Teaching Topics?

I was listening to a webinar the other day on writing and the speaker said something that struck me as doubly useful, meaning it’s helpful in more than one way.  He suggested writers (specifically bloggers) should approach a world view rather than a topic.  I immediately got excited by this idea even though he hardly unpacked it. I could see it’s relevance to writing messages as much as blogging.

Addressing a worldview leads us to go beyond the surface and write or speak at a whole different level. Let’s say I decide to write on the environment and concerns I have about it.  To speak to the world view leads me to begin with what I understand about Mankind’s role and responsibility in caring for the planet (aka stewardship). Rather than launch into a rant about recycling, the matter of stewardship leads to bigger conclusions.  Rather than making a case for my opinion on something, the world view idea leads to natural conclusions.  I might start with an observation about the topic just as a hook but then will dive deep into the worldview. We then let conclusions form out of the world view. Our message is then built on an authority that is bigger than our opinion.  It’s far better than “because I said so”.

When we write talks for youth group and have a topic in mind, think deeper and go to the root or the worldview.  This leads us to start in scripture and see what it teaches on a topic.  That is called Biblical theology. Let’s say my “youth kids” (as my friend Dave calls them) want me to speak on sex and dating.  I need to go and explore what the Bible teaches about these things. Then and only then I can craft a message for the group.  Sadly, many who claim to submit to the authority of scripture and profess it’s sufficiency, will more quickly go straight to writing a talk based on some clever advice they may have up their sleeve or just things they have learned along the way.  It’s normal for us to want to pass along our life lessons and wisdom to others. Yet going there first means crafting a topical talk that is never going to get as deep as it could. It means speaking from the authority of our experience and backing it up with the Bible. (usually using a few verses)

I’m still of the opinion that the exposition of scripture is the best way to craft messages that will change lives.  It is God speaking when we open the Bible and make sense of it. However, I recognize that there are times when a topical message is needed to address a specific situation. Most of the time though, I would rather help students apply the timeless truths of scripture to their lives today.