Finding Our Biblical Story

 

This is an exercise that I have used with several churches.   The process helps to define how God is shaping their vision.  The experience is rewarding and helpful as you consider your Future Story (vision). It's hard to know to define where you are going until you know where you currently are located!

Purpose:  To discern how God is at work in our congregation by tapping into a biblical story and using it as a frame of reference.

Key Verse:  Jeremiah 33:3

 

Bible Study:

Study Romans 15:1-6. What are some biblical stories that God has used in your own life to provide endurance and encouragement? Why is this story so powerful in shaping our attitudes and actions? What are the benefits for our congregation in connecting to a biblical story?

Key Questions:

Which biblical story best describes our current reality and the challenges before us?

Rationale:

The biblical story helps us to see ourselves in light of the Scriptures. It provides a means of interpreting how the Spirit is moving in this current season of life and ministry together. The story helps us to see ourselves in light of God’s larger plan throughout history. Through the story, God gives us endurance, encouragement, and understanding.

Ministry Description:

·       Invite individuals to participate in this process.  Members should have good biblical knowledge.

·       Implement the process.

·       Report back to the leadership after the story is discerned.

·       Get the word out to the rest of the congregation.

Creating the Experience:

·       Select a two- to three- hour block of time.

·       Invite twenty people to participate.

o   Use the following criteria for invitations:

o   Spiritually mature in discerning

o   Workable knowledge of the Scripture

o   Good understanding of the church’s history

o   Team player

o   Key influencers

 

Sample Agenda:

·       Welcome/introductions/refreshments

·       Cast the vision for finding our biblical story.

o   Refer to the Scriptures above.

o   Share an example from your own life.

o   Ask others to reflect on the their own experience when a biblical story really influenced their attitudes and actions.

·       Give an example for the church.

o   One church discerned that the story of Mary and Martha was appropriate for them. The church was embroiled in conflict. Half the church was full of “Marys” and the other half was full of “Marthas.” People began to see themselves and their situation in light of this story. God used the power of the living word to bring understanding, forgiveness, and healing.

·       Pray for wisdom and guidance.

·       Give directions:

o   Explain that you will each take forty-five minutes to be alone with God and to search the scriptures.

o   During that time, consider which biblical story best represents where we are as a church right now and how the Spirit is moving among us. Or, which biblical story best represents right now and how the Spirit is moving among us. Or, which biblical story best represents our current reality and the challenges before us? Write this framing question (or a similar one) on a flip chart.

·       Dismiss the group for forty-five minutes.

·       Take a ten- or fifteen-minute break, then return to the large group.

·       Each person then has five minutes to share which story they sensed God leading them to.

o   Explain why this is a significant story for the church right now.

o   Assign a timekeeper so the meeting does not stall.

·       Do not allow others to comment on each story. The focus at this time is to hear from each other, not to place value judgments on anything yet. The value judgment happens during the discernment process, which you will see below includes time for prayer and for the Holy Spirit to guide the group to a consensus.

o   Move through the process, person by person.

·       Record responses on the flip chart.

·       After each person has shared, pray again, asking God to lead the group to the story that seems the best story for your church right now.

·       Come to a consensus about the one story.

·       Do not vote. Simply discern as a group where God is leading.

·       Pray again, thanking God for leading the group in discernment process.

·       At the close of the meeting, ask people to keep the story confidential until it can be shared with leadership.

·       Share the story with the  leadership for confirmation.

·       Creatively communicate the story to the congregation at large.

·       Keep in mind that this story is relevant to the church’s current season of life and ministry. In a year or two, repeat the process to stay nimble and responsive to the Holy Spirit. (Isaiah 43:18-19).