Chronological Bible Storying

(For oral cultures)

 

 

 

 

1/3 of the world is “functionally illiterate” or “oral”.   Readers use outlines, principles,  and “bottom line” statements while non-readers communicate and recall through stories and songs which contain their lessons (i.e. parables). 

 

Non-reading missionaries are nearly non-existent.  Therefore, we often associate the reader’s way of thinking/learning as the way to reach non-reading cultures and we have been wrong.  In fact, until recently, most pioneer missions required a non-reader who became a Christian convert to read and write prior to baptism.  Perhaps this is not as common on the mission field as it was, but it is fair to say that it has been truly unthinkable to suggest a non-reader can become a leader or pastor or missionary.  While the focus on reading is a noble goal, it may pass over an entire generation who will likely never read.

 

It has become increasingly clear that missionaries need a method to evangelize, disciple and train leaders who cannot read.  The CBS method is aimed at internalizing, remembering, and reproducing the Gospel in a non-reading culture.

 

Chronological Bible Storying is teaching God’s Word in a way that preserves the Biblical stories intact and capable of carrying the necessary teachings leading to salvation, church planting, discipling and leadership training.

 

The CBS method of teaching is based upon the following 5 steps:

1^st        Identify cultural beliefs that resist God’s message (Barriers)

2^nd        Identify events, histories, or needs which relate to God’s message (Bridges)

3^rd        Choose the appropriate Story Track for your goal (Evangelism, Discipleship, Leader Training).

4^th        Incorporate the Barriers, Bridges and essential Bible truths into your story telling Track.

 

**A 5^th goal of CBS is to create an Oral Bible for the audience.** 

**One that is consistent, repeatable and accurate.**

 

To create an Oral Bible in a meaningful way to a non-reader the following rules must be followed:

 

• Each story must be based entirely upon the Bible.  Do not add personal stories into the teaching.

§         Stories must ALWAYS move from older to newer chronologically.  No skipping ahead and then adding an older story later.

§         Each story must rely on older stories for references, never newer.  Storying looks backward but never forward.

§         Interaction with your audience after the story has been told. 

Identify cultural beliefs that resist God’s message

(Barriers)

 

 

Each Track, or complete set of Bible Stories, has a set of essential Bible truths that you wish to convey to your audience which we will cover later.  However, some Bible truths may be more difficult than others for listeners to accept because of their history or culture.  These are considered barriers to Gods’ message.  For instance, if a person believes in multiple gods, then they will struggle to believe that there is only One.  Or, if a person has been taught reincarnation, then they will have difficulty accepting that they only have one life to live. 

 

It cannot be stressed enough that time must be spent to understand each people group and their beliefs.  Once you have identified the barriers to God’s message then they should be recorded and given a 1, 3, 5 ranking. 

 

1-God’s message is new and the barrier is only slightly held and offers little resistance to the truth. 

3-The barrier is important to the culture, yet only offers moderate resistance to the lesson.  5-This particular barrier offers great resistance to God’s message and will make it extremely difficult for a listener to receive the essential Bible truth.

 

 

 

Identify events, histories or needs which relate to God’s message

(Bridges)

 

 

 

When Jesus gave the great commission, He added, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Therefore, when sharing the Gospel on the mission field, expect Jesus will be with you.  Look for how He has prepared the people to receive His message of salvation.  Untold times, missionaries have found people groups who have just undergone some ordeal or have received visions or dreams or who have some belief which authenticates God’s message.  These may be events, beliefs, practices, relationships, experiences or even needs or a longing for something new.  These bridges validate God’s message so record these bridges along with your barriers.

 

 

Choose the appropriate Story Track

 

What is the goal?  Is it evangelism?  Discipleship?  Building up an existing church?  Each of these has its own set of essential Bible Truths that God wishes to convey from His Word.  These essential Bible Truths determine which set of stories should be told.  These stories now become what is called a Track. 

 

The following are considered essential Bible truths to be covered when evangelizing.

 

 1.   God is one God, sovereign, creating, present and acting in history.   

 2.   God is all powerful, all knowing, the source of all grace and provision for all a person’s needs.

 3.   God communicates with people by His Word. He is faithful to his Word.

 4.   God loves all people and wants fellowship with them.

 5.   God is holy (separate from His creation), righteous in all He says and does, hating sin.

 6.   God’s righteous nature demands that all sin be punished by death or eternal punishment (separation from God).

 7.   People are accountable to God for all they say and do, and are held accountable for obeying all that God asks people to do or not do.

 8.   All people are sinners by inherited nature (birth) and by freewill choice, and are separated from God by their sin.

 9.   People can do nothing to save themselves from God's judgment and the ultimate punishment for sin.

10.   One can approach (have fellowship with) God only through the means God has provided through a perfect (sinless and acceptable) substitute sacrifice (the Promised Anointed One who suffered and died in our place).

