The Jesus Story manuscript

Inviting Jesus to the Table

Opening prayer . . .

Tonight, we are discussing the Jesus story.

Why we tell a “Jesus story”?

Shift in religious landscape

Years ago, it seemed people were more willing to have conversations on religious topics.

A willingness to debate and discuss

Consideration and reflection

Even at times, disagreement

But one thing was true, they were willing to engage.

Today, there seems to be either a militant response to Christianity, or a sense of apathy

Gone are the days of the willingness to discuss and reflect.

I remember growing up in Northwest Ohio:

Throughout my High School years. I engaged in sharing the gospel every opportunity I found.

I was even asked by my Biology teacher to share about Creation during the lectures on evolutionary biology.

I was known as “the preacher.”

Carried my Bible

Witnessed to peers in study hall

Left tracks in the bathroom

Talked with my best friend in band

He came to Christ and has been a pastor for decades.

Over the past 30+ years in ministry, I believe I have noticed a shift.

We have lived in different parts of the country: Missouri, Texas, Ohio, Washington, and now Michigan.

Some places were more open to conversations about faith and Christianity.

Yet, each geographical region had it’s own unique challenges.

Whether in the mid-west, the Bible-belt of Texas, or the Pacific-Northwest, people seem to be distant in concern and interest when it comes to church.

The Pacific-Northwest was especially closed to the gospel or religious conversations

Filled with racial tension, extreme homelessness, and a blatant disregard for Christianity, those living in Seattle express little to no interest.

It is the largest city in the US with the greatest number of self-proclaimed atheists.

You may say, “well Bill this isn’t Seattle, and you would be right. Although not Seattle or the Pacific-Northwest, I believe we can all agree that a shift is taking place in the hearts and minds of people around us.

Why? . . .

Some dislike organized religion and see us as legalistic and judgmental.

Many were simply not raised in a religious household to begin with. They have no point of reference to Christianity other than what they see or hear from those around them.

For others, it could've been a church scandal or traumatic event that sparked a crisis of faith.

People in their 40s and 50s are in the middle of raising kids, caring for aging parents and juggling demanding jobs that spill into the weekend.

During the pandemic, many got out of the habit of going regularly to religious services and didn't resume.

The predominant reason that people offer for not attending worship services is that they practice their faith in other ways.

Today . . .

40 million people have stopped attending church in the past 25 years.

Church membership has fallen 50%.

Christianity is expected to lose 66 million adherents mostly to religiously unaffiliated category by 2050.

Pew Research repeatedly found that Gen Z (born between 1997 and 2012) is the nation's least religious generation, with about 33% having no religion. (5 of our pastoral staff are Gen Z)

Spiritual exploration . . .

Although not attending church services, there is still a search for meaning and purpose.

There is a strong emphasis on experience over doctrine; especially with those from younger generations.

People may not be interested in talking about doctrine, but they are interested in talking about Jesus.

Perception of Christ . . .

Most believe Jesus was a real person; an actual historical figure who lived.

Many consider Him to have been a good teacher of morals and ethics.

They can quote sayings of Jesus such as: “Do unto others . . .”

Some believe Jesus was a prophet.

Some have interest in Christ’s compassion and how He served others.

They are open to His interactions with the poor and defense of the weak.

They may not believe Jesus is the Son of God, but they see Him as personal and relatable.

Why a Jesus story ?

A bridge needs to be built

A gap needs to be closed

Hearts and minds need to become receptive

Defenses need to be lowered

The Truth of Christ needs to be spoken

What is a Jesus Story? . . .

Simply said: a Jesus story refers to the life, teachings, and example of Jesus.

Tells a parable or teaching of Jesus in understandable language

6-8 minutes in length

What a Jesus story isn’t . . .

No personal stories

No illustrations

No poems or quotes

No statistics

Not a 3-point sermon

Just a simple story which allows the Holy Spirit to work.

