The Story Factor, Annette Simmons

N.T. Wright has encouraged us to consider again the role of story in learning and transformation. Really we shouldn't have been surprised by his findings. Close observation of many of the sermons in Scripture (Psalms, Peter's message at Pentecost, Stephen's message are just a few examples) reveals that the common format of communicating God's truth to His people was through retelling the redemptive storyline, making specific applications to the concurrent event. I found that my preaching and teaching ministry was more lecture format (not to belittle that). This is an excellent book to help you think through how to speak in story rather than in raw unconnected facts. The second half of the book is not as helpful as Simmons seems now to practice what she has been preaching. The problem is not her method, which is quite good, but her message. The liberal, feminist agenda begins to come through loud and clear in part two. This was another 2013 read.