Exempla

Exempla A podcast by Nathaniel Brown that uses engaging stories to illustrate God’s truth. When God wrote us a book, He filled it with stories. It’s in story form. S.

The Bible tells us about God, about ourselves, about how life really works. It gives us God’s perspective. And when you start reading it, what do you find? We have the story of Creation. We have the story of the Fall. We have the story of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob. We have the story of the people of Israel coming out of Egypt and God uses these stories to teach us deep and abiding truths.

But even the most didactic parts of Scripture are accompanied by stories and illustrations. Jesus himself, the best teacher ever, used stories all the time - the story of the Prodigal Son, the story of the Good Samaritan, all the parables… If God so consistently uses stories to communicate the truth, shouldn’t we do the same? Exemplum is the Latin word for example. But in Medieval times, it took on a special meaning. Preachers of the day would incorporate fables and legends into their sermons and they called each illustrative story an “exemplum” and a compilation of such stories was called an “exempla”. Some preachers even published their “exempla” for the benefit of others. This is my exampla. I want to compile and tell stories that help people understand God’s truth. The Bible is the source of all truth, but I believe that helpful stories can come from literature, from personal experience, from history, and even from our own imaginations. I am grateful for writers in history like John Bunyan and C. Lewis who embraced that idea for our lasting benefit. This podcast is all about bringing people face-to-face with the truth. I hope that the stories I share and their Biblical application will cause you to consider eternal truths in new and compelling ways. I also hope these stories will inspire you to embrace the power of stories. Whether you’re a parent, a Bible teacher, a preacher, or just somebody who wants to be a good friend and a good influence on others, you can use stories to challenge others with God’s truth.

How much impact does one preacher really have? Walt Coles served as a pastor for decades. He was my pastor during my jun...
25/01/2025

How much impact does one preacher really have? Walt Coles served as a pastor for decades. He was my pastor during my junior high and high school years. But I don't think I could give you the title of a single sermon he preached. Still, I'm just beginning to come to terms with profound influence he had on my life. Let me tell you about it. Listen now: exemplapodcast.com/2025/01/25/just-another-faithful-preacher/

On Christmas Eve, 1968, families all over the world gathered to watch a historic TV broadcast from the moon. The crew of...
21/12/2024

On Christmas Eve, 1968, families all over the world gathered to watch a historic TV broadcast from the moon. The crew of Apollo 8 was asked to say “something appropriate” to mark the occasion. In this episode, I tell you about the message they shared with the world and the lessons it teaches us about creation, perspective, and the God who is over all. Listen now: exemplapodcast.com/2024/12/21/something-appropriate-replay/

In 1647, Christmas was outlawed in England. Why would Parliament cancel the observance of such a beloved holiday and how...
14/12/2024

In 1647, Christmas was outlawed in England. Why would Parliament cancel the observance of such a beloved holiday and how did the people respond? It wasn't pretty. I'll tell you the story in this episode and share a lesson about how we choose our battles. Listen now: exemplapodcast.com/2024/12/14/the-plum-pudding-christmas-riots/

Benjamin Franklin had a son. We don’t hear much about William Franklin, possibly because of a decision he made in 1775 t...
24/11/2024

Benjamin Franklin had a son. We don’t hear much about William Franklin, possibly because of a decision he made in 1775 that forever changed the relationship between father and son. Let me tell you the story of how Ben and William found themselves on opposite sides of history—and how their story echoes the personal cost of standing by your convictions. Listen now: exemplapodcast.com/2024/11/23/ben-franklins-family-feud/

Some leaders are not worthy of our respect. King Saul was a highly dysfunctional king and he was trying to kill David, b...
09/11/2024

Some leaders are not worthy of our respect. King Saul was a highly dysfunctional king and he was trying to kill David, but when David had the chance to kill his worst enemy, his response surprised his loyal side-kick Abishai. Let me share the valuable lesson David has to teach us about how and when to honor authority. Listen now: exemplapodcast.com/2024/11/09/a-chance-to-kill-the-king/

Leonardo da Vinci was a genius. But one of his artistic endeavors got the better of him. I want to tell you about Leonar...
26/10/2024

Leonardo da Vinci was a genius. But one of his artistic endeavors got the better of him. I want to tell you about Leonardo’s horse, a giant sculpture that did not end up like Leonardo intended. It was a project that some people say haunted him until the day he died. Listen now: exemplapodcast.com/2024/10/26/leonardo-da-vincis-giant-horse/

My seventh birthday was a disaster. It came during a move for my family, a move that did not go as smoothly as we hoped....
12/10/2024

