Studying the Fundamentals with today's Adventist Youth

[David Edgren]

How do you study the fundamentals with the youth in your church?

I have found that proof-texting is ineffective and even scorned by anyone under 40 or so. So, I've been writing a series of story-based fundamental Bible studies.

So far, the group of 10-19 year olds I have been sharing them with have been participating nicely. A 14 year old boy popped up on facebook yesterday and thanked me for this weeks study and said he's considering baptism!

interested? Intrigued? Have a look. 6 are done so far. I'll be putting them online as they are written. http://vickids.adventist.org.au/28stories

[John317]

I'm very impressed, David. Great work!

I'd love to read all of them. I didn't check them out doctrinally but I can tell from the little that I did see that they are very well thought out and written.

Are you considering having them printed in book-form? If not, you really should. Those look terrific. Thanks so much for telling us about them.

[David Edgren]

Thanks John!

Yes, I will probably get them printed as a journal with plenty of space to write. I'd like it to look like a moleskine...

I'm a passionate Biblical Storyteller and approach most of ministry through story. Story is a doorway to the heart and mind that is always wide open!

I've got a few other books published if you are interested: (All available from your local ABC)

The NEW Church http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/Detail.tpl?sku=4333004108

The Serpent Scroll http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/Detail.tpl?sku=0816323305

The Lamb Scroll http://www.adventistbookcenter.com/Detail.tpl?sku=0816323755

[Guest]

Yes you do have a knack for putting it in story form. I liked it when the Pharisee called John the Baptist pond scum. LOL

I never knew that people under 40 don't like proof texts. But you have to have them at some point, it would seem. How else can you prove what is that good and exceptable will of God?

[David Edgren]

Facts become beliefs when they are incorporated in our personal faith story.

So, creating literal and metaphorical experiences for those developing their faith story (all of us!) is much more valuable than providing "proof" that the facts along the way are "true."

The greatest "proof text" for today's experiential learners is a mentor who lives an authentic life of faith and invites those nearby to "follow me as I follow Christ" as they embody an "as you are going" life of disciple-making.

[SivartM]

These stories look great! As a 17-year-old, thank you for listening to the concerns of young people instead of just insisting on using the proof text method for teaching.

[antcreations]

This is just what I need David!

Thanks for sharing these and for writing them. I minister to a lot of post-moderns and I find proof-text method to be problematic.

Story-telling seems to work very well with post-moderns. I've been using Miroslav's re:Frame resources with success and I personally think it is well done - but it has its limits.

Your work is going to be a blessing. Thank you.

[abelisle]

Ditto!

I was just going to say the same thing. What an excellent way to reach post-moderns. Let the archetypal symbols which Jesus used in his parables shine through your stories.

We are hardwired for these powerful stories and that's one of the more powerful attributes of the Bible - its stories!

Alex

[aldona]

Can we go easy with the "post-moderns" label already? I don't know who it is supposed to be referring to, but if it is us thirty-somethings (like me), we're just people. No different to anyone else.

My husband and I have spent a lot of time with people of many different religious backgrounds in the course of attending secular universities and working in secular workplaces.

Our Catholic friends can use proof-texts to "prove" that their doctrinal positions are right.

Our Pentecostal friends can use proof-texts to "prove" that their doctrinal positions are right.

Our Orthodox friends can use proof-texts to "prove" that their doctrinal positions are right.

Any denomination can justify any doctrine if they just choose the correct "proof-texts."

Maybe this is the difference between the current generation of young Adventists (the ones that get the "post-modern" label?).

We have not spent our whole life shielded from the rest of the world. We have realised that every religion and every denomination operates in a similar way when it comes to maintaining and explaining their teachings.

And we have realized that there are over 2000 Christian denominations, each one of which can proof-text their way to explaining why THEIRS is the only true doctrine and the only true church.

So, when the proof-texts come out, our eyes glaze over. It is much more convicting to see how a certain belief leads to a transformed mind and an transformed life.