11.   Jesus the Son of God (the Promised Anointed One from God) is the only perfect sacrifice for sin offered once and for all people for all time.

12.   Salvation for all people involves turning (repenting) from one’s sin, seeking God’s mercy in forgiveness of sin and trusting through faith God's provision for salvation by believing on Jesus as the only Savior from eternal punishment for sin.

 

Now, if you are preparing to evangelize a people group, you should take these essential Bible truths and place them alongside your Barriers and Bridges.  The Barriers and Bridges can then help you identify which truths will be difficult to receive and which will be relatively easy to receive.  All that remains is to incorporate the Barriers, Bridges and Biblical truths into your Track of stories.

 

Incorporate the Barriers, Bridges and Biblical truths into your Track

 

Once you have determined the essential Bible truths that you need to focus on, then you can choose which Bible stories convey these truths or essentially, which Track to use.  As an example, there are 24 core Bible stories which convey the Bible truths essential for evangelism.  Here is where we must remember that some of these truths may be resisted by your audience because of the Barriers. 

If the Bible truth has a -1- Barrier then that Bible truth will only need to be conveyed in one of the story telling times.  If the Bible truth has a -3- barrier then that truth will need to be expressed in three consecutive Bible stories, so that it can gently press God’s message through the barrier without directly contradicting a tribal tradition.  One of the reasons CBS is effective is because it gently allows a “win/win” scenario that keeps the listeners listening as long as possible and let’s the truth be told without entering a needless debate unless absolutely necessary.  It is better to attack a barrier slowly with several stories than to try demolishing it with one fell swoop.  Therefore, if the Bible truth has a -5- barrier then that truth will need to be conveyed in five consecutive story telling times.  Finally, make sure that as you identify the truth and the resistance to that truth, that you also look at your Bridge list and see where Jesus has been revealing this truth to them through their current situations or their history or even their own religious beliefs.  You are now ready to begin CBS.

 

Tracks included in this booklet are:

• Evangelism

 

• Discipleship

 

• Church Planting

 

• Church Strengthening

 

• Leadership

 

• End Times

Creating an Oral Bible

 

As we are going through the various Tracks, if we purposely repeat a selected set of stories while covering the Bible Truths for each Track, then these stories can be remembered and retold and we will have what is in essence an “Oral Bible”. While the primary goals are evangelizing, planting a church, and training leaders to continue the ministry, once the stories are learned, they can be remembered and recalled by a believer just as well (or better) than a literate person. This is the fastest way to translate a Bible into a new language.

 

How much Bible is needed for an Oral Bible?

Ideally, all of the Bible would be best. However, a practical Oral Bible would consist of enough of the Bible stories to give an overview of God’s interaction with man beginning with Creation, including selected stories of the patriarchs and God’s people, the prophets with their warnings and promises of what God was going to do, the story of Jesus, His death, resurrection and ascension, the young church and spread of the Gospel, enough of the Epistles to admonish new believers in their daily life, and the end times when Jesus returns for the faithful, judges the faithless, and punishes evil. This can be done in about 100 stories.

 

How to keep an Oral Bible alive and accurate.

The best method for giving a listener an Oral Bible is to strictly follow the historical timeline of the Bible. The first story told for each Track should be as early in the Bible as possible (this is not quite so important after the book of Acts) and once they are a believer, whenever possible, retell a previously told story to cover a new Bible truth. So, once the Evangelism Track is complete, it becomes important to ask yourself if any previous stories they have heard contain the new Biblical truth and, if they do, then utilize these to teach the truth. This draws in listeners who know the story already and reinforces the story through repetition. If any new story needs to be used, then it is essential to show the relationship between it and a previous story. This keeps the stories linked and helps preserve them from changing during the retelling years later.

 

I reiterate that all Tracks are chronological so that the audience can link the stories in their mind. This is key to delivering them an Oral Bible at the conclusion of their training. The approach is always the same. Each Track begins in Genesis (or the earliest story available) and moves chronologically through the Bible, underlining and reinforcing the essential stories.

 

Additional points for delivering an Oral Bible:

• Maintain the story style within each story. Do not vary the story style, especially within the Evangelism and Discipleship Tracks; it needs to be a nearly identical repeat of the last time.
• Prepare each story as a “told story” and not as a written story that is told. In other words, act it out!
• Word choice is critical and the story should be a close replica of the Biblical text. Do not take liberty to modernize the story.
• Always look backward to previous stories for references, but never forward.
• Manuscript each story. Highlight key verses within the Biblical story so that you can repeat it the same way the second and third time it is told.
• Tell each story as much as possible. Don’t read too much of the stories.
• Each dialogue session following the story should regularly include a rehearsal of the story by participants wanting to obtain an Oral Bible. In larger groups, time will not allow each participant to rehearse the story. Memory is enhanced by multiple tellings of the same story in the same way.
• Each pre-story time should include a rehearsal of the previous story.
• Participants should be encouraged to tell each story in the chronology to outsiders as often as possible.
• To gain maximum retention and accuracy in repetition, there is a minimum and an optimum amount of time allowed between each story. Research shows from five to fourteen days is the best time span between story sessions. A shorter or longer time span between stories leads to loss of retention, accuracy and linking.
• The dialogue session following the story is essential. It is important for a participant to understand the story and to personally work through his or her Barriers.
• Ultimate acceptance and retention of the story depends upon the work of the Holy Spirit as He places His story among the people as it becomes Holy “literature” equal to any that exists among them.

