Spiritual Life and Leadership

181. How Stories Shape Our Spiritual Lives and Leadership, with Jennifer Holberg, author of Nourishing Narratives

Sep 12, 2023

Jennifer Holberg, a Professor and Chair of the English Department at Calvin University, discusses how storytelling shapes our spiritual lives. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing the diverse narratives within church communities and how storytelling can empower individuals. Holberg believes that the stories we tell ourselves influence our identities and that church narratives offer hope and belonging. She urges pastors to create spaces for sharing personal stories, highlighting their impact on leadership and spiritual growth.

38:56

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Jennifer Holberg

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Quick takeaways

Stories deeply influence our identity and faith, providing both personal reflection and communal connections within church communities.

Pastors must create spaces for sharing diverse stories, fostering community bonds and challenging existing beliefs through collective narratives.

Deep dives

The Significance of Stories in Spiritual Formation

Stories play a crucial role in shaping our identity as human beings and children of God. They influence personal and communal experiences within the church community, where individuals can see themselves reflected in the narratives that are told. These stories not only entertain but also serve as tools for spiritual growth and understanding, offering believers a way to connect with their faith and others. Jennifer Holberg emphasizes that it’s essential for pastors and ministry leaders to acknowledge the unique stories each person brings to the church, creating an environment where shared experiences strengthen community bonds.

Intro

2min

Exploring the Intersection of Faith and Literature in Education

2min

The Power of Storytelling

12min

The Art of Story Interpretation in Faith

4min

Reimagining Personal Narratives

18min

The Power of Personal Stories in Church Leadership

2min

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Jennifer Holberg is Professor and Chair of the Department of English at Calvin University and author Nourishing Narratives.

The church gives us stories to imagine ourselves into. Stories shape us. At the same time, pastors and ministry leaders need to recognize that every person in our church brings their own stories. And, so, how can we create space to share and hear one another’s stories—as we are shaped by the story of the gospel?

THIS EPISODE'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Jennifer Holberg is Professor and Chair of the Department of English at Calvin University and author Nourishing Narratives.
Jennifer Holberg shares what she loves about teaching.
“As people of faith, we have stories that give us more to be hopeful about, more to tell us how beloved we are. And they really counteract a lot of the stories that we have been told or tell ourselves.”
Stories can be positive forces in our lives or they can negatively impact us. It depends on the stories we tell and believe.
According to Jennifer Holberg, how we interpret stories matters.
The stories we tell ourselves about ourselves impact our identity. But Jennifer Holberg holds that we can tell ourselves new stories.
Jennifer Holberg says, “Church communities, if they are functional, give us other stories to imagine ourselves into.”
The Bible gives us many stories to help us understand our lives. As opposed to society, which often only gives one story (wealth, success, etc.).
Pastors, in their teaching, need to understand what stories people are bringing with them into the church.
We need spaces in church for people to tell their stories.
According to Jennifer Holberg, it’s important for all the generations in the church to share their stories with the other generations.

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