Guidelines | Ten Steps | Lesson Plans | Order | Active Groups

Lesson Eleven: Expanding Your Knowledge

The Tenth CWG Commandment

You shall be well-read, a student of many great writers, both secular and religious. (Proverbs 1:5,7)

 

Preparation and Prayer

Bring to the meeting:

» A Bible and your 3-ring binder

» Any letters or essays in process (enough copies for all)

As you open your meeting, pray:

» For the members of your group, your audience, and editors of your local paper (by name)

» That God will give you a hunger for learning and illumination and wisdom in applying knowledge

 

Establishing the Vision: Becoming Well-Read Scripture: Proverbs 1:5,7

We can become shallow, limited and sterile if we are not willing to read extensively. The writer who intends to grow spiritually and intellectually will read constantly. Our burning desire-to know and teach the Word of God-is fed through diligent study and the illumination of the Holy Spirit.

A century ago one could state: "The Bible says..." and most listeners would have received the message as truth. Today such a preface carries little weight with a large segment of your audience, to whom truth is only subjective. In order to be credible we must not only quote Scripture, we must also show how its Truth applies to contemporary problems and answers today's needs.

You will grow in your ability to disciple others when you become familiar with the works of prominent writers, both religious and secular. Through the ages, they have contributed to the intellectual growth of great thinkers. Adopt the attitude of a perpetual student. Remember, a definition of disciple is "one who learns."

Read to obey

Willingness to be an obedient reader is the key to effective learning. A.W Tozer said, "One reason why people are unable to understand great Christian classics is that they are trying to understand without any intention of obeying them." Ask God to show you what He wants you to learn through each book and how He will use you to teach others.

Read to develop a biblical worldview

Christian writers must biblically rethink all of their assumptions concerning their craft. A "biblical worldview" is the most crucial element in any kind of salt and light to the darkness.

Developing a biblical worldview is the only way to be armed in proper battle gear. (Ephesians 6:11-13) Today's armies cannot fight a modern nuclear war with hand-hewn spears, nor can we effectively disciple individuals without knowing what shapes their thoughts.

Lesson Nine discussed how understanding modern and post-modem theories can improve our writing. It is equally important to go deeper and study philosophies of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Today's writers and thinkers must understand the presuppositions underlying every area of society. James Noebel's Understanding the Times is one place to start. Also read Seven Men Who Rule the World from the Grave by Dave Breese, which discusses how ideas such as evolution, socialism and humanism have altered the course of history and threaten to subvert our Christian foundations.

Read to "be transformed..."

Romans 12:2 says: "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-His good, pleasing and perfect will." This transformation implies not a single event, but a continuous, ongoing process. Our minds are renewed as we read and learn, devoting our learning time to God and His plans. Be purposeful in your reading-remember that you are doing it so God can help you take every thought captive until it acknowledges the authority of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10: 5)

What to read

See the list below for suggestions. Find authors who challenge and inspire. A good author will introduce you to a variety of other good authors. Look at the footnotes and bibliography of a good book; they will tell you who has shaped the author's writing and thinking.

Read to write!

The above mentioned Seven Men... knew that the written word was vital to reaching people with their ideologies. The Communists have said, "You Americans teach the people ... how to read and give them the lamps in the light of which to read. We furnish the material for them to read."

Let's provide something else for them to read!

1. As you prepare to write, pray for God to lay His message on your heart.

2. Pray that His words would flow through you, that you would not write anything which runs counter to His Truth.

3. Dedicate yourself to the ruthless pursuit of God's truth and its relevance to today's issues.

Questions For Discussion:

» What one or two books, besides the Bible, have you read within the last six to twelve months which have enlarged your understanding of an issue or had a profound impact on you? How has this information helped you make the gospel more relevant to someone else?

» Share these titles and authors with other CWG members. Make this a part of your meeting time when appropriate.

Perfecting Our Skills: Book Reviews

Critique:

Be careful not to change another writer's voice. Your own writing style is God-given and unique-as is your neighbor's -and it does not need to be altered if it makes the point. Point out ways his or her writing can be improved, Remember to use our steps to R.A.C.E! (Refer to Lesson Two.)

Writing book reviews for the secular press is an excellent way to present God's truth. Many papers have insufficient staff to present as many book reviews as they would like; we can be a serving resource to them.

Through a book review, we can promote Godly literature to readers who might never know such books exist. Review of Christian literature also provides the perfect opportunity to include a biblical passage.

Choosing a book for review

Select only high quality books for review. Also, select books which will point people to Jesus. It will encourage editors to publish your review if the book is already a best seller. Write a cover letter including sales figures if you have them.

Getting started

Start reading book reviews from a variety of publications. Decide which reviews worked best and why.