 

The story must be appropriate for all ages and not just good stories for children. Telling the story to children is one avenue, but God’s message is not only for children. Early on, attempts must be made to lodge God’s message among the adults as well.

 

Repeat, Repeat, Repeat…Frequent repetition of the stories and retelling by the hearers is necessary. Most people enjoy recalling that which they have heard. The story teller and later leaders must continue to provide opportunity for others to recall and repeat the story. The group should be encouraged to have a worship service in which recall and repetition are a part. In daily living, the people should be encouraged to recall their Oral Bible stories and verses to encourage others in their need and to admonish those in error. Oral Bible passages can be associated with times of cultural celebration as well.

 

Advantages of focusing on an Oral Bible:

• An Oral Bible becomes a permanent possession and cannot be taken.
• An Oral Bible is not an obvious possession and can be “taken across delicate borders” and into delicate places.
• An Oral Bible is culturally seen as a “document” similar to other “documents” that non-readers possess and is more quickly received.
• An Oral Bible can be used at any time and in any place.
• An Oral Bible possessed by a true oral communicator can be adapted and rearranged to fit any particular situation that they face.

 

Through this approach, an oral communicator can be evangelized, receive and retain training, and minister as effectively as any who can read.

 

Teaching the Bible Stories

     After the Bible stories have been selected and the Barriers, Bridges and Biblical truths have been identified and incorporated, it is time for the story telling.  There are three basic parts to story telling: The pre-story dialog, the Bible story itself, and the post-story dialog. 

 

Parts of a Story Telling

 

Pre-Story Dialog: 

(Opening the Listeners’ Minds)

1. Greet listeners in an appropriate and friendly way.
2. Ask about any recent happenings in the community and look for a relationship to the story you are about to tell (A Bridge where Jesus is working with you).
3. Review the last story shared and recall the lessons that were learned.  (Perhaps a retelling by one of the listeners)
4. Ask leading questions about the “theme” you are about to share.  (There are never wrong answers to these questions)
5. Review any stories necessary to give the background for this story.
6. If appropriate, then give a listening task (i.e. look for something found in your story).
1. During the Discipleship Track, you would also go over the memory verse prior to the story. 

 

Read from the Bible: 

(Anchoring the story to the Bible)

1. Pick up the Bible and hold it in your hand.
2. Read a small portion of the story straight from the Bible.

 

Tell the Story: 

1.      Hold the Bible while telling the story.

2.      Tell the story as a story and not as a “report”.  (Get into the story and act it out w/ voices, or puppets or drama, or photos, etc.)

3.      Use summary statements to bridge time gaps or where there is a less important portion of the story.

4.      Limit location names or people if not essential for the story.  Most Bible stories can be told just as they are found in the Bible.  But it is generally helpful to simplify them a bit; shortening them if they are overly long, or adding additional words or comments to help listeners understand the story while it is being told.  The goal is to make it a story rather than a religious manual. 

5.      Keep as much of the “dialogue” as possible, so that the characters can say the confrontational things that you can’t. 

6.      Tell the story accurately, interestingly, and maintain as much of the biblical organization and flow as possible, especially repeated phrases or words.

7.      At the end of the story, put the Bible down, but leave it open.

 

Dialogue with the listeners to discover the truths in the story: 

(Opening the Listeners’ Hearts).

1.                  Ask for someone to retell the story in their own words.  If the retelling is poor, then ask for another.  If you cannot get a good retelling, then tell the story again.

2.                  Ask for answers to the listening task, if one was given.

3.                  Test the listeners with simple “Observation” questions from the story.  Who? What? Where? When? How?  Try to feel the “real life” emotions of the people in the story:  What do you see?  What do you feel?  What are you thinking? Who was in it, what did they say/do?  What were the consequences? 

4.                  Slowly ease into “Interpretation” questions to provoke thought surrounding the important truths that you are trying to emphasize in this Track. 

5.                  Finally, move into “Application” questions that draw the listeners into the story and what it means to them personally.  Questions like:  “Is anyone in this story like you?”  “What is God saying to you through this story?”  If response is slow then be prepared to retell the story again, with these questions in the mind of the listeners.

