Gods Choice of Communication

Using His Example

Sharing Gods Story

The First International Congress on World Evangelization, organized by Billy Graham met in Lausanne, Switzerland July 1974. This gave birth to The Lausanne Movement. A conversation that continues today to address global issues of the church.. 2Congress on World Evangelism*HIVTerrorismPovertyPersecution of ChristiansPost-modernismOppression of childrenUrbanizationNeglect of the DisabledOrality* Recent topics of concern that were discussed at the gathering. 3a need existsWe acknowledge the reality that much of the world is made up of oral learners who understand best when information comes to them by means of stories. A large proportion of the worlds populations are either unable to or unwilling to absorb information through written communications. Therefore, a need exists to share the Good News and to disciple new Christians in story form and parables.2

4CANNOT READ orCAN READ, but CANNOT UNDERSTANDorCAN READ, CAN UNDERSTAND, but PREFERS NOT TO READAn Oral Learner Simply said, There are There are 4 billion oral learners in the world, roughly two thirds of the worlds population. They either cannot or chooses not to read this makes them Primary, or Secondary oral learners.(Oralbible.com)5The Literate LearnerIs the MinorityCAN READ, CAN UNDERSTAND, PREFERS TO READThe majority of current material and methods are designed to teach this group..6If you are among this last group, you love a good book, whether, paperback, hardback, digital.Theres something encouraging and pleasurable about reading a good book and knowing that there are so many more out there, just waiting to be read.

7However, even among this group, not all like to read The Good BookWhich ironically includes a command that we are to share its message of with those who:

Do like to Read but not the BibleDo Not ReadDo Not UnderstandDo Not Like to Read8So with roughly four billion oral learners in the worlds population

How do we address this great responsibility to make sure that the message of Gods Word is shared in a way that it is actually received?

What are we to do about the command to share the message of The Good Book with those who CANNOT, DO NOT, or DONT WANT TO read it?9Literacy Programs?LiteracyTranslationEducationYou might be thinking, why dont we focus our efforts on these things. But it is not just about knowing how to read. An oral society functions differently.

Bible Story Telling will indeed create a desire for literacy- because as the power of scripture is realized in the human heart- it creates a hunger for more. But there are many living RIGHT NOW that need the Gospels message. And even with solid initiatives in place to address literacy, translation and education research has shown us that it will take time.10Did you know?Research shows it can take 120 years to move an ORAL society from 0% to 30% Literate making them an Oral Preference Society with literates among them at best.

11Psalm 119:130 The unfolding of Your Word bring light, it gives understanding to the simple.If this promise is true, then how does it work in a world where so few actually read?

Does the The Good Book offer any clues as to how to share the message of God with the people on the planet?

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God SPOKE to Adam and EveGod SPOKE to AbrahamGod SPOKE to Moses, who wrote what God said, then read it to the people.God SPOKE through dreams (visions and words)God SPOKE through AngelsGod WROTE the 10 Commandments IN STONE! (No take-home copies)God WROTE on a Wall ON STONE (Personal message for one man)God SPOKE to the Prophetswho then Spoke, Wrote and Read to the people

How did God choose to communicate in the Old Testament?13

Gospels WRITTENEpistles 1 copy sent, then Read to the peopleEthiopian Eunuch READING Isaiah, Not Understanding!Revelation WRITTEN (Of course, John was exiled on an island)

How did God choose to communicate in the New Testament?14Back to the Gospels, who were these written about?

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood

15THE MESSENGERWith THE MESSAGEHow did He choose to communicate?Hand our scrolls, printing press, literacy classes?THE MESSENGER With THE MESSAGETold Stories

16Mark 4:33-34 With many parables Jesus SPOKE the Word to them, as much as they could understand. He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when He was alone with His disciples, He explained everything.

