As part of our community 2.0 ministry at encounter, we recently purchased copies of Andy Stanley’s book, “Communicating for a Change.” Loved the book. It really challenged me and the ways I’ve always been taught to communicate with folks (hense my Mass Communications major).
Rather then outlining a message or lesson with 3 points, each having 3 or 4 sub-points, Stanley suggests outlining your message with only one central point. And building the message around Me-We-God-You-We. I’ll let you start reading it to find out more ;-). Like I said – it’s challenged me for sure.
I’ve tried to share some of the e-mails I send to our leaders from time to time (where appropriate) and thought this was one of those times…
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Well I hope everyone has had a chance to start reading “Communicating for a Change.”
I think it’s a great easy read and challenges some of the ways we communicate in many scenarios, including with our small groups.
I know it’s challenged me to be a better communicator and to find ways to help apply the message to others.
I think my biggest struggle is with the idea of a one-point message. I find so many “good things” I feel I have to talk about that I try to cram way to much information into a lesson and before I know it, folks are zoning out and staring into space. All along I’ve just thought, well they’re tired. They’ve had a hard day/week – but maybe it’s more about me than them. So I’m challenging myself to keep lessons to one point and one point only – and to engage everyone in the room someway.
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So as we start reading Communicating for a Change, what are your initial thoughts?
Are you familiar with the author?
What do you think about the subject?
Do you think you need to change your way of communicating?
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On the topic of engaging, I found a great, creative lesson idea thanks to Twitter today. Mufan96, aka Evan Courtney shared a great lesson he did with his youth group as part of their new study on James. Evan shared a complete study he did with a clip from “Dan in Real Life”, a poetry reading and a great video from Igniter Media (be SURE you watch the video below). After the lesson the students used note cards to write down their pains and sufferings. They attached the note cards to balloons and then released the balloons into the sky – as a symbol of releasing their pain and hurt to God.
You can bet those students remember that lesson for years to come.
How are you engaging your group?
What lessons will they remember a week from now, or six weeks from now or a year from now?
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Look forward to hearing from you all about the book and how/if it’s changing your teaching and group. Let me know!
And feel free to join in and discuss the book online…. http://groups.google.com/group/encounter-community
Thanks again for all yall do!