6.                  Handle incorrect answers very gently and culturally appropriate.  Search around for the right answer by asking leading questions.

7.                  Don’t entertain any questions about yet-to-be-revealed stories that a more advanced listener might already know.

8.                  Defer answering questions that you don’t know.  Tell them you will look in God’s Word for an answer and tell them the next time you meet.

9.                  Preview the next story to make them hungry.

10.              Be culturally sensitive to the time and schedules of the listeners and end the session with a time of fellowship.

a.       When in the Discipleship Track, some important questions should be:  “When you first heard this story, what things caught your attention?”  “How did you feel as I told this story and later as we talked about it?”  “What questions came to mind as you heard the story?”  “Did you find anything in the story objectionable?”  “What did you like about the story?”  “Which character(s) did you most closely identify with?”  “Which did you least identify with?”  This will help you understand your disciples’ worldview and increase your effectiveness the next time you share.  Obviously, the questions shared during the Discipleship Track will be deeper and will often connect the teachings together.  Be flexible in your dialogue time, adding any additional stories to meet the specific needs of your disciples. 

CORE STORIES FOR

Evangelism and Discipleship Tracks

Fast Track Format included

 

    1.   The Bible and God—God’s Holy Word, what is it and how did it come to us?  An introduction to God’s characteristics—Genesis 1thru 3. 

       Example Introduction:          

§         We have heard many stories about spirits and the unseen world.  Do you know where all the spirits (good and evil) came from?  Can you make a tree?  Mountain?  What is the beginning of all these things?  Who made it?  Who was the first person?  Where is he now?  Was God made?  Did God have a beginning?  What is God like?  Whom do you pray to when you are in trouble?  Are you afraid of the spirits? 

§         The beliefs of people change from village to village.  How can we know what is right or true? 

§         This Book teaches us everything we need to know about God.  Even before everything was created God was present.  Before earth, man or spirits.  God has always existed.  He is not like man, needing to eat/drink/sleep.  Nothing compares to Him.  He is a Spirit Himself and lives in heaven.  Where is heaven?  God does not need to travel because He is here also.  He is everywhere and sees everything.  He knows everything and made everything. 

§         God really loves people, so he had some special people write His Words down, so that we might know about Him.  Give an example of how you communicate to an animal when you are training it.  

§         These are words that we can understand and all of them came directly from Him and were written in a book called the Bible.

§         The Bible is 1600 yrs of writing from >40 authors with 40 different lives (Amos-farmer, Solomon-king, David-shepherd, Daniel-prime minister).  From thrones, battlefields, prisons.  From three continents, under three languages.  And all together, one message. 

§         More widespread than any other book.  The Bible has spiritual power (Read Hebrews 4:12). 

§         But most people have not read or heard the stories of God’s Word.  But I have and I would like to share the things that God has written down.

 

Now tell the story of Genesis 1 thru 3 emphasizing the following Bible Truths necessary for salvation (see pages 3):

 

§         There is only one God who created all things. 

§         God is Sovereign over everything (giving assignments to animals, men and angels).

§         Add that even bad spirits fear the power of God (James 2:19).

§         Mankind is a special creation (His image, and rulership over the earth.)

§         Disobedience leads to God’s judgment, and a broken relationship.

§         However, a promise of One who will crush the tempter and restore what has been damaged.

§         Discipleship Track memory verse:  Genesis 1:1 and Romans 3:23

 

    2.   God judged a sinful world—Genesis 6 thru 9

§         God is Holy and cannot tolerate sin.

§         God also is full of grace (Genesis 6:8)

§         No one escaped the judgment except Noah’s family—when he trusted God and then obeyed all that God commanded him to do.

§         Everyone in the story made a choice.

§         Discipleship Track memory verse:  Genesis 6:8 and Romans 6:23

 

    3.   God’s call and promises to Abraham—Genesis 12 thru 21

§         His descendant would bless all people.  God cares for everyone.

§         Abraham couldn’t do anything about his situation, but he believed God.

§         A child would be a miracle!  But, God keeps His promises.

§         There is One coming from this line who will bless the whole world.

§          Discipleship Track memory verse:  Genesis 15:6 and Ephesians 2:8-9

 

    4.   God is faithful to provide the substitute sacrifice—Genesis 22

§         Obedience of Abraham.

§         God wanted his heart and would Himself provide a substitute sacrifice.

§         Discipleship Track memory verse:  Genesis 22:8

 

    5.   The Passover—Exodus 5 thru 12

§         Those who obeyed God were saved from destruction by the sign of blood.

§         Now begin to pick out other essential Bible truths from the list on page 4 and seek God on what should be emphasized for the following stories.

§         Discipleship Track memory verse:  Exodus 12:13 and 1 Corinthians 5:7 (b)

 

    6.   The Exodus—Exodus 13 thru 14

§         God wants to give His people freedom.

