Using Storytelling and Examples to Make the Gospel Relevant

The term "Gospel" originates from the Old English "godspell," meaning "good message" or "good news," which translates the Greek euaggelion ^[2]. This "good news" centers on the arrival of the Savior, Jesus Christ ^[1]. The Gospel is not merely a set of abstract doctrines but is conveyed through narratives and examples, a method exemplified by Jesus himself through parables ^{[6, 17]}.

The four inspired histories of Christ's life and teaching in the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—are known as the Gospels ^[2]. These accounts detail Jesus's person and mission, presenting him as the promised King, a mighty prophet, and the bringer of life and immortality ^{[1, 4]}. The preaching of the Gospel is described as good tidings of great joy for all people, foretold in the Old Testament and exhibiting the grace of God ^[4].

Jesus frequently employed parables to communicate the truths of the kingdom of heaven ^{[6, 17]}. A parable, from the Greek parabole, signifies a comparison or similitude, illustrating one subject by another ^[3]. These were not merely simple stories; they sometimes encompassed short proverbs, dark prophetic utterances, or enigmatic maxims ^[3]. For instance, Jesus used parables to explain the growth of the Kingdom of God, often employing surprising and evocative imagery to highlight the contrast between humble beginnings and glorious consummation, and to encourage patience among his disciples ^[15]. Matthew Henry notes that Christ used parables because "the time was not yet come for the more clear and plain discoveries of the mysteries of the kingdom," and that this method kept people attentive and expectant ^[16]. The Preacher in Ecclesiastes is also described as searching out and preparing many parables to teach knowledge ^[7].

The use of storytelling and examples makes the Gospel relevant by connecting abstract spiritual truths to relatable human experiences. For example, the concept of sin, a central theme in the Gospel message, is often illustrated through concrete examples. The first sin of Adam and Eve is described as a "heinous and aggravated" act of disobedience, characterized by a love of self and ingratitude toward God ^[11]. The Psalms describe all human beings as born sinners, with the wicked indulging their sinful nature ^[10]. Deliberate sins are characterized by an insolent or arrogant attitude, representing rebellion against God ^[12]. The Apostle Paul, in Romans, emphasizes universal sinfulness, stating that both Gentiles and Jews are "under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own" ^[13]. This universal human condition of sin, whether understood as actual transgressions or the corrupt nature, is addressed by the Gospel ^[14].

The Gospel's relevance is also tied to its power to bring salvation ^[4]. Paul preached the "Good News of Christ" with "the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit" ^[8]. The early apostles taught the people and preached Jesus as an example of resurrection from the dead ^[9]. This demonstrates that the Gospel is not just a historical account but a dynamic message that brings about transformation. The sincerity with which the Gospel is preached is also emphasized, contrasting with preaching done out of contention or without genuine conviction ^[5].

