Incognito Mode

In recent years we have re-discovered the power of stories to stir spiritual curiosity and fuel an 'awakening process' in people's lives. More specifically we have found that the simple 'the Kingdom is like ...' stories that Jesus told (for example the Lost Coin, Lost Sheep and so on) can be told quickly and engagingly as a way of prompting faith conversations and possible 'conversations of significance'.

Furthermore many of the stories can be told in under 60 seconds or not much longer: so can be recorded as YouTube shorts or TikTok videos, giving a contemporary media approach to share with acquaintances. Whether told verbally on the spot, or shared via media, it is then natural to ask an open question like: "What hits you from this story?"

All the above is certainly possible with people who know you are a Christian and open about talking about your faith in Jesus. Depending on the audience you might either begin or finish the story with a phrase like: "This is a story told by Jesus ...", and maybe add: "who was talking about a different kind of Kingdom ...".

Another approach we have found useful is to not mention Jesus as the source at all, and also either not mention it is about His Kingdom, or to keep the kingdom aspect in abstract terms - for example 'A king somewhere wanted to organise a great banquet ...'. In this mode you are telling the story as a kind of detached moral tale - but of course one which you know conveys realities of the Kingdom of God.

We have come to call this approach 'Incognito Mode', because to the hearer it is not overtly about Jesus in the first instance. It allows you to stir curiosity in a more secular setting (or multi-faith setting) where sensitivities are best respected. Remember that the stories are to provoke interest & questioning, not necessarily to convince in and of themselves. Using them, followed up by open questions, and gauging responses acts as a kind of filter to discover who is really open or potentially open to explore more later.

Even if the hearers are not (or not yet) interested in the person of Jesus, sharing incognito can still afford the opportunity to explore Kingdom principles like forgiveness, God's grace economy, and so on. There is much to benefit therefore even in these settings - meaning that sharing incognito is worth the risk!