Why You’re after more than Bible Stories

Get better results by knowing your purpose. To paraphrase a fishing quote by Henry David Thoreau, “Many leaders tell Bible stories without knowing that it is not Bible stories they are after.” Are you wanting to evangelize? Evangelize. Disciple a new believer? Disciple. Mentor a new pastor? Mentor.

After a training session in Texas, a missionary confided in me, “Mark, I’ve been telling Bible stories with one refugee people group for almost a year. I now see that I’ve got to become intentional if I want them to experience spiritual transformation. I’ve just been giving them Bible facts.”

Sometimes it’s necessary to tell power stories (Jesus walking on the water) or a tender story (Ruth) from Scripture in order to gain a hearing. But once you have that permission, then determining a purpose and sticking to it can be used of the Lord to get better results.