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The Power of a Story

When he had to confront King David, Nathan told a story. When Joshua urged Israel to choose whom they would serve, he told a story. When the Son of God wanted to reveal truth to His followers, He too told a story.

Throughout human history, stories have served people in important ways. Stories have been used to teach history, to connect people to their communities or tribes, and to reveal the visible work of the invisible God in His world, among other things. When Nathan chose to tell a story about an oppressive and greedy rich man killing a lamb, his purpose was simple: to confront David with the truth of his moral failure.

In our current era, we tend to relegate stories to a place of "entertaining fictions." Seeing stories through this lens, however, is far too limiting for those of us who believe in the unmatched creative powers of our God. Seeing stories only as entertainment limits their ability to speak truth about the world, relationships, and God. Let's take our cue from Nathan and embrace the powerful ways stories can work in our lives. As the Bible makes clear, stories have always been, and will continue to be, a great deal more than a pleasant way to pass the time.

They can communicate life-changing truths.