Bible Storying:

1
Bible Storying

• What is it?
• How is it different from Chronological Bible
  Teaching?

2
Bible Storying

• Telling the story as a story and not simply
  talking about the story.
• Organizing related story pieces into coherent
  narratives.
• Linking related stories as part of a larger and
  coherent narrative.

3
Bible Storying

• Chronological Bible Teaching was a precursor
  which established the concept of maintaining a
  chronological timeline for relationship.
• Chronological Bible Teaching established the
  value of providing a strong Old Testament
  foundation for the Gospel.

4
Bible Storying

• Telling the Bible stories in an intentional
  manner as a strategy to

5
Bible Storying

• Telling the Bible stories in an intentional
  manner as a strategy to
• Evangelize

6
Bible Storying

• Telling the Bible stories in an intentional
  manner as a strategy to
• Evangelize
• Plant Churches

7
Bible Storying

• Telling the Bible stories in an intentional
  manner as a strategy to
• Evangelize
• Plant Churches
• Disciple Mature Believers

8
Bible Storying

• Telling the Bible stories in an intentional
  manner as a strategy to
• Evangelize
• Plant Churches
• Disciple Mature Believers
• Train Church Leaders

9
Bible Storying

• Telling the Bible stories in an intentional
  manner as a strategy to
• Evangelize
• Plant Churches
• Disciple
• Train Church Leaders
• Train New Bible Storyers

10
Bible Storying

• Telling the Bible stories in an intentional
  manner as a strategy to
• Evangelize
• Plant Churches
• Disciple
• Train Church Leaders
• Train New Bible Storyers

11
Bible Storying

• Each Objective Is Best Met By Tracks Which Are
  Groups Of Stories That Begin With Foundational
  Stories And Progress Toward Closure.

12
Bible Storying

• Primary Objective Is To Evangelize
• Which Requires Listing Of Basic Bible Truths
• Knowledge Of Any Worldview Issues Related To These

13
Basic Bible TruthsTo Evangelize

• ? Basic Bible Truths Leading to Salvation
• 1. God is one God, sovereign, creating and
• acting in history.
• 2. God is all powerful, all knowing, the
• source of all grace and provision for
• all man's needs.

14
Basic Bible TruthsTo Evangelize

• ? Basic Bible Truths Leading to Salvation
• 3. God communicates with man by His Word, He
  is faithful to his Word.
• 4. God loves man and wants fellowship
• with him.

15
Basic Bible TruthsTo Evangelize

• ? Basic Bible Truths Leading to Salvation
• 5. God is holy, righteous, hating sin.
• 6. Gods righteous nature demands that sin
• be punished by death and eternal
• punishment (separation from God).

16
Basic Bible TruthsTo Evangelize

• ? Basic Bible Truths Leading to Salvation
• 7. Man is accountable to God for all he says
• and does.
• 8. Man is a sinner by inherited nature (birth)
• and by freewill choice, and is separated
• from God by his sin.

17
Basic Bible TruthsTo Evangelize

• ? Basic Bible Truths Leading to Salvation
• 9. Man can do nothing to save himself
• from God's judgment and ultimate
• punishment for sin.
• 10. Man can approach God only through
• the means God has provided through
• a perfect (acceptable) substitute
  sacrifice.

18
Basic Bible TruthsTo Evangelize

• ? Basic Bible Truths Leading to Salvation
• 11. Jesus the Son of God (the Promised
• One come from God) is the only perfect
• sacrifice for sin.

19
Basic Bible TruthsTo Evangelize

• ? Basic Bible Truths Leading to Salvation
• 12. Salvation for man involves faith and
• trust in God's provision by believing
• on Jesus as the only Savior from
• God's eternal punishment.

20
Basic Bible TruthsTo Evangelize

• ? Basic Bible Truths Leading to Salvation
• 13. Confession of sin and Repentance
• are outward signs of mans response
• to Gods invitation.

21
Worldview Issues Related To Sharing The Gospel

• Perceived Needs

22
Worldview Issues Related To Sharing The Gospel

• Perceived Needs
• Changes
• Recent Past

23
Worldview Issues Related To Sharing The Gospel

• Perceived Needs
• Changes
• Recent Past
• Presently happening

24
Worldview Issues Related To Sharing The Gospel

• Perceived Needs
• Changes
• Recent Past
• Presently happening
• Impending Future

25
Worldview Issues Related To Sharing The Gospel

• Perceived Needs
• Changes
• Recent Past
• Presently happening
• Impending Future
• Barriers to the Gospel

26
Worldview Issues Related To Sharing The Gospel

• Perceived Needs
• Changes
• Recent Past
• Presently happening
• Impending Future
• Barriers to the Gospel
• Bridges to the Gospel

27
Worldview Issues Related To Sharing The Gospel

• Perceived Needs
• Changes
• Recent Past
• Presently happening
• Impending Future
• Barriers to the Gospel
• Bridges to the Gospel