§         Discipleship Track memory verse:  Exodus 14:14 and John 8:36

 

    7.   God gave His holy Law—Exodus 19 thru 20

§         The Commandments define sin (and lead man to seek God’s mercy.)

§         Discipleship Track memory verse:  Exodus 20:20

 

    8.   The Sacrifice System—Exodus and Leviticus

§         Shedding of innocent sacrificial blood to cover sin as a reminder that sin is costly. 

§         Obedience to God’s command brings forgiveness. 

§         A simple overview of the Tabernacle/Temple.

§         The holiness of God and the Most Holy Place separated from the eyes and presence of man.

§         Discipleship Track memory verse:  Leviticus 20:7

 

    9.   The Prophets’ Message I

§         Unless people repent and turn from their sin they will suffer. 

§         Elijah and drought/Mt. Carmel sacrifice (1 Kings 17 and 18)

§         Jonah and Nineveh.

§         Discipleship Track memory verse:  Ezekiel 33:11

 

10.   The Prophets’ message II

§         The promise of an Anointed One who would suffer for our sin and redeem us.

§         Describe what He will be like using:  Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2; Isaiah 9:6-7; Isaiah 53; Zechariah 11:12-13; 12:10; Psalm 22; Psalm 69:7-10

§         Discipleship Track memory verse:  Isaiah 7:14 and Isaiah 53:6

 

11.   Birth of Jesus according to prophecy—Luke 1 thru 2

§         Testimonies of angels, Wise Men, Simeon and Anna.

§         Discipleship Track memory verse:  Luke 1:68-70

 

12.   Baptism of Jesus & Testing by Satan—Matthew 3 thru 4:11

§         Testimony of the Spirit’s Presence

§         Testimony of the Father’s words, “This is my Son”

§         Testimony of John the prophet’s words, “Behold the Lamb of God”. 

§         Testimony of the testing of Satan.   

§         Discipleship Track memory verse:  Hebrews 4:15

 

13.   Jesus and Nicodemus—John 3

§         You must be born again of the Spirit to see the kingdom of God.

§         Discipleship Track memory verse:  John 3:16

 

14.   Jesus gives the Living Water of salvation—John 4:1-42

§          Discipleship Track memory verse: John 4:42

 

15.   Jesus has the authority to forgive sin and heal—Mark 2:1-12, Luke 7:36-50

§         Discipleship Track memory verse: Mark 2:10-11

 

16.   Jesus is Lord of Nature—Mark 4:36-41, 6:33-44

§         Discipleship Track memory verse:  Mark 4:41

 

17.   Jesus has authority over the Spirit World—Mark 5:1-20, 1:21-28, Luke 13:10-17

§         Discipleship Track memory verse: Philippians 2:9-10

 

18.   Jesus is the resurrection and the life—John 11 or Luke 8:41-56 or Luke 7:11-17

§         Discipleship Track memory verse: John 11:25

 

19.   Prodigal Son—Luke 15:11-32

§         God the Father forgives those who sin against him, when they repent and return to Him.

§         Discipleship Track memory verse: John 6:37

 

20.   You must believe the testimony of Moses and the Prophets in this life—Luke 16:19-31

§         Warning of the danger of unbelief and certain punishment. 

§         Re-emphasize by using Luke 14:16-24 with Matthew 22:2-14, make mention of the one who came to the wedding in his own clothes.   

§         Discipleship Track memory verse: John 14:6

 

21.   Jesus warned his followers— Mark 8:31-33; 9:31-32; 10:32-34; Luke 20:16

§         Betrayal, arrest, trial, and sentenced to death.

§         Discipleship Track memory verse: Mark 10:45

 

22.   Who is Jesus?—John 8:21-30, Matthew 16:13-17

§         Jesus is a prophet God has sent to help His people, recap testimonies of angels, Wise Men, John the Baptist, and even evil spirits.

§         Discipleship Track memory verse: Matthew 16:16

 

23.   The Last Supper and the Crucifixion—Matthew 26 and 27

§         This is My body and blood of the New Covenant shed for the remission of sins. 

§         Remember the promise of God from Abraham that God would provide Himself a lamb. 

§         Remember the Passover lamb. 

§         Remember the prophecies.

§         “It is finished.”  Prophecies fulfilled. 

§         The torn curtain in the temple.

§         Discipleship Track memory verse: Matthew 26:28

 

24.   The Resurrection stories—John 20 and Acts 1:4-11

§         These stories were recorded that you might believe.  John 20:30-31

§         Give a strong invitation to salvation.

§         Discipleship Track memory verse: Luke 24:5-8

Discipleship Track: 

The Discipleship Track is simply an exact repetition of these same stories, reaffirming their personal decision, rejoicing in their salvation, and receiving an Oral Bible. A memory verse is now added to keep the core theme of the story the same when it is retold.

