We already mentioned four principles from Jesus:
* Principle #1 - Jesus Invited Others to Talk
* Principle #2 - Jesus' Teaching Connected with Life
* Principle #3 - Jesus Engaged His Listeners.
* Principle #4 - Jesus took Advantage of Teachable Moments
Today we will look at another principle from Jesus:
Principle #5 - Jesus told stories.
Read through the Gospels and you cannot help but notice that storytelling was one of the key characteristics of Christ's teaching.
Jesus was able to hold people’s attention with his stories, and through His artful storytelling, profound spiritual truths were brought to light. His stories always had an interesting beginning, were incredibly vivid and gripping, and painted pictures and images that not only fired the imagination, but were easily remembered and passed on to others. They were simple stories that were quickly understood, but held truths of great depth that were not quickly forgotten! They created intense images that burned themselves upon the listener's imagination, giving each something to see in his own mind’s eye.
Why Storytelling?
Our lives are lived and told in story. Stories are, in fact, the oldest form of teaching. In Biblical times it was the Father's responsibility to tell the stories of God's people to his children at every opportunity as much as it was the prophet's responsibility to proclaim God's words to His people. Stories are meaningful for any age student from any culture. Every person, regardless of age, background or situation, has a story. That's what makes stories so powerful!
Stories have a way of weaving their way into our subconscious--both the stories of our own experiences and the stories we hear. Stories can be a source of personal growth and build community not only with those around us, but with those who journeyed in the faith long before us. Stories can bring laughter to our sorrow, healing to our hurts, clarity to our doubts, understanding to our confusion, answers to our questions, and decisiveness to our choices. Listening to a Story is like starting out on a great adventure. We want to know how it ends and what it means.
Stories connect those things, that are commonly known, with spiritual truths. The familiar is used to explain the unfamiliar. The concrete is used to explain the abstract. Abstract principles and concepts are illustrated in practical, real to life actions. Jesus used a story of the birds and lilies to help listeners understand a believer's trust in God. He used the wind to explain the Holy Spirit (which was also a play on words). He used grapes and figs to explain fruitful discipleship. He used salt and light to describe the effect of believers on the world. Jesus deliberately took things that his pupils would understand and applied spiritual truths to them.
Storytelling Methods
Jesus used stories of real events, both historical and current. Luke 13:1-5 refers to then-current events concerning Galileans killed by Pilate and the Tower of Siloam. The story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31 is not presented as a parable, but as a real situation. Stories often hold interest and present abstract concepts more effectively than a simple statement of the point of the story.
Jesus’ most frequent method of storytelling was the parable, often described as an "earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” A parable is a story that uses a parallel between a very familiar situation (like farming) and a less familiar topic (like the Kingdom of Heaven) to shed light and understanding on the latter.
Jesus also used metaphors and similes and other word pictures. Word pictures – words and phrases that create a picture in your mind – are a very effective communication tool. Instead of just saying that it is bad to make children who believe stumble, Jesus painted an effective word picture by saying that it would be better to have a millstone hung around your neck and be cast into the sea than to make one of these little ones who believe to stumble. (Mark 9:42) The latter statement has much more impact. (Luke 17:2,6,24,37) A metaphor is a word picture where something is described by calling it something else. Jesus called Herod “a fox.” A simile is a similar comparison introduced by the words "like" or "as." Jesus described His love for the people of Jerusalem with a simile: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I would have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.”
All of these show the place of storytelling in the teaching ministry of Christ. Youth ministry is about hearing the stories of young people, creating experiences that result in stories, and sharing with one another the story of God's work in this world through Jesus Christ. And through exploring these stories, we all move a little further along in our journey with Christ.
When we learn the art of storytelling, lives are changed and we are a little closer to teaching as Jesus taught.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
How to be a Creative Teacher (like JESUS) - Principle #4
We already mentioned three principles from Jesus:
* Principle #1 - Jesus Invited Others to Talk
* Principle #2 - Jesus' Teaching Connected with Life
* Principle #3 - Jesus Engaged His Listeners.
Today we will look at another principle from Jesus:
Principle #4 - Jesus took Advantage of Teachable Moments.
Oliver Wendell Holmes once described the teachable moment this way: "A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience."
As Christ walked among us, teachable moments often presented themselves in circumstances, situations, and events that were seemingly unplanned. Sometimes the participants would respond to the events with a question or a simple statement of observation. Then, Jesus had a habit of responding with another question or with a saying that was difficult to understand. As he continued to fan that spark of curiosity or interest, the discussion would leave the person deep in thought and the encounter would be forever branded on the listener's mind.
Ask Nicodemus about his conversation with Christ and he could probably tell you every single word! The same with the woman at the well, the man healed on the sabbath, the paralytic lowered through the roof, the woman in the crowd who touched his garments, and I dare say, every person who had a personal encounter with Christ.
