observation and interpretation are included in the “Truth” section above and this is where you would move into the life application section. However, assuming small groups are a significant part of your weekly program (as they should), you should explore the possible applications as a teaser to get them thinking and talking. Let the tension resolve in small groups as they wrestle with the application. Let the small group leader bring it home by helping them flesh out the real application in their lives.
NINJA SKILL – DISCIPLINE
The Ninja Skill to learn here is to be disciplined and routined in your preparation. Without discipline in our preparation routines, our communicating becomes haphazard and ineffective. Discipline yourself to adhere to a schedule in which you regularly carve out time to plan ahead and map out what you’re going to say and how you’re going to say it with a clear understanding of why you want to say it and how it leads to change.
To work further in developing this skill, read Andy Stanley’s book Communicating for a Change.
This post is part of an nine post series called “The Master Communictor.” This series outlines eight rules for communicating to youth and young adults. Five of them are inspired by the five rules of “Building a Teaching Strategy for Middle Schoolers” by Elle Campbell and Tom Schefschunas which they presented as a workshop at the 2015 Orange Conference. Their system is based on Andy Stanley’ “Communicating for a Change.” I’ve expounded on them, added three of my own, and have assigned a Ninja Skill to each rule.