Tag Archives: stories

What Happened to the Storytellers? October 7, 2019

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Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.

I’ve read a couple of books lately by John Walton that describes the thinking of the ancient people of Israel as the nation began. He also writes about what people of Jesus day might think when they heard scripture. It’s interesting reading as he describes what they would have known of the stories of the people around them. 

We forget sometimes, they grew up in Egypt after Jacob took his family there to escape the famine in Canaan. They heard the Egyptian tales of the beginnings of mankind and their thoughts on who and why we worship the pantheon of gods they held sacred. We forget Egyptian idols and rituals surrounded the Israelites every day until Moses led them out of slavery and into the wilderness toward the promised land. 

The Israelites probably didn’t tell many stories around the dinner table about Moses’ version of creation, the call of Abraham, or the rescue from famine for Jacob and his family. After 400 years, more than 10 generations since Joseph sat next to Pharaoh, I expect most of the Israelites never heard anything except the Egyptian version of ancient history.

Then Moses comes along and incites Pharoah to end the slavery and let the Israelites return to their homeland. I expect the elders tried to carry on some of the traditions Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob shared with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But I suppose many more of those two or three million sojourners never heard of Jehovah and certainly didn’t worship him. More followed God’s command to observe the Passover out of fear than obedience. They watched all the other plagues happen just as Moses said they would and wanted no part of this one. 

Maybe that’s a little too cynical, but I’m watching our country, and I don’t think I’m too far off the mark. Just about 400 years ago, a boatload of Pilgrim brought Christianity to form a tiny little settlement in this new nation. For a while, we became known as a Christian nation. Now, recent surveys of high school students show most don’t know the stories of the Bible. They’ve never heard of Cain and Abel, Daniel or Elisha, David and Goliath, unless as a motivation speech somewhere. They haven’t heard the miracle stories of the New Testament as Jesus turned water into wine, fed 5,000 men and their families, or raised Lazarus from the dead. 

Why is that? Why do our children not know the stories from the Bible? I think there are two simple reasons. 

First, we don’t read the Bible ourselves enough to know the stories. We would have a hard time telling the story of Jael and Sisera when Deborah served as the judge over Israel. We might not do well answering questions about who replaced Judas as the twelfth apostle and how he was chosen. We might be really confused as to which missionary trip Paul planted the church at Corinth. 

Second, like the ancients and those who walked the earth around the first century, we are primarily aural learners. We don’t think we are because we spend so much time reading books or emails or websites to gather information. But think about it. When someone sings a song you’ve heard several times, and changes even one word or one or two notes in the melody, you recognize it immediately. But in a paragraph you just read, do you know when a word changes? Or can you even see that someone removed a sentence from a section or two? Most people can’t from written documents, but can easily from music. 

That’s part of the reason so much of the ancient texts are poetry. Storytellers passed on the history, the commands, the songs, the stories from generation to generation orally. People couldn’t read and write, and those that could wouldn’t have access to books or materials to write them.

The point? In ancient times, parents, elders, storytellers told stories to their children to pass on the vital information within the tribe. When is the last time you share stories of Jesus or what he is doing in your life to your children or grandchildren? I’m pointing fingers at myself as I share this. I’m guilty also. We fail to use the gift of stories to spread what is most important to those who are dearest to us. Listen to what Paul wrote from prison to the one he groomed to take his place. This, from his second letter to Timothy:

For this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, and for this reason I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know the one in whom I have put my trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that day what I have entrusted to him. Hold to the standard of sound teaching that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you, with the help of the Holy Spirit living in us.¹

Did you notice Paul’s letter refers to teaching Timothy heard from Paul. I can see the two of them talking as they shared meals, traveled down the road together, mended tents, Paul’s other trade. I think Paul shared with Timothy whenever he had the chance about what he believed, the stories told to him about Jesus, his personal experience on the road to Damascus. Timothy soaked up the lessons, and they weren’t written. That came later while Paul sat in prison. 

We remember the stories in our lives, not the words on paper. Even the words on paper are remembered because we turn them into pictures in our heads. That’s how our brain works. So when we tell our kids stories about God’s work in the world, past and present, they stick. We just don’t do it enough. 

So, how about it? Are you ready to make memories the way Jesus did, telling stories, sharing word pictures to be remembered forever? Are you ready to just talk to those you meet about the story of your life and what God has done for you? No one reads and remembers anymore if they ever did. Take a look at our world. If we remembered what we read, we wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes over and over. But we do. Partly because we don’t tell the stories that impact our sons and daughters, our friends and neighbors. We don’t let them see and hear the change God makes in our lives. We’ve lost the art of storytelling. Maybe it’s time to bring it back. 

You can find me at richardagee.com. I also invite you to join us at San Antonio First Church of the Nazarene on West Avenue in San Antonio to hear more Bible-based teaching. You can find out more about my church at SAF.church. Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed it, tell a friend. If you didn’t, send me an email and let me know how better to reach out to those around you. Until next week, may God richly bless you as you venture into His story each day. 

