Modern Day Parables

Jesus used parables to deliver his message. These were short stories involving everyday people and familiar situations (farming, fishing, etc.) to teach spiritual truths.
They were simple yet profound.

God chose to invade history before the invention of TV's, iPods, and all the modern tech stuff we can't live without.  Jesus did not withdraw from culture. He INVADED culture! He used the medium, stories, and pop icons of His day to deliver His message. 
He was a master storyteller.

We are the storytellers and the missionaries (put here by a pretty smart God who knew what culture and time we would be in) to THIS generation.
God called us here. Right now. He knew what He was doing.

Acts 13:36 says that David "had served God's purpose in his own generation..."
We too have a specific calling from God to the current generation.
It's in history that God chooses to reveal himself.

We need to study American culture just like we would study the culture of an un-reached people group in Papua New Guinea, or a muslim group in the 10/40 window. 

Here in America, our population is increasing and church attendance is decreasing. There is a huge un-reached people group in the American 10/13 window. Our "target audience", Americans, age 10 months to 13 years of age live in a media saturated culture and we need to use modern day parables to reach this generation.

So, what are modern day parables? What delivery method should we use to teach this generation of kids? How can we use new media, and new mediums to teach timeless truths in a way that will stick with kids for a lifetime?

Here are a few ideas:

1. Kill all cheesy clip art driven visuals in your church.
2. Spend money on your children's and teen ministries.
   Why? Because Nickelodeon and MTV are. Whether we like it or not, that's our "competition".
3. Research and track down QUALITY Christian media products
4. Use clips from real cartoons to make your point.
5. Develop a cohesive identity for your ministry (including creative environments, and media)
6. Encourage the development of artists in your church and use untapped talent body.
   (Teens and college students, etc.)
7. Brand a character for your ministry
8. Mix it up! Use a wide variety of (quality) media (puppets, cartoons, video, actors, etc.)

Developing relationships and solid teaching from strong leaders is still the glue that pulls it all together, but these are some ideas that will help you use media as a powerful tool to help tell the story.

Next week, we'll be highlighting many more ideas and resources in the Conspire Conference breakout session titled, "Relevant Media and Modern Story Telling"

Todd Hampson and Sean Copley share their endess creativity via Timbuktoons LLC, an animation and design studio dedicated to discipling children and impacting culture through creative media