Overview
In this structure, the sermon develops a single biblical story for the hearers without interruption. The preacher might retell the biblical story with contemporary poetics or tell a contemporary story that parallels the biblical event. Reflection on the story is implicit in this method and occurs through carefully wrought narrative techniques (e.g., the use of symbol, motif, or foreshadowing) and brief incursions into the telling that generate reflection on the part of the hearer (e.g., using an anachronistic reference within the telling of the story to generate reflection by the hearer). This is the most difficult of all the storied discourse forms because it relies completely upon narrative techniques to foster faithful reflection upon the text.