How Shall They How Shall They Hear?Hear?

Durk Meijer Durk Meijer

March 2008March 2008

In this context it In this context it is a foundational is a foundational principle to principle to consider the consider the communicativencommunicativeness of the ess of the message.message.

We can say that a Scripture We can say that a Scripture product is “communicative” product is “communicative” to the extent that it enables to the extent that it enables an open-minded audience to an open-minded audience to have those assumptions have those assumptions (beliefs, values, and (beliefs, values, and practices) which the original practices) which the original authors intended their authors intended their original audiences to hold original audiences to hold as a result of their message.as a result of their message.

In other words we want our In other words we want our audience to receive the same audience to receive the same thing from us as what God is thing from us as what God is intending to share with them. intending to share with them.

MessageReceptorCognition

Who do I want to Who do I want to communicate with…communicate with…

How should I How should I communicate… communicate…

What do I want to What do I want to communicate…communicate…

The first principle of The first principle of communication is “Know communication is “Know your audience.” Good your audience.” Good communicators begin with communicators begin with what their audience already what their audience already knows and accepts. They knows and accepts. They build on that to draw them build on that to draw them step by step to an step by step to an understanding of new understanding of new things.things.

Who do I want to Who do I want to communicate with…communicate with…

Who is my Who is my audience…audience…

Name TheseName These

Which does not belong?

Which does not belong?

When asked what When asked what he thought about he thought about

a new village a new village school school

headmaster, a headmaster, a Central African Central African man replied:man replied:

Let’s watch how Let’s watch how he dances.he dances.

Oral learners are Oral learners are those people that those people that

can’t,can’t,don’t, don’t,

ororwon’t read.won’t read.

They consequently They consequently receive most or all receive most or all

relevant information relevant information via means other than via means other than

written.written.

NarrativesNarrativesDialogues and Drama Dialogues and Drama ProverbsProverbsUnderstandable, Contextualized Songs, Chants Understandable, Contextualized Songs, Chants and Poetryand PoetryUnderstandable Symbols & Symbolic Actions, Understandable Symbols & Symbolic Actions, Including Dance and Music Including Dance and Music Riddles, Parables and Thematic QuestionsRiddles, Parables and Thematic QuestionsRepetitionRepetitionLife ExperienceLife Experience

ListsListsTablesTables

OutlinesOutlinesDiagrams/GraphsDiagrams/Graphs

StepsStepsTeaching PointsTeaching Points

Abstract ConceptsAbstract ConceptsThird Party ResearchThird Party Research

PRINT PRINT COMMUNICATCOMMUNICAT

OROR

(Highly) (Highly) LiterateLiterate

ORAL ORAL COMMUNICATCOMMUNICAT

OROR

Functionally Functionally IlliterateIlliterate

ORAL ORAL COMMUNICATCOMMUNICAT

OROR

IlliterateIlliterate

ORAL/PRINT ORAL/PRINT COMMUNICATCOMMUNICAT

OROR

Semi- LiterateSemi- Literate

NarrativesNarrativesDialogues and Drama Dialogues and Drama ProverbsProverbsUnderstandable, Contextualized Songs, Chants Understandable, Contextualized Songs, Chants and Poetryand PoetryUnderstandable Symbols & Symbolic Actions, Understandable Symbols & Symbolic Actions, Including Dance and Music Including Dance and Music Riddles, Parables and Thematic QuestionsRiddles, Parables and Thematic QuestionsRepetitionRepetitionLife ExperienceLife Experience