¹THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® NIV®
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society®
Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

An incredible story! (John 14:9-12), March 28, 2017

Today’s Podcast


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  1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
  2. Has anyone ever told you a story that just seemed too incredible to be true? We’ve all heard those before. Put yourself in Philip’s place as he listened to Jesus’ words at that last Passover supper.
  3. Scripture
    1. John 14:9-12
    2. Jesus (to Philip):  I have lived with you all this time, and you still don’t know who I am? If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father. How can you keep asking to see the Father?  Don’t you believe Me when I say I abide in the Father and the Father dwells in Me? I’m not making this up as I go along. The Father has given Me these truths that I have been speaking to you, and He empowers all My actions.  Accept these truths: I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me. If you have trouble believing based on My words, believe because of the things I have done.  I tell you the truth: whoever believes in Me will be able to do what I have done, but they will do even greater things, because I will return to be with the Father.
  4. Devotional
    1. My father-in-law was an insurance claims manager for many years. Every once in awhile he would bring home a claim story that just sounded too incredible to be true.
      1. Working on the roof
      2. Slipped on the shingles
      3. Hit the ladder and tool box
      4. The tool box hit the chimney and ladder fell back against the chimney
      5. No ladder and fell off the roof
      6. Ladder broke the chimney
      7. Bricks fell on the man’s head
      8. Sounds like Wile E. Coyote
    2. As Jesus closes His ministry and speaks to His disciples, must have sounded much like that story
      1. Going where you can’t go
      2. You’ll look for me but you won’t find me
      3. Soon you’ll see me again and then you won’t see me
      4. I’ll leave but I’ll be with you
      5. My Father and I are one
      6. If you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen My Father
    3. How do you put all this together?
      1. Hide-and-seek?; you’ll look but you won’t find me; I’ll leave but come back
      2. Father and Son twins?
      3. This stuff sounds about as crazy as the story of the man fixing his roof
      4. But He says, “I’m not making this stuff up as I go along.”
      5. My father-in-law had to investigate the circumstances surrounding the man on the roof injuries and discovered they were true
      6. When we investigate Jesus’ words by looking into God’s word, we find His words are true.
    4. We can believe all He tells us
      1. It was hard for the disciples on the other side of the resurrection
      2. We have the evidence of an empty tomb to tell us Jesus is who He said He is
      3. He and the Father are One
      4. He invites us to believe in Him and be empowered to live transformed lives as He makes us more like Him each day
  5. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

What stories do you tell? (John 8:49-58), February 28, 2018

Today’s Podcast


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  1. Thanks for joining me today for “A Little Walk with God.” I’m your host Richard Agee.
  2. What stories do you tell those you want to win to Christ? Are they believable? Sometimes Jesus’ stories weren’t very believable. So what should we do?
  3. Scripture
    1. John 8:49-58
    2. Jesus:  I’m not taken by demons. You dishonor Me, but I give all glory and honor to the Father. But I am not pursuing My own fame. There is only One who pursues and renders justice.  I tell you the truth, anyone who hears My voice and keeps My word will never experience death.

Jews:  We are even more confident now that You are demon-possessed. Just go down the list: Abraham died, the prophets all died. Yet You say, “If you keep My word, you will never taste death.”  Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died; remember? Prophets—are any of them still alive? No. Who do You think You are?

Jesus:  If I were trying to make Myself somebody important, it would be a waste of time. That kind of fame is worth nothing. It is the Father who is behind Me, urging Me on, giving Me praise. You say, “He is our God,”  but you are not in relationship with Him. I know Him intimately; even if I said anything other than the truth, I would be a liar, like you. I know Him, and I do as He says.  Your father Abraham anticipated the time when I would come, and he celebrated My coming.

Jews:  You aren’t even 50 years old, yet You have seen and talked with Abraham?

Jesus:  I tell you the truth; I AM before Abraham was born.

  1. Devotional
    1. I grew up in the church. I’ve heard these scriptures all my life. I believe them. God’s spirit touches mine and I know they are true because of it. He has proven Himself to me over and over. But imagine hearing these words coming from Jesus for the first time.
      1. These men didn’t want to believe Him
        1. Uneducated carpenter’s son
        2. Doesn’t follow their rules
        3. Disrupts the religious order of the day
      2. He’s talking about something they cannot comprehend
      3. Everyone dies, so His words don’t make sense to them
      4. Compares Himself with God
    2. Sometimes we forget most of the world today has not heard the story
      1. Less that 50% of Americans claim any religious affiliation
      2. Christianity pushed into the background and even considered hate speech in some circles
      3. Stories are still confusing and unbelievable as they were in Jesus’ day
        1. Miracles
        2. Resurrection
        3. Never die
    3. Why do I mention this?
      1. Our mission is to go and make disciples
      2. Need to know the mindset of those to whom we speak
      3. They will sometimes be unaware of the language you speak
      4. They may have no concept of the things you take for granted as a believer
      5. They may think your stories about Jesus are fantasy and as real as Star Wars
      6. They need to hear about the change in your life and see the difference He makes every day for you
  2. If you want to learn more about my church, you can find us at SAF.church. If you like the devotional, share it with someone. If you don’t, tell me. I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for “A Little Walk with God.”

