Sharing Scripture — July 27, 2024

What kind of student were you?

Linda excelled at poetry as a young girl, but she couldn’t grasp math. She simply could not relate it to real life. That changed at college. When her statistics professor first met her, he said, “I’ve been reading your poetry. You are going to do very well in statistics.” He conveyed to her how statistics is the poetry of math, and she went on to excel in his class.

Marcus approached school a little differently because, well, he loved everything about school. Whether it was hands-on learning or abstract concepts written on a blackboard, he could literally see the solution to any problem. He found school—especially the challenge of tests—an absolute joy.

Jimmy, on the other hand, became frustrated with school by the 2nd grade. Unlike Linda, he loved math. Actually, he loved art too, but he didn’t like to read. He enjoyed it, however, when others read to him—even his 1st grade brother. When his parents read him the instructions to set up their new VCR, he performed the assignment perfectly. His inflexible teacher, however, didn’t like his method of accomplishing tasks, and regularly berated him for it.

Inflexible teachers also disrupted Leah, who thrived when her teachers allowed her to approach projects spontaneously – which rarely happened. When they assigned a book report on the juvenile justice system, she proposed instead to attend juvenile court and perform a skit for the class on her findings. When they balked, she quit trying. She graduated, but still believes that real learning comes from outside the classroom.

As Linda, Marcus, Jimmy, and Leah show us, not everyone learns the same way. Bernice McCarthy uses these four case studies to introduce the 4MAT System of teaching that addresses various learning styles. McCarthy concludes that not one style is the “right” style; rather, everyone can succeed when utilizing their preferred method.

McCarthy summarizes: “Linda directs the management division of a major human resources consulting firm. Marcus, a former professor of statistics at a prestigious university, is now president of a research firm. Jimmy … scored 100 percent on the Illinois State Math Achievement Test and achieved cum laude in the International Latin Exam. He also had his art portfolio favorably reviewed by the Art Institute of Chicago. And Leah? Leah is a pseudonym for the author of this article.”

How do you effectively reach everyone possible? When Jesus wanted to teach the multitudes, He couldn’t invest the time and effort to provide the same personal mentorship as He did with His disciples. He therefore chose parables as the vehicle to carry His messages to this diverse group.

“Jesus sought an avenue to every heart,” reports Ellen White in Christ’s Object Lessons, page 21. “By using a variety of illustrations, He not only presented truth in its different phases, but appealed to the different hearers. … None who listened to the Saviour could feel that they were neglected or forgotten.”

In Mark 4:1-20, we see that Jesus, however, didn’t just relate the parables to the crowds and leave it at that. He also taught His disciples about the purpose and meaning of the parables. In verses 10-12, He gave the reason for using parables as a teaching tool. Then, in verses 13-20, just for good measure He made sure that they understand the message of the parable. Jesus, the divine Teacher, knew how to craft the gospel message to speak to every learning style.

Sharing: Why do you think that stories are such powerful teaching tools?

1. We can instantly relate them to real-life situations
2. They are non-threatening and are not directly confrontational
3. You don’t have understand all the nuanced meanings of a story right away; you can ponder the message for days afterward and gradually unpack its significance
4. We just like to hear stories—they are entertaining
5. It’s easier to retell a story that we’ve heard than it is to explain a concept we’ve gotten from a textbook or blackboard equation
6. Other:

Applying: Which types of sermons do you prefer: messages packed with stories and illustrations, or expositions of Bible texts which prove a point? Why do you think you relate more to one style or the other? What does that say about your own learning style, or the style of others who prefer another type of sermon? How does this impact how you share the gospel with others?

~ Chuck Burkeen

Lately, I’ve been enjoying poorly-crafted stories, stories in which the authors decide the plot by the seat of their pants, events happen haphazardly and may have no bearing on the outcome, and the characters present themselves flatter than pancakes.

What makes these stories enjoyable? The humor aside, the lack of details leaves a lot up to the imagination. The backstories of the characters can be pretty much whatever I desire them to be. I’m basically left in control.

Good storytelling, on the other hand, is clear-cut … isn’t it?

Jesus, the master storyteller, shared the simplest, clearest parables and yet many who heard were unable to interpret the meaning. Even the disciples asked for clarification!

Jesus explained, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!'” (Mark 4:11-12 NIV)

It wasn’t Jesus’ desire that the listeners wouldn’t understand – otherwise He wouldn’t say that some seed would produce a crop greater than what was sown (Mark 4:20) – but rather a fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 6:9-10) that those who hardened their hearts against God would know the Truth and yet reject it.

When you read the Bible, why do you read? Do you pray for the Holy Spirit to open your heart and mind to the divine messages?

Stefani Leeper | Content Coordinator