Yesterday I watched a TV program on Secrets of the Secret Service. In this episode they spoke about how new threats have emerged that require new strategies to protect the President. Specifically they mentioned domestic terrorism and access to the sky over the White House (e.g. airplanes and missiles) as threats that have changed in the last 50 years (especially in the last 10 years).
This prompted me to consider what new challenges have emerged that may require new tactics of those who desire to be faithful to the commission given by Jesus to make disciples of all people.
A new challenge that I believe Christian Educators face today is the shrinking attention span of Americans of all ages. We used to schedule around a 9 month academic year (Sept – May), then church curricula was developed for 13-week quarters, then 6-8 week Study guides were written. Now most contemporary churches only do 3-4 week sermon series. In our own classes at SLEFC we have found that attendance drops off after the 3rd or 4th week in our classes.
Those who teach children have found that a 45 minutes class is holds students’ attention best when the lesson plan is divided into 10 minutes blocks.
Week-long “Revivals” or “Crusades” have been replaces with 3-day conferences and one-day events. Event the Friday Night/Saturday Church retreat usually includes a significant percentage of attendees who come late or leave early.
Without the availability of time to thoroughly develop a subject and the reality that many of our students have less Biblical literacy than previous generations, the “deep” subjects are often ignored in the American Evangelical experience.
A second challenge that I believe we face is that many of our students are less teachable because they have already developed strong opinions, even though those opinions may not have been tested beyond the individual’s perspective. Our society has promoted education as the key to success and people want to appear more successful than they actually are, so they pretend to have more understanding than they have truly acquired.
It is not easy to create a THIRST for understanding. The Apostle Paul admits in Philippians 3:12 that he had not yet attained, but was pressing on toward a goal.
Perhaps the best way to inspire thirst in those we lead is to demonstrate it ourselves. Let our students know that we are not experts, but that we are still working hard at gaining new understanding ourselves.
I was very discouraged by this until I got down to the bottom two paragraphs :0)
ReplyDeleteI agree 100% that it is very good to "model" or demonstrate or share personally about our own heart hunger (thirst) for God.
In addition to that I would add the importance of prayer. It is a work of the Holy Spirit to draw an individual to God. Every great revival had it's birth in prayer meetings or concerts of prayer - I think in the American church we seem to think we don't need the Holy Spirit as much as we do.
I think it very wise to consider the culture we are living in when it comes to how we adjust our bible studies and classes - but we are commissioned to "make disciples" and if we never get around to teaching the "deeper" things of God......all we will have created is disciples who are anemic - weak, shallow and superficial commitment.
Last thought......is lack of time really the issue with people? or is it lack of real commitment?
ReplyDeleteI wonder how much time was given by Jesus toward sermon preparation?
ReplyDeleteIt seems as if He was able to touch on the "deep" things of God when He spoke to people no matter the time frame He was given to speak to them or the extent of their biblical knowledge.
The words He spoke were understood and cut to the heart of the listener - not because He had built up toward them or was laying them on the foundation of previous biblical knowledge per say - rather because He spoke with the power and conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Perhaps we don't need more time to build up to these deeper topics - perhaps what we need is more prayer, more conviction and more empowerment from God.
If things like personal sacrifice, the cost of discipleship, the fact that we are in an all out war against our flesh (daily) and the world system are teachings that are void from our pulpits......why should we be amazed that genuine heart commitment is void from those who fill the church pews?
Jesus did speak within a cultural context (people had certain attitudes toward a Rabbi). He shifted his teaching to reflect the teachability of his audience. He addressed the 12 different than he did the Pharisees and he addressed the 3 (Peter, James and John) different than he did the Gentiles.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Jesus lived with the 12 and interacted with them 24/7 for over 3 years before he entrusted them with the "keys to the kingdom" and there were several times that he had to correct them, because they "didn't get it yet"
Jesus used parables because of the "situational readiness" of his audience. SR asks 2 questions of your learner - 1. Is he ABLE to do a specific task, and 2. Is she WILLING to do a specific task.
Wise leaders (Jesus is an example of someone who did this) consider the Situational Readiness of those we lead and adjust our methods accordingly.
The rich young ruler was not "ready" to take the next step that Jesus challenged him with - yet Jesus challenged nonetheless.
ReplyDelete