1. The Transforming Story 转化的故事
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
The Transforming Story 转化的故事
Opening Slide
Personal Introduction:
Share your personal story – family, etc.
Then share your passion/heartbeat and how it has lead you to the point at which you are now teaching this material.
Trainer Name
Ministry
培训者的名字 事工
Last Updated 7/07

2. We Have a Powerful Story 我们有一个震撼人心的故事
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
We Have a Powerful Story 我们有一个震撼人心的故事
It has the ability to:
transform individual lives,
lift communities out of poverty and
build nations
这故事可以:
改变个人的生命
使社区脱离贫穷
建造国家民族
Methodologies: Object lesson – using the Bible as a book of stories
Illustrations:
Content:
This book is powerful, it has the ability to:
Transform individual lives
Lift communities out of poverty
Build nations
What kind of nations will it build?
Last Updated 7/07

3. Building Nations 建造国家民族
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
Building Nations 建造国家民族
nations that are free and not enslaved
nations that are compassionate and not cruel
nations that are just and not corrupt
自由、不被奴役的民族
有爱心、不冷酷的民族
公义、不腐败的国家民族
Methodologies: Object lesson – using the Bible as a book of stories
Illustrations:
Content:
This book is powerful, it has the ability to build nations
Nations that are free and not enslaved
Nations that are just and not corrupt
Nations that are compassionate and not cruel
It is not just a spiritual book or only a devotional book. It is a book that contains the Transforming Story.
What is wrong if nations are not like this? What is wrong is that we have not told the whole story.
Last Updated 7/07

4. The Biblical Story 圣经的故事
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
The Biblical Story 圣经的故事
Where does our story begin?
Where does it end?
我们的故事从哪里开始呢？
在哪里终结呢？
Methodologies: Object lesson – using the Bible as a book of stories
Illustrations:
Content:
The Bible begins in Genesis and where does it end? In Revelation
Where does it begin? in a garden – what garden? the Garden of Eden (Gen 1)
Where does it end? in a city – the New Jerusalem or the City of God (Rev 21-22)
It begins with a first couple – Adam and Eve
Where does it end? It ends with another couple. What couple? – Jesus and the Church, His bride
The Bible begins and ends as a nuptial (wedding) story. In the beginning it starts with a woman and ends with a woman.
Jesus Christ is coming back to get married – incredible.
Who is the bride? The Church. Who is the Church? We are.
Look at each other and tell each other – Jesus is coming back to marry YOU, to marry US!!
This is an incredible story – it is the story that people around the world are secretly longing to hear and longing to be true. There is only one story that is true and will bring life, hope and freedom.
Last Updated 7/07

5. The Biblical Narrative Illustration 圣经故事的解说
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
The Biblical Narrative Illustration 圣经故事的解说
Chapter 1 – Creation 第一章：创造
Methodologies: Questioning and responsive participation, Object lesson – Use an old book as an illustration. This book represents the Biblical narrative, and, for the sake of the illustration, this book has 12 chapters. Twelve is an arbitrary number – it could be 10 chapters, 15 chapters or any other number, but for this illustration, let’s assume it has 12 chapters.
Illustrations:
Content:
Chapter 12 – The Return of the King or The Wedding
The King is returning!!! Why? He is returning to get married. Rev 19:7 At the end of the story there is going to be a wedding. Who is He marrying? The church – who is the church – us!!
From Gen to Rev God, through His word, reveals His heart for the nations.
Rev 21:23-26 tells us about the coming into the New Jerusalem. No need for lights (illumination), gates (protection) – what are the kings of nations bringing to this celebration? The glory of the nations will be brought to the throne.
Who is getting married? Part of a Hebrew wedding is a wedding feast. Every wedding has guests who bring what? What are those gifts? The Kings of the earth will be bringing gifts to the wedding.
Remember when Jesus was born – who came – 3 Kings, with 3 unique gifts from their nations. What were the three gifts? This was at his birth – now all the Kings will come to his wedding feast.
Similar to the 3 kings who visited Jesus bearing gifts of their nations – in the end it won’t be only 3 kings. It will be the kings of ALL the nations.
We have said, God has an interest in nations. His interest is not limited to individuals, he is also interested in nations.
What will the unique gift from your nation be? What are some of the gifts, the glory of the nations that we see?
Give examples that you have seen** – Guatemala – fabric colors, Ethiopia – Coffee, Uganda – worship: USA – freedom; Norway – Peace making?
What are the gifts or the glory of your nation? What will you be offering at the wedding feast?
This is the end of the story. It is a powerful story. 5
Last Updated 7/07 5