28
Worldview Issues Bridges to the Gospel

• Prior knowledge of the Gospel
• Dreams
• Curiosity about the Gospel
• Testimony of Believers
• Answered prayer/signs wonders
• Redemptive analogies in culture
• English as first or second language

29
Worldview Issues Bridges to the Gospel

• Desire for ESL
• Literacy
• Orality
• Access to Media
• Scriptures in heart language
• Unfulfilled personal needs
• Cultural parallels

30
Worldview Issues Bridges to the Gospel

• Personal identification with stories
• Desire for relief from oppression/fears
• Desire for a better way/higher moral road
• Community event
• Relationship with storyer
• Framework or structure for communicating a
  lengthy message needing careful building to
  closure

31
Worldview Issues Barriers to the Gospel

• Ignorance of Gospel
• Apathy to Gospel
• Resistance to Gospel
• Hostility to Gospel
• Gospel as one of many possibilities
• Gospel message limited to Christians only
• Distortions of Gospel message

32
Worldview Issues Barriers to the Gospel

• No Scripture in heart language
• Lack of literacy
• Time Factors in urban situations
• Agricultural seasons and weather
• Cultural festivals and practices
• Lack of access due to geography or government
  intervention
• Demon possession

33
Worldview Issues Barriers to the Gospel

• Unwillingness of communicator to use preferred
  teaching modes
• Unwillingness of communicator to organize message
  for clarity and understanding
• Poor command of language
• Wrong vocabulary
• Poor understanding of target culture decision
  making practices

34
Worldview Issues Barriers to the Gospel

• Nominalism
• Poor testimony of those professing to be
  Christians
• Syncretism
• Other religious teachings
• Fear of persecution
• Fear of spirit world
• Loss of social privileges benefits

35
Traditional Evangelism ModelI Model
36
Worldview Sensitive Evangelism Model LoméY
37
Worldview Sensitive Evangelism Model LoméY
LOSTNESS OF PEOPLE Biblical Truths Leading to
Understanding of Accountability to God for
Sin Gospel as Good News of Forgiveness for Sin
Relationship with God Through Belief in Christ as
Savior
38
Worldview Sensitive Evangelism Model LoméY
LOSTNESS OF PEOPLE Biblical Truths Leading to
Understanding of Accountability to God for
Sin Gospel as Good News of Forgiveness for Sin
Relationship with God Through Belief in Christ as
Savior
WORLDVIEW REALITIES Perceived Needs Understanding
of Accountability to God Worldview
Culture Expressed as Spiritual Barriers
Bridges Their Language Literacy Preferred
Modes of Learning
39
Worldview Sensitive Evangelism Model LoméY
LOSTNESS OF PEOPLE Biblical Truths Leading to
Understanding of Accountability to God for
Sin Gospel as Good News of Forgiveness for Sin
Relationship with God Through Belief in Christ as
Savior
WORLDVIEW REALITIES Perceived Needs Understanding
of Accountability to God Worldview
Culture Expressed as Spiritual Barriers
Bridges Their Language Literacy Preferred
Modes of Learning
Understanding of Their Culture
Worldview Barriers Bridges to
Gospel . Consideration of their
Preference for Learning Mode Oral Culture or
Literate Culture
40
Worldview Sensitive Evangelism Model LoméY
LOSTNESS OF PEOPLE Biblical Truths Leading to
Understanding of Accountability to God for
Sin Gospel as Good News of Forgiveness for Sin
Relationship with God Through Belief in Christ as
Savior
WORLDVIEW REALITIES Perceived Needs Understanding
of Accountability to God Worldview
Culture Expressed as Spiritual Barriers
Bridges Their Language Literacy Preferred
Modes of Learning
Understanding of Their Culture
Worldview Barriers Bridges to
Gospel . Consideration of their
Preference for Learning Mode Oral Culture or
Literate Culture
Selection of Stories Informed by Worldview
Culture Chronological Arrangement to
Preserve Historical Other Biblical
Theme Relationships Oral Culture
Narratives Concrete Relational Content Listener
Sensitive Reproducible
41
Worldview Sensitive Evangelism Model LoméY
LOSTNESS OF PEOPLE Biblical Truths Leading to
Understanding of Accountability to God for
Sin Gospel as Good News of Forgiveness for Sin
Relationship with God Through Belief in Christ as
Savior
WORLDVIEW REALITIES Perceived Needs Understanding
of Accountability to God Worldview
Culture Expressed as Spiritual Barriers
Bridges Their Language Literacy Preferred
Modes of Learning
Understanding of Their Culture
Worldview Barriers Bridges to
Gospel . Consideration of their
Preference of Learning Mode Oral Culture or
Literate Culture
Selection of Stories Informed by Worldview
Culture Chronological Arrangement to
Preserve Historical Other Biblical
Themes Relationships Oral Culture
Narratives Concrete Relational Content Listener
Sensitive Reproducible
The Worldview Realities Inform or Influence
the Choice of Stories and Themes Instruct the
Mode of Teaching
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Core Bible Stories

• The Bible Gods Word of Truth
• Creation of the Spirit World
• Creation of the World We Live In
• Creation of First Man and Woman
• Sin of Disobedience Gods Judgment
• Judgment of a Sinful World
• Gods Promise of One to Bless All People

43
Core Bible Stories

• God Will Provide the Substitute Sacrifice
• The Passover Lamb, Sign of the Blood
• Gods Holy Law to define Sin
• Blood Sacrifice to Cover Sin
• The Prophets Message of an Anointed One to
  Suffer Die for our Sin
• Birth of Jesus According to Prophecy
• Baptism of Jesus, Behold the Lamb!

