Bible Story Telling

Real Security in the New Year 2012

2011-12-31T18:34:00.001-08:00

"Real secularity consists in the church's being able to renounce all privileges and all its property but never Christ's Word and the forgiveness of sins. With Christ and the forgiveness of sins to fall back on , the church is free to give up everything else."

Attributed to Bonhoeffer, but true for us all...

Hollywood takes on the Genevan psalms

2011-11-22T15:17:00.001-08:00

Hollywood takes on the Genevan psalms

via The Genevan Psalter by David Koyzis on 11/21/11

In 1952 Miklós Rózsa, one of Hollywood's great film composers, borrowed the Genevan Psalter's tune for Psalms 36 and 68 in scoring Plymouth Adventure, the story of the Pilgrims' migration to North America in 1620.
Here is the text sung by the chorus:
Confess Jehovah thankfully,
For He is good, for His mercie
Continueth for ever.
To God of gods confess doo ye,
Because His bountiful-mercee
Continueth for ever.
Unto the Lord of lords confesse
Because His merciful kindnes
Continueth for ever.
To Him that dooth Himself onely,
Things wondrous great, for His Mercy
Continueth for ever.

The film's creators obviously did their homework, for this text comes from Henry Ainsworth's Psalter of 1612, which the Pilgrims brought with them from the Netherlands. This versification is of Psalm 136, which Ainsworth's Psalter assigns to this tune. I've not seen this film myself, but a friend told me that it aired last evening on television.

A Conversation on Persevering in Prayer

2011-11-22T10:20:00.001-08:00

Here's my conversation with Matt Friedeman on American Family Radio today about persevering in prayer. You'll be able to see more about it at WorldViewChurch.org

Daily Texts for November 22nd, 2011

2011-11-22T08:19:00.001-08:00

Psalm 131 Daniel 9:1-10:7; Jude 1:11-25

I cry to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me. Psalm 57:2

It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 1 Corinthians 15:43

From the depths of our despair we cry out in faith to You, the Living God. We thank you that you fulfill your purposes for all those who trust in you in ways far above our ability to imagine when you give us new life in Jesus Christ. Lord we believe, help our unbelief! May the knowledge of your faithfulness saturate our day so we may joyfully declare your works to this our generation and those to follow through Jesus Christ our Lord we pray, Amen.

Daily Texts for November 21, 2011

2011-11-21T07:20:00.001-08:00

Psalm 130 Daniel 7:23-8:27; Jude 1:1-10

The Lord will again comfort Zion. Zechariah 1:17

Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4

Article: The Bible of King James

2011-11-18T20:18:00.001-08:00

An interesting post on the King James Bible...

The Bible of King James
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/print/2011/12/king-james-bible/nicolson-text

(Sent from Flipboard)

Sent from my iPad

Article: Anglicans Demo Mobile Medical Clinic in Torrance, CA

2011-11-12T17:44:00.001-08:00

Anglicans Demo Mobile Medical Clinic in Torrance, CA
http://www.anglicanhealth.com/mobile-clinic-in-torrance-ca/

Setting up MMA’s Mobile Clinic

Christ Our Savior Anglican Church and the Torrance Outreach for Unified Community Health (TOUCH) Coalition demonstrated Medical Mission Adventures’ (MMA) mobile medical clinic for Torrance Memorial Medical Center (TMMC) on Friday, November 11, 2011. In attendance were representatives from the community, including the Salvation Army, Torrance Corps.

Mr. Louie Rosado, President of MMA and Dr. Finnell, Executive Director of Anglican Health Ministries and founder of TOUCH, made a presentation to the executive staff of TMMC followed by a clinic walkthrough. All of the clinic’s capabilities were on display (i.e. medical, dental, and optical). The presentation focused on the need for primary medical care services among the area’s uninsured and underinsured population and how community organizations can network together to enhance continuity of care and reduce uncompensated emergency department visits.

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Article: Prayer Point - 13/11/2011

2011-11-12T17:36:00.001-08:00

Prayer Point - 13/11/2011
http://barnabasfund.org/Daily-Prayer-Point/?id=2022

(Sent from Flipboard)

Sent from my iPad

Daily Texts for November 10, 2011

2011-11-10T06:29:00.001-08:00

Psalm 121; Ezekiel 46:1-47:12; 1 John 2:12-17

Hate evil and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be
that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious. Amos 5:15

So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:17

Daily Texts for November 9, 2011

2011-11-09T07:12:00.001-08:00

Psalm 120; Ezekiel 44:28-45:25; 1 John 1:5-2:11

The Lord will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your
fathers. Deuteronomy 30:9 (NKJV)

There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who
repents. Luke 15:10

Can you help my ministry get additional free cloud storage?