6. The Biblical Narrative Illustration 圣经故事的解说
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
The Biblical Narrative Illustration 圣经故事的解说
Chapter 1 – Creation 第一章：创造
Chapter 2 – The Rebellion 第二章：背叛
Methodologies: Questioning and responsive participation, Object lesson – Use an old book as an illustration. This book represents the Biblical narrative, and, for the sake of the illustration, this book has 12 chapters. Twelve is an arbitrary number – it could be 10 chapters, 15 chapters or any other number, but for this illustration, let’s assume it has 12 chapters.
Illustrations:
Content:
Chapter 12 – The Return of the King or The Wedding
The King is returning!!! Why? He is returning to get married. Rev 19:7 At the end of the story there is going to be a wedding. Who is He marrying? The church – who is the church – us!!
From Gen to Rev God, through His word, reveals His heart for the nations.
Rev 21:23-26 tells us about the coming into the New Jerusalem. No need for lights (illumination), gates (protection) – what are the kings of nations bringing to this celebration? The glory of the nations will be brought to the throne.
Who is getting married? Part of a Hebrew wedding is a wedding feast. Every wedding has guests who bring what? What are those gifts? The Kings of the earth will be bringing gifts to the wedding.
Remember when Jesus was born – who came – 3 Kings, with 3 unique gifts from their nations. What were the three gifts? This was at his birth – now all the Kings will come to his wedding feast.
Similar to the 3 kings who visited Jesus bearing gifts of their nations – in the end it won’t be only 3 kings. It will be the kings of ALL the nations.
We have said, God has an interest in nations. His interest is not limited to individuals, he is also interested in nations.
What will the unique gift from your nation be? What are some of the gifts, the glory of the nations that we see?
Give examples that you have seen** – Guatemala – fabric colors, Ethiopia – Coffee, Uganda – worship: USA – freedom; Norway – Peace making?
What are the gifts or the glory of your nation? What will you be offering at the wedding feast?
This is the end of the story. It is a powerful story. 6
Last Updated 7/07 6

7. The Biblical Narrative Illustration 圣经故事的解说
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
The Biblical Narrative Illustration 圣经故事的解说
Chapter 1 – Creation 第一章：创造
Chapter 2 – The Rebellion 第二章：背叛
Chapters 3-9 – The Mission 第三到九章 – 使命
Methodologies: Questioning and responsive participation, Object lesson – Use an old book as an illustration. This book represents the Biblical narrative, and, for the sake of the illustration, this book has 12 chapters. Twelve is an arbitrary number – it could be 10 chapters, 15 chapters or any other number, but for this illustration, let’s assume it has 12 chapters.
Illustrations:
Content:
Chapter 12 – The Return of the King or The Wedding
The King is returning!!! Why? He is returning to get married. Rev 19:7 At the end of the story there is going to be a wedding. Who is He marrying? The church – who is the church – us!!
From Gen to Rev God, through His word, reveals His heart for the nations.
Rev 21:23-26 tells us about the coming into the New Jerusalem. No need for lights (illumination), gates (protection) – what are the kings of nations bringing to this celebration? The glory of the nations will be brought to the throne.
Who is getting married? Part of a Hebrew wedding is a wedding feast. Every wedding has guests who bring what? What are those gifts? The Kings of the earth will be bringing gifts to the wedding.
Remember when Jesus was born – who came – 3 Kings, with 3 unique gifts from their nations. What were the three gifts? This was at his birth – now all the Kings will come to his wedding feast.
Similar to the 3 kings who visited Jesus bearing gifts of their nations – in the end it won’t be only 3 kings. It will be the kings of ALL the nations.
We have said, God has an interest in nations. His interest is not limited to individuals, he is also interested in nations.
What will the unique gift from your nation be? What are some of the gifts, the glory of the nations that we see?
Give examples that you have seen** – Guatemala – fabric colors, Ethiopia – Coffee, Uganda – worship: USA – freedom; Norway – Peace making?
What are the gifts or the glory of your nation? What will you be offering at the wedding feast?
This is the end of the story. It is a powerful story. 7
Last Updated 7/07 7

