STORYTELLING PB

We all love stories. In a world where people are often hostile to the good news, telling stories is an ideal way to communicate the gospel warmly and winningly. Those who would never listen to a sermon or a gospel presentation are often enthralled by the same message told as a story.

Of course, that's just what Jesus did in his parables. Our Bibles are filled with stories that communicate deep truths in a moving and powerful way. But how can we, too, use the power of stories to get gospel truths across in fresh ways, and to teach biblical truth in memorable and life-changing ways?

Martin Goldsmith discovered early in his career as a missionary that stories were the most effective way of sharing the gospel - especially in places where evangelism was illegal. But, since then, he's discovered that they are also often the best way of sharing it with our neighbours in the West, who are suspicious of religious truth and hate being preached at.

Full of colourful stories from a lifetime of sharing the gospel, this book shows us how to do the same. The author demonstrates how the Bible teaches its theology through story, and how other faiths are shaped by their storytelling - giving us a deeper understanding of how we can reach others and teach real and significant truths in an enthralling way.

If we want to win hearers for the gospel in today's world, it is vital to become compelling and persuasive tellers of the gospel story once again.

Commendations
'Martin Goldsmith is a superb speaker. He writes like he speaks. This is gripping stuff, showing the power of storytelling. Preachers in this postmodern age should major on stories, but they don’t. Martin shows us how to do it - to patients in a doctor’s waiting room, to Muslims in a bus or drunken youths in Thailand. His extensive missionary experience, his Jewish background and his deep understanding of other faiths have produced one of the most fascinating and important books I have read for years. Buy two - and give one away.
- Michael Green, speaker and author

'This is a fascinating book and a must-read for those concerned to share the Greatest Story Ever Told. From a wealth of experience, Martin Goldsmith shares some riches about the power of storytelling. Warning - the book contains gems.'
- Ian Coffey, speaker and author

'Goldsmith reminds us that ‘The call to come to Jesus and follow him must never be separated from his determination to make us 'fishers of men and women'. But how can we be more effective as the Lord’s fishermen? Martin’s own batch of ‘stories’ shows convincingly that the good news of Jesus is more likely to capture people’s minds and hearts through personal, emotionally gripping stories. He reminds us that the example of the media and our politicians should move us to try declaring our faith through well-crafted, practised storytelling.

As Goldsmith learned in Malaysia and Indonesia, people tend to remember stories even years after they’ve heard them. Stories are the ideal form of communication in countries where the law forbids forthright Christian witness or where hostility from those prejudiced against the Christian faith prevents them from taking our witness seriously. He convinced me!

- Greg Livingstone, Founder, Frontiers

Format Paperback, 192 pages Published 19/09/2014 Publisher IVP