Thinking in Story by Dr Richard Jensen (second article)

We continue this month with a continuing disscussion of Dr Jensen's book. Thinking in Story.

This month we will see how story can be used moving back and forth from the biblical story to our contemporary world. Dr. Jensen, who was a missionary in Africa, says this form of story telling is used by the African-American tradition. One can either begin with the biblical story or with the contemporary story.

The following is an example of how the textual story is told as the frame of the sermon. In the course of the Pentecost story, he pauses ("alternate") in order to make some more didactic points about the nature and work of the Holy Spirit.

 

"We need to feel the presence of the Lord, so blow, Spirit, blow." That's the chorus of a marvelous hymn to the Spirit written by Lutheran composer John Ylvisaker . In the Bible the Spirit of God is often associated with the wind or breath of God. In the beginning of time, when all was darkness and void, God's Spirit blew over the creation to bring life in its wake. We read that in Genesis chapter 1. In Genesis 2 we hear that our first parents were fashioned by God from the dust and brought to life by God's breath. We should not be surprised, therefore, when we realize again that the day of Pentecost, the day God poured out the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ upon all peoples, begins with the rush of a mighty wind. "Blow, Spirit, blow! "

Jesus' disciples did as he had commanded them. They waited in Jerusalem. They waited for God to baptize them with the Holy Spirit and energize them for God's mission to the ends of the earth. On the Jewish festival of Pentecost the disciples were all together in Jerusalem . . . waiting. Their waiting was not in vain. "Suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind . . . (Acts 2:2)." The disciples knew that sound. They knew the sound of the Spirit. Wind was the sound of God's Spirit. The wind, the sound of God, filled the whole room. As they looked around the room they could see tongues as of fire dancing over each one's head. "ALI of them

The copyright of the article Thinking in Story by Dr Richard Jensen (second article) in Homiletics/Preaching is owned by Tim Zingale. Permission to republish Thinking in Story by Dr Richard Jensen (second article) in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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