I love certain forms of art because of how it expresses and points us towards Christ, if we’re looking for it! See, we could just watch a movie and be entertained or we could bring Christ into it, and we could worship! Further, we are a people of stories. Even the way we practice sharing the gospel can be reflect this—by understanding the stories people tell and hear, and showing how the gospel shows and tells a better story.

According to many theater theorists, there are seven basic storylines by which every single film, play, etc., is formed. They are:

1. Overcoming the Monster: A protagonist faces and defeats a great evil or powerful antagonist, often saving others in the process.
   • Example: Jaws or Dark Knight.
2. Rags to Riches: The main character rises from humble beginnings to greatness, often acquiring wealth, love, or status.
   • Example: Cinderella or Slumdog Millionaire.
3. The Quest: The hero embarks on a journey to obtain a great prize or accomplish a significant mission, often overcoming various obstacles along the way.
   • Example: The Lord of the Rings or Indiana Jones.
4. Voyage and Return: The protagonist ventures to a strange world and returns home, transformed by the experience.
   • Example: Alice in Wonderland or The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.
5. Comedy: Involves humorous misunderstandings or confusions, with a light-hearted tone, often leading to a happy resolution.
   • Example: Elf or Anchorman.
6. Tragedy: The story focuses on the downfall of the protagonist due to a fatal flaw, resulting in an unhappy or catastrophic ending.
   • Example: Romeo and Juliet or Schindler’s List.
7. Rebirth: A character undergoes a significant transformation or renewal, often due to learning important life lessons or experiencing redemption.
   • Example: A Christmas Carol or The Lion King.

Correlation with Ways to Share the Gospel

These storylines aren’t new; in fact, they find their genesis in the Bible. The beautiful thing is, just like our last series, they all find their culmination in Christ. Here’s some of the small ways they connect. The storylines in many ways become endless as you familiarize yourself with the storyline of Scripture:

1. Overcoming the Monster: Jesus’ victory over sin, death, and Satan parallels the gospel narrative of ultimate triumph over evil (Colossians 2:15, Revelation 20:10). Sharing the gospel might emphasize how Jesus defeated the power of sin for humanity.
2. Rags to Riches: The transformation from spiritual poverty to becoming co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). Salvation is portrayed as moving from death to life and being adopted as sons and daughters of God (Ephesians 2:1-10). Sharing the gospel might emphasize how Jesus’ purchase of us gives us the true “riches” that we’re looking for.
3. The Quest: Jesus’ mission to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10) and our call to follow Him on a spiritual journey of discipleship. Sharing the gospel can be seen as inviting people on a journey with Christ to eternal life (John 14:6). Additionally, sharing the gospel here is to help people see that their life has true purpose, eternal value. What they do now matters, forever.
4. Voyage and Return: The story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) is a classic example of someone venturing away and returning home to a loving father, changed. The gospel often emphasizes the human journey of wandering away from God and being welcomed back through repentance, and that your story is never over.
5. Comedy: Though the Bible may not seem comedic in the modern sense, but the gospel turns expectations on their head (really, the whole Bible does). The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) and the concept of the last being first (Matthew 20:16) have a surprising and joyful conclusion, often defying worldly wisdom. Sharing the gospel here is saying, “Life doesn’t always make sense, but it does always have purpose.” Further, things that don’t make sense, like, you’re going to rule over the angels… (1 Co. 6:3) is a ridiculous, joy-filled ending.
6. Tragedy: The crucifixion of Jesus, viewed as a tragedy by those witnessing it, leads to the greatest redemption. Tragic elements of the human condition—sin and death—are overturned by the resurrection, so the gospel often starts with bad news before leading to the good news.
7. Rebirth: The theme of being born again (John 3:3-7), becoming a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), and transformation is central to the gospel. Sharing the gospel highlights this opportunity for spiritual rebirth and renewal through faith in Jesus.

Obviously, you could pull these out and create amazing gospel moments with them. I’m trying to keep them really simple today. Within each of these gospel narratives are themes key to human life. You can integrate the different desires of the human heart within each of these stories.

For example, humans desire relationship. But sometimes they must overcome the monster of self, or someone else, say, their father, to receive the relationship they desire. Sometimes there’s a quest, a return, a rebirth, but each point to the gospel in beautiful ways.

The more you understand the narrative of Scripture, the more you’re able to interweave the stories we tell ourselves with the ultimate story that God tells us. Additionally, you will be able to worship as you see these stories being played out on screens, or even more, in the world around you. This turns even something deeply dark, something exposing the depravity of humanity, into something that can help us see and appreciate even more what Jesus has done to deliver us from darkness. Even a dark movie can be observed by you as sin taking its full effect. The difference is, we know He who became sin that we might exit that spiral, into righteousness forevermore (2 Co. 5:21).

I’d encourage you, learn to share the full story of the gospel, and all the ways it interacts with the world around you!