8. The Biblical Narrative Illustration 圣经故事的解说
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
The Biblical Narrative Illustration 圣经故事的解说
Chapter 1 – Creation 第一章：创造
Chapter 2 – The Rebellion 第二章：背叛
Chapters 3-9 – The Mission 第三到九章：使命
Chapter 10 – The Cross 第十章：十字架
Methodologies: Questioning and responsive participation, Object lesson – Use an old book as an illustration. This book represents the Biblical narrative, and, for the sake of the illustration, this book has 12 chapters. Twelve is an arbitrary number – it could be 10 chapters, 15 chapters or any other number, but for this illustration, let’s assume it has 12 chapters.
Illustrations:
Content:
Chapter 12 – The Return of the King or The Wedding
The King is returning!!! Why? He is returning to get married. Rev 19:7 At the end of the story there is going to be a wedding. Who is He marrying? The church – who is the church – us!!
From Gen to Rev God, through His word, reveals His heart for the nations.
Rev 21:23-26 tells us about the coming into the New Jerusalem. No need for lights (illumination), gates (protection) – what are the kings of nations bringing to this celebration? The glory of the nations will be brought to the throne.
Who is getting married? Part of a Hebrew wedding is a wedding feast. Every wedding has guests who bring what? What are those gifts? The Kings of the earth will be bringing gifts to the wedding.
Remember when Jesus was born – who came – 3 Kings, with 3 unique gifts from their nations. What were the three gifts? This was at his birth – now all the Kings will come to his wedding feast.
Similar to the 3 kings who visited Jesus bearing gifts of their nations – in the end it won’t be only 3 kings. It will be the kings of ALL the nations.
We have said, God has an interest in nations. His interest is not limited to individuals, he is also interested in nations.
What will the unique gift from your nation be? What are some of the gifts, the glory of the nations that we see?
Give examples that you have seen** – Guatemala – fabric colors, Ethiopia – Coffee, Uganda – worship: USA – freedom; Norway – Peace making?
What are the gifts or the glory of your nation? What will you be offering at the wedding feast?
This is the end of the story. It is a powerful story. 8
Last Updated 7/07 8

9. The Biblical Narrative Illustration 圣经故事的解说
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
The Biblical Narrative Illustration 圣经故事的解说
Chapter 1 – Creation 第一章：创造
Chapter 2 – The Rebellion 第二章：背叛
Chapters 3-9 – The Mission 第三到九章：使命
Chapter 10 – The Cross 第十章：十字架
Chapter 11 – The Task 第十一章：工作
Methodologies: Questioning and responsive participation, Object lesson – Use an old book as an illustration. This book represents the Biblical narrative, and, for the sake of the illustration, this book has 12 chapters. Twelve is an arbitrary number – it could be 10 chapters, 15 chapters or any other number, but for this illustration, let’s assume it has 12 chapters.
Illustrations:
Content:
Chapter 12 – The Return of the King or The Wedding
The King is returning!!! Why? He is returning to get married. Rev 19:7 At the end of the story there is going to be a wedding. Who is He marrying? The church – who is the church – us!!
From Gen to Rev God, through His word, reveals His heart for the nations.
Rev 21:23-26 tells us about the coming into the New Jerusalem. No need for lights (illumination), gates (protection) – what are the kings of nations bringing to this celebration? The glory of the nations will be brought to the throne.
Who is getting married? Part of a Hebrew wedding is a wedding feast. Every wedding has guests who bring what? What are those gifts? The Kings of the earth will be bringing gifts to the wedding.
Remember when Jesus was born – who came – 3 Kings, with 3 unique gifts from their nations. What were the three gifts? This was at his birth – now all the Kings will come to his wedding feast.
Similar to the 3 kings who visited Jesus bearing gifts of their nations – in the end it won’t be only 3 kings. It will be the kings of ALL the nations.
We have said, God has an interest in nations. His interest is not limited to individuals, he is also interested in nations.
What will the unique gift from your nation be? What are some of the gifts, the glory of the nations that we see?
Give examples that you have seen** – Guatemala – fabric colors, Ethiopia – Coffee, Uganda – worship: USA – freedom; Norway – Peace making?
What are the gifts or the glory of your nation? What will you be offering at the wedding feast?
This is the end of the story. It is a powerful story. 9
Last Updated 7/07 9

