Bible Story Telling On Visitation

After services today, my wife and I visited a patient at the nursing home who is on hospice care.

I thought it appropriate to tell him the story of Lazarus from John 11: 1 - 44 which I told several weeks ago one Sunday morning. (I wasn't sure if I remembered it but got almost all of it.)

After that visit we went to a home of a couple who have visited the church but who haven't been in a few weeks as the husband recovers from some neck surgery.

I repeated for them today's story that formed the text for the sermon - the parable of the Unforgiving Servant from Matthew 18: 21 - 35.

Whenever I visit someone I try to always pray, read the scriptures (or now tell a Bible Story) and usually sing a familiar song. Too often otherwise visits devolve into meaningless "chit chat".

Was telling a Bible Story any better than reading a passage of scripture? Perhaps not - only God knows and He makes effective whatever He pleases.

I know for myself that by telling a Bible Story as opposed to reading it, requires more of me. I am forced to internalize the message of Scripture and am more apt to reflect upon it in the process of grasping it's nuances. I am more likely to note important repetitions ( for example, the unforgiving servant heard the same plea for mercy that he'd given to the king but was hard hearted). I'm also more likely to note turns of phrase such as Peter's question "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?" - an odd turn of phrase but important to the story. Also, I'm more likely to be forced to grapple with putting technical terms into plain English... such as the difference in worth between a talent and denarii.

Bible Story Telling also forces me to learn the text of scripture in order to tell it while allowing me to communicate more vividly to my hearers... such as the line where the unforgiving servant chokes the debtor. That gesture is easily simulated when story telling.

So at least Bible Story Telling has a beneficial effect on me. May God give grace so that it has a beneficial effect on the hearers as well.