Like the rich young ruler who walked away saddened, some left unable to accept the truth that had been revealed. But for others, that one teachable moment became a life-changing experience! Jesus began with the day to day moments of life, and used those moments to spotlight spiritual truths.
It was characteristic of Jesus to make use of whatever occasion arose. This is one of the reasons his teaching was so alive and exciting! When you see the events of life through heaven's eyes, all of life can become a canvas on which truths of God reveal themselves in a myriad of vivid colors and hues!
* When His disciples were accused of working on the Sabbath and breaking the Sabbath Law by threshing wheat, Jesus used the occasion to instruct the Pharisees on the real intention of the Sabbath Law.
* When the woman anointed Jesus' feet in the house of Simon the Pharisee and Jesus was criticized for permitting such a sinful woman to touch Him, He used the occasion to teach on forgiveness.
Do you make use of occasions as they arise in your classroom to teach your students spiritual truths? Look for them, be aware of them, and make use of them.
In the world today, it's hard to follow your youth through the daily moments of their lives and recognize and fan into flame those teachable moments. Yet, with a carefully chosen icebreaker, game, or learning activity, you can create a controlled experience where teachable moments can spring into existence. As they do, the effective teacher can pick out those little sparkles among the mundane and polish them into life-changing diamonds of truth! Truths that will last an eternity!
* Principle #1 - Jesus Invited Others to Talk
* Principle #2 - Jesus' Teaching Connected with Life
* Principle #3 - Jesus Engaged His Listeners.
Today we will look at another principle from Jesus:
Principle #4 - Jesus took Advantage of Teachable Moments.
Oliver Wendell Holmes once described the teachable moment this way: "A moment's insight is sometimes worth a life's experience."
As Christ walked among us, teachable moments often presented themselves in circumstances, situations, and events that were seemingly unplanned. Sometimes the participants would respond to the events with a question or a simple statement of observation. Then, Jesus had a habit of responding with another question or with a saying that was difficult to understand. As he continued to fan that spark of curiosity or interest, the discussion would leave the person deep in thought and the encounter would be forever branded on the listener's mind.
Ask Nicodemus about his conversation with Christ and he could probably tell you every single word! The same with the woman at the well, the man healed on the sabbath, the paralytic lowered through the roof, the woman in the crowd who touched his garments, and I dare say, every person who had a personal encounter with Christ.
Like the rich young ruler who walked away saddened, some left unable to accept the truth that had been revealed. But for others, that one teachable moment became a life-changing experience! Jesus began with the day to day moments of life, and used those moments to spotlight spiritual truths.
It was characteristic of Jesus to make use of whatever occasion arose. This is one of the reasons his teaching was so alive and exciting! When you see the events of life through heaven's eyes, all of life can become a canvas on which truths of God reveal themselves in a myriad of vivid colors and hues!
* When His disciples were accused of working on the Sabbath and breaking the Sabbath Law by threshing wheat, Jesus used the occasion to instruct the Pharisees on the real intention of the Sabbath Law.
* When the woman anointed Jesus' feet in the house of Simon the Pharisee and Jesus was criticized for permitting such a sinful woman to touch Him, He used the occasion to teach on forgiveness.
Do you make use of occasions as they arise in your classroom to teach your students spiritual truths? Look for them, be aware of them, and make use of them.
In the world today, it's hard to follow your youth through the daily moments of their lives and recognize and fan into flame those teachable moments. Yet, with a carefully chosen icebreaker, game, or learning activity, you can create a controlled experience where teachable moments can spring into existence. As they do, the effective teacher can pick out those little sparkles among the mundane and polish them into life-changing diamonds of truth! Truths that will last an eternity!
Friday, July 31, 2009
How to be a Creative Teacher (like JESUS) - Principle #3
We already mentioned two principles from Jesus:
* Principle #1 - Jesus invited others to talk
* Principle #2 - Jesus' Teaching Connected with Life
Today we will look at another principle from Jesus:
Principle #3 - Jesus engaged his listeners.
How can you "break the ice" with a youth who is a total stranger
and guide the discussion from an awkward silence into a
meaningful conversation?
Jesus often got people talking with his first question
and then was able to guide the discussion so that it
developed into a meaningful conversation
about a life-changing topic!
He met people where they were--whether they were drawing water,
fishing, collecting taxes, watching him from a treetop, or
worshipping God in the Temple in Jerusalem.
But Jesus was never content to leave them where they were.
His objective was always a changed life!
Remember the Woman at the well...
A simple request for a drink led to a meaningful discussion on
"living water" that transformed a village.
