A common sermon pattern goes like this:
- tell a story
- read the passage
- make three points
- finish the story.
It works for a reason. We love stories. They’re memorable, relatable, and they lower the guard so truth can land.
But there’s a real downside: people often remember the story and forget the Scripture. In 40+ years of teaching, I’ve had students happily recount a personal story I told ages ago. Not once could they also name the passage the story was meant to illuminate. That defeats the purpose.
So, should we ditch stories? No. Used wisely, they serve the text. Used carelessly, they steal the spotlight.
What follows are my two simple rules for when to use a story, and when to leave it out, so the passage, not the illustration, does the heavy lifting.
Let the Text Be the Star
Your listeners should leave knowing more about Scripture than about you.
The aim of every Bible study or sermon is simple: convey the essential meaning of a specific passage and do it in language modern ears can understand. Stories, illustrations, and explanations are welcome but only if they serve that aim.
If the meaning isn’t explained, no real Bible study has taken place. You may have offered pious reflections, stirring exhortations, or entertaining anecdotes. But the text didn’t speak.
How to keep stories in their place
- Tie every story to a verse. Introduce the text first or return to it immediately after the story. Make the connection explicit: “Here’s how this illustrates verse 3.”
- Trim to essentials. Cut details that don’t advance understanding. Keep the story short enough to be a window, not a mural.
- Test your motive. Ask, “Does this help them grasp the passage, or just remember me?”
- Time your talk. If a story eats more than a minute or two without a clear textual payoff, it’s probably too long.
I once listened to a 26-minute sermon where the first 16 minutes were a personal story. That may be appropriate on rare occasions between a pastor and his flock, but it should be the exception. When nearly half your time is about you, you’ve practically guaranteed they’ll remember the story. not the Scripture.
Keep the spotlight where it belongs. Let the Word do the heavy lifting, and let your stories carry the bags.
When the Text Tells the Story, Let It
When you’re teaching a narrative passage, the story in Scripture is the illustration. Abraham, Jacob, Moses, David: their lives are the story God has already provided. Your task is to help listeners see what the text is showing.
If you’re in 1 Samuel, David’s story is the illustration of the passage’s meaning. Explain his decisions, context, and consequences; trace his arc in the chapter; connect his story to the chapter’s main idea. Don’t swap in your own tale and push David to the background.
When the passage isn’t a story (e.g., Proverbs, epistles, doctrinal sections), brief illustrations from everyday life can help listeners grasp the principle. Use them sparingly and always tie them back to the verse you’re explaining.
Quick guidelines
- Narrative text: Exegete the story. Clarify setting, conflict, turning point, and resolution. Show how the narrative reveals God’s character and the passage’s claim.
- Non-narrative text: Use short, concrete illustrations to make an abstract truth visible. Then return immediately to the verse.
In every case, aim for this outcome: students leave knowing what the passage means and who God is, not trivia about the speaker’s personal life.
Quick pre-check before you tell a story
- What verse (exactly) will this clarify?
- Can I say it 2-5 minutes?
- Will they remember the passage more than me?
Start with Scripture. Stay with Scripture. Let every story help people hear His voice more clearly.
Part of the Series: Bible Study 201: Learn to teach
Photo by David Clode on Unsplash
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