The Greatest Story

 “There’s nothing more important than a good story.”  Lauren Graham

 Do you love a good story? I sure do. Years ago I loved to hear Paul Harvey share The Rest of the Story. Today one of my favorite podcasts is Mike Rowe’s The Way I Heard It. Both are such gifted storytellers.  

  I’m thankful theaters are finally open again and Hollywood has started releasing blockbusters. Watching a movie at home isn’t the same as a large theater with a big screen and a tub of popcorn. 

  Apparently, it’s something that’s hardwired into us – we crave a good story. Maybe it’s because stories give us a sense of place in this eternal, supernatural existence. They stir our imaginations and help us make sense of love, betrayal, hatred, and compassion. Stories prepare us for experiences like sorrow and suffering. The ways we interpret our lives, our relationships, our past, and our future are all tied up in stories.

  Even our fairytales are connected to reality. We long for someone to love us in spite of our beastliness and break us out of our castle of suffering. We crave a hero to free us from our sleeping enchantments of ignorance, pain, and injustice. In our heart of hearts, we really don’t want death to be the end. “It can’t be,” we tell ourselves, “that evil is allowed to ultimately triumph. That’s just not fair!”

  Though most people in America hang Christmas decorations and exchange gifts on December 25^th, few say they could give all the details about the biblical Christmas story. 53% of Americans say they could retell the biblical Christmas story from memory, but only 22% say they could do so accurately, according to Lifeway Research.

  In a world of heroes, villains, comedies, tragedies, twists of fate, and surprise endings, there’s only one story—one grand narrative that encompasses all other stories on earth: the good news story or the gospel story. Do you know the gospel story?

  Someone told it like this…Once upon a time, the universe was created as part of a larger, supernatural, spiritual world. The good King (Jesus) and the evil sorcerer (Satan) really do exist. Unfortunately, years and years ago, all of humanity was blinded by an evil spell. The first prince and princess (Adam and Eve) sacrificed their innocence and were expelled from paradise. Ever since that day, all the King’s children (including you and me) have longed to get back into paradise. We wake up each morning longing for the spell to be broken. 

  Thankfully, on the first Christmas, the heroic King punched a hole between His world and ours, coming to save us from the evil spell! Jesus grew up living a sinless life. He calmed storms, healed the sick, and raised the dead. After He laid down His own life to die on a cross, God’s Spirit raised Him back to life three days later. Jesus is the only true hero with a qualified resume to save us, transform us, and one day restore us.

  Finally, one day soon, evil and death will ultimately lose, the King will ultimately win, and His followers will live happily ever after with Him! As C. S. Lewis declared in The Weight of Glory, “The door on which we have been knocking all our lives will open at last.”

  In more modern terms that’s the gospel story but you don’t have to invite someone to church to hear the gospel story. You can tell it. All of us share stories. Shouldn’t we be able to share the greatest story? Maybe begin by retelling the story to a friend who has the Bible in front of them. They can correct whatever errors you make. The aim is to retell the story according to the following guidelines (the acronym is SAM):

  Simple: Only use words that the listener understands. If you’re sharing it with a child, make sure you use words on their level of comprehension. If it’s a child or an unchurched adult, use words on their level and that would be in their common vernacular. Being incarnational means leaving the “language” of your world and entering theirs.

  The Lord Jesus was the master of this. When He talked to Nicodemus, the religiously schooled theologian, He used complex words and concepts. When He talked to blue-collar fishermen, He used the metaphor of fishing. As He talked to the woman at the well in John 4 who had come to draw water, Jesus talked about being thirsty and her thirsty soul.

  Accurate: You can simplify the story by leaving out some things—place names, names of persons, details about a particular location, yet don’t add things to embellish the story.

  Memorable: Retell the story in a memorable way. What’s memorable? Feel free to use facial expressions, body language, and actions to get the emotion and the drama in the story across to your listeners.

  Can you imagine sharing the new spiderman story in a dull monotone lecture style? Stories of heroes are exciting! Love stories are emotional.

  Jesus is the greatest hero of all time. It’s an exciting story! And it’s a beautiful love story. You and I, because of sin, were the ugly stepsisters. Jesus the Prince didn’t leave His throne for Cinderella. He willingly left His throne for us, the ugly stepsisters. Not only did He leave His throne, but He also let evil men nail Him to a cross. He could have called the armies of heaven to rescue Him, but He didn’t. Instead, He willingly laid down His life for us, to pay the price for all of our sins.

  If you’ve committed your life to Christ, it’s your story. And if you haven’t yet committed your life to Christ, it can be your story starting today.

  Will you surrender your life to Jesus today? Trust Him. Commit your life to Him. Put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, finding your ultimate fulfillment in His eternal story. If you commit your life to Christ, then His story will become your story!

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address.