Storytelling Like Jesus: Relating to Your Audience to Reveal Spiritual Truth

Jesus didn’t just teach—He told stories. Stories that stuck. Stories that challenged. Stories that people could see themselves in. From farmers sowing seeds to shepherds searching for lost sheep, Jesus used parables—short, relatable stories—to reveal profound spiritual truths. He didn't use religious jargon or preach from a distance. He stepped into people’s world, understood their lives, and told stories they could connect with.

As Christian filmmakers and storytellers, this is a powerful example for us. If we’re going to use film to reach hearts, we have to do what Jesus did: relate to our audience and speak their language - emotionally, culturally, and spiritually.

Film Is More Than Art—It’s Evangelism and Discipleship

Christian filmmakers must view their work through a bigger lens: film is a tool for evangelism and discipleship. We’re not here to speak over people’s heads or just produce content for the already-convinced. Jesus used relatable stories to bring light into dark places. We’re called to do the same. It’s not just for inspiration or entertainment. It’s a means to reach hearts, shift worldviews, and lead people closer to Christ. That’s why we can’t limit our audience to committed Christians. If we only tell stories for people already in the church, we miss the larger mission.

Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations...” (Matthew 28:19)Not just church members. Not just the faithful few. All.

In the Western world especially, there are millions who carry the label of “Christian,” but not the life of one. Many are cultural Christians—familiar with the name of Jesus but far from knowing Him personally. These people aren’t just unengaged—they're often unreached, and they desperately need to hear the gospel in a way they can see, feel, and relate to.

So when we write, shoot, and produce, we must keep this broader audience in mind:

• The unbeliever who’s never opened a Bible

• The lukewarm believer who’s drifting further away

• The cultural Christian who doesn’t realize their need for salvation

These are the people we need to reach with truth—and film is one of the most powerful ways to do it.

Practical Takeaways for Filmmakers

1. Know Your Audience ---- Go beyond your bubble. Study the people you want to reach—understand their language, culture, struggles, and questions.

2. Tell Real Stories ---- Use authentic, relatable characters and situations. Let people see themselves in the story, just like they did with Jesus' parables.

3. Don’t Preach—Reveal instead of preaching at people, let your story reveal truth. Let the message unfold through character, conflict, and transformation.

4. Aim for Both Evangelism and Discipleship ---- Create stories that introduce people to Jesus and help believers grow deeper in their faith.

5. Trust the Process ---- Some stories plant seeds. Others water them. Some bring the harvest. Film can be all three, but let the Holy Spirit do the convicting.

Final Thoughts: Catching a Bigger Net

Jesus told stories that reached the heart. As filmmakers, we must do the same. We’re not just making content for Christians—we’re casting a net wide enough to reach the lost, the lukewarm, and the searching.

So yes, make it excellent. Make it beautiful. But above all, make it relatable and true. Tell stories that reveal the heart of God in a language people understand—just like Jesus did.

Because in the end, we’re not just making movies. We’re making disciples.