If there’s one thing I’ve noticed from growing up around ministry work and those occasional high school English classes, it’s this… a story usually does one of three things: it informs, entertains, or persuades.

But a good story? A good story does all three.

And the best part? You don’t have to be a professional writer, filmmaker, or influencer to begin telling powerful stories. You just have to be intentional.

Here are three simple points to help you tell stories that stick, move, and matter:

1. Know Your Audience

This is step one for a reason. A story that moves a room full of teens may not land the same way with a board of church elders, or a new online audience. Think about the language, tone, examples, and even visuals that will resonate best. Ask: What do they care about? What’s going on in their world? What do they need to hear right now?

I’ve had the opportunity to work with junior high students over the past couple of years (same age group, but three totally different audiences). One group was a church leadership team filled with students who were already on fire for Jesus and eager to go deeper. Another was a competitive team of athletes navigating what it means to live out their faith while juggling identity, pressure, and finding real community. The third group lived in a more rural part of the state, many of them facing challenging home lives and struggling to make solid choices in tough environments.

So when it came to storytelling and connecting, I had to adapt how I told each story.

With the church team, I could go straight into Scripture and talk about leadership from a spiritual angle, because they were hungry for that kind of depth. With the athletes, I leaned into stories about confidence, purpose, and team dynamics, since that’s what made faith feel real to them. And with the rural group, I kept it raw and honest. They weren’t looking for a polished message; they were looking for hope, for someone who understood real life and believed things could be different.

The same story doesn’t always land the same way. That’s why knowing your audience matters.

2. Mix Meaning, Emotion, and Curiosity

A great story doesn’t just share facts, it stirs something. It’s a mix of what people need to know, what will capture their hearts, and what will keep them listening. Think of it like a 3-part recipe, which is our E3 Model:

1. Connect emotionally (engage).
2. Inform with truth (educate).
3. Motivate with purpose (empower).

One simple technique is to start with a compelling question or statement; something that opens a story loop and invites people to lean in. I’ve picked this up through years of listening to gifted storytellers and practicing it myself in classroom and university presentations.

You might begin with:

• “Have you ever wondered…?”
• “What if I told you…?”
• “Do you ever feel like…?”

These openers create common ground. They invite curiosity, which builds trust and attention. And when paired with honest emotion and clear meaning, they help your story do more than inform: it connects, it moves, it transforms.

3. Land the Plane

Every story needs a destination. It doesn’t have to wrap up in a perfect bow, but it should leave people somewhere different than where they started. Maybe they see the world through a new lens. Maybe they feel hope again. Maybe they’re ready to take a step forward.

Whether you’re telling a story in a sermon, a social post, or a campaign video, ask yourself: What do I want this to leave behind? Is it a challenge? An invitation? A shift in mindset? Don’t just end…land!

I remember giving a final presentation for one of my courses this past semester. It was a business pitch I had spent the whole semester developing. I was nervous, mostly because this project really mattered to me, and I felt like I had carried more of the weight than my teammates. Still, I decided to take a deep breath, trust the work I had done, and give it everything I had.

When it came time to close the pitch, I noticed something. Most groups ended with a summary or a thank you slide. But I had prepped something different. I didn’t just want to end, I wanted to invite. So I wrapped up by calling the class into the idea, showing them that they could be part of making the concept real. Even though it was “just” a school project, that moment reminded me that the way we end things matters. It’s not just about information, it’s about transformation.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need a stage, a viral platform, or a perfect script to tell a story that matters. You just need clarity, intention, and heart. Whether you’re leading a ministry, launching a creative project, or simply trying to communicate more effectively, story is one of the most powerful tools you have.

Start small. Practice often. And remember: stories don’t have to be polished to be powerful. They just have to be honest, meaningful, and aimed at connection.

So what’s your story? And how will you tell it in a way that informs, moves, and invites others in?