ListsListsTablesTables

OutlinesOutlinesDiagrams/GraphsDiagrams/Graphs

StepsStepsTeaching PointsTeaching Points

Abstract ConceptsAbstract ConceptsThird Party ResearchThird Party Research

PRINT PRINT COMMUNICATCOMMUNICAT

OROR

(Highly) (Highly) LiterateLiterate

ORAL ORAL COMMUNICATCOMMUNICAT

OROR

Functionally Functionally IlliterateIlliterate

ORAL ORAL COMMUNICATCOMMUNICAT

OROR

IlliterateIlliterate

ORAL/PRINT ORAL/PRINT COMMUNICATCOMMUNICAT

OROR

Semi- LiterateSemi- Literate

SECONDARY SECONDARY ORAL ORAL

COMMUNICATCOMMUNICATOROR

(Highly) (Highly) LiterateLiterate

Visuals/AudioVisuals/Audio

DiscussionDiscussion

ObservationObservation

Yet <10% of all Ministry Yet <10% of all Ministry Tools are specifically Tools are specifically addressing the needs of addressing the needs of oral learners… and the oral learners… and the other >90% may not other >90% may not communicate very wellcommunicate very well

World World Population Population >70% Oral>70% Oral

People are different and we People are different and we need to consider who they are.need to consider who they are.

•What language do they speak?What language do they speak?•What gender is our audience?What gender is our audience?•What is their age?What is their age?•How do they normally receive How do they normally receive

important information?important information?•Where and how do they live?Where and how do they live?

People are different and we People are different and we need to consider who they need to consider who they are.are.

•What kind of education What kind of education have they completed?have they completed?

•What is their livelihood?What is their livelihood?•What is their current faith?What is their current faith?•What is their worldview?What is their worldview?

A worldview is a person or A worldview is a person or society’s framework of society’s framework of values and beliefs about values and beliefs about life, God, man, and the life, God, man, and the universe. It is not just a universe. It is not just a collection of perspectives collection of perspectives but a structured framework but a structured framework based on the core beliefs based on the core beliefs and values of that person and values of that person or society. or society.

In short: worldview is the In short: worldview is the sum of our experiences.sum of our experiences.

It is through this It is through this framework that a person framework that a person views the world and views the world and evaluates other people, evaluates other people, events, and ideas.events, and ideas.

Behavior = Behavior = what is what is donedone

Values Values = what = what is good is good or bestor best

BeliefsBeliefs=what =what is trueis true

WorldvieWorldview = what w = what

isis realreal

The abstract diagram The abstract diagram below represents the below represents the Biblical revelation, as Biblical revelation, as seen through the grid of seen through the grid of a contrary worldview a contrary worldview and it looks like a mess:and it looks like a mess:

Concepts that do not fit the Concepts that do not fit the audience’s worldview grid audience’s worldview grid may get reinterpreted by the may get reinterpreted by the audience so that they can fit audience so that they can fit through it.through it.

MessageReceptorCognition

When people are completely When people are completely unable to make a unable to make a proposition fit within their proposition fit within their worldview, they are likely worldview, they are likely to ignore it or reject it.to ignore it or reject it.

MessageReceptorCognition

We first need to find where We first need to find where there is common ground. there is common ground.

•Are there any areas in the Are there any areas in the worldview of our audience worldview of our audience that overlap with the that overlap with the truth as reflected in the truth as reflected in the Biblical worldview?Biblical worldview?

•Are any of those in Are any of those in common with areas in my common with areas in my worldview?worldview?

How should I How should I communicate… communicate…

AudiencAudience e

worldvieworldvieww

Biblical Biblical worldvieworldvie

ww

Worldview Worldview of a of a

growing growing Christian Christian

AudiencAudience e

worldvieworldvieww

Biblical Biblical worldvieworldvie

ww

Worldview Worldview of a of a

growing growing Christian Christian

Change as time Change as time moves onmoves on

AA BB

CC

Change as time Change as time moves onmoves on

Second, we need to Second, we need to remember that people remember that people communicate in ways that communicate in ways that are unique to their are unique to their culture.culture.

The discourse genres that The discourse genres that will be most suitable for will be most suitable for them tie into the them tie into the worldview they hold and worldview they hold and they will have a significant they will have a significant impact on our audience impact on our audience accepting or even paying accepting or even paying attention to the message.attention to the message.

