The Story that Matters

Where would you start if you had less than an hour to explain the gospel to a friend who has not read the Bible before? What information should you cover? What points should you focus on? The Story that Matters provides a clear explanation of the main message of the Bible in 45 minutes.

 

This booklet explains the gospel in a chronological manner from creation to the cross. Using expressive line art illustrations and carefully controlled text, the core message of the Bible is explained in simple-to-understand English so that even someone who uses English as a second language can clearly understand.

 

This book is priced so it can be given away in large numbers. Churches can present these booklets to visitors or they can be given out at concerts or church programs. Individuals can also give the booklet like a gospel tract to family, friends and neighbours.

“I really like What are Christmas and Easter All About? but it only covers two months of the year. With The Story that Matters, I can now give others the gospel message at any time of the year!”

Appropriate for these audiences:

All ages.

Written for those with limited language skills. It uses EasyEnglish which is suitable for children, teens, ESL speakers and people who do not read a lot.

Designed to give away:

This booklet is very affordable. Bought in bulk, it is priced less than a cup of coffee—cheaper than a Christmas or Easter card. It is ideal to give away in large numbers. A church can hang one on every door in a neighbourhood without breaking the budget!

Features

SAMPLE OF INTERIOR PAGES FEATURING THE LINE ART

Click on the thumbnails to view sample pages from both the English and French editions of The Story that Matters.

Books

BOOKLET (KJV Edition)

The main story is in EasyEnglish but alll Scripture quotations are in classical English (KJV).

64 pages.

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PDF

TRANSLATIONS

INDIAN ENGLISH AUDIO BOOK

圣诞节 与 复活节

的真正意义

64 pages.

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FRENCH:

L’Histoire qui fait toute la différence

64 pages.

HUNGARIAN:

Életbevágó történet

64 pages.

LINGALA:

Lisolo oyo ebongolaki nyonso

80 pages.

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PDF

BOOK SLEEVES

Believers who are alert for opportunities to give away the gospel message find that The Story that Matters works well in many situations. The booklet can be given away at baptisms to help explain its meaning. The booklet may also be offered at funerals and weddings to explain to friends and family the hope that you have in Jesus Christ. Other occasions where believers may want to share the Bible’s message include graduations, housewarming, baby showers, wedding anniversaries and more.

Then there are the “open doors” that arise every day to give away the gospel. The booklet may be presented as a token of appreciation to service staff at restaurants and hotels. You can give a copy to the plumber, mechanic or nurse, who has provided assistance. You may also hand the booklets to door-to-door salespeople, to friends recuperating at home or to people you meet while on vacation.

Churches may choose to put them into the hands of visitors or to have copies available at their welcome desks. Businesses can leave a stack in their reception areas so customers may take a copy with them. God opens doors in a wide variety of ways and provides believers with many different possibilities in which to give away the gospel.

To help you be ready for these opportunities, we are providing here book sleeves that wrap around The Story that Matters. We have many different options, each designed for a different occasion.

Each sleeve comes in three options: a plain text version, a decorative lines version, and a full-green version. Each PDF will contain all three versions. If you want all the designs in one PDF, you can also download the all-in-one PDF here.

Here's how you use the sleeves:
  1. Peruse the list of occasions and select the message that best suits your need.
  2. Download the respective PDF.
  3. Using Adobe Acrobat Reader, select “Fit to Paper” and “Landscape” orientation to print out the sleeves on your colour printer. (We recommend plain white paper.)
  4. Cut out the sleeves along the grey cut lines. Each sheet provides five sleeves. Print and cut as many sleeves as you need.
  5. Fold each sleeve around a copy of The Story that Matters and tape the ends together with tape or a sticker (such as those available from Avery, etc.).
  6. And there you have it! A copy of The Story that Matters ready to be handed out at the appropriate occasion.

LES MANCHONS

Les croyants qui sont alertes aux occasions pour donner le message de l’évangile trouvent que L’Histoire qui fait toute la différence fonctionne bien dans divers contextes. Le livret peut être donné lors d’un baptême pour aider à expliquer sa signification. Il peut aussi être offert lors des funérailles ou des noces pour expliquer aux amis et aux membres de la famille l’espérance que vous avez en Jésus-Christ. D’autres occasions sont : la remise des diplômes, un shower de bébé ou de mariage, un anniversaire de mariage, et autres.

Puis, il y a les « portes » qui s’ouvrent chaque jour. Le livret peut être présenté en guise de reconnaissance au personnel d’un restaurant ou d’un hôtel. Vous pouvez le donner au plombier, au mécanicien, à l’infirmière, et à d’autres qui vous ont rendu un service. Vous pouvez en donner aux vendeurs porte-à-porte, aux amis en convalescence chez eux ou aux gens que vous rencontrez en vacances.

Les églises peuvent choisir de les donner aux visiteurs ou d’en avoir au kiosque de bienvenue. Les gens d’affaires peuvent en laisser dans leur salle d’attente pour permettre à leurs clients d’en prendre. Dieu ouvre les portes de diverses façons et il fournit aux croyants beaucoup d’occasions différentes pour donner le message de l’évangile.

Pour vous aider à vous préparer en vue de ces occasions, nous fournissons ici des manchons qui se posent sur L’Histoire qui fait toute la différence. Nous avons une grande variété d’options, chacune conçue pour une occasion différente.

Chaque manchon vient en trois options : une version simple, une version avec des lignes décoratives, et une version avec un fond vert. Tous les manchons en français sont dans un seul document PDF.