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.

God is there for you (Psalm 71), May 9, 2015

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Today’s Scriptures

Today’s Bible reading plans include:

Ready – Psalms 71
Set – Psalms 71; Matthew 26
Go! – 2 Samuel 17; Psalms 71; Matthew 26

Psalms 71
1 I have found shelter in You, Eternal One;
I count on You to shield me always from humiliation and disgrace.
2 Rescue and save me in Your justice.
Turn Your ear to me, and hurry to deliver me from my enemies.
3 Be my rock of refuge where I can always hide.
You have given the order to keep me safe;
You are my solid ground—my rock and my fortress.
4 Save me from the power of sinful people, O my God,
from the grip of unjust and cruel men.
5 For You are my hope, Eternal One;
You, Lord, have been the source of my confidence since I was young.
6 I have leaned upon You since I came into this world;
I have relied on You since You took me safely from my mother’s body,
So I will ever praise You.
7 Many find me a mystery,
but You are my rock and my shelter—my soul’s asylum.
8 My mouth overflows with praise to You
and proclaims Your magnificence all day long.
9 Do not set me aside when I am old;
do not abandon me when I am worn out.
10 For my enemies often voice evil against me;
those who desire to kill me plot together in secret.
11 They say, “God has abandoned him;
let’s go after him right now and seize him.
There’s no one around to rescue him.”
12 God, stay close by me.
Come quick, O my God, and help me!
13 May my enemies be covered in shame and then die;
may those who seek to harm me
be overwhelmed with contempt and disgrace.
14 But I will keep hope alive,
and my praise to You will grow exponentially.
15 I will bear witness to Your merciful acts;
throughout the day I will speak of all the ways You deliver,
although, I admit, I do not know the entirety of either.
16 I will come with stories of Your great acts, my Lord, the Eternal.
I will remind them of Your justice, only Yours.
17 You have taught me since I was young, O God,
and I still proclaim the wonderful things You have done.
18 Now as I grow old and my hair turns gray,
I ask that You not abandon me, O God.
Allow me to share with the generation to come
about Your power;
Let me speak about Your strength and wonders
to all those yet to be born.
19 God, Your justice stretches to the heavens,
You who have done mighty things!
Who is like You, O God?
20 You have made me see hard times: I’ve experienced many miserable days,
but You will restore me again.
You will raise me up
from the deep pit.
21 You will greatly increase my status
and be my comfort once again.
22 I will praise You with music played on a harp
because You have been faithful, O my God.
I will sing praises to You with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
23 I will shout for joy
as I sing Your praises;
my soul will celebrate because You have rescued me.
24 All day long I will declare how Your justice saved me,
for those who have plotted to bring me harm
are now ashamed and humiliated.

Today’s Devotional

From today’s background scripture God might say:

Hard days come because you live in a sin-scarred world. I didn’t intend for the world to become as evil as it has. It’s a consequence of creating humankind with moral choice. You can choose whether you serve Me. The result of not doing so makes life harder for everyone. As I’ve mentioned before, sin reaches much farther than just the one committing the sin. It affects families, friends, co-workers, everyone the perpetrator touches.

The psalmist and many of My followers found a secret with Me, though. Despite the hardship of the days, I still provide shelter from the storms of life. I provide inner peace that those around them cannot understand or explain. But My followers understand. They know that I am with them and in the end, I will rescue them. I bring hope to the hopeless. I bring healing to the incurable. I bring peace in the storms of life. I bring calm in the midst of trouble.

I’ve noticed something missing today among many of My followers, though. In days gone by, I would hear generations telling the next generation what I had done. I heard from the lips of My followers the exploits of My mercy and grace demonstrated in their lives. I heard about My interventions at just the right time to remind them I am their God and there is no other beside Me.

Today there is silence. My stories don’t seem to get passed from generation to generation. Do you not see Me at work in your life anymore? I’m there. Are you ashamed of Me? Are you afraid? Are you embarrassed? What excuse to you give for not sharing the ways in which I aid you in life? How will your children know that I am God and your shelter when the storms of life come? Do you expect them to trust some preacher or you more? Where do you want them to go for answers to their problems? Me or the world?

It’s time to share your stories. It’s time to acknowledge Me. It’s time to stand up and be counted in a world that refuses to believe I exist. Let your children know that I am alive and care about them more than anyone else in the world. I will be with them in every circumstance. I died for them. Look for Me each day, then tell your story.

The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.