Using Parables: How to Teach Like Jesus

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Take a moment to explore Jesus' favorite method of storytelling.

Greg Carlson | posted 4/02/2008

Topics:	Creativity, Jesus Christ, Learning, Teaching
Filters:	Facilitator, Group Leader, Lead
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Matthew 13:11-13 , Luke 8:5-6
Date Added:	April 02, 2008

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Parables were the storytelling method of choice for our Lord. A parable can be defined as a brief story that can stand alone—like a self-contained module that appeals to the thinking and attitudes of its hearers. There are other ways to tell stories, of course, but I want to focus here on the parable telling (or storytelling) of Jesus. I see them as one and the same, because parables are a particular kind of story.

The Structure of Jesus' Parables

There are many ways to tell stories, and we can certainly be creative. But I believe we can greatly improve the stories we tell by following Jesus' examples. When we dissect the way that Jesus told parables, we can see several profound principles about how to tell our own stories.

First, the source of Jesus' illustrations was often his imagination. Jesus rarely used personal examples, and while he regularly used material from Scripture, he only occasionally used historical examples. That's the opposite of what many storytellers do today. Our practice usually starts with a personal example, moves to history, then a Bible story, and then to our imagination.

Second, the opening (first 10 seconds) of Jesus' stories established the setting. Too many times when we tell stories, we don't answer any of the six journalistic questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? Take Jesus' well-known parable about the sower and the seed. In 10 seconds, you can read this much: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture" (Luke 8:5–6).

Now ask the six questions. At least half are answered in these few words.

Who? The sower.
What? Went out to sow.
When? Not answered, but probably at sowing time.
Where? His field.
Why? Not answered. Jesus will use this to illustrate spiritual receptivity.
How? Jesus develops the details to fit his teaching purposes.

The opening of Jesus' stories also directed the listener's interest. By establishing the basic plot in the first few seconds, Jesus could then tell a longer story. However, none of Jesus' recorded stories would take more than three minutes to tell, while the shortest would take just 20 seconds. As teachers, if we want students to remember what we've taught, we need to be thinking "quick."

Finally, the last sentences of Jesus' parables prompted a response from his listeners. Note some of his methodology:

He usually didn't have to state the main point, because it was obvious from the story.
He usually established the analogy in the first sentence. For example, "The Kingdom of heaven is like … " (Matthew 13:31).
He often ended his stories with a convincing question. For example, "How is he then his son?" (Luke 20:44, KJV).

Putting Jesus' Method of Telling Stories into Practice

As we look at how to use Jesus' storytelling methods in our own teaching, I like the way Eugene Peterson translates Jesus' answer of why he told stories:

You've been given insight into God's kingdom. You know how it works. Not everybody has this gift, this insight; it hasn't been given to them. Whenever someone has a ready heart for this, the insights and understandings flow freely. But if there is no readiness, any trace of receptivity soon disappears. That's why I tell stories: to create readiness, to nudge the people toward receptive insight (Matthew 13:11–13, THE MESSAGE).

As rock-solid teachers, we can use the following methods to nudge our students toward "receptive insight."

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