Directives pour l’utilisation des manchons :

Regardez la liste des occasions et choisissez le message qui convient le mieux à votre contexte.

Téléchargez le PDF qui correspond au message choisi.

Avec Adobe Acrobat Reader, sélectionnez « Adapter à la taille de la page » et « Format horizontal » pour imprimer les manchons sur votre imprimante couleur. (Nous suggérons d’utiliser du papier blanc.)

Découpez les manchons le long des lignes grises. Chaque feuille contient cinq manchons. Imprimez et découpez la quantité désirée.

Pliez chaque manchon sur un exemplaire de L’Histoire qui fait toute la différence et collez les bouts ensemble à l’aide du ruban gommé ou d’un collant (tel que ceux vendus par Avery, etc.).

Et voilà! Vous avez un exemplaire de L’Histoire qui fait toute la différence prêt à être donné au moment propice.

Wedding and Anniversary
Thank you for celebrating with us!

Ideas: Use as a door gift, place on each seat or place a stack by the door for guests to take.

Thank you for sharing our joy

Ideas: Use as a door gift, place on each seat or place a stack by the door for guests to take.

The secret we share

Ideas: Use as a door gift, place on each seat or place a stack by the door for guests to take

Enjoying God's Best Together

Ideas: Use as a door gift, place on each seat or place a stack by the door for guests to take

Baptism
Thank you for celebrating with us!

Ideas: Share about the hope you have, leave a stack by the door and invite people to take them.

Finding hope for life and beyond

Ideas: Share about the hope you have, leave a stack by the door and invite people to take them.

...the anchor of our hope and peace

Ideas: Share about the hope you have, leave a stack by the door and invite people to take them.

Funeral
...it's a matter of life

Ideas: Share about the hope you have, leave a stack by the door and invite people to take them.

Finding hope for life and beyond

Ideas: Share about the hope you have, leave a stack by the door and invite people to take them.

...the anchor of our hope and peace

Ideas: Share about the hope you have, leave a stack by the door and invite people to take them.

Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving's supreme reason

Ideas: Hand them to each guest and/or read it together as part of the celebration.

Graduation
Congratulations on your graduation!

Ideas: Teachers giving to students, for your friends’ children or for your children’s classmates.

Birthday
Thank you for celebrating with us!

Ideas: As a door gift at celebrations or as a “thank you” for those who gave you a gift.

Christmas
...what Christmas is all about

Ideas: As a gift for guests, at church Christmas events and outreach, for neighbours and foreigners.

Making sense of why we celebrate Christmas

Ideas: As a gift for guests, at church Christmas events and outreach, for neighbours and foreigners.

...the reason for the season

Ideas: As a gift for guests, at church Christmas events and outreach, for neighbours and foreigners.

Easter
...what Easter is all about

Ideas: As a door gift for Easter events, a giveaway at Easter parades, for co-workers who are curious about Easter.

Making sense of why we celebrate Easter

Ideas: As a door gift for Easter events, a giveaway at Easter parades, for co-workers who are curious about Easter.

...the reason for the season

Ideas: As a door gift for Easter events, a giveaway at Easter parades, for co-workers who are curious about Easter.

Homeschooling
Building a strong foundation

Ideas: For friends who homeschool, as a giveaway at homeschooling outings and conventions.

Starting the year off strong

Ideas: For friends who homeschool, as a giveaway at homeschooling outings and conventions.

Teacher
Thank you for being a great teacher!

Ideas: Works for any kind of teacher: school, piano etc. For Teacher’s Day or year-end gift.

Host
Thank you for being a blessing to us!

Ideas: When you are invited to a home or event, you may use this to thank them for their hospitality.

Service staff
Thank you for your service!

Ideas: To thank waiters, servers, plumbers, ushers, mechanics, carpenter, repairman etc.

A token of our appreciation

Ideas: To thank waiters, servers, plumbers, ushers, mechanics, carpenter, repairman etc.

Service recipient
Thank you for the privilege of serving you

Ideas: To give to customers, patrons etc. Works well if you are offering a service or some help.

Visitors to church
Thank you for visiting us today

Ideas: For each visitor to your church. Also can be placed at the welcome desk.

Supporters
Thank you for your support

Ideas: For friends who come to support your sports event or performance, also for people who have stood behind you in various ways.

Unwell
Get well soon!

Ideas: For people in the hospital, friends recuperating at home or community outreach to hospitals.

Something to think about...

Ideas: For people in the hospital, friends recuperating at home or community outreach to hospitals.

The anchor of our hope and peace

Ideas: For people in the hospital, friends recuperating at home or community outreach to hospitals.

New Neighbour
Welcome!

Ideas: As part of a welcome gift to a new neighbour or new co-worker.

Being counseled
Promise of hope

Ideas: As a gift for someone you are counseling or helping.

Chance encounter
Thanks — Enjoyed our talk!

Ideas: For someone you bumped into and with whom you had a good conversation.

Traveller
Enjoy your flight!

Ideas: As reading material for friends, family and acquaintances who are going on a trip.

Bon voyage!

Ideas: As reading material for friends, family and acquaintances who are going on a trip.

Have a safe trip!

Ideas: As reading material for friends, family and acquaintances who are going on a trip.

Miss you already!

Ideas: As reading material for friends, family and acquaintances who are going on a trip.

Military
Thank you for your service

Ideas: As a gift for anyone in the armed forces.

Praying for your safe return

Ideas: As a gift for anyone in the armed forces.

Welcome home

Ideas: As a gift for anyone in the armed forces.

The anchor of our hope and peace

Ideas: As a gift for anyone in the armed forces.