How to Share Your Stories with Others

We all have a story in us. You don’t have to climb Mount Everest or travel the world in order to have experiences to share with others—relatable stories from everyday life can have the most impact. God created us to be storytellers. Our sacred text is a library of stories describing humanity’s triumphs, failures, and ongoing attempts to serve God faithfully. In fact, some biblical scholars estimate that the Bible is 70 percent narrative. Jesus himself frequently used stories during his interactions as he shared his life with others, continuing the Hebrew tradition of storytelling and inspiring the generations to come.

I’ve been watching a lot of television lately while recovering from an illness and have been thinking about the ways stories are told, both in entertainment media and in real life. Inspired by scriptwriters for television shows, I’ve compiled some ideas about how to share your story of faith—how you’ve seen God at work in your life—using some scriptwriting structures.

Exposition

In television shows, “exposition” is how the writer gives the background information to the viewer. Sometimes the exposition is glaringly obvious: A character says, “Hi, younger brother Steve. Are you nervous about the big test today that determines your career?” Generally, I prefer a more “show, don’t tell” approach. Having information dumped on me can be overwhelming and, honestly, makes me want to tune out.

In a similar vein, I’m sure you’ve heard the quote attributed to St. Francis of Assisi that we should “preach the Gospel at all times. Use words if necessary.” In Ephesians 4:1–2, Paul urges us to “walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love.”

Taking this and applying it to your real life, think of your story as a dialogue, not a monologue. While it’s important to share your experiences of God in conversation, the way you move through your life is the ultimate testimony. Share your life with people and focus on loving as Jesus did.

This also means creating room for others. As you open up, think of storytelling more in terms of a “give and take” instead of a speech. You may be the star of your own life, but you are the supporting cast to everyone around you. Listen and learn from others so you can develop a richer, more expansive view of life and of others.

Plot

What do you want to share about your relationship with God, the lessons he has taught you, and the experiences you have had along the way? A plot is boring without adversity and the overcoming of struggles, so don’t be afraid to share the hard stuff (as far as you are comfortable doing so) and where you have seen God’s faithfulness despite those difficult circumstances.

How you impart this information depends on context, of course. If you’re giving a speech or hosting a conference, your approach will be different than if you are informally chatting with a stranger at a dinner party or with a friend at a coffee shop. Ultimately, if you feel you have a story to tell (and if you are alive, you most certainly do!), sharing from the heart and opening yourself up to the Holy Spirit can be a powerful way to connect with and encourage others.

The Bible tells a story about how Jesus healed a man who had been possessed by demons for a very long time. After his deliverance at the hands of Jesus, the man begged to stay by Jesus’ side, but Jesus told him,

“‘Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you.’ And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town how much Jesus had done for him” (Luke 8:39).

I especially like the part of the verse that says “off he went.” It brings to mind a man, newly set free, happily going about the rest of his days sharing about Jesus. While we may not be plagued with literal demons, we all have struggles and can share about how we have seen the healing power of Jesus in our own lives.

Resolution

Life, like television shows, must come to an end at some point. While we pray that we can live a robust, long life here on Earth, let’s make the most of our unique stories and perspectives and keep our eyes open for how God has worked and is working in our lives. A life of resolution only comes when we allow the abundant life of Jesus to flow in and through us. We bear witness to our loving Creator by living honest, loving, and faithful lives. Why not share your story with someone—it may spur a “spin-off” episode and bring another to faith.

As David declares in Psalm 96:2–3, “Sing to the Lord, bless his name; proclaim his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his wondrous works among all peoples.”