 

Aim for a greater understanding of the fulfillment of the Old Testament in the New by showing the relationship between prophecy and its fulfillment. It will also give opportunity for slow responders to make a commitment to trust in Christ. If there is likely to be persecution, at this time you should introduce some additional stories of faith and deliverance from persecution in chronological order; such as David, Esther, and Daniel. These sessions could now include prayer and, perhaps, worship through singing. The story time can now have intermittent teachings from the book of Proverbs so that they may be introduced to wisdom and discipline. This is an opportunity to begin developing their story telling and encourage them to share the stories with others.

 

 

Church Planting Track:

Range of stories:  Acts 1:12-12:19

 

Essential Bible Truths For Planting a Church

 

• Introduce the concept of the New Testament Church as a body of baptized believers.
• Introduce the practice and worship of the early church as a model.
• Introduce the attitude of the early believers whose lives had been changed by Christ.
• The giving of the Holy Spirit.
• Baptism of believers.
• Persecution of believers.
• Witnessing (personal testimonies) and evangelism (preaching) by the church.
• Stewardship of possessions among believers.
• Missions as teams sent out to new places.
• Discipline among believers and warning for those continuing to sin.
• Prayer – Intercessory prayer and prayer in worship.
• Worship by gathering together as a body.
• Breaking bread together and observing the Lord’s Supper.
• Disciplining and strengthening new believers.

 

 

Core Story List For Church Planting

 

Promise of the Spirit – Acts 2:1-41

Fellowship of the believers – 2:42-47

Power to heal – 3:1-16 and 5:12-16

Brave testimonies – 4:1-22

The believers’ prayer – 4:23-31

The believers share their possessions – 4:32-37 and 5:1-11

The Apostles persecuted – 5:12-42

Choosing seven to serve the church – 6:1-7

Stephen, a godly man killed – 6:8-7:60

Philip preaches and witnesses – 8:1-2, 4-8, 26-40

Saul meets Jesus – 8:1-3 and 9:1-31

God answers Cornelius’ prayer – 10:1-48 and 11:1-18

The church in Antioch – 11:19-30

God delivers Peter from prison – 12:1-19

 

 

 

Church Strengthening tracks:

This is an indefinite number of tracks. You can study chronologically the various themes of the Bible, trying as much as possible to draw these themes from the stories that have already been told, strengthening their Oral Bible.

 

Essential Biblical Truths that should be addressed are:

 

• The Purpose of the Law.
• Salvation is a work of Grace.
• War of the Carnal Nature against the Spiritual Nature
• Sanctity of the body as a Temple of the Holy Spirit.
• Christian relationships in Christ.
• Faith at work.
• Diversity and Unity of the body of Christ.
• Spiritual gifts, ministry to one another.
• Superior role of Love.
• Spiritual Warfare.
• Warning against continuing to sin.
• Warning against apostasy or reversion to old ways.
• Superior ministry of Christ as our High Priest.
• Having an attitude of Christ.
• Prayer.

 

 

Leadership Tracks:

These are stories which follow a chronological timeline and cover the lives and characteristics of good leaders as well as God’s rejection of the bad leaders.

 

One example might be the life of Paul:

            Saul meets Jesus – Acts 8:1-3 and 9:1-31

            Paul and Barnabas set apart and sent out – 13:1-3 and 13-49

            Elders appointed at Antioch in Syria – 14:21-28

            God sends Paul to Macedonia – 16:16-40

            Some received the Gospel with eagerness – 17:1-15

            Another entire household believes in Corinth – 18:1-11, 23-26

            Paul teaches about the Holy Spirit in Ephesus – 19:1-20

            Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders – 20:13-38

            Paul’s arrest, trials, and testimony – 21:1 through 28:16

            Paul, faithful witness in chains – 28:16-31

 

There are many other stories that can be used which deal with general characteristics of leaders and worldview issues peculiar to your people group.

 

 

The Essential Bible Truths for Leadership are not listed here but found in:

1 Timothy 3:1-15; 2 Timothy 2:1-2; Titus 1:15-16 and 2:1-15

 

It is now your assignment to create your own list of essential Bible truths for the Leadership Track from the list of truths found in the Scriptures. The goal is to raise up leaders from within your disciples using stories to emphasize godly leadership qualities.

 

 

End Times Track:

Range of stories:  Revelation with reference to Daniel, Ezekiel, Zechariah, Matthew, Luke, John 1, I Corinthians 15, 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, and Thessalonians 4:13-5:3.

 

Essential Bible Truths for Understanding the End Times

 

·        To bring closure to the entire Bible.

·        To show the fulfillment of prophecy related to Christ’s return.

·        To show the fulfillment of prophecy about the resurrection of the physical body from the grave.

·        To show the ultimate judgment and punishment of Satan and the evil host.

·        To show the fate of all unbelievers and those who opposed and persecuted the believers.

