The Equipping Ministry, Student Workbook, SW15

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T H E E Q U I P P I N G M I N I S T R Y

* What kind of approach do you currently use when you share the Word of God with others? How can the “Contact, Content, Connection” help you in becoming more clear in your presentation of the Word to others? * Are you the kind of person who can be flexible in the midst of your presentation–why or why not? How do you know that God wants you to change what you are going to say as you are sharing the Word with others? * How well do you understand and can you defend the “content of Scripture,” that is, the Scriptures’ focus on the person and work of Christ and his Kingdom? * Have you had any exposure to the Church calendar or liturgical year, or the lectionary? If not, spend some time outside of class researching some on the nature of these resources and how they can help us year by year to continuously retell of the Story of God in the life and work of Jesus. * Finally, what kind of connections have you been making with the preached Word that you have heard over the last months? How have you personally responded to the appeals and invitations God has given you through the preached Word for both repentance and change? The new trends in the Church movement is the wholehearted acceptance of digital technologies and props in the presentation and preaching of the Word. Pastors use multi-media presentations, film clips, theater props, and even live animals in their presentations. Sermons are strictly forbidden to deal with “doctrinaire” issues and themes, and heavy theological jargon (even that of the NT itself!) is strictly avoided. Defined as “seeker sensitivity” the focus is on compatibility with culture and custom; to eliminate the distance between what the modern person is accustomed to in terms of quality of sound, picture, presentation, and experience in our fellowships. Choir members audition, the pastor is a production manager, and technical know-how is a standard. In a digital world, many have embraced this as the key to growth, and in fact, some mega-churches follow the same kind of protocol. What is noticeable in such venues, though, is that with short messages, softer subjects, and a lack of doctrine, the seeker friendly experience is not as effective in producing literate, ready disciples of Jesus. How do we (or should we) take seriously the digital world and seeker sensitive experience while, at the same time, preach the Interesting Plate, But No Solid Food

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