personal stories in sermons...

Sharing a personal story in church as part of a sermon is a challenge and a skill, almost like trying to putt a golf ball and sometimes it can be overhit and does not hit the mark, and missed the intedned target. I have heard personal stories shared in church that are not relevant to anybody but the speaker and that is a problem - how can a preacher share a story effectivly?

I believe that when one shares oneself a story should be short, to the point and accesible for all, this is easier said than done, but to achieve this I think a story could be shared with a friend before it is shared in a wider arena and therefore as a kind of litmus tests to see if the story ellucidates the point being made in the sermon well. I once heard Rick Warren say: 'you need a point for the head and a point for the heart.' In other words the story has a purpose, to illuminate a bible teaching, if it does not do that, perhaps it is for the ego? A challeneg to all preachers including myself!