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Storied Faith: Listening to God Through Story

Elevate your ministry’s impact through the art of storytelling.

About this Course

Storied Faith: Listening to God Through Story was designed to foster cultural sensitivity, adaptability, and the transformative power of storytelling for ministry entrepreneurs to engage with a variety of audiences.

What you’ll learn:

Unearth the transformative power of storytelling to help foster more meaningful relationships in Christ
Reflect on personal narratives to cultivate hope and a renewed sense of faith in God’s faithfulness
Delve into the science of storytelling to create narratives that resonate and adapt to different audiences
Develop the ability to contextualize your relationship with God as a means of connecting with other people
Embrace the art of sharing your story to inspire and bring hope to others

In a world filled with competing stories, “Storied Faith: Listening to God Through Story” offers a transformative solution, guiding you on a journey of self-discovery to connect your unique narrative with God’s grand story. This unique course seeks to foster cultural sensitivity, adaptability, and the transformative power of storytelling for ministry entrepreneurs to engage with a variety of audiences. Led by Dr. Susan Brooks and featuring the dynamic artist Joe Davis, you will delve into biblical narratives, explore your own stories, and discover how storytelling strengthens the community around you.

Through a series of engaging modules, you will delve into the theology of storytelling, create narratives that resonate and adapt to different audiences, and contextualize your own relationship with God. Each module features a Bible story recounted by the captivating storyteller Joe Davis. Through his lively and thought-provoking style, Davis will bring to life six familiar biblical tales that will captivate your imagination and open your heart to the profound truths they hold. By the end of the course, you will have the tools to share your own story confidently, cultivate a community of Christ-like people, and nurture an honest and open congregation.

Modules

Welcome

Get oriented to the course, download the interactive handbook, and access the group to chat with others!

Transcendent Story

In this module, you will:

  • Consider the ways in which story and truth intersect.
  • Identify some of your own transcendent stories.

Wired for Story

In this module, you will:

  • Understand the ways in which the human brain processes story.
  • Pay attention to your own reactions to story.
  • Practice gratitude for God’s gift of story.

Grand Story

In this module, you will:

  • Understand the ways in which faith intersects with archetypal story structures.
  • Consider your place in God’s grand narrative of redemption.

Story Truth

In this module, you will:

  • Understand the ways in which faith intersects with archetypal story structures.
  • Consider your place in God’s grand narrative of redemption.

Story as Remembrance

In this module, you will:

  • Enter into the sacredness of listening and remembering.
  • Reflect on your own story of God’s work in your lif

Transformative Story

In this module, you will:

  • Experiment with story shapes
  • Create a story of God’s work in your life

Conclusion

Find out your next steps as you complete the course and how to stay connected with your group. You'll also be able to submit feedback about your course.

One-time purchase

With Faith+Lead Membership

One-time purchase

Get a free public display license to use for group study.

*by joining Faith+Lead Membership for just $19.95 per month

8 Modules

Self-Paced, On-Demand

Lifetime Access

Get to Know Your Instructors

Faith+Lead Headshot of Susan Brooks, Director of Faith+Lead Academy.

Susan Brooks

Director of Faith+Lead Academy

Dr. Susan Leigh Brooks is a lifelong literacy educator with a passion for learning and teaching. After more than three decades of teaching reading and writing to learners from preschool age to graduate students, she currently serves as the Associate Director of Faith+Lead Academy. She creates online courses to encourage and equip people in their faith.

Along with reading, of course, Dr. Brooks loves to garden and hike. She also loves to travel, having been to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area over 50 times. She and her husband have two adult children, two amazing children-in-law, and a new grandson, all of whom receive books for Christmas.

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What to Expect with a Faith+Lead Academy Course

You’ll get a transformative learning experience that combines trustworthy theological teaching with spiritual practices, interactive elements, and a supportive online community.

Know

Expand your theological toolkit with fresh insights for today’s ministry landscape. Connect timeless wisdom with practical frameworks for navigating change.

Deepen your spiritual identity through transformative practices. Move from doing church to being church in ways that nurture authentic discipleship.

Practice skills to lead confidently in your ministry context. Take actionable steps to invite your community into God’s unfolding story.

Every Academy course is designed to

Help your growth in one of these core areas:

connect with god

Develop a Christ-centered identity, grounded in theology, scripture, and spiritual practice, that empowers community members to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in everyday life.

Tell the story of Jesus and invite neighbors into Jesus’ way of life and love through words and actions they can recognize.

community

Listen deeply, name God’s presence in the midst of everyday life, and form life-giving relationships across all dimensions of diversity—both within and beyond the church.

Through mutual relationships with the neighbors among whom you’re hosted, join in acts of compassion, justice, and reconciliation as a witness to the ministry of Jesus—especially in places of suffering and despair.

ministry models

Harness skills of agile leadership, stewardship, fundraising, entrepreneurism, and management to be nimble enough to respond to a changing cultural landscape.

Frequently Asked Questions

Academy courses consist of 6-10 lessons or modules, each walking you through the “know, be, do” learning framework. You’ll learn some new information with instructor videos and other resources (know). You’ll engage in a spiritual practice that will help you develop your faith around the topic (be). Then, you’ll be asked to apply what you’ve learned through activities completed online or in the “real world” (do).

Each module is designed to take 15-45 minutes. Some learners complete the course in as little as one day. Some do a module a day or even a module a week. We suggest allowing some time between modules to process what you are learning, but not so much time that you lose momentum.

Each course includes a flexible leader’s guide with multiple pathways for group facilitation. You’ll find thought-provoking discussion questions and practical activities that connect faith with daily life, designed to work with whatever preparation time you have available. These resources equip you to foster meaningful discipleship experiences that meet your community where they are.

The private online group allows you to connect with others. Because our courses don’t have a required start or stop date, you will encounter others in different places in the course and even in different courses altogether. This is by design. Feel free to interact as much or as little as you like.

Reach out via email to faithlead@luthersem.edu with your question and we’ll get back to you with a response within two business days.

The best way to connect with us is to complete this form with your suggestion. We always want to hear your feedback. You may also include it in the comments section of the course evaluation.

Don’t see your question addressed?

Email us at faithlead@luthersem.edu for more information. We’ll be delighted to connect!

One-time purchase

With Faith+Lead Membership

One-time purchase

Get a free public display license to use for group study.

*by joining Faith+Lead Membership for just $19.95 per month

8 Modules

Self-Paced, On-Demand

Lifetime Access