2011-11-08T15:08:00.001-08:00

Hi, one of the ways you could possibly help my ministry without cost is to help me maximize the free cloud storage I can get from DropBox, a ministry tool I use quite frequently.

Here's how:

1. By clicking this link to Dropbox

2. Signing up

3. Downloading the software and

4. Installing it

YOU not only receive 2 GB of lifetime "cloud" storage, we BOTH receive an extra 250 MB of free storage.

Your help in this regard would be much appreciated.

Dropbox is very helpful to me as I move from computer to computer working. Thanks in advance...

Daily Texts for November 7, 2011

2011-11-07T06:33:00.001-08:00

Psalm 119:161-168 Ezekiel 42:10-43:21; 2 Peter 3:1-13

You have blessed it, O Lord, and it shall be blessed forever.

1 Chronicles 17:27 (NKJV)

Those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed. Galatians 3:9

Thanks you Heavenly Father for Your purpose to bless the House of David and all who entrust themselves to David's Son, our Risen and Glorious Messiah, Jesus. Though we have sinned and sin each day He is the sinless One in whom we find all forgiveness and blessing. We bring to you our sin and own it and ask you to forgive and cleanse us from it. We pray that the mercy we have received will continue to be poured out through the nations and the generations. Equip us this day Father to bear witness to Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit that we might fulfill the tasks assigned us in the work of declaring the victory of Christ throughout the world through our witness, service and life together we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Untitled

2011-11-06T18:38:00.001-08:00

For really, if a church preaches only the second use and never the first, what has it become? It has become a predator on human misery. A church that cannot say how God intends human souls and communities to be—loving and fearing God above all things, honoring parents, remaining faithful to spouses, restraining the urge to steal and covet, speaking truthfully about others—is like a scavenger lying in wait for the wounded to fall. Then it pounces, at no risk to itself, to snap up all the shattered pieces. It can offer little more than a spiritual bandaid to the damage and has no way of helping to reconstruct what has been destroyed and lost, no vision of God’s good intentions to guide that reconstruction. It has done absolutely nothing to prevent the fall of the wounded in the first place. http://www.lutheranforum.org/blogs/desperately-seeking-the-first-use-of-the-law/

Desperately Seeking the First Use of the Law — Lutheran Forum

2011-11-06T18:27:00.001-08:00

Here's an excellent article on the Law of God and our necessity to understand the Ten Commandments. We understand grace only partly when we minimize the holiness of God and our own sinfulness...

http://www.lutheranforum.org/blogs/desperately-seeking-the-first-use-of-the-law/

Daily Readings November 3, 2011

2011-11-03T09:01:00.001-07:00

Daily Bible Readings at Biblegateway...

Here are some verses I've highlighted. Which ones do you find important?

Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight. - Psalm 119:143

And I will not hide my face any more from them, when I pour out my Spirit upon the house of Israel, declares the Lord GOD. - Ezekiel 39:29

For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. - 2 Peter 1:16

Readings from the ESV

Daily Readings November 2, 2011

2011-11-02T07:14:00.001-07:00

Click here for today's readings at Biblegateway

Some verses from today's readings...

Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name. - Psalm 119:132

My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law.- Psalm 119:136

“And my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned any more. And the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel. - Ezekiel 39:7

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to[c] his own glory and excellence...Therefore brothers be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure... - 2 Peter 1:3,10

Chuck Huckaby is a minister with standing in the Calvin Synod of the Hungarian Reformed Church...

Daily Texts for November 1, 2011

2011-11-01T13:54:00.001-07:00

Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to your word. Psalm 119:154 (NKJV)

The Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:41-42

The Psalmist prays to be revived by the Word and Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus, The Word, is indeed revived! She is juxtaposed in the Gospel to her sister Martha who complains that Mary is "wasting time" at the feet of Jesus when there is "real work" to be done... and quite likely "necessary work" to be done.

Or at least work we consider "necessary". In Jesus' estimation the work is not ultimately essential. What is essential is to embrace Him and His Word and pattern one's life upon it, even if that means something is left lacking in the process.

How much of our lives are spent occupied by that which presents itself to us and others as "undoubtedly necessary", but which, in light of Jesus and His Word is - upon reflection - temporary in significance at best.

How do our lives reflect our yearning for "that which cannot be taken away", that which we can only find as we are absorbed with Jesus and His Word?

You can receive the Daily Texts by email at the link along with Bible Readings for Monday through Saturday and Lectionary readings for Sundays and Christian holy days.

Provided by the ministry of Pastor Chuck Huckaby

Daily Readings All Saints Day November 1, 2011

2011-11-01T09:35:00.001-07:00

Click here to read today's Daily Readings...

