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Lesson One: The Church Writing Group Vision
Preparation and Prayer
Bring to the first meeting:
» One or more issues of a local newspaper
» A Bible
» 3-ring binder with pocket dividers and notepaper (Optional)
As you open your meeting, pray:
» For the members of your group
» For God to bring others who will share your vision to disciple through the secular media
» For the Holy Spirit to inspire and lead you into the truth as you begin this lesson
Establishing The Vision:
Why Secular Media? Scripture: Matthew 28: 18-20
In a nation where 85%* of Americans profess to believe in the divinity of Christ, how can we explain the moral crisis in which we live? Why is there so much misconception about what Christians really believe and about what the Bible really says?
If indeed the Christian book market has swelled to a multi-million dollar industry, how do we explain the fact that many professed Christians are starving for lack of spiritual food?
The answer might well be that America has enjoyed a magnificent proclamation victory... the Gospel has gone forth with power! Very few Americans deny the existence of God, and most accept the deity of Christ.
There seems to be little evidence, however, of a groundswell of obedience to God's Word. It is here Christians have failed to impact society. We in the church have responded to evangelistic victory with a monumental discipling failure. We have failed to "feed his lambs."
Christian Subculture
Christians share a healthy subculture with their own media, entertainment, educational system, and highly successful publishing industry. The problem is:
» Only a small percentage of professed Christians actually participate in this subculture, and
» Christian publications number only a small fraction of the total volume of books and periodicals in print.
In his book, Roaring Lambs, Bob Briner notes, "...the average American buyer of books never goes into a Christian bookstore and very rarely visits the religion section of the bookstore he does visit."**
"Feed My Lambs"
Picture the Christian subculture as a feast: Bibles of many translations, study guides, self-help books and devotional materials abound. The active, obedient Christians who partake of this feast believe that God's Word answers all of life's questions. Yet we spend most of our time in study and communication with each other.
The rest of the world (which we have learned includes thousands of professing Christians) searches for the truth... in the secular world. When we knowingly allow these "baby" Christians to die of starvation from lack of the rich Food of Jesus' words, we are abdicating our duty to feed His lambs.
The "Information Age"
Americans are stuffed with information and entertainment- a veritable smorgasbord of "junk food" for the brain. This kind of diet, though enjoyable, has no nutritional substance for a soul starving for the truth. It's time to take the message of obedience to Christ's commands to the world through the medium they read: the secular press. It's time to share the feast.
Get out of the Salt Shaker!
We have a VISION:
» to see our community, our nation, our world learn and understand what God's Word says and learn to obey his commands;
We have a MISSION:
» to make disciples of the millions of readers of secular media who proclaim to know and believe in God and Jesus as His Son;
We have a STRATEGY:
» to communicate effectively to the broadest possible audience.
If you have tasted the goodness and power of God, set aside your fears about being unprepared or lacking words. You are the salt of the earth! Go penetrate the arenas where the hungry feed... the secular press!
* According to the 1993-94 Barna Report Series, Vol. 3
** These excerpts are from the book, Roaring Lambs by Bob Briner. Copyright (C) 1993 by Bob Briner. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. This book is available at your local bookstore or by calling 800-772-3480.
Questions for Discussion:
» What would keep a person from seeking a healthy diet of biblical teaching in a country so rich in resources?
» Explore some reasons why professed Christians do not regularly attend church or participate in the "Christian subculture."
» Discuss how Christian writers might confront these barriers using the secular media to teach discipleship.
» Describe your potential audience. (Don't leave anyone out!) How can you meet the needs of each group of readers?
Perfecting Our Skills -- Observation and Discussion
How do I start?
One of the ten elements of strategy is knowing which publications to target and how to be published there.
Observe your local media
Using your local newspaper (or other publication) record in your notebook the following information:
» What kinds of columns/departments seem open to non-professional submissions.
» Editor of publication (especially note editors of columns identified in number one)
» Address to which correspondence should be directed.
» Phone number of each editor
» Are there any printed guidelines regarding submissions of letters, opinion columns or other non-professional submissions?
Discuss the following:
» What are the issues or problems facing your community?
» Explore together what God's Word says to those issues or how it meets those needs.
» Are there any particular issues which you feel God is calling you to address?
Remember the Mission
Although we have a lot of ideas, a lot of opinions, and a lot of truth to offer in the public arena, it is God's opinion that matters. Remember that Jesus declared: "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." We will never be successful in feeding His sheep without the real bread of the words of Jesus.
The Ten CWG Commandments
Issues are our entree into the public arena; speaking God's Word is the purpose for writing there.
During the coming lessons, your group will have the opportunity to discuss each of these commandments. You will learn how they can shape our vision and determine our strategy as we pursue the mission of reaching the world God loves with the message of obedience to all He teaches. If you have time, read them together.
1. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and let that love precede all you do or say. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Every word you write shall be offered in a spirit of love and respect for your readers. (Matthew 22:37-39)
2. Your words shall help make disciples of your readers; you will use Scripture to teach them to obey all that Jesus has commanded. (Matthew 28:18-20)
3. You shall be a perpetual, disciplined student of the Word of God, one who daily immerses himself in the truth, rather than one who merely tastes of it. (Isaiah 50:4)
4. You shall pray regularly and fervently for God's wisdom and direction, for your readers, and for the editors to whom you write. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
5. You shall remain humble in the knowledge that you are redeemed by Grace and that what you write glorifies the Father, not yourself. (1 Corinthians 5:17)
6. You shall "rightly handle the Word of God" (II Timothy 14:37)
7. You shall not bore your reader, but you shall be intellectually challenging, presenting your writing skillfully and in a timely manner. (I Peter 3:15)
8. You shall not preach to your reader; rather, establish common ground, presenting biblical truths gracefully and subtly. (I Corinthians 9:19-23)
9. You shall avoid divisiveness among Christians; rather, encourage unity among believers of all Christian denominations. (Romans 16:17-18)
10. You shall be well-read, a student of many great writers, both secular and religious. (Proverbs 1:5,7)
Application
Write a letter
WRITE at least one letter or article before the next meeting:
» PRAY asking God to give you a heart to please him as you write.
» READ your local publication each day and identify an issue which God's word addresses.
» WRITE in faith, and in love for your audience, using scripture to show how God's word applies to the issue. Make it an exercise of obedience, as well as a response to inspiration.
STUDY- Find the number of readers who subscribe to your local newspaper. Approximately how many persons read each issue? (A phone call to the editor might be necessary.)
Technical tips
Who or Whom?
The word "WHO" is used to perform the action (Subject): ex: This is the boy who wrote the poem.
The word "WHOM" is used to receive the action (direct object): ex: This is the girl for whom he wrote the poem.
Facts to Ponder
Bob Briner states in his book Roaring Lambs, "Error and misconception about what Christians really believe and what the Bible really teaches are rampant. ...Because we have abandoned the high ground (of public discourse) Christian thought... is considered quaintly irrelevant at best and mean and bigoted at worst... This abdication has made it possible, even necessary, for evangelical Christians and their beliefs to be interpreted to the world primarily by non-Christians. The fact that they almost always get it wrong is our fault not theirs."**
Scripture references
» Ps. 34:8
» Ps. 36:7-9
» Ps. 107:9
» Ps. 119:103
» Isa. 25:6
» Isa. 55:1-3
» Luke 14:12-14
» John 6:27
» John 6:55-58
» John 21:15
» Heb. 5:12-14
This is the first of twelve lessons in the "Church Writing Group" curriculum. Reproduction of this lesson is permissible.
For more information contact The Amy Foundation, P.O. Box 16091, Lansing, MI 48901, (517) 323-6233
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