29Nov/0910
Let’s write a book together!
Below is a document (pdf) that briefly explains what I hope to do with the current book project I am working on called, God is Loud. I would love for you to speak into this project and write it with me. Take a look at the document below and think about how we might improve, re-work, add to, revise, etc., to make this project a collaborative effort and to have it help the most students possible.
A few side notes...
- Obviously, you will see heavy influence from people like Leslie Newbigin, Scot McKnight and a host of other missional thinkers and doers. Feel free to suggest your favorite missional authors and speakers as resources for this project.
- This project began after a week of teaching hundreds of students this past summer and realizing how few of them could articulate the storyline of the Bible, the gospel, their role as a Christian, etc. I am passionate about helping students become missional people and that is why this project will be free.
- There is a lot we could do with this project. However, I think it is best to keep it short and simple. I am thinking that this project won't be more than 60 pages or so. It will be professionally designed and edited.
- If you contribute to this project, your name will be associated with it and placed in the list of contributors inside the book -- unless for some reason you would rather not have your name connected to it.
- I hope to have this project done sometime in the early part (by March?) of next year.
- I look forward to interacting with you on this! Thanks in advance for your help.
November 29th, 2009 - 21:12
Chris,
I think this is a great idea. Are you thinking of using Volf (particularly Exclusion and Embrace) in the relating to others section? He’s got some good stuff there. I particularly like some of his imagery.
Also, I wonder if you would have any better success in asking Christian adults the same questions about the Bible storyline, gospel and their role as Christians.
November 30th, 2009 - 08:43
Introduction:
What about Michael Gorman, Christopher Wright and Brian Russel for those who are helping us articulate a missional hermenuetic which places significance on the grand story of God?
http://www.michaeljgorman.net/
http://realmealministries.org/WordPress/
http://www.amazon.com/Mission-God-Unlocking-Bibles-Narrative/dp/0830825711
Will there be repetition of the Biblical storyline in each section? Is this going to happen through through the Illustration. If so then do you believe that it will be easy or hard for teens to rearticulate the story through key words like “disunion”, “shame”, “community”, etc?
Part 1: God
Love it!
Part 2: Self
I recognized that the illustration points to “work” as one aspect of being “separated”. Is this going to clash with “calling” at all? Typically, vocation and work are so closely related in our culture that teens might hear both terms (calling and work) and think that they are synonymous.
Part 3: Others
Is the use of “Gospel” in the “Others” section intentional? If so then isn’t one of the movements of the missional life to show that the “Gospel” is really about all four sections and not just one?
Part 4: World
I have been influenced strongly by Mary Elizabeth Moore and Dean Blevins who say that the way to wholeness with creation is not just action “for” the earth but also action “with” the earth.
http://www.amazon.com/Ministering-Earth-Mary-Elizabeth-Moore/dp/0827223234
The basic point of their teaching is that we can not merely do things “for” the earth with our technology and abstaining from certain activities. We also need to move to a transformational relationship by connecting with the earth again.
* Learning the rhythms of the seasons.
* Integrating low impact camping into a youth educational ministry.
* Gardening and healthy eating as a part of the ministry of a church.
* Regular retreats to nature as an individual and community.
These are all ways that we being to connect with nature again and start learning what it means to minster with the earth.
Journal 28 Days
This is an important element of the curriculum. If the teens just hear a lesson and walk away or read a chapter but have no outlet then the lessons quickly loose any lasting impact.
Will each day have a particular challenge/action to perform and then a reflection that follows?
Or will there be a mix between challenges and thought provoking questions?
Will there be a debriefing or small group discussion day in the midst of the 28 days that will correspond to weekly teen meetings?
The Illustration
I like the break down for teens. I am sure that each of the words will taking on greater significance in light of the Biblical storyline. As it is, I imagine that most teens that I work with would not be able to describe the story behind the words.
I am excited that you are opening up this opportunity to all that follow your blog. I think that it all looks great! Can’t wait to see more of it.
November 30th, 2009 - 09:12
Josh -
Using Volf is a great idea… What part of E&E were you thinking in particular?
November 30th, 2009 - 09:23
Paul — great feedback and questions.
I think if we define the words like, “disunion” and “shame” that students will be able to grasp it. Yes, I think we use the storyline throughout for reflection and point of reference.
Regarding the use of the word “work” … I am not thinking of using those two words (work and calling) synonymously at this point. Do you think we should?