Sources

Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The central fact of Christian preaching was the intelligence that the Saviour had come into the world (Matt. 4:23; Rom. 10:15); and the first Christian preachers who called their account of the person and mission of Christ by the term evangelion_ (= good message) were called _evangelistai (= evangelists) (Eph. 4:11; Acts 21:8). There are four historical accounts of the person and work of Christ: "the first by Matthew, announcing the Redeemer as the promised King of the kingdom of God; the second by Mark, declaring him a prophet, mighty in deed and word'; th”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Gospels — The name Gospel (from god and spell, Ang. Sax. good message or news, which is a translation of the Greek euaggelion) is applied to the four inspired histories of the life and teaching of Christ contained in the New Testament, of which separate accounts are given in their place. They were all composed during the latter half of the first century: those of St. Matthew and St. Mark some years before the destruction of Jerusalem; that of St. Luke probably about A.D. 64; and that of St. John towards the close of the century. Before the end of the second century, t”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Parable — (The word parable is in Greek parable (parabole) which signifies placing beside or together, a comparison, a parable is therefore literally a placing beside, a comparison, a similitude, an illustration of one subject by another.--McClintock and Strong. As used in the New Testament it had a very wide application, being applied sometimes to the shortest proverbs, (1 Samuel 10:12; 24:13; 2 Chronicles 7:20) sometimes to dark prophetic utterances, (Numbers 23:7,18; 24:3; Ezekiel 20:49) sometimes to enigmatic maxims, (Psalms 78:2; Proverbs 1:6) or metaphors expand”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Gospel, The — Is good tidings of great joy for all people -- Lu 2:10,11,31,32. Foretold -- Isa 41:27; 52:7; 61:1-3; Mr 1:15. Preached under the old testament -- Heb 4:2. Exhibits the grace of God -- Ac 14:3; 20:32. The knowledge of the glory of God is by -- 2Co 4:4,6. Life and immortality are brought to light by Jesus through -- 2Ti 1:10. Is the power of God to salvation -- Ro 1:16; 1Co 1:18; 1Th 1:5. Is glorious -- 2Co 4:4. Is everlasting -- 1Pe 1:25; Re 14:6. Preached by Christ -- Mt 4:23; Mr 1:14. Ministers have a stewardship to preach -- 1Co 9:17. Preached before”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sincerity — Christ was an example of -- 1Pe 2:22. Ministers should be examples of -- Tit 2:7. Opposed to fleshly wisdom -- 2Co 1:12. Should characterise Our love to God. -- 2Co 8:8,24. Our love to Christ. -- Eph 6:24. Our service to God. -- Jos 24:14; Joh 4:23,24. Our faith. -- 1Ti 1:5. Our love to one another. -- Ro 12:9; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:18. Our whole conduct. -- 2Co 1:12. The preaching of the gospel. -- 2Co 2:17; 1Th 2:3-5. A characteristic of the doctrines of the gospel -- 1Pe 2:2. The gospel sometimes preached without -- Php 1:16. The wicked devoid of -- Ps 5:9; ”
Matthew “Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand. -- Matthew 13:13”
Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 12:9 (Geneva1599) — And the more wise the Preacher was, the more he taught the people knowledge, and caused them to heare, and searched foorth, and prepared many parables.”
Romans “in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God’s Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ; -- Romans 15:19”
Acts “Acts 4:2 (BBE) — Being greatly troubled because they were teaching the people and preaching Jesus as an example of the coming back from the dead.”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 58:3: 58:3 All human beings are born sinners (see 51:5); however, whereas the wicked indulge their sinful nature, the godly fight against it (Rom 7:19-23; Jas 4:1-10).”
Genesis (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Genesis 3:13: beguiled--cajoled by flattering lies. This sin of the first pair was heinous and aggravated--it was not simply eating an apple, but a love of self, dishonor to God, ingratitude to a benefactor, disobedience to the best of Masters--a preference of the creature to the Creator.”
Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 19:13: 19:13 An individual who commits deliberate sins does so with an insolent (86:14) or arrogant (119:21, 69) attitude. • The great sin is rebellion (see 32:1).”
Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
1 John (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 John 1:10: Parallel to Jo1 1:8. we have not sinned--referring to the commission of actual sins, even after regeneration and conversion; whereas in Jo1 1:8, "we have no sin," refers to the present GUILT remaining (until cleansed) from the actual sins committed, and to the SIN of our corrupt old nature still adhering to us. The perfect "have . . . sinned" brings down the commission of sins to the present time, not merely sins committed before, but since, conversion. we make him a liar--a gradation; Jo1 1:6, "we lie"; Jo1 1:8, "we deceive ourselves"; worst of al”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 13:31: 13:31-33 Jesus used surprising, evocative imagery in these parables, either to emphasize the inevitable growth of the Kingdom through proclamation of the gospel or, more probably, to emphasize the contrast between insignificant beginnings and glorious consummation, and to exhort the disciples to patience (see also 16:24–17:13).”
Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 13:24: In these verses, we have, I. Another reason given why Christ preached by parables, Mat 13:34, Mat 13:35. All these things he spoke in parables, because the time was not yet come for the more clear and plain discoveries of the mysteries of the kingdom. Christ, to keep the people attending and expecting, preached in parables, and without a parable spake he not unto them; namely, at this time and in this sermon. Note, Christ tries all ways and methods to do good to the souls of men, and to make impressions upon them; if men will not be instructed and influenced by ”
Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 13 (introduction): In this chapter, we have, I. The favour which Christ did to his countrymen in preaching the kingdom of heaven to them (Mat 13:1-2). He preached to them in parables, and here gives the reason why he chose that way of instructing (Mat 13:10-17). And the evangelist gives another reason (Mat 13:34, Mat 13:35). There are eight parables recorded in this chapter, which are designed to represent the kingdom of heaven, the method of planting the gospel kingdom in the world, and of its growth and success. The great truths and laws of that kingdom are in other ”

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