Old, Old Story, The: A Guide for Narrative Preaching - Tapa dura

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best
seem hungering and thirsting to hear it like the rest,
and when in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song,
'twill be the old, old story that I have loved so long.
I love to tell the story,
'twill be my theme in glory
to tell the old, old story
of Jesus and his love.

The words of this old hymn are the essence of narrative preaching. One of the most moving forms of proclamation, the narrative sermon puts great demands on the preacher, not only at the moment of delivery, but also because of the needed time for reflection, reading, and research.