This unit is dedicated to the following identifying the fundamentals of telling a story to engage the listener. This is as much art as it is science, and the practice of storytelling is at least as old as the Bible itself.
UNIT THREE OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Analyze the components of effective storytelling from a contemporary master storyteller.
2. Examine those characteristics that detract from storytelling.
3. Identify the fundamentals of telling a story to engage the listener.
4. Model the creation of a sermon with a focus on storytelling.
UNIT THREE RESOURCES
 Textbook: The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching
 Media Clip: A Prairie Home Companion: The News from Lake Wobegon, February 14, 2009 by Garrison Keillor
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UNIT THREE ASSIGNMENTS
3.1 TEXT/MEDIA: TEXTBOOK; MEDIA CLIP
INTRODUCTION AND ALIGNMENT
In our course text the authors go to some length to introduce the reader to the various aspects of stories and illustrations. This assignment aligns with the course in that storytelling and illustration are necessary components of effective biblical communication.
Upon completion of this assignment you should be able to:
 Identify the fundamentals of telling a story to engage the listener.
RESOURCES
 Textbook: The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching
 Media Clip: A Prairie Home Companion: The News from Lake Wobegon, February 14, 2009 by Garrison Keillor
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
In the section of the course text you are asked to read for this assignment, the text writers highlight the following regarding storytelling and illustrations:
• How to tell a moving story
• Bringing Bible stories to life
• Suspense
• Tension
• Illustrating from culture
• Illustrating with integrity and sensitivity
• Avoiding self-centeredness in illustration
Garrison Keillor has been a part of public radio since as far back as 1974. His Public Radio show A Prairie Home Companion has an audience numbering in the millions. Of particular interest to story tellers is his standing segment during each radio show where he highlights the goings on of his fictional hometown, Lake Wobegon. Keillor excels in that he knows the idiosyncrasies of small town America, and is a master at relating those in an engaging and humorous way.
Please note – the selection of this brief media clip for you to watch is in no way an endorsement of Keillor’s lifestyle, values, word selection or political positions. You are directed to watch this only as an example of one who knows how to tell a story.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Read the textbook, chapters 130-145.
2. View the storytelling Media Clip: A Prairie Home Companion: The News from Lake Wobegon, February 14, 2009 by Garrison Keillor
3. Feel free to consult any other scholarly sources regarding storytelling and illustration.
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3.5 UNIT ASSIGNMENT: SERMON
INTRODUCTION AND ALIGNMENT
In this assignment you will now put to practice what you have learned this week about the art and components of storytelling. This assignment aligns with the course in that it provides opportunity for the student to actually put storytelling into practice in the context of a sermon.
Upon completion of this assignment you should be able to:
 Model the creation of a sermon with a focus on storytelling.
RESOURCES
 Your Bible.
 Hebrew and Greek word study works, as well as scholarly historical and theological works.
 This week’s readings from your course text.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The preacher does not learn how to preach by reading books and taking courses about preaching. Yes, books and courses are important. That said, just as the lawyer must go to court, just as the surgeon must pick up the scalpel, so too must the preacher actually stand before a group of people and declare God’s Word.
Now is the time for you to get alone with the Lord, take up your Bible, and ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to a passage of scripture. Choose a passage large enough to gain an adequate understanding of the text (we want to avoid isogesis), but not so large that you are overwhelmed by the amount of biblical data.
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Do a thorough study of the language (to the extent you can) and then move on to historical setting, an atlas, works of theology, and lastly commentaries. (You do not want to bias your approach to the text by first consulting commentaries.)
2. Put together a sermon including the following manner:
 the title of the message
 the biblical text
 a brief introduction
 3 points drawn from the text, providing each point with a relevant story or illustration to aid your audience in retaining the main point you wish to make
 a brief conclusion
3. Get away from your sermon for a day or two in order to pray and reflect on it.
4. Then come back to it for finalizing in ONE of the following 3 methods:
a. Prepare a document of no less than 4 pages
5. Remember, you must show real connection between Scripture and application to culture. You must also use a minimum of 4 scholarly sources, not including your Bible or Bible notes.