The Prodigal Son . . . (Luke 15)

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Chapter 15)

THE STORY OF THE LOST SON

11–12  Then Jesus said, “There was once a man who had two sons. The younger said to his father, ‘Father, I want right now what’s coming to me.’

12–16  “So the father divided the property between them. It wasn’t long before the younger son packed his bags and left for a distant country. There, undisciplined and dissipated, he wasted everything he had. After he had gone through all his money, there was a bad famine all through that country and he began to hurt. He signed on with a citizen there who assigned him to his fields to slop the pigs. He was so hungry he would have eaten the corncobs in the pig slop, but no one would give him any.

17–20  “That brought him to his senses. He said, ‘All those farmhands working for my father sit down to three meals a day, and here I am starving to death. I’m going back to my father. I’ll say to him, Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son. Take me on as a hired hand.’ He got right up and went home to his father.

20–21  “When he was still a long way off, his father saw him. His heart pounding, he ran out, embraced him, and kissed him. The son started his speech: ‘Father, I’ve sinned against God, I’ve sinned before you; I don’t deserve to be called your son ever again.’

22–24  “But the father wasn’t listening. He was calling to the servants, ‘Quick. Bring a clean set of clothes and dress him. Put the family ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Then get a grain-fed heifer and roast it. We’re going to feast! We’re going to have a wonderful time! My son is here—given up for dead and now alive! Given up for lost and now found!’ And they began to have a wonderful time.

25–27  “All this time his older son was out in the field. When the day’s work was done he came in. As he approached the house, he heard the music and dancing. Calling over one of the houseboys, he asked what was going on. He told him, ‘Your brother came home. Your father has ordered a feast—barbecued beef!—because he has him home safe and sound.’

28–30  “The older brother stalked off in an angry sulk and refused to join in. His father came out and tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t listen. The son said, ‘Look how many years I’ve stayed here serving you, never giving you one moment of grief, but have you ever thrown a party for me and my friends? Then this son of yours who has thrown away your money shows up and you go all out with a feast!’

31–32  “His father said, ‘Son, you don’t understand. You’re with me all the time, and everything that is mine is yours—but this is a wonderful time, and we had to celebrate. This brother of yours was dead, and he’s alive! He was lost, and he’s found!’ ”

Here is what the story says to me:

The story represents God as the Father and us as the son.

The Father freely gave.

The Father allowed the younger son to make his decisions.

The son made choices and lived out the consequences.

The son got hungry enough to get up and go home.

The Father welcomed him home.

The older brother was as bad or worse than the younger even though he stayed home.

“From dead to living . . . from lost to found.”

What does the story say to you?

Group discussion . . .

The Good Samaritan . . . (Luke 10:25-42)

The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Chapter 10)

DEFINING “NEIGHBOR”

25  Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. “Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?”

26  He answered, “What’s written in God’s Law? How do you interpret it?”

27  He said, “That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.”

28  “Good answer!” said Jesus. “Do it and you’ll live.”

29  Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?”

30–32  Jesus answered by telling a story. “There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead. Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side. Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.

33–35  “A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him. He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable. In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill—I’ll pay you on my way back.’

36  “What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?”

37  “The one who treated him kindly,” the religion scholar responded.

Jesus said, “Go and do the same.”

Here is what the story says to me:

We must love God and love one another.

Religion doesn’t get us to heaven.

Jesus tells us to act in the same way the Samaritan acted and not the religious people.

What does the story say to you?

Group discussion . . .

Closing thoughts . . .

We have to be willing to present Jesus in a way that resonates with today’s hearer.

The objective is to present the Truth of Jesus so that people can receive Him and Lord and Savior

It isn’t based on my ability.

It is based on the Holy Spirit’s work in the heart of the individual.

All Jesus is looking for is those who will make themselves available to tell the stories he told, to people who are in desperate need of a Savior, Healer, and Deliverer.

Prayer . . .

Next week . . .

The Care Portal

Our go-to system for meeting practical needs.

Adam Bell

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Q&A