Moving toward God through intentional practice

The practices we keep in life shape and form us along the way. Being intentional about those practices allows us to hold agency over who we’re becoming. Without intentionality, we simply drift in whatever direction the winds of our world want to take us. We’re choosing to engage in spiritual practices that enable us to be and become the men, women and children God designed us to be. 

Spiritual practices are:

“Habits, practices, and experiences that are designed to develop, grow, and strengthen certain qualities of spirit - to build the “muscles” of one’s character and expand the breadth of one’s inner life. They structure the “workouts” which train the soul.” 

~ Richard Foster

Every other month, we’ll focus on one spiritual practice intended to shape and form us in God’s image …

Storytelling

July/August 2026

Storytelling takes up a large portion of our meaningful communication with others. We listen to and tell stories to build relationships, to solicit help, to foster greater understanding, to share purpose, to establish empathy and so much more. Can you imagine any significant relationship in your life where storytelling hasn’t played a pivotal role in developing that relationship?

Most of the bible is some version of storytelling. From the poetic writings to the prophetic, from the narrative to the letters, stories are told and it is through those stories that countless people have come to trust God at new and deeper levels. Jesus himself was a master storyteller. Stories move hearts and minds… including your story, no matter how thrilled or tired you are with it!

We want to encourage you to join the Vineyard Church family during July & August in the practice of telling your core Jesus story with the hope that our stories can inspire others to move closer to Jesus.

Practice 

Find your core story

  1. Ask God to show you a key moment in your life when your relationship with him took a leap forward.

  2. Review. Prayerfully review that time in your life. Relive that moment in as much detail as you can muster.

  3. Problem. Identify the key problem or need Jesus was meeting at that time

Write your story

  1. Context & Problem. How did you relate to God in that time of life? What was life like in that season? Who were the key people involved? How was the primary need/problem surfacing?

  2. Jesus encounter. In light of the problem, how did Jesus meet you and what effect did this encounter have on the core need that surfaced in your life?

  3. Life since. What has life looked like since? How has it changed? In what ways has Jesus continued to meet your needs?

Tell your story

  1. Followers of Jesus. Try telling your story to other followers of Jesus. Get some feedback. Tweak and refine it. 

  2. People not following Jesus. Tell your story to friends that are not following Jesus. If it gets their attention, invite them to further conversation.

Tell others - don’t forget to tell others about how it’s going.