My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfilment of your righteous promise. - Psalm 119:123

“Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. - Ezekiel 37:11-12

Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility towards one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” - 1 Peter 5:5

From Chuck's Daily Readings

Daily Texts for October 31, 2011

2011-10-31T09:59:00.001-07:00

Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Jeremiah 1:17

If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an
obligation is laid on me. 1 Corinthians 9:16

At first glance these texts may not seem for us. The first is a word from God to the prophent Jeremiah. The second is a statement made by none other than the Apostle Paul who describes how the calling of God is not grounds for boasting but a gift which implies a holy obligation to result in speaking with humility and divine empowerment.

Surely these are not words for us... are they?

Lord's Day 12 of the Heidelberg Catechism reminds us that we all Christians in their own right are members of Christ and partakers of His anointing. Therefore every Christian - as an "everyday apostle" to borrow a phrase - is called to bear witness as a prophet to Jesus Christ, offer himself (as a priest) as a living sacrifice to God, and - as reflecting Christ's kingship - to fight against sin each day.

So yes, in the context of our own calling, we are called to heed these words as those who are members of Christ. May he give us grace to joyfully proclaim His Lordship!

From: Daily Texts

From the Daily Readings... Reformation Day 2011

2011-10-31T06:29:00.001-07:00

Daily readings are here

You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word. - Psalm 119:114

Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live, and let me not be put to shame in my hope! - Psalm 119:116

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. - Ezekiel 36:25-27

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. - 1 Peter 4:12-13

You can read more about these daily readings here which accompany the "Daily Texts".

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost - Reformation Day - Trinity - October 30, 2011

2011-10-30T09:00:00.001-07:00

Watchword for the Week - O send out your light and your truth; let them
lead me. Psalm 43:3

Micah 3:5-12; Psalm 43 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13; Matthew 23:1-12

Bible Story Telling & Addiction Recovery

2010-07-11T18:45:00.001-07:00

Wisconsin Lutheran Institutional Ministries has a web page with "12 Step Bible Studies"

Each "step" is broken down into a variety of smaller studies. A number of them utilize Bible Stories which can be used in ministering to people seeking Christ's help with their addictions.

You can also use "character studies" from the Celebrate Recovery Bible to help identify appropriate Bible stories for use in your ministry.

(The link to the Celebrate Recovery Bible is an affiliate link.)

The Person of Jesus - Jesus as Revealed in Gospel Narratives

2009-02-28T08:56:00.000-08:00

The Person of Jesus study, an interactive Bible Study by Paul Miller that coordinates with Miller's Book Love Walked Among Us: Learning To Love Like Jesus.

For those not quite ready to tell Bible Stories but who want an excellent introduction to using Gospel Narratives to reach people who "hate the church" but are "interested in Jesus", this may be the resource you're looking for.

Miller's study guides focus on the Person of Jesus as He reacted to people and situations and what that communicates about the Love of God in action. It emphasizes Jesus as the One who modeled for us life lived in communion with the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit. The theological perspective of the studies is faithfully evangelical.

People are using this resource in a variety of settings including home bible studies, church based studies, church planting, prison ministry and as an adjunct to discipleship based "recovery" ministries. You can read those stories here. It's even used in settings where evangelism and discipleship are taking place in the same group.

On a practical level, it gives you a structure, example, and model for conducting interactive Bible studies that are the goal of methods like "Simply the Story".

If the idea of telling a Bible Story and leading an interactive study frightens you, Miller's work offers a very accessible "path" to get you going in the use of Gospel narratives in evangelism and discipleship. In addition to the print resources, his ministry offers DVDs and live workshops to equip people to use the Person of Jesus curriculum.

Paul Miller's work isn't "Bible Story Telling" per se, but a Bible Story Teller could easily use the outlines and concepts Miller compiles to tell the relevant stories to an audience unable read, resistant to reading or not committed to read at this point. For example, the story that is the basis for the study could be told at a coffee house and then people could be invited to "look deeper" at the story in a setting where they may be able to read the text.

Bible Story Telling and Training for Trainers Merged

2009-01-12T18:55:00.000-08:00

Updated 1/13/2009It should go with out saying, I'm recommending this for the strategy... not all the theology or interpretations found in the manual... some are pretty misleading I believe. "Just add confessional theology"!

One of the hot topics in modern missiology is the study of "Church Planting Movements". It's become its own field of study in the last 15 years... the phenomenon of house churches multiplying like "wildfire" in a given mission field. And, of course, it's not just an academic study. It's studied with an eye to "how can we reproduce rapid house church multiplication in this field?

The original "Training for Trainers" concept originated from work in Asia with a largely literate audience who had both the Scriptures in their language and who could read simple materials.

The training operated on the principle that you can't tell in advance who will bear fruit "30, 60, and 100" fold (Mark 4:8)so you give everyone leadership training.

