Calvin Synod Herald, 2008 (109. évfolyam, 1-10. szám)
2008-05-01 / 5-6. szám
6 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD Continuedfrom page 5 First of all, I believe Bible stories work well for anyone. But sometimes we pastors don’t pay attention to the people who are before us. We talk over their head. We use big words to display our knowledge. We talk analytically instead of simply and viscerally. Or we may whip out a Bible and start pointing at one verse after another. Even systematic theologians aren’t at their best during a crisis, so I doubt even they can take in these minute bits of information then. On another note, the pulling out the Bible and pointing at verses can seem like insensitive prattling if they CAN read. If you suspect they can’t read, pulling out a Bible and pointing probably adds to the current crisis and compounds it by reminding them they can’t read and you’re suggesting they’re too ignorant for God’s help as a result. That’s why it pays to know your Bible Stories well enough to pick an appropriate one and convey it conversationally and accurately without whipping out a Bible. It’s more likely to be something that - in a crisis - they can internalize and remember. Or perhaps they already know it and you’re just awakening the story so they can apply it to their souls. Stress brings on “Tunnel Vision” and a series of reactions that make people less responsive generally. Bible Stories don’t ask of your hearers what they can’t physiologically provide - detailed attention to every fine point. In this case, I knew I needed to convey a message of hope that the situations we find ourselves in are not always the direct result of our sin, but may have been providentially allowed so that God might display His glory in and through us as we draw on the power of Jesus. So in this case I decided to tell the story of John 9:1-11, the Man Bom Blind. So I told it! Then I drove home the points I wanted to say. Depending on how “verbal” the person is probably dictates how much you’re going to get them to interact with the story. That’s also a function of how much they’re incapacitated by the situation. Plant a seed with a story and then, as the situation cools off, you can come back to it and do some “oral Bible Study”. What’s the moral of the story? 1. In Pastoral Counseling sessions, especially in times of great stress and especially with folks who are oral learners, Bible Stories may convey the message you want to get across better than a series of verses spat out like an assault rifle on “full automatic.” 2. You need to have a repertoire of Bible Stories ready at any given time so you can be ready to “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction.” (2 Timothy 4:2 NIV) Practice your Bible Stories outside a crisis situation so that when the situation comes upon you, you’ll feel comfortable telling the story. I had told and led an oral bible study on this story several weeks ago. So despite our busy schedules the Lord “recycles” our efforts in amazing ways. Let’s leam some more Bible Stories - you never know when we’ll be able to put one to good use! Rev. Chuck Huckaby First Presbyterian Church Lawrenceburg, Tennessee ONLINE RESOURCES Church Supplies http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/home.aspx - Cokesbury Christian Book and Church Supply Store sells Sunday School curriculums, books/bibles for children, Bibles, pew envelopes, Easter/Christmas stationery and bulletins. www.davidccook.com - Christian books, church supplies, and Reformed-oriented Sunday School curriculum is available from David C. Cook publishers: Cook Communications Ministries, 4050 Lee Vance View, Colorado Springs, CO. 80918-7100, 1- 800-430-0726. Hungarian Poetry www.vers.lap.hu - This is a poetry site, in Hungarian. It is categorized so you can easily locate a vast amount of good Christian poems. http://www.mek.iif.hu/porta/szint/human/szepirod/magyar/ - On this website, you can find almost all Hungarian poems. Churches www.ny69ref.com - First Hungarian Reformed Church of New York City - A lot of information in Hungarian is available in the archived bulletins. Denominational Information http://www.biblicalwitness.org - Biblical Witness Fellowship is a renewal movement in the United Church of Christ, renewing the historic church through the power of the Holy Spirit, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to the glory of the Father! Please notify the Business Manager: Wilburn A. Roby Jr. if you changed or are about to change your address. Change of Address form is on page 11
