this lesson was taught years back..
i found it really essential!
just wanna share!!
as you know, sharing is caring! = )

Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables;
he did not say anything to them without using a parable.
-Matthew 13:34

He taught them many things by parables…
-Mark 4:2

Benefits of Story Telling

1) They Are Easy to Remember

Jesus’ stories always involved everyday events and object lessons that his audience could identify with; stories of wedding banquets,
farmer sowing seeds, labourers in the vineyard, shepherd and sheep.

These stories were culturally relevant and therefore were easy to remember and effective for communicating truth. This is especially useful for communicating vision.

2) They Help to Get Pass Human Defences

• Read 2 Samuel 12:1-14 (Nathan rebukes David)

3) They Are Able to Capture Attention

A good story will involve the audience’s emotions, imagination and intellect. The audience becomes a participant in the story.

David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan,
"As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die!
-2 Samuel 12:5

Since birth, we all search for answers to a few basic questions, such as

• Who am I?
  
• Where did I come from?
  
• What group do I belong to and why?
  
• Where is my life going?
  
• What things in life are really true, beautiful, and good?
  

As Christians, we have the answers to all these fundamental questions to the human identity. Thus, we have the potential to be the best storytellers on the face of this earth.

45 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it. 47 "Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
-Matthew 13:45-50

Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.
-Matthew 18:23

2) The most powerful identity stories reflect the trait that the storyteller embodies

Leaders must “walk the talk.” They can’t just express a personal, social, and/or moral identity and then not live it. Their actions must reflect their words.

Martin Luther King backed his speech with his life.
He gave his life to his cause, figuratively and literally.

11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.12 The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. John 10:11-13

A good storyteller with an inconsistent life can only charm the audience for a moment. But a good storyteller with a consistent life will make long lasting imprints into people’s life.

3) Stories are more readily acceptable if they are understandable to an unschooled, five year old mind

In our first half decade of life, most of us are like sponges: absorbing anything and everything we can in a desperate effort to answer critical identity questions. By the age of five, we are already well along in the process of self-definition and identification. We have had little, if any, formal education --- are unschooled --- and yet we have developed powerful notions about our existence. We see ourselves as being part of some groups but not of others. We hold certain beliefs, attitude, and values, yet we reject others. Some behaviour seems perfectly natural to us. Others seem extraordinary strange.

Jesus’ stories are not targeted at highly intellectual individuals. They are stories of everyday happenings that everybody in that culture can identify with. These stories appealed to the masses and not only to the minority.

4) In storytelling, form is as important as content

The gurus urge would-be leader storytellers to polish their delivery.

The best storytellers “create engaging dialogues with their audiences, structure their talks like symphonies, and use their potential energy to radiate excitement about their plans.”

Leadership, say our gurus, is partially a game of language. Would-be players must master the tool of rhetoric, including the use of metaphors and rhythmic speech patterns. Repetition, rhythm, balance, and alliteration grab the listeners’ attention, spark an emotional reaction, and cut through the daily babble. People remember the message. More importantly, stories connect the listener with the leader.

24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
-Matthew 7:24-27

Exercise

• Craft a story utilising all the components for successful storytelling. It is recommended that the theme of the story be an element of our Hope values. As beginners, it is suggested that we write down our stories word for word. Thereafter, we should practise it until it becomes second nature. Practice makes perfect.

Happy Storytelling!

Praise from all who love God!
Israel's children, intimate friends of God.
Hallelujah!

• posses a class 3 license [be it P-plate or not]
• don't have a car...
  
• but interested in driving one [be it for a function, outing, errands...etc..]
  
• wants to try out different models of car.. [from subaru TS to fiat punto..]
  

dreamy...aint it?

and GUESS WHAT!?!?

MY UNCLE DRIVES an EVO IX!!!!!
gosh...its like ....i took a pic with "her"!!!
can YOU believe it?!

OH YA...back to the lancer.. yupp..
but we all mods requires loads of $...
y'noe... i am so gonna work hard....and get my first car...!!
i should call it, my first "wife"...!! hahaha...
my dream car?
the 2007 SUBARU IMPREZA WRX STI LIMITED!

i saw this "babe" in blue just downstairs...
as in the car park below my flat.

and some pictures of the blue "babe" i found..

http://www.subaru.com/sub/misc/2007/sti/index.html
check the URL for more details...

i prefer it WHITE, with GOLD RIMS..
attached a WINGED-SPOILER behind it,
FULL BODY KIT...interior with SOUNDSTREAM sound
system......to BLAST LOUD P&W SONGS... and...
"WAKE UP, DK!"