Use Stories, Examples, & Questions for Discovery

Use Stories, Examples, & Questions for Discovery - Good Sowing Strategy

What is the goal of a disciple? 

Mark 3:13–15: And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: 

Matthew 10:24–25: “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master.” 

Luke 6:40: A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher. 

• What should a disciple do? 1) Come to Jesus, 2) Follow Him; 3) Become like Him; 4) Help others become like Him.

• If our goal is to become like Jesus, then what methods did Jesus use to grow and disciple? 

Jesus Used Storytelling: All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.” (Matthew 13:34–35) Stories form about a third of Jesus’ recorded teaching.  

• The Bible is Story: In all of the Bible, narrative [story] forms 43-75% of the Bible text (depends on classification system used).

• Storytelling: No one gets bored in a storytelling session.  It doesn’t matter if you are the youngest child or the most literate university professor.  

• Storytelling: This is the most ancient art form that is still the primary vehicle for teaching and passing on truth in oral cultures all over the world.  But in literate cultures we have generally ceased to teach the art of storytelling (except for youngest children).  We often do not have basic skills of storytelling. We have very few models using storytelling as a basic part of their teaching that we can emulate and use, especially in modern Bible teaching.  

Jesus Used Questions & Listening: What are the very first things that Jesus did as recorded in the Bible? (sitting with teachers of God’s Word, listening, asking questions, and obeying – Father’s Business) 

• How many questions did Jesus ask? (The four Gospels record 339 questions that Jesus asks – some are repeated).  (Jesus is asked 183 questions.)  

• How often did Jesus answer a question with an immediate direct answer? (About 8 times.) (Usually Jesus answers with a story, another question, or some other response.)  

• After Jesus asked a question, what did He do? (Be silent and listen to the other person.)

• After listening to the other person, Jesus’ follow-up responses are related to what the other person said or did.  

• After you ask a question, what should you do?  

Jesus Used Oral Teaching Methods: 

• How many times did Jesus ask His audience to turn to a Bible reference as He taught?  

• Instead of teaching His audience to read and write, Jesus taught people using oral methods of 1) reciting memorized Scripture, 2) telling stories, 3) making simple examples, 4) asking questions and dialoguing.  (Scholars estimate that between 3-11% of the Hebrew population was literate in Jesus’ day. Jesus taught within the cultural setting of the people in ways that could be understood by both the learned and peasant classes.)

• Jesus trusted His Words orally to others who didn’t write them down for 36-80 years (66-110 AD with oral transmission).  So, for the first 36-80 years of the church the New Testament was passed on orally from person to person until there were accepted written texts!  Even after it was written, it was still primarily passed on orally.

• Bible teaching and discipleship were carried out by the early church from house to house using oral methods.  How is Bible teaching and discipleship often done today? 

• How successful were Jesus and the disciples at growing the church using oral methods?  (Phenomenally so!)

Jesus Used Self-discovery: Jesus was a master communicator Who used very effective oral communication strategies.  Jesus impacted the world more than any other single person in history.  

• What ways or methods did Jesus use to help the layer find the answers to his questions in Luke 10:25-37? (Parables/Examples/Questions/self-discovery process)

• Who answered the lawyer’s question? (self-discovery process)

• Do we use Jesus’ methods for growing and discipling? Do we use the self-discovery process like Jesus?   

• Self-Discovery: Usually Jesus did not immediately tell people what they should believe.  Instead, Jesus led them on an interactive journey where they themselves came to an understanding and conclusion using their own senses and reasoning. This is a process where the hearer discovers truth and becomes its full owner by answering his own questions.   

• Self-Discovery Process:  Parables, stories, questions, and dialogue are part of a process that requires us to think and ponder various possibilities at length.  (As opposed to immediately telling people what they should believe from the beginning.)  

• Dignity of the Other: Parables, stories, questions, listening, and dialogue trust and respect the abilities of the other person.  Using these tools recognizes that the other person must form their own conclusions to really grow or change.  

• Highly Influential: When people feel trusted and respected by someone, they also allow themselves to be influenced by this person.  By trusting and respecting others’ abilities, Jesus helped people to reach higher levels of understanding and was highly influential. 

• Personal Ownership:  Instead of feeling attacked by someone telling them what to do, the person who discovers truth himself is the owner of the idea and is much more likely to follow through on the truth that he learned and now owns.  

• Opportunity:  We have a wonderful opportunity to evaluate our Bible teaching and learning models considering the model that Jesus used.  

• Scripture Storytelling & Dialogue Process: The 7 Steps follow the processes that Jesus used. 

• Goal of the Disciple: “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40) 

Psalm 119:105: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Enlightens for discovery)

Psalm 119:17–18: Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word. Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law. (Discovery)

Matthew 13:34–35: All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: “I will open My mouth in parables; I will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world.” (Parables for discovery)

Mark 8:22–26: Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him and begged Him to touch him. So, He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. And he looked up and said, “I see men like trees, walking.” Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly. Then He sent him away to his house, saying, “Neither go into the town, nor tell anyone in the town.” (Example of discovery for Jesus' disciples)

Luke 10:25-37: “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?” …. “And who is my neighbor?” Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves…. So, which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (Who answered the Lawyer’s question?)

• Use Stories, Examples, & Questions for Discovery

Many books of theology, Bible teaching, and Bible commentary have been written by people trying to systematize, package, and explain the truths of the Bible.  Why did not God write His Word like these books? In what way is the Bible organized and written? Instead of being like a statement of faith, systematic theology, or teaching commentary, God’s Word is an odd collection of stories and God speaking through the prophets, disciples, and Jesus. Does God know what He is doing?

Why does Jesus bring the lawyer to the place that he answers his own question? Might it be that we need stories that make us ask questions, examples that are not immediately clear, and questions that are unanswered to discover and own God’s truths? 

When you use discovery Bible study methods, you and your group should expect new discoveries from God’s Word and His Spirit every time you come to God’s Word. Expect to discover new things from others the group that you would have never heard by yourself.  

The path to discovery of treasures in God’s Word is the path of stories, examples, questions, and dialogue – the same path that Jesus modeled.