Audio seminar teaching from Willow Creek’s Arts Conference with John Ortberg:
Session 1: The Art of Teaching
Like other forms of art, biblical teaching has the ability to create transformational moments that touch the minds and hearts of those around you—and open them to God’s life-changing message of hope. Like any master artist, you can sharpen your gifts and improve your abilities through training, time, skill, and practice. Explore the key marks of the spiritual gift of teaching, how you know you have it, and how to develop it in others. Learn how to clarify the purpose of teaching in your church community, how to ensure that great teaching happens in your ministry and the ministry of others in your church, and practical ways to develop your own teaching gifts and skills.
Session 2: Stories that Capture Hearts and Minds
Jesus was the master of story telling and the growth of His Church is a testament to the power of story. Discover how you can better employ this marvelous tool to engage your listeners and help them find practical and memorable applications of the truths you share. Walk through common mistakes people make in telling stories, learn what makes a story effective, dissect and understand the components of great stories, and take a personal story or illustration of your own, recraft it, and deliver it engagingly.
Sessions 3 & 4: Crafting Life-Changing Messages, Parts 1 + 2
Looking at a blank sheet of paper or empty computer screen can feel exhilarating to some, but can be overwhelming to others. If you understand the vital importance of using your teaching gifts with excellence, you probably feel a little of both. Biblical teaching can be a moving spiritual experience that draws you closer to God, or it can be one more task on your list of things to do by Sunday morning. In this two-part breakout, you’ll receive a practical framework you can use to prepare messages in a way that gives you freedom, flexibility, and a deeper connection to what God has for you to convey. You’ll also explore the many components of a powerful message, including effective use of imagery, explanation, questions, vision casting, and a preaching style that works for you.
