On Sunday I tackled one of my most challenging talk briefs to date: God's love in the Old Testament. When I received the talk brief from Dan I got terribly excited; partly because of the challenge (30 minutes - 30-odd books what do you focus on!), but mostly because the OT is the part of God's word I've been on the biggest journey with.
I used to dread reading it; honestly, I thought it was something to be endured until you reached the good bit (Jesus). When I actually did read it I discovered some absolutely gorgeous bits that I would then read repeatedly: Psalms, Proverbs, adventures and amazing role models. If I'm honest I would skip past or skim read the guts, gore, law and all the stuff that bored me. It was difficult to understand, almost alien in it's worldview. It wasn't until I read the Bible using the God Story technique that I started to see the grand sweep of God's love and intention, from the moment of creation to the growth of the early church. It was from that nine months of reading and studying that my love for the Old Testament grew.
Much study, thought, prayer and discussion went into capturing some of that journey for Sunday's talk. If you're interested in the outcome then you can download it here:
Download God's Love in the Old Testament
(The sound goes a little odd two minutes in but is swiftly fixed by the wonderous Malc Garda.)
Studying and preparing for this talk has crystalised the journey of learning and teaching (and learning about teaching) I've been on for the last four years. On one hand I can see how far I've come. On the other, I am always accutely aware of how much more I have to learn.
I haven't been to Bible college, I don't have any formal training but I do love learning and have been searching for good resources to really stretch me in the area of preaching and teaching. My good friend Wendy Andrews and I were skyping recently sharing our studying and speaking journies and swapping recommendations for resources and mentoring. It was when we were listing what's really helped us that I realised:
- Interested mentors have been one of the most helpful things in my journey (Pete Greig and Ellie Armstrong particularly)
- We're hungry for teaching and resource on the art of communication and preaching but don't know where to find them (I have listened to Rob Bell, John Ortberg and Mark Driscoll on the topic, read the odd book and the like but what else is out there that you don't have to go to college to get?)
- We don't know of any women teaching about teaching. We know female teachers, but haven't heard them on this topic - anyone recommend any? Is Danielle Strickland, Elaine Storkey or anyone else wading in and shaping young, studying women?
So dear blogasphere, does anyone have any recommendations?! If you study and preach, what's helped and shaped you? Who are the people, what are the resources and rhythms you've developed that have most grown you as a speaker? Let's share the learning wealth, I for one would be most greatful :)