My seventh birthday was a disaster. It came during a move for my family, a move that did not go as smoothly as we hoped. But it’s funny how we can have good memories of unpleasant experiences. Reflecting on that miserable birthday makes me profoundly thankful and helps me think about what really matters in a child’s life. Listen now on your favorite podcast player or at exemplapodcast.com/2024/10/12/the-worst-birthday-ever/

What can you learn from a dead fish? You might be surprised. Samuel Scudder was certainly surprised by his fish encounte...
21/09/2024

What can you learn from a dead fish? You might be surprised. Samuel Scudder was certainly surprised by his fish encounter when he started studying under the renowned scientist Louis Agassiz. Let me tell you Scudder’s story and challenge you to ponder the valuable spiritual lesson that fish can help us consider. Listen to “Look at Your Fish!” now on your favorite podcast player or at https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/09/21/look-at-your-fish/.

Olympic middle-distance runners can run a mile in under four minutes. They are phenomenal athletes, but in many ways, th...
07/09/2024

Olympic middle-distance runners can run a mile in under four minutes. They are phenomenal athletes, but in many ways, they are just like the rest of us. Let me tell you the story of a race at this summer’s Olympics, the rivalry that fueled it, and the lesson we can learn from the result. Listen to this first episode of Season 3 of Exempla now on your favorite podcast player or at exemplapodcast.com/2024/09/07/theres-no-medal-for-fourth-place/

I’m deeply grateful to Scott Pauley for writing the Foreword to The Christian Storyteller. He is such a great example of...
05/09/2024

I’m deeply grateful to Scott Pauley for writing the Foreword to The Christian Storyteller. He is such a great example of someone who uses stories well as he shares God’s Word. I can’t wait for the book to come out later this month! christianstorytellerbook.com

Listen to a special bonus episode of Exempla to hear the introduction to The Christian Storyteller, coming September 18....
31/08/2024

Listen to a special bonus episode of Exempla to hear the introduction to The Christian Storyteller, coming September 18. We can all be effective storytellers who points others to the truth of God’s Word. Learn more at christianstorytellerbook.com. Listen to the episode at exemplapodcast.com.

Who is the hardest person for you to get along with in your church? It’s important to realize they are still a part of t...
30/08/2024

Who is the hardest person for you to get along with in your church? It’s important to realize they are still a part of the body of Christ. The fictional story of Jimmy helps us consider how difficult it can be to accept that truth. Listen to “Necessary Members” now on your favorite podcast player or at exemplapodcast.com/2024/08/24/necessary-members-replay/.

Sometimes, church is hard. There can be members you don’t like very much or people who just don’t seem to fit. What do w...
24/08/2024

Sometimes, church is hard. There can be members you don’t like very much or people who just don’t seem to fit. What do we do when it feels like the church would be better off without some of its members? This is a story about a woman who thinks one man in her church might be more trouble than he’s worth. Is she right? Listen now: exemplapodcast.com/2024/08/24/necessary-members-replay/

In your life, how have you seen that “God governs in the affairs of men”? It’s true, whether we see it or not. Listen to...
17/08/2024

In your life, how have you seen that “God governs in the affairs of men”? It’s true, whether we see it or not. Listen to “Master Plan” for a story about how a stamp, a volcano, a French engineer, and the Congress of the United States were all part of a world-shaping historical episode. Listen now: exemplapodcast.com/2024/08/10/master-plan-replay/

In your life, how have you seen that “God governs in the affairs of men”? It’s true, whether we see it or not. Listen to...
17/08/2024

In your life, how have you seen that “God governs in the affairs of men”? It’s true, whether we see it or not. Listen to “Master Plan” for a story about how a stamp, a volcano, a French engineer, and the Congress of the United States were all part of a world-shaping historical episode.

It doesn’t surprise us that a volcanic eruption could shape history, but what about a postage stamp? Sometimes small thi...
10/08/2024

It doesn’t surprise us that a volcanic eruption could shape history, but what about a postage stamp? Sometimes small things make a big splash. Listen to this story about the origin of the Panama Canal and learn a lesson about the influences that decide the course of history. Listen now: exemplapodcast.com/2024/08/10/master-plan-replay/

Have you ever lost something precious, only to realize your sorrow was actually God’s grace? We need to learn to trust t...
03/08/2024

Have you ever lost something precious, only to realize your sorrow was actually God’s grace? We need to learn to trust the way God gives… and the way He takes away. Listen to “Brighter Lights” for a challenge about the discrepancy between our view of life and God’s. Listen Now: https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/07/27/brighter-lights-replay/

