astorytotell.org.uk Open in urlscan Pro
35.214.48.232  Public Scan

Form analysis
1 forms found in the DOM

GET http://astorytotell.org.uk/

<form role="search" method="get" class="search-form form-group" action="http://astorytotell.org.uk/"> <label class="label-floating is-empty form-group"> <span class="screen-reader-text">Search for:</span> <label class="control-label"> Search …
    </label><input type="search" class="search-field form-control" value="" name="s"> </label> <input type="submit" class="search-submit" value="Search"></form>

Text Content

A Story to Tell

Toggle Navigation
 * Foreword by Mark Oakley
 * Meet the Author
 * Blog
 * Books
 * Contact me


A STORY TO TELL

Learning from people who met Jesus


Everyone has a story to tell. Stories about living and learning. Some may feel
theirs is less (or more) interesting than other people’s but every story is
unique – and there is much to learn from all of them.

The Bible is full of stories. Jesus himself was a consummate storyteller. He met
thousands of people. Each one had a story to tell both before and, without
doubt, after they had encountered him.

A Story to Tell considers some of those stories. People who met Jesus. They tell
stories which are relevant for 21st Century living. Stories of hope and healing,
doubts and believing, love and loss, truth and misunderstanding.

‘Richard Frost encourages us to search our hearts for the story that lies deep
within us all and that calls out for expression and friendship. his writing is
accessible, practical and encouraging.’ Mark Oakley

Shown below, the stories can be read in any order. Each of them is in two parts.
You may like to pause and reflect on each part of each story before moving on to
the next one. Take your time. Don’t rush on.

Most of the stories on this site is an abridged version of those in the book, A
Story to Tell – please contact Richard to order (£7.50 plus P&P) which is also
available as a Kindle eBook. There are also some suggestions for Group
Discussion in a small group setting . Simply pick whichever stories you think
will suit your group best.

A Story to Tell doesn’t aim to offer a Biblical commentary or academic
theological reflection. So some of what is written is speculative and
imaginative: the purpose being to help explore what we can learn most from these
very special people in their very special encounters. By learning from the
experiences of those who encountered Jesus, who were very ordinary people, we
begin to learn more about our own story to tell.

Jesus gave people stories to tell. What’s yours?


PEOPLE WITH A STORY TO TELL

DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS (1) – WAITING

Please read Mark 5:22-24a, 35-43 It’s one of the most difficult experiences in
life. Whatever age. Young or older. Those times when one’s child is struggling
or unwell – and being unable to do anything Read more…

DAUGHTER OF JAIRUS (2) – WELCOMING CHILDREN

The church was full (for once). The visiting preacher had drawn a big
congregation. Children played in the far corner. We sat, ready to hear the
preacher’s message about the importance of inclusivity. “Children shouldn’t Read
more…

JOHN (1) – LOVED

With all the story tellers in this book, we can only wonder about what else they
could tell us and John is no different. Please read John 20:30-31 & John 21:25
The disciple John and Read more…

JOHN (2) – BELOVED

John knew he was loved by other people. John knew he was loved by God. Please
read 1 John 4:7-12, 16 This is the God who loved Mary and Joseph. This is the
God who Read more…

JUDAS ISCARIOT (1) – BETRAYAL

“You’ve given me the confidence to feel I can go out with someone else,” she
told me on Valentine’s Day. Nearly 40 years on (and after over 30 with my wife)
I can laugh at Read more…

JUDAS ISCARIOT (2) – LOSS

So what else can we learn from the life of Judas? More specifically, what can we
learn from the death of Judas? (Please be aware this entry deals with the
sensitive topic of suicide.) Please Read more…

MAN FROM THE GERASENES (1) – HEALING

Having arrived in the country of the Gerasenes after a stormy trip across Lake
Galilee, Jesus is faced with a challenging situation. There’s a man who’s ‘Mad,
bad and dangerous to know’… and there’s no Read more…

MAN FROM THE GERASENES (2) – WHOLENESS

Please read Mark 5:14b-20 After Jesus’ intervention, the man from the Gerasenes
is described as being ‘in his right mind’. (Please be aware this entry considers
the sensitive topic of mental ill health.) Many have Read more…

