CONTENTS of COMMUNICATING THE WORD OF GOD
From “COMMUNICATING THE WORD OF GOD. Practical Methods of Presenting the Biblical Message” by J N M Wijngaards, Theological Publications in India, Bangalore 560 055, 1974. First published in Great Britain in 1978 by MAYHEW-McCRIMMON LTD Great Wakering, Essex, England.
On how to use this book
A word about origins
A “do-it-yourself” course
A special word to teachers
On sermons and conferences
Reflections on the role of Scripture
PART ONE. SCRIPTURE AS MESSAGE AND MEDIUM
What is biblical revival?
Extracts or summaries won’t do
How to make Scripture our daily food
Communicating the Word.
Chapter Three. THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE TODAY
The crisis of authority
Secularism and the idea of revelation
The Gospel and hol disquiet
A new kind of authority
The unexpected task
The new authority of God’s Word
Chapter Four. ON LISTENING AND ASKING QUESTIONS
The preacher as communicator
Jesus’ models of preaching
Let the audience speak
Chapter Five. THE ALMOND BRANCH AND THE BOILING POT
Party line or real life?
The frayed edges of life
Re-living Scipture in our own world.
PART TWO. THE TECHNIQUES
Every story has a purpose
Hinge of the Covenant
Analysing a biblical story
Narrative force
Historicity and artistic presentation
Simple free narration
The story-reflection-story approach
Some hints from practice
Chapter Seven. BIBLICAL PERSONALITIES
Biographies in Scripture?
Visual images
How to make a protrait
Portrait-reflection approach
The right choice
Some do’s and don’ts
The one-point example.
Chapter Eight. MOTIFS AND THEMES
Motifs in works of art
Motifs in scripture
Zooming in and weeding out
Motif-inspired exposition of a text
And what about biblical themes?
Serialised exposition of a motif
A sermon on eating and drinking with God
Meditation on friendship and reconciliation
Chapter Nine. PERSPECIVE, IMAGINATION, MYSTERY
Theological perspective
Imaginative perspective
Imaginative elaboration
Mystery ramble
Chapter Ten. READING SCRIPTURE TO OTHERS
The need of translation
A word about versions
Decoding
Formulating the key message
Simple guided reading
Commentated reading
Some further suggestions
Chapter Eleven. STATEMENTS, LAWS AND PROVERBS
The classical homily
Spotlight exegesis
Comparative Gospel study
Chapter Twelve. WITNESS AND PROPHECY
Speaking about ourselves
What is witness?
Witness in communication
Prophecy as found in scripture
Prophecy today
SAMPLE SYLLABUS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
REFERENCES / NOTES
THE STORY OF MY LIFE
- » FOREWORD
- » Part One. LEARNING TO SURVIVE
- » origins
- » into gaping jaws
- » from the pincers of death
- » my father
- » my mother
- » my rules for survival
- » Part Two. SUBMIT TO CLERICAL DOGMA — OR THINK FOR MYSELF?
- » seeking love
- » learning to think
- » what kind of priest?
- » training for battle
- » clash of minds
- » lessons on the way to India
- » Part Three (1). INDIA - building 'church'
- » St John's Seminary Hyderabad
- » Andhra Pradesh
- » Jyotirmai – spreading light
- » Indian Liturgy
- » Sisters' Formation in Jeevan Jyothi
- » Helping the poor
- » Part Three (2). INDIA – creating media
- » Amruthavani
- » Background to the Gospels
- » Storytelling
- » Bible translation
- » Film on Christ: Karunamayudu
- » The illustrated life of Christ
- » Part Three (3). INDIA - redeeming 'body'
- » spotting the octopus
- » the challenge
- » screwed up sex guru
- » finding God in a partner?
- » my code for sex and love
- » Part Four. MILL HILL SOCIETY
- » My job at Mill Hill
- » The future of missionary societies
- » Recruitment and Formation
- » Returned Missionaries
- » Brothers and Associates
- » Part Five. HOUSETOP LONDON
- » Planning my work
- » Teaching teaching
- » Pakistan
- » Biblical Spirituality
- » Searching God in our modern world
- » ARK2 Christian Television
- » Part Five (2) New Religious Movements
- » Sects & Cults
- » Wisdom from the East?
- » Masters of Deception
- » Part Five (3). VIDEO COURSES
- » Faith formation through video
- » Our Spirituality Courses
- » Walking on Water
- » My Galilee My People
- » Together in My Name
- » I Have No Favourites
- » How to Make Sense of God
- » Part Six (1). RESIGNATION
- » Publicity
- » Preamble
- » Reaction in India
- » Mill Hill responses
- » The Vatican
- » Part 6 (2). JACKIE
- » childhood
- » youth and studies
- » finding God
- » Mission in India
- » Housetop apostolate
- » poetry
- » our marriage