44
Core Bible Stories

• Victory in Temptation
• You Must Be Born Again
• Jesus Has Authority to Forgive Sin
• Jesus Has Authority over Nature
• Jesus Has Authority over Demons
• Jesus Demonstrates Mercy by Healing
• Jesus Has Authority Over DeathJesus is the
  Resurrection

45
Core Bible Stories

• Jesus is Good Shepherd, Knows His Sheep
• We Must Believe the Message of the Prophets While
  in this Life
• My Broken Body Blood Shed for You
• Jesus is Betrayed, Falsely Accused, Condemned to
  Death
• Jesus is Crucified, Decision For Against Jesus,
  It is Finished!

46
Core Bible Stories

• ResurrectionHe is Alive!
• Return to the FatherHe will Come Again!
• Jesus the True High Priest Making Intercession
  for Believers Before the Father
• Jesus will Return to Receive His Own, to Defeat
  Satan, to Judge Unbelievers

47
Criteria For Choosing Stories

• Stories strongly challenging listeners WV
• Stories confronting listeners with choice
• Stories likely to be misunderstood by listeners
• Stories openly accepted by listeners
• Stories preferred by listeners
• Neutral storiesinterest / disinterest
• Bridging background stories

48
Criteria For Choosing Stories

• Teaching themes focusing on primary track
  taskevangelism, church, discipleship...
• Teaching themes that link stories to make
  coherent presentation
• Teaching themes related to target peoples
  worldview
• Minor themes like blessing, deliverance, angels,
  work of Satan evil spirits

49
Criteria For Choosing StoriesSome Typical Themes

• Payment for sin
• Broken relationship (oneness) with God
• SufferingBengali Muslims
• Peace with GodHindus
• Forgiveness
• BlessingChinese
• HonorMuslims

50
Criteria For Choosing StoriesSome Typical Themes

• Characteristics of GodNon Specific
• Kingdom of GodMuslims
• The True WayBuddhists
• The Great High Priest
• Emmaus RoadReflexive to Prophecies
• Stories of the ProphetsMuslims
• The Story of JesusProphecies Gospels

51
Criteria For Choosing StoriesSome Typical Themes

• The Word of GodMuslims
• Womens WV issues
• purity-uncleanness
• powerlessness-life circumstances
• self-worth
• relationships-with God, families
• healing
• provision for widows, those in need

52
The Bible Story

• Verbatim Story (read or told from
  
  memory)
• Enhanced Verbatim Story (for clarity)
• Shaped Story Light Editing
• Paraphrased Story Lightly Rephrased
• Paraphrased Story Deeply Expanded
• Recast Story New Setting, Plot or Characters

53
The Bible Story

• Dramatized Story Dialog Movement
• Sung Story

54
The Storying Session

• Pre-Story Time (Opening Dialog)
• Greeting according to custom
• Talk about recent current events
• Recall/review previous truths stories
• Ask questions or make comments to sensitize
  listeners to new teaching theme
• Review any background, bridging or linking
  stories needed to get into current story
• Give a listening task if appropriate

55
The Storying Session

• Read From the Bible
• Use clean or unmarked Bible
• Handle Bible according to expectation
• Pick up Bible and hold in hand
• Read from Bible part of story to anchor story
  in Bible
• If reading offends, memorize and quote with open
  Bible before you
• Continue to hold Bible after reading

56
The Storying Session

• Tell the Story
• Hold Bible while telling story
• Tell the story as a story and not as a report
  of what characters said and did
• Use summary statements to bridge time
• Tell the story accurately, but interestingly,
  preserving the biblical rhythm
• At end of story Stop!
• Put down the open Bible

57
The Storying Session

• Lead Listeners to Discover Truths
• Ask someone to retell the story
• Let listeners respond to listening task
• Begin discussion with factual questions
• Lead into questions requiring thinking or
  projecting of listeners into the story
• Bring closure with application questions What
  is God saying to you through this story?

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The Storying Session

• Discovering Truths continued
• Handle incorrect answers in a culturally
  sensitive manner
• Dont entertain questions about
  yet-to-be-revealed truth
• Defer answering questions you dont know you
  will look for an answer in Gods Word
• Give a memory verse to sum up lesson
• Enjoy fellowship as a story promotes community

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The Bible Storying Strategy