choice. When you nominate your own selection of stories, please give Jeff plenty of notice to allow him adequate time to prepare, especially for long passages. Two-three months notice is usually very helpful.
The types of stories Jeff can share include the following:
Scripture Stories:
An oral telling of the Biblical stories, as they are written in the Bible. Jeff strives to tell these stories faithfully, seeking to maintain accuracy in word and content with the Scripture accounts. Jeff tells a wide range of stories, including:
- Jesus’ parables and miracles.
- Events in Jesus life and ministry.
- Sections of John’s Gospel, eg, the Farewell Discourse of chapters 13-17.
- The Old Testament stories, Psalms, Prophets, Jonah.
- Sections of Isaiah and Jeremiah, Genesis and Exodus.
- The Christmas & Passion narratives. Or, the Pentecost story.
And many others.
Or learn and prepare a story of your choice to suit the theme of your event.
Other narratives: There are many other stories not recorded in the Scriptures, we are only given fleeting glimpses, eg, Thomas, Peter, etc. Jeff pays attention to these persons and their faith journey with Jesus, and asks; ‘I wonder what story would they tell of Jesus? I wonder what their story was?’ and then prayerfully listens for an insight.
These are some of the stories Jeff tells. Invariably they are stories, which enlighten our understanding of faith, discipleship, life in God’s household, and the spiritual pilgrimage. Whilst these stories are ‘fictional’, Jeff strives to remain faithful to the Scripture passages and to the teaching of the Scriptures, and to historical and cultural accuracy.
Stories in ‘character’:
Storytelling in the character of Biblical persons: eg; Thomas, Jonah, The father of the prodigal son, Zacchaeus, John the Baptist, and many others.
Narrative Midrash (interpretive stories):
Perhaps hear the Scripture story through the eyes and ears of other characters, eg, the son of the Bethlehem shepherd, or the father of the good thief, Rocky the Rock Thrower, the unjust judge, & many others.
Dramatic readings:
Jeff can also give workshops on, and presentations of what he calls, narrative or dramatic reading of the Scriptures. For situations where storytelling might not be the most appropriate approach, or for persons who do not feel they have the gifts, experience or confidence to tell the story publicly. In this form, one learns the Scripture story so well, that when sharing the story, one may have the Bible in one’s hand, but only needs to refer to it as a memory jogger. It also serves the important symbolic purpose of emphasising that it is the Bible story which we are sharing, and thereby, draws attention to the Bible.
At your:
- Church and community gatherings.
- Seminars, Camps, Conferences & Rallies.
- Retreats, Days of Reflection, etc.
- In Schools: Religious Education Classes, Retreats, Camps & Liturgies.
- Liturgical Celebrations & Worship Services.
- Prayer Meetings or Bible study groups.
- RCIA, Lenten & Advent programs, etc.
- Children’s & Youth liturgies.
- Outreach, Evangelism & Healing Services.
- Theological College or Bible College.
- Pre-schools and retirement homes.
- Easter and Christmas plays and pageants.
And many others.
If you visit the page, ‘Previous Engagements’, in the ‘About Us’ screen, you may gain some idea of the range of groups, venues and settings in which Jeff can share the Biblical stories with your community.
The Story Café:
A Biblical storytelling presentation, in a coffee shop setting and atmosphere, featuring; storytelling, conversation, discussion and fellowship. The event would be held at your Church or community, (day or night), or if you can arrange it, at a local coffee shop.
Preparation:
When preparing to tell God’s story, Jeff operates on the following maxims:
You must pray long and hard, as if all the practice in the world will make no difference to your storytelling, and you must practice long and hard, as if all the prayer in the world will make no difference to your storytelling.
To tell God’s story, you must first listen to God’s story, this can only be done through; praying, listening and thinking through the heart to the heart of God.
Do not seek to memorize the story, but to remember it in the heart, and tell it from the heart.
Jeff uses the NRSV and NJB translations when typing out the Scripture story for preparation, and cross references with the NIV and NASB translations. He also uses Interlinear Greek-English translations, atlases, Biblical Dictionaries and commentaries from respected and recognised Biblical scholars and exegetes.
He then types out the story in a form suitable for telling. And then, he engages in the storytelling learning cycle of; reading the story out loud, prayer and reflection, linking personally with the text, letting the text speak to you, read you and enter you, then more prayer, reading out loud, and so the cycle goes on. |
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