MARTHA & MARY (1) – DISTRACTION

While some of the stories in A Story to Tell are more difficult to fully relate
to, although we do have a choice whether or not to learn from all of them, the
story of Read more…

MARTHA & MARY (2) – DEVOTION

Jesus, Mary and Martha are together once again in Bethany. And this time there’s
an altogether different atmosphere: Please read John 12:1-7 Jesus may well have
found stability and security in the friendship and hospitality of Read more…

MARY & JOSEPH (1) – PRESENTING

Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem when Jesus was just 40 days old. It was the
custom under Old Testament laws that parents would take their first-born son to
the Temple to dedicate him to Read more…

MARY & JOSEPH (2) – FINDING

When my son was about four years old, he was playing in the street with his
friends. At one point I couldn’t see him so assumed he’d gone to one of the
other children’s homes Read more…

MARY MAGDALENE (1) – FICTION

After considering Judas’ lasting reputation, we now turn to another of Jesus’
followers whose story has been embellished and fabricated long after they lived:
Mary Magdalene. Please read Luke 8:1-3 Coming from the fishing village Read
more…

MARY MAGDALENE (2) – FACT

While not named, Mary was probably among other women who gathered for the Last
Supper and then moved on to the Garden at Gethsemane – and she was certainly
involved in what followed. Please read Read more…

NICODEMUS (1) – DARKNESS

The words of John 3:16 are one of the most well known verses and most quoted of
Jesus’ sayings – and behind them lies another story. Please read John 3:1-21
Nicodemus was a leader of Read more…

NICODEMUS (2) – LIGHT

From going to Jesus for spiritual direction to defending him in front of his
fellow Pharisees (see John 7:43-52), Nicodemus had discerned that this man, this
Jesus, is the Messiah the Jews have been expecting. Read more…

PONTIUS PILATE (1) – DILEMMAS

Second only to Julius Caesar, Pontius Pilate the governor of Judea who sent
Jesus to the cross is one of the best-known Roman citizens who ever lived. His
name is etched into the Christian creeds Read more…

PONTIUS PILATE (2) – DISCERNMENT

Pontius Pilate had a problem. Please read Matthew 27:24-26 & John 19:16-22 For
all his gesture  and protestation, Pilate was still obliged to have the final
word, and he did so in a probably characteristically Read more…

THE UNCONDEMNED WOMAN (1) – ACCUSED

As with the woman from Samaria, here we have another unnamed woman. Another
woman facing the judgement and prejudices of others. A woman forever remembered
by something she was caught doing. Please read John 7:53-8:11 Read more…

THE UNCONDEMNED WOMAN (2) – ABSOLVED

After things had gone wrong, the words I wrote had meant well. It was written
from the heart. I asked for forgiveness and it offered forgiveness. It was
responded to with condemnation. It was not Read more…

THOMAS (1) – DOUBTING

But what if Jesus hadn’t come back to life after all? Please read John 20: 24-25
What do you have doubts about? The Virgin Birth? The Resurrection? The turning
of water in to wine? Prayer Read more…

THOMAS (2) – BELIEVING

After the resurrection, Thomas wanted to be sure. He wanted to see the evidence.
Please read John 20:26-29 Poor Thomas. It must have been a difficult week. The
other ten disciples and followers, including the Read more…

WOMAN FROM SAMARIA (1) – PREJUDICE

While the story of Nicodemus tells us that his initial encounter was deliberate,
planned and at night, the woman from Samaria meets Jesus by chance (or so she
thinks) in the heat of the day. Read more…

WOMAN FROM SAMARIA (2) – PRIDE

They stand at the well. And they talk. Please read John 4:7b-15 Continuing as it
does to verse 28, this is the longest recorded conversation between a woman and
Jesus in the whole of the Read more…

GROUP DISCUSSION MATERIAL

Download Group Discussion material based on the stories on this website. You may
like to use them in a Lent Course, Cell Group or House Group setting, for
example. Simply pick whichever stories you think Read more…

PLEASE SHARE WITH OTHERS. THANK YOU.


Search for: Search …

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 * Foreword by Mark Oakley
 * Meet the Author
 * Blog
 * Books
 * Contact me

Hestia | Developed by ThemeIsle