One common denominator of church planting movements is an orientation towards obedience. In other words, when they study a passage that says "Go therefore into all nations", the people realize they are supposed to do that right away...not in 20 years "if the Spirit moves"... or - most often in the Western Church - NEVER! In other words they take Jesus seriously when He says: Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." (Joh 14:21 ESV)

So the process is for each new convert to

1. Develop a list of people to share their faith with
2. Be given basic training as to how to share the faith
3. Then, when those they reach come to faith, the new Christian becomes a "trainer"

"T4T" as it came to be known became a paradigm for others wishing to promote a church planting movement on their own mission field.

There was just one problem... it was for largely literate audiences. What do you do when the people you're seeking to reach can't READ?

That's when Bible Story Telling was merged with "T4T" to develop "Storying T4T". It's evangelistic method is A) You listen to their story, B) you tell your story (about the impact of Jesus Christ on your life) and then C) you tell God's story (about the demon possessed man who Jesus left in his right mind.

At that point the person may wish to hear more Bible Stories which present the overarching message of the Bible from "Creation to Christ".

There is much more (that's why I'll link you to the 68 page download for you to review). But just on the surface this is a very workable method for anybody anywhere.
It's easily adapted as a strategy in the US.

I like the fact because when people come to understand the basic logic behind Chronological Story Telling, they wonder rightly - where do I begin? Do you just go up to people and ask "Got time to hear 35 Bible stories?"

This uses one Bible story to discern interest and then, seeks an opportunity to lay a foundation of more Bible stories. That's just great for those people you meet on the street who won't take time to READ anything you might offer them as evangelistic literature. And, unlike the 1 shot "presentations" this lets you initiate conversations that are followed up by real opportunities to present the overarching message of the Bible in a complete way similar, I suppose, to "Christianity Explained" and much more theologically sound (potentially) than an "Alpha" presentation.

And it works with anyone whether they can read or not. The only issue is - will we learn some simple Bible stories and "do it"? The main problem in the United States is that people will not be used to the expectation of immediate obedience. Of course that's the problem with the Western Church! Obedience? To the Bible? That's fanatical!

Seeing the Western Church transformed into having an "obedience orientation" takes constant prodding and patient instruction as St. Paul says: And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2Ti 2:24-26 ESV)

Now that you've been warned - check it out! There's a whole "social networking" group of people sharing this interest and was started by a practitioner of ST4T.

At the very least you'll be able to download a pretty quick-to-implement system for church based evangelism training that focuses on the story of the Bible instead of memorizing a "sales presentation".

To learn more here's the Storying Training For Trainers group. You can download an excellent "Storying Training 4 Trainers Manual".

An Example of Bible Storytelling And Sermon

2009-01-11T18:47:00.000-08:00

There's a tension when a pastor in a traditional church wants to incorporate Bible Storytelling into ministry. I find myself in that such a position.

Don't get me wrong, I love the traditional liturgy and I'm not complaining about it...it is biblical and theologically sound. As it stands you might say our worship is very oriented to the literate because we follow a "Bulletin". I would say though that there are enough fixed elements that an orally oriented person could learn the vast majority of it by heart and participate without being able to read. Can you say as much for your church? I suppose this would be an argument for the superiority of the Book of Common Prayer! By having mostly fixed liturgies, the orally oriented can learn to participate through memorization instead of have to read new content weekly. "Freestyle" worship does not favor them in that way - especially if the instructions are all on a power point shown up front. In fact freestyle worship can leave them "out in the cold".

But I digress.

In my audience on a given Lord's Day there are people who love the fact that I print out my sermons notes. They reread them during the week. Some people download them from all over the world and use them in their ministry. So for them a strictly oral presentation would be a let down... they might even think "The Preacher's just being lazy." When I tried repeating stories over several weeks, this segment found that very tiresome and too repetitive. It just proved that they're not "secondarily oral". So to reach them I print my notes and preach a more traditional sermon.

But on a given week I have work release inmates in the audience and others I don't know whom I suspect aren't great readers. And, Lord knows, I'd love to have more.

How do you reach BOTH in one setting?

Here's how I am TRYING to do that...and I'd love to hear what you're doing. Instead of commenting, would you join us here and tell us what you're doing?

You can see how this attempt went today as I am preaching through Matthew's Gospel and am starting the Lord's Prayer. I began by preaching on the meaning of "Our Father".

I've incorporated a Bible Story near the front of the sermon and allude to it throughout to attempt to "bridge the gap" between audiences.

Our Father

I'm not saying this is the perfect approach, but it's the one I can try to "manage".

Also on Wednesday nights I'm teaching through the stories of Genesis. Here are some sermons on Chronological Bible Stories

Frankly, I'm seeking improvement on them. I would like to add more oral elements while not being perceived as "falling down on the job" and reaching both audiences. But that's a matter for growth on my part.