Experiential Storytelling: (Re)Discovery Narrative to Communicate God's Message

Miller asks a new question: How do we meet and intersect with our youth and their experiences? In a world that questions facts, and where new experiences are needed in order to keep our youth engaged, there needs to be a shift in teaching styles. This book provides any leader with every step that is needed to make a change. Everything from teaching outlines, how to provide an experiential setting for learning, and how to engage every thinking and learning style after the narrative is read is included and can be used for life application. Miller suggests that experiences, which are interactive and relational, should be the basis for ministry as it will engage and educate. Even with all of this, there is something more. This type of ministry places trust in the learner so that they can wrestle with the narrative and derive meaning that speaks to their experiences. This is the beauty in teaching from a story foundation. It allows for teaching to become more missional - it allows teachers to teach like missionaries do. By engaging their culture, speaking their language, and becoming apart of their community, personal experiences are enabled and there is a greater emotional attachment to Jesus' story. He asks a very poignant question: "Do we trust our people and the Holy Spirit enough to allow them to think for themselves?" From a jr. high standpoint, are we willing to allow experiences to begin and form without seeing the fruit of our work? Are we willing to allow the high school, or young adult ministry to be the final stages in personal decision to follow and live like Jesus? Experiential Storytelling is just that - creating experience from sharing our story and, more importantly, God's story with those around us. This book is a must-own for any leader that wants to teach from a "storying" perspective as it will provide guidance, application, and insight into this wonderful form of communicating.

"The Gospel has come to life for everyone involved."-Mark Miller That quote in many ways sums up this book for me. This book is about telling a story, and not just any story...the Greatest Story Ever Told. The Gospel. Frederick Buechner said, "There is perhaps no better proof of the existence of God then the way that year after year He survives the way his professional friends promote Him." In his book, Miller touches on how we as a society have changed and how, all to often, the church has failed to adapt in the way that it communicates Gospel. Are we bringing the story to life for a new generation? Can they see that their stories are connected to His Story? Has the Gospel "come to life" for them? Perhaps the key to the whole thing is found in the latter part of that initial quote, ...to everyone involved." Ultimately, experiential storytelling(in my understanding of the book) is about inviting people into the story. Not simply as observers, witnesses or spectators but as participants. It is as we participate in the story that we experience God in a way that is life changing. The Bible uses experiential language when it says to "Taste and see that the Lord, He is good. (Psa.34:8) Everyone deserves to hear the gospel in their "heart language" and for this generation-it is experience. This book isn't a thesis. It is not necessarily a Christian "Classic" (my apologies to the author)either. What I did find was a well written book that acts as yet another chapter in a very important conversation that is taking place. The kind of conversations that must be happening within the Church if they are to assist travelers on this spiritual journey we call "life". The facts of the Story will never change but the way in which it is told? It absolutely must.

As a senior pastor, I must say that I really enjoyed this book. It really made me stop and think about the way I preach a sermon. In fact, now, because of this book, my entire style of preaching has changed. Shockingly enough, I am actually keeping the interest of the teens for the entire sermon...which is a huge feat, let me tell you! Because of this book, I have started using more stories in my sermons and look for more ways to draw the listeners into the sermon through things they can experience. That said, this book is not for everybody. It would probably be best used in the hands of a Youth Pastor, but could also be of some benefit to a pastor looking to make his/her sermons more interesting to the younger crowd. It does have an "Emergent" tone to the book that traditional pastors might not relate to. It also has a whole chapter on the "Jesus Journey" that would only be useful to somebody wanting to actually stage the "Journey" in their church. Also, his writing style is a bit in-experienced which might turn off some readers. However, there was only one thing I was disapointed about. The book says that you can go to the author's website and look at stories other readers have left that tell about their experiments with "Experiental Storytelling." I went to the site, but there weren't any stories there. Now, I guess it isn't the author's fault if his readers don't want to share stories of things they've tried in their churches. I keep going back to the site hoping that maybe somebody, some day might share one of their own stories there. All in all, I felt that this book was worth the price and was worth reading. My prayer is that more pastors will read this book and reconsider the way they present their sermons.

Frustrated with the overall decline of church membership today, author Mark Miller examines the speaking techniques used in most churches and how people respond. After teaching a Sunday School class which started large and declined until it had almost no attendees, he found that experiential storytelling techniques brought people back in droves and allowed him to share the message of Christ in new and innovative ways. Experiential Storytelling methods allow people to experience the story of Christ instead of sermonizing. This in turn makes the Bible more real to others. While many churches are stuck in a pattern that is hard to change and people in general tend to be resistant, youth groups are generally more open and the techniques in this book could easily be used there or in the Sunday School setting. Then, who knows, perhaps it will move into the primary service. Experiential Storytelling is highly recommended and church leaders should at least be aware of the techniques and potential.

I ordered this because I am a youth worker and mother of two teenagers, but after reading it, I want every teaching I am in to be as alive as Mark Miller proposes. It is not about some desperate attempt to reach the next generation. It is about putting creativity in the church where it should be and that applies to all ages. Miller does a wonderful job of helping his readers make a discovery, instead of just handing them to a conclusion. He has great personal examples as well as input from other experts from whom he has learned. It is an enjoyable and inspiring read!