Chronological Bible Storying

1. Chronological Bible Storying An Overview Continued... Prepared by: Dr. James B. Slack

2. What is Chronological Bible Storying? • Chronological Bible Storying is a methodology for presenting the gospel to oral communicators--primarily illiterates and functional illiterates who cannot understand, remember and reproduce the gospel when it is given to them through more literate, expositional presentation formats. Numerous other tools and methods exist for presenting the gospel to literates and semi-literates.

3. Review Of Part One Issues • A Problem of Hearing--Understanding, Retention and Repetition • Literate Christianity & Literate Assumptions about How People Learn • Learning Preferences--A Learning Grid • Literate Need to Present the Gospel in Ways Oral Communicators Learn, and the Way They Communicate to other Oral Communicators

4. Preparing To Story what • Know hearer should be exposed to has been determined 1 2 3 4

5. The Lome Y Chronological Bible Story Selection Worldview Spiritual Barriers & Bridges Perceived Needs --------------------- LANGUAGE & CULTURE LOSTNESS OF MAN ---------------------- Foundational & Essential Truths for Salvation STORY SELECTION CRITERIA 10-15 Maximum Model Bible Story List & Themes Exhaustive Bible Story List EXAMINE BIBLE STORY LIST Time Limitations or Contact Window Other Factors: Attention Span/Interruptions SELECT TRIAL STORY SET Helps Stories Review Dialog PREPARE STORY LESSONS Teach Co-Worker Teach Small Test Group TEST SET & LESSONS Newly Discovered Barriers New Criteria Criteria Not Covered Adequately More than Adequately Covered ADJUST LIST ADD OR DELETE MODEL STORY & LESSON SET SHELL MODEL ORAL MODEL Don’t Forget

6. The Process of Developing The Story List • Consult master story lists for choosing stories • The universal Bible truths to be storied have been determined, and stories have been selected that convey those truths to the designated target people • Worldview identification is improving and barriers, bridges and gatekeepers are identified which lead to choosing stories that specifically address the issues • Stories listed in chronological order

7. The Process of Developing The Story List • The combined list of stories from these activities now comprise the first draft of a story list • The specific stories and the total number of stories needed for this people group are now known • The list and the stories should now be checked and rechecked to be sure they are best ones to use

8. Steven’s Story List Abraham Isaac Jacob Twelve Patriarchs Joseph Pharaoh of Egypt Moses Angel of Lord Our Fathers Joshua David Solomon Gentiles Most High Prophets Jesus Holy Spirit A Look At Two Story Lists Found In The Bible

9. Hebrews 11 Story List God as Creator Abel Cain Enoch Noah Abraham Isaac Jacob Sarah Esau Joseph Moses Pharaoh’s Daughter Rahab Gideon Barak Samson Jephthah David Samuel Prophets A Look At Two Story Lists Found In The Bible…continued

10. Chronologies Genesis 4:16ff Genesis 5:1-32 Genesis 10:1-32 Genesis 11:10-32 Genesis 14:1ff, 35:21-36:43 & Gen. 46 Numbers 1 Judges 1 Matthew 1:1ff Acts 8:35 Exodus 36-Tabernacle Oral Communicators For many, geneologies are important Geneologies serve as the chronological framework for their heritage, their stories, their family identity Some Other Types of Story Lists Found In The Bible…continued

11. Crafting Each Story For Telling • Each story that is told should be crafted to mirror the Bible story. The integrity of the Biblical account must be duplicated in each story that is told. • Each story should be crafted as a “told story” so it will not appear to the hearers as a written story. Written stories are not as easy to listen to and are not at all easy to memorize. • Prepare to tell the story so as to highlight very tactfully, but clearly, the universal Bible truth, the barrier, the bridge or gatekeeper that it was specifically chosen to address. • Word choices should be void of “church words” and should be those words that are common to the target people and words that are easy to remember.

12. Dealing With Biblical Background Matters • Biblical background information, depending upon the amount and compatibility with story being told, can be inserted into a specific story, or into a number of stories. • Biblical background information can be inserted into the pre-story introduction and review when previous story is told and when introduction of present story is given. • Biblical background information can be inserted into the bridging exercises, which often makes bridging a more regular exercise.

