Following is a helpful organization of the Bible into a strategy for evangelizing, affirming new believers, planting a church, discipling new believers, and bringing closure to the Bible story. This strategy should be seamless in that each part should flow into the next and it should be invisible, that is, done without announcing what is to happen next. This strategy for evangelizing and church planting has grown out of experience in a number of countries where Bible storying is used. It takes into account the natural organization of the Bible content. The strategy is most helpful for breaking down the task into objectives which can be addressed. Bible truths and worldview issues together point to criteria for choosing Bible stories and themes to be developed in each session with the people. This strategy organization is only a suggested one which may be modified as needed. Each major objective has a range of stories that are helpful in addressing the issues.
Here are the objectives and suggested range of stories:
- Evangelism Track—Genesis to Acts 1 (Creation to the Ascension)
-
Affirming or Review Track—Genesis to Acts 1 (Review only of essential stories)
-
Church Planting Track—Acts 1 to Acts 12 (The characteristics of the New Testament Church)
-
Discipling or Characterization Track—Acts 13-28, selected Epistles (Establishing and maturing believers toward the whole measure of the fullness of Christ)
-
End Times Track—Revelation and other passages related to the End Times (To bring a note of victory and celebration to the church and a final warning to unbelievers)
These five tracks cover the basic Bible story and contribute to an initial Oral Bible for a people. The tracks may be paused for more in-depth coverage of any issues as well as repeated if response is slow in coming. The most critical track will be the Evangelism Track because it is the one at which a people are first engaged and initial worldview issues are challenged.
After an initial coursing through the Bible it is possible then to continue the church strengthening objective by going back through the Bible following the same chronological pattern and adding new stories in the timeline. These stories may be along a topic such as love, forgiveness, worship, etc., they may be on leadership or any other aspect of need among a people. The chronological presentation preserves the organization and makes it easier to include new stories by referring to where they fit in. Their objective is to give the people a Bible in their hearts they can remember, live by and share with others.
Written by an IMB missionary whose identity will remain undisclosed