17What will you learn to do with Bible Story Telling? You will learn to:teach like Jesus taughtlearn to ask questions that will lead others to find truthopen peoples minds and hearts to receive remember retell Gods storiesempower a vast overlooked army to become story tellersparticipate in the harvest fields18So how does this method of interactive, oral learning work?The same four steps are used to :prepare to launch a storyTell (launch) the storyGuide the group in observation and application

Timothy the Bible Story Teller

HEAD: EYES-What do we/they See?EARS-What do we/they Hear?MOUTH-What is being Said?HEAD-What do we/they Know? (Context)HANDSWhat actions are happening?Who is doing what? (General-big picture)HEARTWhat choices are being made?Can you tell for what reason? (Specific-personal)FEET Where does choice take each person? How does it affect others? Results?20Overview of the teaching methodPreparationSELECT A STORY TO TELLSelect a story that you enjoy.Shorter is better until you learn more.Longer stories can be split into parts.STUDY THE STORYDo your own study first.Making observations Making applications

PreparationPREPARE YOUR QUESTIONSFrom your study, develop questions that could lead someone else to discover what you found.Leave plenty of room for their discoveries.Remember, you will only ask questions.Avoid questions that offer Yes or No answers.MEMORIZE THE STORYMemorize the story as you will NOT read it.Read the story OUT LOUD to yourself.Close your Bible & repeat what you remember.Repeat this process until memorized!When Launching the StoryTELL IT FROM MEMORYDo NOT read the story.Think through the setting, the people, the likely attitudes, everything you can imagine.Use your imagination & SEE the story.Deliver the story with excitement!MAKE IT LIVE!Capture your audience by being lively.Match your delivery to the story.Make eye contact with your hearers.ENGAGE PARTICIPATIONAsk a volunteer to repeat what they can.Complement their accomplishment.Repeat the story for everyone.

When Launching the StoryONLY ASK QUESTIONSDo NOT lecture!!!ONLY ask questions to lead to treasures.ASK MORE QUESTIONSListen to their answers.Ask follow-up questions to their finds.Allow the Spirit to lead the process.STICK TO THE STORYDo NOT go to other stories.Do NOT go to Application too early.Recall treasures from the Observations during the Application time.

After Launching the StoryHELP PEOPLE CAPTURE THEIR TREASURESRepeat Key Treasures.Verbally Reward the group on their efforts.REINFORCE THE JOY OF DISCOVERYEmbrace the thrill of discovery with them.Encourage them that they taught the lesson.EMPOWER OTHERS TO PARTICIPATEExplain the power of the group process.Explain the power of the sown seed! ISA 55REPEAT

Why Bible Story TellingIt meets the need on the mission field where the culture is based on Oral LearningIt meets the needs of the Secondary Oral learners in our North American Culture It creates a hunger for more scriptureIt is interactive (relational), receivable, remember-able, and most importantly, reproducible.27Interestingly, five hundred years after the invention of the printing press, only 33% of the world are truly literate.1

Most of us still desire to learn, and learn best, by interactive discovery and oral means.

How many people do you know who would rather watch the movie than read the book?

1http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/themedarticles.php/507/10-2006?pg=allBibliographyBible ,The Holy : New International Version, electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, c1984).Lausanne Occasional Paper No. 54 MAKING DISCIPLES OF ORAL LEARNERS Produced by the Issue Group on this topic at the 2004 Forum for World Evangelization hosted by the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization . In Pattaya, Thailand, September 29 to October 5, 2004 A New Vision, a New Heart, a Renewed Call2Oralbible.com (Slide 9) Four Billion Oral Learners International Orality NetworkThe Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language. Created by Eugene H. Peterson . Published 1993 to 2002What is Orality? http://www.oralitystrategies.org/about.cfm Willis, Avery and James Greenelsh. What Do You Think, Mr. Guttenberg? The Challenges Print Evangelism Ministries Face in Meeting the Needs of Oral Cultures. October 2006 http://www.lausanneworldpulse.com/themedarticles.php/507/10-2006?pg=allTimothy the Bible Story Teller .jpg and the Bible Story Method are a collaborative project in process with Rev. Ray Neu , 2012,and Leadership Audio Bible and may not be reproduced or distributed without consent.