Most cultures prefer non-Most cultures prefer non-expository genres of expository genres of discourse, such as:discourse, such as:–NarrativesNarratives–Dialogues and dramaDialogues and drama–ProverbsProverbs–Understandable, Understandable, contextualized songs, contextualized songs, chants and poetrychants and poetry

Most cultures prefer non-Most cultures prefer non-expository genres of expository genres of discourse, such as:discourse, such as:–Riddles, parables and Riddles, parables and thematic questionsthematic questions

–Understandable symbols Understandable symbols & symbolic actions, & symbolic actions, including dance, music, including dance, music, signed symbols (in case signed symbols (in case of the deaf)of the deaf)

These are These are called:called:

““oral oral communication communication

styles”styles”

The Bible naturally The Bible naturally comprises a variety of comprises a variety of discourse genres which discourse genres which may influence the stories may influence the stories we initially may choose.we initially may choose.

•NarrativesNarratives•PoetryPoetry•SongsSongs•ProverbsProverbs•PropheciesProphecies

•ParablesParables•Thematic Thematic

questionsquestions•LettersLetters•SermonsSermons

Because of their genre of Because of their genre of discourse, some tools will fit discourse, some tools will fit better than others, even to better than others, even to the extent that sometimes a the extent that sometimes a tool could imply that a text is tool could imply that a text is fiction instead of truth.fiction instead of truth.

• If chanting is only used in If chanting is only used in prayer, then using chanting in prayer, then using chanting in telling stories may imply that telling stories may imply that the whole story is a prayerthe whole story is a prayer

Likewise, different styles Likewise, different styles within a discourse genre may within a discourse genre may be used to convey different be used to convey different messages.messages.

• If a certain music style is If a certain music style is only used in their spirit only used in their spirit worship, then using this worship, then using this style to tell a Biblical story style to tell a Biblical story will put it in the context of will put it in the context of their spirit worship their spirit worship

Third, oral cultures tend to Third, oral cultures tend to rely on inductive reasoning rely on inductive reasoning (inferring a principle from (inferring a principle from several instances) rather several instances) rather than on deductive than on deductive reasoning. They are like reasoning. They are like good scientists who will not good scientists who will not believe a discovery until believe a discovery until they have repeated the they have repeated the experiment several times.experiment several times.

In oral cultures this In oral cultures this inductive approach is inductive approach is much more compelling much more compelling than a simple than a simple declaration of a declaration of a principle, even if the principle, even if the declaration is from the declaration is from the Bible itself.Bible itself.

Although receptors might Although receptors might reject the statement that reject the statement that “God is love”, if it “God is love”, if it conflicts with their conflicts with their worldview, they may worldview, they may accept this concept if accept this concept if they hear several reliable they hear several reliable stories in which the love stories in which the love of God is manifest.of God is manifest.

Repeated encounters with Repeated encounters with com-pelling experiences can com-pelling experiences can lead to acceptance of a lead to acceptance of a contrary idea and to contrary idea and to corresponding changes in the corresponding changes in the worldview grid.worldview grid.

ReceptorCognition

Message

What do I want to What do I want to communicate…communicate…

leasleastt

mosmostt

mosmostt

acceptanacceptancece

under-under-standistandingng

IntroductiIntroductionon

Laying a Laying a foundationfoundation

SharinSharing the g the gospelgospel

DisciplingDiscipling

Church planting Church planting and Leadership and Leadership trainingtraining

Where do we start in this Where do we start in this puzzle?puzzle?

D

F

H

I

E

G

B

CA

•At the beginning…At the beginning…

A

Or…Or…

•With the next logical With the next logical stepstep

D

F

H

I

E

G

BCA

In other words, their In other words, their knowledge of essential knowledge of essential assumptions of the Bible assumptions of the Bible should develop gradually should develop gradually and in a progressive way.and in a progressive way.

In most situations In most situations following a chronological following a chronological order is the best way to order is the best way to progress.progress.