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Listen to “Just Another Faithful Preacher” now: exemplapodcast.com/2025/01/25/just-another-faithful-preacher/#Exempla #storytelling #storyteller #storytellers #christianstoryteller #personalstory #mystory #memories #biblepreaching #faithfulpreaching #faithfulpastor #faithfulpreacher #faithfulservant #faithfulness #poweroftheword #thankyoupastor #lessonslearned #ministrylegacy

Listen to “Something Appropriate” now: exemplapodcast.com/2024/12/21/something-appropriate-replay/ #Exempla #ExemplaPodcast #Christianpodcast #storytelling #christianstorytelling #historypodcast #storytellingpodcast #Christmasstory #ChristmasEve #TrueMeaningOfChristmas #Apollo8 #SpaceHistory #Earthrise #MoonMission #GodsCreation #Perspective #WonderAndAwe

Listen to “The Year They Cancelled Christmas” now: exemplapodcast.com/2024/12/14/the-plum-pudding-christmas-riots/ #Exempla #ExemplaPodcast #storytelling #christianstorytelling #historypodcast #storytellingpodcast #ChristmasHistory #HistoryOfChristmas #FaithAndHistory #ChristmasBan #PlumPuddingRiots #JesusTeaching #FightingTheRightEnemy #WisdomInLeadership #BiblicalDiscernment

Listen to “Ben Franklin’s Family Feud”: exemplapodcast.com/2024/11/23/ben-franklins-family-feud/ #Exempla #storytelling #storyteller #storytellers #christianstoryteller #history #BenjaminFranklin #BenFranklin #WilliamFranklin #AmericanRevolution #LoyalistsVsRebels #FatherSonConflict #RevolutionaryWar #HistoryPodcast #ChristianDiscipleship #FaithAndFamily #CostOfDiscipleship #AmericanHistory #HistoryAndFaith #FollowingChrist #DividedByFaith #FatherAndSon

Listen to “A Chance to Kill the King”: exemplapodcast.com/2024/11/09/a-chance-to-kill-the-king/ #Exempla #storytelling #storyteller #storytellers #christianstoryteller #biblestory #kingsaul #david #abishai #authority #honoringauthority #respectforauthority #government

Listen to “Leonardo da Vinci’s Giant Horse” at exemplapodcast.com/2024/10/26/leonardo-da-vincis-giant-horse/ #Exempla #storytelling #storyteller #storytellers #christianstoryteller #history #leonardodavinci #sforza #ludovicosforza #renaissance #leonardoshorse #sforzahorse #milan #dukeofmilan #sculpture #bronzesculpture #horsestatue #horsesculpture

Listen to “The Worst Birthday Ever” now on your favorite podcast player or at http://exemplapodcast.com/2024/10/12/the-worst-birthday-ever/ #Exempla #storytelling #storyteller #storytellers #christianstoryteller #personalstory #mystory #memories #badmemories #goodmemories #worstbirthdayever #birthday #armybrat #childhood #parenting #raisingchildren #faithfulparents

Listen to “Look at Your Fish!” now on your favorite podcast player or at exemplapodcast.com/2024/09/21/look-at-your-fish/ #Exempla #storytelling #storyteller #storytellers #christianstoryteller #history #biology #science #scientificstudy #entomology #ichthyology #louisagassiz #samuelscudder #haemulon #lookatyourfish #study #biblestudy #bible

Listen to “There’s No Medal for Fourth Place” now at exemplapodcast.com/2024/09/07/theres-no-medal-for-fourth-place/ or on your favorite podcast player. #Exempla #storytelling #storyteller #storytellers #christianstoryteller #history #olympics #2024olympics #olympicrace #olympicrunners #1500meters #jakobingebrigtsen #joshkerr #colehocker #rivalry #distraction #runyourownrace #followjesus #bible

Meet Jimmy by listening to “Necessary Members” now at exemplapodcast.com/2024/08/24/necessary-members-replay/ or in your favorite podcast player. #Exempla #storytelling #storyteller #storytellers #christianstoryteller #fiction #smallchurch #countrychurch #localchurch #churchmembers #bodyofchrist #gossip #vestigialorgans

Listen to “Master Plan” now in your favorite podcast player or at exemplapodcast.com/2024/08/10/master-plan-replay/ #Exempla #storytelling #storyteller #storytellers #christianstoryteller #history #panamacanal #nicaraguacanal #postagestamp #mtpelee #volcano #volcanoes #courseofhistory #nocooincidence #godissovereign #providence #godgoverns

Listen to “Brighter Lights” at https://exemplapodcast.com/2024/07/27/brighter-lights-replay/ or on your favorite podcast player. #Exempla #storytelling #storyteller #storytellers #christianstoryteller #personalstory #mystory #twoyearold #flashinglights #perspective #sorrow #loss #treasure #affections #biblestory #habakkuk

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