Stories shape us, even as we shape our stories. The stories we tell to one another are repeated by us because of something within us, and then they have an impact on us. When I heard the news (news story?) of a young child abducted, I shared the story with my wife. Why did I share that one, and not the one about how it will be 62 degrees tomorrow? Because something in that story relates to me, my fears, my worries, my sense of justice, or maybe my outrage. Yet as I tell that story, I increase those parts of me. I learn to be more wary, fearful, or motivated because I see that story as reality.

So too with the Gospel of Christ. I love the way The Message starts out the book of Luke:

So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us, using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives. – Luke 1:1-2, The Message

This paraphrase of scripture captures the idea that the gospel is a story. Not just A story, but “The” story. It is the story of Good News (the definition of “gospel”). The good news that Jesus offers us the life that is truly life, the call on our hearts, the chance to be with God for now and eternity, and of a purpose that fulfills his Kingdom.

And how do we share that truth? We tell stories. The stories vary. Sometime I tell my story. Sometimes I find the part of “The Story” in your story. Often I simply tell the stories that God has told. The stories found in scripture, the accounts of Jesus, and even the accounts of lesser men, like Moses, Abraham, Judas, or whomever. In each of those stories is a bit of the overall story that shows us something about God, his purposes, or his ways.

In a couple of weeks I would love to begin sharing on Sunday morning some of the Bible stories that have really impacted us. I certainly have my list of stories that currently carry much meaning for me: Creation, David and Bathsheba, Jonah and many others. I would love to know what stories have meant something to you, and a bit of why.

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