A

The timing of what The timing of what tools and stories to use tools and stories to use

is of utmost is of utmost importance…importance…

We have only one time We have only one time to make a first time to make a first time

impression!impression!

In addressing audience In addressing audience worldview, it is helpful worldview, it is helpful to discover which to discover which themes are bridges to themes are bridges to the audience, which are the audience, which are barriers, and which are barriers, and which are door-openers.door-openers.

A

It is wise to begin with portions It is wise to begin with portions that seem relevant and that seem relevant and interesting to our audience: interesting to our audience: –Farmers identify with Farmers identify with portions about farmers.portions about farmers.

–Women can identify with Women can identify with Ruth, Hannah, etc.Ruth, Hannah, etc.

–Many people in the 10/40 Many people in the 10/40 window are interested in the window are interested in the stories of the prophets.stories of the prophets.

A

God designed redemptive God designed redemptive analogies or bridges for analogies or bridges for all people. For example:all people. For example:

• For the Jews the whole For the Jews the whole Old CovenantOld Covenant

• For the 180 MamaindéFor the 180 Mamaindé in in Brazil the concept of the Brazil the concept of the wide and narrow roadwide and narrow road

Some bridges also can be Some bridges also can be built through our own built through our own witness as God’s children witness as God’s children by demonstrating God’s by demonstrating God’s love. love.

This can be done by This can be done by helping with felt needs, helping with felt needs, like in times of hunger, like in times of hunger, disaster, or sickness.disaster, or sickness.

Although some passages Although some passages may present few new may present few new concepts, they can be very concepts, they can be very valuable for establishing valuable for establishing common ground with the common ground with the audience and for audience and for encouraging them to encouraging them to accept the redemptive accept the redemptive story of the Bible in its story of the Bible in its broadest context.broadest context.

A

Good communicators are Good communicators are aware of local customs aware of local customs and values, and they and values, and they deal sensitively with deal sensitively with cultural taboos. cultural taboos.

Introductory selections Introductory selections should likewise avoid should likewise avoid offense where none is offense where none is intended or at least intended or at least help them with help them with acceptable acceptable explanations.explanations.

A

It is wise to initially avoid It is wise to initially avoid culturally sensitive culturally sensitive passages:passages:–for Muslims: Judah with for Muslims: Judah with Tamar; Ruth on the Tamar; Ruth on the threshing floorthreshing floor

–for Hindus: the parable of for Hindus: the parable of the prodigal son (whose the prodigal son (whose “wicked” father kills a “wicked” father kills a cow)cow)

A

It is wise to initially avoid It is wise to initially avoid culturally sensitive culturally sensitive passages:passages:–for Tibetans: the great for Tibetans: the great catch of fishcatch of fish

–for many people in for many people in West Asia: partial West Asia: partial nudity (in visuals)nudity (in visuals)

A

Some themes that are “door-Some themes that are “door-openers” for many openers” for many receptors are:receptors are:–God’s goodness, love, God’s goodness, love, reliability, and care for his reliability, and care for his servants, as seen in the servants, as seen in the narratives of Abraham, narratives of Abraham, Joseph, the Exodus, Joseph, the Exodus, Daniel, Jesus, and the Daniel, Jesus, and the Apostles.Apostles.

A

–God’s benevolent God’s benevolent management of history as he management of history as he works through events to works through events to oppose evil, to train his oppose evil, to train his servants in righteousness and servants in righteousness and truth, and to fulfill his good truth, and to fulfill his good purposes for his people seen purposes for his people seen in the narratives of Abraham, in the narratives of Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Ruth, David, Joseph, Moses, Ruth, David, Jonah, Daniel, and Job, as well Jonah, Daniel, and Job, as well as in Revelation.as in Revelation.

A

–The portrait of Jesus himself—The portrait of Jesus himself—his kindness, devotion, his kindness, devotion, wisdom, power, and ongoing wisdom, power, and ongoing reign as savior and king. reign as savior and king.