Yes, the movements of the missional life is the gospel in all four sections! However, I think by emphasizing it here in this section we can point towards it from the previous sections as well as back to it from the subsequent sections and help to clearly connect the points of overlap for the reader, helping them to define it. My assumption is that most of the readers won’t be able to define it as missional like you and I. I’m hoping by placing it in this section, we can help achieve a light bulb moment. What do you think?
I love the idea of including some of Mary E. Moore’s thoughts on ministering to the earth. Great input.
Regarding the 28-day journal — yes, a mixture of thought provoking questions, actions, places to sketch, etc. My hope that it would be highly interactive.
I hadn’t thought much about the small group discussion guide. Perhaps we could write one as a supplemental piece for youth ministries to use.
Thanks for your input! Looking forward to working with you on this!
November 30th, 2009 - 14:41
Chris, I ran across your site via google alerts. I too am in KC, I am pretty certain we have a mutual friend in Jamie Roach? Blessings
November 30th, 2009 - 18:34
Work and Calling:
Obviously, we shouldn’t equate calling and work in the text if we are going to say one is “good” (a sign of wholeness) and one is “bad” (a sign of brokenness). I think that if we do stick with the two terms then they do need to be clearly defined for the students in order to prevent confusion.
My concern is only that in school or through mass media most teens hear the words “calling”, “vocation”, “job” and “work” as meaning that same thing, namely gainful employment. Yet, in the church, we talk about “calling” and “vocation” in terms of our “work” of being a disciple of Christ and all activities that are an expression of our faithful to Him.
Gospel:
This is why you get paid the big bucks. I would have never thought to hold out on the reader until this point. I agree that it could create an “aha” moment for many because it would pander to our evangelical assumption that the “Gospel” is all about the salvation of humans. Once they are tracking with that then you can really open the doors of the “Gospel” to show that it is so much more.
November 30th, 2009 - 20:57
Paul-
I better understand where you were going with the “work”/”calling” conversation. Thanks for clarifying. I agree, using “work” in the mission of God sense but not differentiating it from “work” in the sense of toiling over the earth, could certainly cause confusion with the readers if we are not explicit.
December 7th, 2009 - 22:52
Chris,
I have two brief comments for two sections.
Introduction::
Students understanding the Biblical storyline and how that fits into God’s mission really empowers them to why the need to restore the world. I am big fan of NT Wright. NT Wright in his new book: Justification states: God’s plan, God’s single plan, always was to put the world to rights, to set it right, to undo Genesis 3 and Genesis 11, sin and the fracturing of human society which results from that sin and shows it up into full colors. So, in a sense, the students need to see how Abraham’s covenant (Genesis 15), Jewish Exile, Jesus, and Paul’s vision all fit into the mission of the 21st century church (youth ministry). Student are literally paving the way for the 29th chapter in Acts.
Part 2:: Self
I think this section is literally the glue to the flow. How the student views themselves will (possibly) determine how/why they participate in the mission of God. A.W. Tozer said: What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. With such an abandoned adolescent culture, some more time may need to be spent hammering home why every student is the beloved before they work. I think a student will be ready to get their hands dirty for Jesus when they realize that their finger prints, looks, and personality are unique and different and unlike anyone else. Their finger prints are 1 in 6.6 billion people and they need to be comfortable with that. If they don’t see themselves as valued, loved, gifted, & unique they may have a difficult time finding the rhythms of God in their life.
December 8th, 2009 - 10:11
Chris
great idea. I love the collaboration vision and bringing together voices from youth pastors, leaders, and authors.
I also believe that the creation of a book for students (and perhaps a section from students) can serve as inspiration to this generation.
we have been teaching on Living into the Mission of God and what that looks like from a theological perspective and…from an experiential and every-day-life kind of perspective
but being able to supplement that with a book that they can take and read on their own and go back to is powerful.
December 18th, 2009 - 12:19
If I can add my 2-cents worth to the “work” issue…the word “work” gets a bad rap in both the religious sense of “faith vs. work” and in the fact that most teens hate to do work…be it chores, homework, or flipping burgers. But I believe that work is sacred and part of what makes us human. Adam was given “work” to do in the Garden before sin. He was to name the animals, tend the garden, subdue the earth and fill it. I would like to see the distinction drawn between work that is meaningful, creative, and fuliflling and work that is toilsome, burdensome, and draining. I think Isaiah 65 (especially vv.21-23) gives a beautiful picture of the difference between work in the fallen world and in the restored world.
Just a few more things to think about. I love the idea of this project, btw. Very cool, and very timely. I’ve been working with our high schoolers on the idea of a “rule of life” and we’re working through Bible Storying with both our Middle and High school groups. We just finished the OT and will do the story of Jesus’ birth after Christmas.