Tell Stories

Continuing the conversation from yesterday:

Bob Buford - entrepreneur, founder of Leadership Network, author of the Halftime book series - is in a conversation with Moe Girkins, CEO of Zondervan, about a future where the world of the printed page is changing as a generation of nonreaders takes over. The digital wave is coming full force - or is it?

Buford recalls a Bible study he did some years back on the parables of Jesus. It's so powerful and applicable here it is in its entirety:

This sounds very new, but it is pure first century. This weekend with all this tech stuff/reality-based sharing in mind, I found in my journals a study I did seven years ago about the Parables of Jesus. It is said there are two ways of teaching – the Greek way (very linear and logical outline form (I. A. B. C., II. A. B. C.), one idea builds on another to form a conclusion. Most university teaching fits this model. The other model is rabbinic teaching (“that reminds me of a story”). Jesus taught almost entirely through stories and personal example (the cross). That is the way the next generation seems to want to learn – in community – through stories and authentic experience (e.g. Twitter, text messaging). In the parables, Jesus was rabbinic (no surprise). No professional footnoted papers -- just stories – stories concentrated on two main themes.

Eleven stories about forgiveness (the theological term is grace):
1. The Wheat and the Tares -- Matthew 13:24-30
2. The Unmerciful Servant – Matthew 13:23-35
3. The Laborers in the Vineyard – Matthew 20:1-16
4. The Two Sons – Matthew 21:28-32
5. The Two Debtors – Luke 7:41-43
6. The Friend at Midnight – Luke 11:5-8
7. The Lost Sheep – Matthew 18:12-14
8. The Lost Piece of Money – Luke 15:8-10
9. The Prodigal Son – Luke 15:11-32
10. The Unjust Steward – Luke 16:1-9
11. The Unjust Judge – Luke 18:1-8

Eleven stories about risk, responsibility and accountability (what I now call “Release”):
1. The Sower – Matthew 13:5-8
2. The Mustard Seed – Matthew 13:31,32
3. The Leaven – Matthew 13:33
4. The Ten Virgins – Matthew 25:1-13
5. The Talents – Matthew 25:14-30
6. The Good Samaritan – Luke 10:25-37
7. The Rich Fool – Luke 12:16-21
8. The Barren Fig Tree – Luke 13:6-9
9. The Rich Man and Lazarus – Luce 16:19-31
10. The Pharisee and the Publican – Luke 18:10-14
11. The Pounds – Luke 19:12-27

Look ’em up. They are all stories, no big theories.

Buford's summary:
The way Jesus taught is very like the way people are learning today. There is much distrust of credentialed experts, and institutions. Teaching by personal example (“follow me”).

Permission stories – stories of “people like me” – flawed and forgiven. Release, risk and responsibility stories – growing the seed that has been planted in you. Accountability. “Manage Yourself in Community” stories.

Sounds to me like where the Moe-assisted world is going: back to stories, parables of real time/real life.

What do you think?