Zacheus was simply hoping to get a glimpse of Jesus
but instead got to talk to him at his own dinner table
in a conversation that not only changed his life,
but reached out to the lives of many sinners!
Christ's first words to Nicodemus, a religious scholar,
were a conundrum, a puzzle that left him searching.
And that search seemingly reached its conclusion
when Nicodemus took a bold step of faith,
along with Joseph of Arimathea,
and asked for the body of Christ after the Crucifixion.
The gospels are filled with the stories of people
who encountered Christ and then
their personal stories would be forever changed!
In encounter after encounter... Jesus not only broke the ice,
but he left a lasting impact
on the lives of the people he spoke with!
Sometimes Jesus used questions to break the ice.
But on other occasions he use everyday objects,
shared experiences, stories, and even crises
to break the ice and open up the way
to life changing spiritual discussions.
He asked people to share their opinions,
challenged their assumptions,
and asked them to find solutions.
He constantly invited others to join him in experiences
and used those common experiences
to bring out life changing spiritual truths.
Fresh experiences often served as living parables.
It's easy to relate to the feelings, thoughts, and experiences
when you have just experienced them.
Then it is only a short little jump
to deeper truths and understanding.
The "here and now" becomes a springboard
to the distant future,
to choices and consequences.
A small controlled simulation
becomes a safe crucible
to test the consequences of real life decisions.
In the same way today,
games, challenges, and contrived situations
can generate discussions and expose
the same deep set beliefs, attitudes, and values
as real life situations and events.
How you play the game
is a reflection of who you are
and how you deal with life!
But in all things Jesus always had a purpose.
He broke the ice,
and later his own body would be broken,
so that broken lives could be mended.
Learn how you also can "break the ice"
and make a lasting impact in the lives of youth!
I've specially prepared 52 of my best icebreakers of all time!
(That's a full year of icebreakers - one a week!)
And like Christ's encounters with strangers
they are icebreakers with a purpose.
Each one includes debriefs and meaningful discussion questions
that engage youths to deal with real life issues.
* Principle #1 - Jesus invited others to talk
* Principle #2 - Jesus' Teaching Connected with Life
Today we will look at another principle from Jesus:
Principle #3 - Jesus engaged his listeners.
How can you "break the ice" with a youth who is a total stranger
and guide the discussion from an awkward silence into a
meaningful conversation?
Jesus often got people talking with his first question
and then was able to guide the discussion so that it
developed into a meaningful conversation
about a life-changing topic!
He met people where they were--whether they were drawing water,
fishing, collecting taxes, watching him from a treetop, or
worshipping God in the Temple in Jerusalem.
But Jesus was never content to leave them where they were.
His objective was always a changed life!
Remember the Woman at the well...
A simple request for a drink led to a meaningful discussion on
"living water" that transformed a village.
Zacheus was simply hoping to get a glimpse of Jesus
but instead got to talk to him at his own dinner table
in a conversation that not only changed his life,
but reached out to the lives of many sinners!
Christ's first words to Nicodemus, a religious scholar,
were a conundrum, a puzzle that left him searching.
And that search seemingly reached its conclusion
when Nicodemus took a bold step of faith,
along with Joseph of Arimathea,
and asked for the body of Christ after the Crucifixion.
The gospels are filled with the stories of people
who encountered Christ and then
their personal stories would be forever changed!
In encounter after encounter... Jesus not only broke the ice,
but he left a lasting impact
on the lives of the people he spoke with!
Sometimes Jesus used questions to break the ice.
But on other occasions he use everyday objects,
shared experiences, stories, and even crises
to break the ice and open up the way
to life changing spiritual discussions.
He asked people to share their opinions,
challenged their assumptions,
and asked them to find solutions.
He constantly invited others to join him in experiences
and used those common experiences
to bring out life changing spiritual truths.
Fresh experiences often served as living parables.
It's easy to relate to the feelings, thoughts, and experiences
when you have just experienced them.
Then it is only a short little jump
to deeper truths and understanding.
The "here and now" becomes a springboard
to the distant future,
to choices and consequences.
A small controlled simulation
becomes a safe crucible
to test the consequences of real life decisions.
In the same way today,
games, challenges, and contrived situations
can generate discussions and expose
the same deep set beliefs, attitudes, and values
as real life situations and events.
How you play the game
is a reflection of who you are
and how you deal with life!
But in all things Jesus always had a purpose.
He broke the ice,
and later his own body would be broken,
so that broken lives could be mended.
Learn how you also can "break the ice"
and make a lasting impact in the lives of youth!
I've specially prepared 52 of my best icebreakers of all time!
(That's a full year of icebreakers - one a week!)
And like Christ's encounters with strangers
they are icebreakers with a purpose.
Each one includes debriefs and meaningful discussion questions
that engage youths to deal with real life issues.
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