1. A good book review often begins with a brief but punchy description of the book's plot or main idea. Describe the main character in a short passage or outline an idea the author discusses.

2. Spend a few sentences fleshing out the book's idea or plot, enough to intrigue the reader.

3. Be objective and honest. Tell why this book will appeal to the general audience. If a book ha shortcomings, point these out as well. Avoid using the first person (I, me, my).

4. Briefly tell about the author: what book he has recently written or his credentials which lend authority his writing.

5. Remember to supply the full title, author's name, publisher, and selling price.

6. Above all, be concise (four or five paragraphs of two or three sentences each is long enough). Know your audience and write for them.

What to Read

A variety of authors: Tozer recommended John Bunyan for simplicity, Joseph Addison for clarity and elegance, John Milton for nobility and consistent elevation of thought, Charles Dickens for sprightliness, and Francis Bacon for dignity.

A variety of prose: Writings and speeches by some of America's founding fathers are enlightening.

Philosophical discourses by writers from 18th century America, many of whose ideas spurred the American Revolution.

Sermons and commentaries from some of history's great theologians: Augustine, Charles Spurgeon, Dietrich Bonhoffer, C.S. Lewis, etc.

Current commentaries: Charles Colson, William Bennett and Cal Thomas, among others. Also read Understanding the Times by James Noebel and other books which comment on current world philosophies.

Histories: Fox's Book of Martyrs, Richard Wurmbrand's Tortured for Christ, Corrie Ten Boom's The Hiding Place and others show how martyrs have lived and died paying the cost of keeping our faith pure through the centuries. Include books on Dietrich Bonhoffer and others who suffered and died under Nazi or communist regimes, refusing to compromise their beliefs.

Biographies: Stories of great men and women of God transmit personality and draw us nearer to God. Find stories about William Tyndale, Amy Carmichael, James Elliot, Hudson Taylor, Mother Theresa and others. Their great faith will humble and encourage you. Biographies of great statesmen, scientists, philanthropists and others often reveal a spiritual dimension you haven't seen before.

Classics: Great literature often explores the spiritual dimensions of the human experience. Read them to gain understanding and insight into the struggles people face in their search for truth. Ask God to show you how His Word speaks to the questions the author raises.

Don't be afraid to be uncomfortable. Tackle something challenging. Read not only the writers with whom you agree, but those with whom you must be ready to contend. It would be easy to condemn those with whom we disagree, but it is better to examine the truth and test their ideas against Scripture. This will strengthen your stand on God's inerrant word.

 

Resources for Further Study

You might find these handy as you expand your writing repertoire. (This list is not complete.) Scriptural helps

» Greek/Hebrew Bible
» Strong's Concordance
» Nave's Topical Bible
» Study Bible: Thompson's, Ryrie, etc.
» Bible Dictionary
» Bible Commentaries: Wycliff, etc.

 

Application

1. Choose
a secular magazine that interests you and take note of which sections, if any, accept freelance articles, "in my opinion" columns, or letters to the editor. Note any criteria for submission,

2. Collect book reviews
from different publications and note what makes them effective.

3. Write a letter to the editor or point of view
piece for a different local newspaper or other publication.

4. Write a review
of the most recent Christian book you have read. Bring it in for critique next time.

 

Technical Tips

Rewriting

Let your writing sit for a day or more before rewriting.

Omit needless words, Example: From "This is a subject which..." to "This subject... "

Read your piece aloud. Does it flow smoothly?

Pay attention to how each sentence carries the theme. Is it a good transition from the last thought? Does it carry you to the next? Could it be deleted altogether?

Proofreading

If on a computer, be sure to spell-check. (Spell-checks do not catch every error!)

Begin reading at the end of your piece and go backwards, one word at a time, to catch spelling errors.

Set it down and read it again in the morning. You will catch more errors when you are refreshed.

Have a friend, spouse or teacher read it.

 

Thoughts To Ponder:

"Nothing can equal the writing of those masters who enlarge our vocabularies, teach us to think, and instruct us in the art of incisive and compelling speech."

-J. Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadership

"Little learning and much pride comes of hasty reading ... In reading let your motto be 'much, not many."'

-Charles Spurgeon

"Knowledge is the foundation and source of good writing."

-Horace

 

Scripture References

» Psalm 119:66
» Mat. 10:16-20
» Prov. 1:5,7
» Rom. 12:2
» Prov. 4:10-13
» 2 Cor. 10:5
» Prov. 8:10-11
» Eph. 6:11-13
» Prov. 9:9
» Col. 2:8
» Prov. 16:20
» 2 Tim. 3:14
» Prov. 23:12

This is the eleventh 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, Ml 48901, (517) 323-6233.

« back

« Lesson Plans Index

next »