·        To bring a word of warning to the New Testament Church about keeping true to their calling in Christ.

·        To bring focus upon the glory of God the Father and Jesus the Son, the Lamb that was slain from the beginning.

·        To bring focus upon the completion of salvation for the believer and the blessed state of fellowship with the Lord.

·        To remind once again that God the Father is Sovereign Ruler over all things.

·        To show the re-Creation and coming blessing after the End Times.

 

Core Story List For End Times:

 

A vision of Jesus – Revelation 1:1-20 and Daniel 7:13-14

 

Message to the diligent yet loveless church – Revelation 2:1-7

 

Message to the threatened yet loyal church – Revelation 2:8-11

 

Message to the faithful yet compromising church – Revelation 2:12-17

 

Message to the Growing yet incomplete church – Revelation 2:18-29

 

Message to the professing yet inconsistent church – Revelation 3:1-6

 

Message to the small yet secure church – Revelation 3:7-13

 

Message to the satisfied yet lacking church – Revelation 3:14-22

 

Jesus is the Lamb – Revelation 4:1-5:14 and 7:9-17; Genesis 22:13; Exodus 12:1-7; Isaiah 53:7; John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7

 

Defeat of Satan – Revelation 12:7-12, 20:1-3, 20:7-10; Luke 10:18; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; 1 John 3:8

 

The resurrection of the dead – Revelation 20:4-6, 13; Daniel 12:2; John 5:28; Acts 24:15; 1 Corinthians 15:12-55

 

The Judgment – Revelation 20:11-15; Matthew 25:32; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Hebrews 9:27; Jude 14-15

 

The New Heaven and Earth – Revelation 21:1-5, 22-27, 22:3-5; Isaiah 65:17-25

 

The River of Life – Revelation 22:1-2; Psalms 1:3, 46:4; Ezekiel 47:1-12; Zechariah 14:8

 

Jesus is coming soon – Revelation 22:12, 20; Matthew 24:14 through 25:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13 through 5:6

 

Appendix for those sharing with Muslims

 

Major Points of Difference with Muslims:

Before looking at the approach itself, let me list the major points of difference with Islamic teaching that need to be addressed, and the basic salvation doctrines these lessons will seek to get across:

 

Islamic Teachings:

• God is too great to be approached and known by men, except for prophets, and does not act in history except to set the dates of one’s birth and death.
• God is too great to be bound by His own word (i.e. He is not bound by moral absolutes).
• Holiness is not a moral attribute of God, therefore sin does not have serious consequences.
• Sin can be partially atoned for by works, such as:
• The declaration of faith
• Ritual prayers
• Fasting
• Blood sacrifices of “pure” animals
• Giving alms
• Pilgrimage to Mecca

• Jesus did not die on the cross; God removed Him beforehand, substituting someone else, probably Judas Iscariot.
• Jesus is just a prophet, not the Son of God.
• Muhammad is the last and greatest (the Seal) of the prophets.
• The Qur’an abrogates and supercedes the Bible (i.e. it is the latest edition of God’s Word).
• The Bible has been corrupted by men.

 

 

Some observations from a successful Muslim Evangelist

 

How the Truth caused them to discard their false doctrines:

 

1.  “God is too great to be approached by and known by man, except for the prophets.”

By studying the lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses, etc., they discovered that these prophets turned out to be very human indeed – flesh and blood like themselves. This gave them courage to believe that God wants to have a relationship with them as well!

 

2.  “God is too great to be bound by His own Word.”

On numerous occasions they observed God doing exactly what He said, whether it involved blessing or punishment. They learned that God is consistent.

 

3.  “Holiness is not a moral attribute of God, therefore sin does not have serious consequences.”

Beginning in Genesis 2, they heard God’s warnings of death and separation from Him, the consequences of disobedience. These were seen worked out at the Fall, in the lives of Cain, Noah, and Pharaoh, in the giving of the Law, in the rebellion of the Israelites, etc., as well as in Jesus’ teaching on life after death. Some became very convicted of their sin long before the Gospel was presented.

 

4.  “Sin can be partially atoned for by works.”

The wages of sin is death. God spells out this truth in Genesis 2. It is emphasized again in the story of the Fall, and especially in the story of Cain and Abel. There is, however, only one way to God, and that is through the blood of a substitute sacrifice. This theme recurs implicitly in the sacrifices of Noah and of Abraham, and can be brought out again in the story of Abraham’s offering of the ram in the place of Isaac. It comes out again in the story of the Passover and in the sacrifices made at the tabernacle. One can also point out the necessity of faith in the stories of Abel, Noah, and especially Abraham. The same emphasis on faith is found in other Old Testament stories and in the Gospels. Once the men had become believers we looked again at the Old Testament and reviewed the critical importance of faith. Perhaps the most convincing factor was Jesus’ utterance from the cross, “It is finished!” There is nothing left to do! Jesus did it all. He satisfied the righteous demands of God for death as the payment for sin. I can add nothing to it.

