Step-By-Step

What Preaching a Living Stories Sermon Looks Like

Living Stories Sermons transform the traditional sermon into an interactive, communal experience. Here’s how it works, step by step:

1. Choose Your Story

Living Stories is rooted in the Revised Common Lectionary, making it easy to integrate into your liturgy. Begin by selecting the Gospel reading for the Sunday you plan to use Living Stories (you’ll receive access to our scripts after signing up for a webinar). 

2. Prepare with the Script

Living Stories provides adaptable lectionary-based scripts designed to guide you through each step of storytelling. We don’t change Scripture, but you’re welcome to adapt the rest of the script to fit your own context. Each script includes:

  • Materials List: Gather tactile items like wooden figures, fabric underlays, or other simple props to bring the story to life.

  • Story: A brief introduction, followed by the full Gospel passage along with stage directions for visual storytelling.

  • Wondering Questions: Open-ended prompts to spark reflection and conversation.

In addition to familiarizing yourself with the script, it is your job to do your typical sermon exegesis – so that you’re fully ready to support the congregation in doing the work of interpretation, whichever way the conversation goes!

4. Set the Space

Arrange your worship space to encourage participation and visibility. If possible, invite participants to gather closer to where the story is being told. At St. Gregory’s, before the beginning of every Living Stories Sermon, we invite everyone to get ready, in body and in spirit, with the following words: “Listen to the story with your ears, your eyes, and your heart, and if you want to see or hear better, come close and help everyone to participate.”

Tips for Your Space:

  • Use a raised platform or a central area where the materials are easily seen.

  • If your congregation is large, consider passing handheld microphones so that people’s voices can be heard across the room.

  • Understand that the physical space of most of our churches is set up to support a single speaker delivering a lecture-style sermon. Going against the grain of our architecture can be difficult, and requires thoughtful intention!

5. Tell the Story

Using the tactile materials, tell the Gospel story. Let the objects, movements, and words draw participants into the narrative.

6. Facilitate the Wondering Response

After the story, guide the congregation into reflection with open-ended wondering questions. These are designed to help participants connect the story to their own lives and to the world.

3. Gather Materials

Use the materials list in the script to prepare your tactile storytelling tools, according to the resources you have available. These don’t need to be elaborate—adapt with what you have, and don’t be afraid to get creative!

Examples of Materials:

  • Felt or fabric underlays to represent landscapes.

  • Wooden figures or simple props to represent people, places, and objects in the story.

  • Printed images on miniature easels to represent spoken teachings.

Examples of Wondering Questions:

  • “I wonder what it was like when people first heard the news about Jesus spreading through the countryside.”

  • “I wonder why Jesus’ first sign took place at a wedding.”

  • “I wonder what the voice from heaven at Jesus’ baptism sounded like.”

Tip: Encourage all responses, and avoid providing answers. Trust the Holy Spirit to be present in the conversation.

As participants share their reflections, mirror back their words. This active listening technique ensures everyone feels heard and valued while reinforcing the communal nature of the experience. As facilitator, your job is to succinctly mirror back the best possible interpretation of what your participants share, which helps guide the conversation forward into a co-creative experience.

7. Wrap Up

Conclude by thanking the congregation for their participation and transition to the next part of the liturgy. There’s no need to summarize or tie everything together—Living Stories thrives on leaving space for the Spirit to continue working in the hearts of the participants. Resisting the urge to tie a neat bow on Scripture helps us listen more deeply and honor Scripture’s messiness more authentically!

9. Reflect and Grow

Afterward, take time to reflect on the experience. What worked well? What could be improved? Share your observations with others who use Living Stories, and learn from their insights.

Tip: If you recorded the session, please share the link to the recording with us so that we can highlight your work!