13. Dealing With Biblical Background Matters…cont. • Biblical background information should be crafted to be very accurate and to the point. • Only that which is vital and appropriate for the current story or stories should be inserted wherever it is inserted. • Biblical background information when it is inserted and wherever it is inserted should be crafted into a narrative format that blends with story format. • In other words, do not slip into an expositional format when presenting background information. • When giving an oral Bible and when using CBS for discipleship and pastoral training, the rules are critical

14. Choosing Appropriate WordsWhen Crafting & Telling Stories • Choose words from heart language that best convey meaning of Biblical words • Choose words commonly used by individuals among target people while recognizing that oral communicators understand words in context rather than words in isolation • Again, stay away from “church words” which have little to no meaning among oral communicators • Avoid words or phrases used by oral communicators that carry religious meanings different from Biblical text and from normal meaning of words in language

15. Choosing A Story FormatIn Light of Local Story Formats • “Collect” and listen to all kinds of their stories to discern how they tell their stories • Be careful to tell your stories as close to the ways they tell their stories • It is detrimental if oral communicators are aware of the way stories are being told • If they sing parts or all of a story, then put the Biblical stories into a song format

16. It’s Story Time: The Story Session • Pre-Session Relational Time • Opening Dialog • Reading the Bible • Telling the Story • Leading Hearers to Discover Truths, Barriers or Bridges • Disengagement and Departure

17. It’s Story Time: The Story Session • Arriving, “entering,” and relating according to cultural norms • Some cultures have “entering and relating” rules • Pay due respects • Assume proper cultural positions. Sit, stand, and position yourself appropriately. • Is this a worship time or not? Be consistent.

18. It’s Story Time: The Story Session--Opening Dialog • Opening greetings • Engage in introductory discussion according to appropriate local customs • Have someone tell previous week’s story • Briefly recall and rehearse previous story’s meaning and message • Set the stage for the current story. Be careful not to change your style at this time. • Give a listening task

19. The Bible In The Story Session • Read from the Bible • Handling and Using the Bible • Read a portion from the story • It is appropriate to memorize Scripture Note: Muslim cultures may require the storyer not to use a Bible until later in the process.

20. Storying: The Story Session • Tell the Story • Story the Story • Don’t Read if You Can Tell Story • Story Should Be A “Told Story” • Tell Story As They Tell Stories • Be Accurate, but Interesting • Follow Basics

21. Story Telling Session: The Dialog • Dialog Time • Separate Story from Dialog • You are listening • for barriers • Ask Questions Ocs Can Handle • Please, No Analysis Questions, No Points, or Outlining • Don’t Teach, Lecture or Explain • Retell the Story

22. Dialog continued... • Resist arguing or contending with hearers concerning belief, acceptance, or disagreement • Maintain a “win/win” posture during the dialog • Resist insinuations and non-verbal communication that betrays disapproval • Encourage and allow the hearers to tell their stories concerning the current topic. Clothed within their stories is the hearer’s religious and social apologetic that needs to be known.

23. The Story Session:Disengagement and Departure • Plan for closure in the dialog session • Do not shift to a literate style as the dialog is completed and as you are preparing to depart • Be very aware of your comments and communication style after the story session • Do not depart prematurely • Follow local disengagement customs as discovered in worldview studies. Remember, people in many cultures ask the real questions after the sessions

24. Guidelines For Giving Oral Communicators an Oral Bible • Follow the chronology and all the basics carefully • Maintain the integrity of the story • No modernization of any of the stories • Can insert carefully certain critical biblical background information in story format • Be certain each is a told story and that each is repeated enough times for memorization • Cover all evangelism stories in the discipleship track to correct and clarify stories

25. Discipling & The Discipleship Track in Storying • The Discipleship Track follows the Evangelism Track

26. Problem Solving When StoryingInternal • Mix of believers/unbelivers • Communication quirks of presenter • “Hardness of Heart” • Surprise Barriers • Hostility & other group dynamics • Evidence of falling away

27. Trouble ShootingExternal Problems • Interruptions • Poor location choice • Schedule breaks • Special Events • Interference by other religious groups

28. Multiple Media Effectiveness The Yao Project -8 No Awareness of the Gospel -7 -6 Knowledge of Gospel Basics -5 Understanding Gospel Implications -4 Positive Attitude Toward Becoming a Christian -3 Problem Recognition -2 -1 0 Change of Allegience +1 Re-evaluation +2 Incorporation into Church +3 Spiritually Reproducing Source: “Developing a Media Strategy to Reach an Unreached People Group”

29. Multiple Media Effectiveness The Yao Project -8 No Awareness of the Gospel -7 -6 Knowledge of Gospel Basics -5 Understanding Gospel Implications -4 Positive Attitude Toward Becoming a Christian -3 Problem Recognition -2 -1 0 Change of Allegience +1 Re-evaluation +2 Incorporation into Church +3 Spiritually Reproducing -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 Radio Event Lit/Audio Storying Contact S P I R I T U A L D E C I S I O N S C A L E Source: “Developing a Media Strategy to Reach an Unreached People Group”

30. Multiple Media Effectiveness The Yao Project -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 +1 +2 +3 Radio Event Lit/Audio Storying Contact S P I R I T U A L D E C I S I O N S C A L E Source: “Developing a Media Strategy to Reach an Unreached People Group”