 

5.  “Jesus did not die on the cross; God removed Him beforehand, substituting someone else, probably Judas Iscariot.”

We carefully looked at Jesus’ own prediction that He would be crucified. After his betrayal of Jesus, we followed Judas to his suicide to “get him out of the picture.” We carefully covered the identity of Jesus on the cross. Were not His mother and His best friend present? One could not fool them if someone else were killed in His place!

But, far from this, we have the famous Emmaus Road message, “Did not the Christ have to die? First, we looked at the declaration of John the Baptist, “Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world!” But, what does that mean? How can a man be described as a Lamb? We saw again that the cost of sin is death; God provided a substitute even in the Garden of Eden when He clothed Adam and Eve with skins. God likewise accepted a substitute of lamb instead of Abel. In both cases the lamb represented Jesus. This became clearer in the sacrifice of the ram instead of Isaac. “God Himself will provide the lamb” said Abraham. And so He did. Here one can appeal to their logic:  “Which of you would accept a ram as a substitute for a person? Not one! You can buy a ram in the market; you cannot buy a person. Why then would God accept an animal instead of a person? He did it because the ram represented Jesus, Who would die on the cross many years later as the Lamb of God. As Jesus took Isaac’s place on that day, so He has taken ours as well.

 

This explanation of Jesus being the Lamb of God is continued with the story of the Passover, and with the sacrifice of lambs in the Tabernacle. None of those sacrifices could pay for sin. They all represented Jesus; therefore, Jesus had to die!

 

After completing this, we also looked at Isaiah 53 and at Hebrews 10:1-18 to confirm this truth in their hearts. One of the men told me, “I used to think that Jesus didn’t die, but now I see that He had to die in order to fulfill all the prophecies and types in the Old Testament. It’s so obvious!”

 

6.  “Jesus is a prophet, not the Son of God.”

When we studied the birth of Jesus, the men were thrilled to see how the Old Testament Scriptures were fulfilled. I asked the question, “Do you know anyone else for whom God sent angels, a star, etc.?” “No one” was the reply. Each time Jesus did anything remarkable, I would ask the same question. Jesus could not be compared with anybody! (Of course I never mention the name Muhammad. They drew their own conclusions!)

 

As we studied the Gospels, I did not dwell on the references to the Deity of Jesus. I wondered how they would react to the voice from Heaven, saying “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” “Whose voice do you think that was?” I asked. “God’s voice,” one replied. The others agreed. “That’s interesting, isn’t it?” I commented. “Well, of course, Joseph wasn’t His father. His Father had to be God.” Their understanding was clearly limited, but it gradually grew as we continued through the Gospels. (We should not be surprised if they do not quickly and readily grasp who Jesus is since this was only gradually revealed even to the disciple Peter!)

 

The last lesson in the series was “Who is Jesus?” We reviewed the miracles and teaching of the LORD, and repeatedly asked the question, “Who is He?” They readily admitted that there had never been anyone else like Him with such authority. However, they were baffled by such statements as that of John the Baptist, “He Who comes after me is greater than I because He existed before me,” and Jesus’ statement, “Before Abraham was, I am.”

 

Then we looked at John 1 and its parallel in Genesis 1. As we compared the Incarnate Word with the Creative Word, the light gradually began to dawn that Jesus Pre-Existent One who had taken on human flesh! It took a while to sink in, but Jesus became to them, not just a mighty prophet, but the object of their love and worship! A little later we were able to look at the activities of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God, in creation and throughout the Scriptures.

 

7.  “Muhammad is the last and greatest of the prophets.”

As was just mentioned, as they studied the life of Christ, they came to realize that Jesus had no equal. At the end of the series when we discussed the question, “Who is Jesus?” they discovered that God had exalted Him and given Him a name higher than every other name (Ephesians 1:20-23). After discussing whether that meant that Christ was higher than certain others, I then asked, “Does that mean higher than Muhammad?” “Of course it does!”

 

At this point, it was very useful to go back to the story of Abraham and point out that God had promised to bless the world through Isaac, not through Ishmael.  Muhammad was the son of Ishmael, Jesus was Isaac’s son. The contrast is so obvious. I heard comments like, “The Arabs really fooled us, didn’t they?”

 

8.  “The Qur’an supercedes the Bible.”

At the beginning, it was common to hear people commenting on the Qur’an. As time went on they became convinced in their own hearts that the Bible was the truth, since the Bible has its own power to convict. At the end of the day they came to accept the Biblical version where the two accounts conflicted.

 

9.  “The Bible has been corrupted.”

This hasn’t been much of a problem. When the issue did arise, it seemed sufficient to point out the age of existing manuscripts, which certainly predate Muhammad by a long time. There would have been no reason to corrupt them.