AJ

[aldona]

By the way, David, welcome to ClubAdventist! It's great to see you here.

Nobody does stories (for kids or adults) like you do. Our church is still talking about the last time you were our guest speaker!

Aldona Jones (from Rowville-Lysterfield church...the one who plays the piano for the choir.)

[Gail]

Hi, David

I work at an ABC and sell the books that you write.

Welcome! :)

[David Edgren]

Sivart - I'm so glad these studies found you! Let me know how you use them, share them, etc. I love to know how my work is blessing others! It keeps me going.

[David Edgren]

Gail - Did you do a check to make sure you had all three in stock? lol

Hey, if you ever hear any stories from customers as to how the books have been a part of their lives or ministry, please tell me the story! I love to hear and tell these stories.

[David Edgren]

Gail - Which ABC do you work at?

[David Edgren]

AntCreations - Thanks for your kind words! Let me know how you use and share the studies! I'll keep writing them.

You are right about limits - all resources have their limits. It is the relationships between mentors and students that are limitless!

[phkrause]

By the way, David, welcome to ClubAdventist! It's great to see you here.

Nobody does stories (for kids or adults) like you do. Our church is still talking about the last time you were our guest speaker!

Aldona Jones (from Rowville-Lysterfield church...the one who plays the piano for the choir.)

Good point aldona. Stories (parables) is what Jesus used and I don't believe that they considered themselves post-modern either.

[David Edgren]

Alex - you are so right. Jesus was a story-telling genius...

In my storytelling workshops here's how I explain Jesus/Storytelling:

"Imagine the God of the universe wanted to send a messenger to his fallen creation with the ability to reach the heart and mind of those creatures with His love. He would make sure that messenger communicated in precisely the way that most effectively reached the very spirit of those creatures. Well, the God of the Universe did send a messenger - His Son, Jesus. And Jesus came telling stories."

Don't think, for a minute, that Jesus told stories because they were easy. He told stories because they are effective. And we are fundamentally wired to receive stories.

[David Edgren]

Aldona - Hey! I know you! lol

Thanks for your comments about labelling generations. It's really just to make it easier to talk about people in categories. We are all unique - made up by a combination of our experience and expertise. Few of us fall, solely, in one category.

Thanks for telling me of your memories of my storytelling at your church. I love to hear of the heart-joy people experience through story. I love that people, when shaking my hand at the door, feel comfortable enough to say, "Thanks Dave, that was a great story." I'd much rather hear the word "story" than "sermon" any day!

[Gail]

David, I work for the British Columbia ABC on the West Coast of Canada, and we do have 3 books of yours for sale here.

We are well stocked on the Serpent Scroll and the Lamb Scroll so I'm thinking we will have a sale on them for Camp meeting that will be coming up in a couple of weeks.

Got any more on the go?

[Gail]

AND... I will be watching out for happy customers! I'll let you know!

:)

[David Edgren]

Gail - I love campmeetings! I wish I could be there to sign books and talk to the kids.

Work on your Juniors leaders for next year. I'd love to be their storyteller for camp. My favorite age group, by far, is Juniors. The majority of decisions for baptism and a life of following Jesus are made between 10 and 12 years old - harvesting time in Faith/Values development of the human mind!

If they want to know more about me, send them to my "about us" website or tell them to watch "God's Storytellers" on Hope TV - That's me!

http://vickids.adventist.org.au/about-us

[Gail]

You will need to contact our Conference about that, but I can put in a plug for you when I se a crack of opportunity. No harm in asking, I always say!

[David Edgren]

Study number 7 - "God the Father" is now available!

http://vickids.adventist.org.au/28Stories

[SivartM]

Cool, it looks good! Are you going to put these in a book?

"Stories make us more alive, more human, more courageous, more loving."

— Madeleine L'Engle

[David Edgren]

Sivart, I am planning on putting them in a book. I should be finished writing them by September...

I'd like to see them in a journal with plenty of room for journal-writers to write their journey and answers to the questions.

How would you use a book like this?

- Dave