–The love and forgiveness The love and forgiveness exhibited by true followers of exhibited by true followers of Jesus, seen in the Acts of the Jesus, seen in the Acts of the Apostles and in the lives of Apostles and in the lives of saints today. A similar theme saints today. A similar theme is present in the life of Joseph.is present in the life of Joseph.

A

–The offer of personal The offer of personal forgiveness and forgiveness and acceptance by God, as acceptance by God, as presented in the Gospel presented in the Gospel and Acts.and Acts.

–The offer of assured and The offer of assured and complete salvation from complete salvation from hell and acceptance into hell and acceptance into God’s kingdom.God’s kingdom.

A

–The offer of a personal The offer of a personal relationship with God, relationship with God, fully realized in the next fully realized in the next life.life.

–The offer of inner The offer of inner cleansing and renewal cleansing and renewal through God’s Holy Spirit, through God’s Holy Spirit, as presented in the as presented in the Gospels, Acts, and Gospels, Acts, and Epistles.Epistles.

A

–The offer and example of The offer and example of grace to live through the grace to live through the strengthening and guidance strengthening and guidance of the Spirit, as seen in the of the Spirit, as seen in the Acts of the Apostles and in Acts of the Apostles and in some of the Epistles.some of the Epistles.

–Power to resist and repel Power to resist and repel Satan and evil spirits in Satan and evil spirits in Jesus’ name, as seen in the Jesus’ name, as seen in the Gospels and Acts.Gospels and Acts.

A

In light of the close In light of the close relationship of the barriers relationship of the barriers and door-openers, it is and door-openers, it is usually more convincing to usually more convincing to present these themes by present these themes by exemplifying them in exemplifying them in Biblical narratives rather Biblical narratives rather than in expository than in expository passages that state them passages that state them explicitly.explicitly.

As we develop worldview-As we develop worldview-specific ministry tools specific ministry tools and story sets, we must and story sets, we must make sure to check :make sure to check :

• How well they How well they communicatecommunicate

F

HI

ED

G

BCA

• How well How well they fit into they fit into the holistic the holistic picture picture

In review:In review:

1. CONSIDER your 1. CONSIDER your audience. What is their audience. What is their cultural background? cultural background? What is their worldview? What is their worldview? What are their interests What are their interests and felt needs? and felt needs?

2. CHOOSE what styles 2. CHOOSE what styles and forms of and forms of communication are the communication are the most appropriate to most appropriate to use.use.

In review:In review:3. KNOW what you want to 3. KNOW what you want to

communicate and why communicate and why (what results do you want (what results do you want to see accomplished to see accomplished among the audience). among the audience).

4. ELIMINATE barriers, 4. ELIMINATE barriers, differences, criticism, and differences, criticism, and prejudice that could cause prejudice that could cause divisions or be offensive, divisions or be offensive, resulting in the loss of resulting in the loss of your audience.your audience.

In review:In review:

5. PRACTICE the virtues 5. PRACTICE the virtues of good communication: of good communication: Speak the truth. Be Speak the truth. Be precise and clear. Be precise and clear. Be positive, not negative!positive, not negative!

6. CONFIRM the audience. 6. CONFIRM the audience. Encourage and build Encourage and build them up with love. them up with love.

Just re-Just re-membemembe

rr

the the tools tools

need to need to match match

the the tasktask

Still the most Still the most important impact important impact

comes from…comes from…

The inner witness of The inner witness of the Holy Spirit that God the Holy Spirit that God

is speaking to them is speaking to them through these stories through these stories

from the Bible.from the Bible.

Also do not forget the Also do not forget the power of our personal power of our personal witness as God’s living witness as God’s living

stones.stones.

The End!The End!

Pictures used by courtesy of: Steve Evans, Juergen Pictures used by courtesy of: Steve Evans, Juergen Foster, Jerzy Marcol, Michelle Petersen, Jim Foster, Jerzy Marcol, Michelle Petersen, Jim

Roberts.Roberts.