10. The Biblical Narrative Illustration 圣经故事的解说
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
The Biblical Narrative Illustration 圣经故事的解说
Chapter 1 – Creation 第一章：创造
Chapter 2 – The Rebellion 第二章：背叛
Chapters 3-9 – The Mission 第三到九章：使命
Chapter 10 – The Cross 第十章：十字架
Chapter 11 – The Task 第十一章：工作
Chapter 12 – The Return of the King第十二章：王的再来
Methodologies: Questioning and responsive participation, Object lesson – Use an old book as an illustration. This book represents the Biblical narrative, and, for the sake of the illustration, this book has 12 chapters. Twelve is an arbitrary number – it could be 10 chapters, 15 chapters or any other number, but for this illustration, let’s assume it has 12 chapters.
Illustrations:
Content:
Chapter 12 – The Return of the King or The Wedding
The King is returning!!! Why? He is returning to get married. Rev 19:7 At the end of the story there is going to be a wedding. Who is He marrying? The church – who is the church – us!!
From Gen to Rev God, through His word, reveals His heart for the nations.
Rev 21:23-26 tells us about the coming into the New Jerusalem. No need for lights (illumination), gates (protection) – what are the kings of nations bringing to this celebration? The glory of the nations will be brought to the throne.
Who is getting married? Part of a Hebrew wedding is a wedding feast. Every wedding has guests who bring what? What are those gifts? The Kings of the earth will be bringing gifts to the wedding.
Remember when Jesus was born – who came – 3 Kings, with 3 unique gifts from their nations. What were the three gifts? This was at his birth – now all the Kings will come to his wedding feast.
Similar to the 3 kings who visited Jesus bearing gifts of their nations – in the end it won’t be only 3 kings. It will be the kings of ALL the nations.
We have said, God has an interest in nations. His interest is not limited to individuals, he is also interested in nations.
What will the unique gift from your nation be? What are some of the gifts, the glory of the nations that we see?
Give examples that you have seen** – Guatemala – fabric colors, Ethiopia – Coffee, Uganda – worship: USA – freedom; Norway – Peace making?
What are the gifts or the glory of your nation? What will you be offering at the wedding feast?
This is the end of the story. It is a powerful story.
Last Updated 7/07

11. We Have a Powerful Story 我们有一个震撼人心的故事
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
We Have a Powerful Story 我们有一个震撼人心的故事
What is the problem?
We do not tell the whole story.
问题在哪里呢？
我们没有述说整个的故事
Methodologies: Dramatization, Object lesson – Take the book and rip out a section of the book representing Chapter 10 and throw the book away. Place Chapter 10 into another book representing the gospel being put into a cultural story. Finally, return Chapter 10 into the original book making the point that we must tell the whole story.
Illustrations:
Identified by ** in the contents notes.
Content:
But we have a problem— we have not been telling the whole story.
We must tell the whole story! It is God’s story. It is a powerful story. It can transform individual lives, lift communities out of poverty and it is able to build nations; nations that are free and not enslaved, compassionate and not cruel and just and not corrupt.
The problem is – we are not telling the whole story.
For the past 100 years, we have only been telling part of the story and we have taken the gospels (Chapter 10) and we have ripped them out of the book. We say that the gospels are the whole story. (rip out part of the book and throw the book away)
The gospels are not the whole story, they are the most important part of the story, but they are not the whole story.
The Bible does not begin with John 3:16 – where does it begin? Gen 1:1
What we’ve done is to take the gospels and we put it into someone’s story.
In America – we take the gospels out of the book and place it into another book – into a materialistic book with a materialistic storyline. “Come to Jesus and he will bless you, he will provide all your needs, he will prosper all that you do.” What is this? It is materialism.
In Africa, they place it into an Animistic storyline. They now understand the gospel in the context of an animistic storyline. The most evangelized continent, still remains broken, impoverished, full of corruption and disease.
In India they place it into a Hindu storyline . . .
We are not telling the whole story.
Illustrations** - Darrow’s example of the village where the church has been for 20 years, but people are living in desperation. This doesn’t evidence the whole good news story.
Give an example of a scene you’ve experienced where you have seen the evidence of not telling the whole story, where souls have been saved and churches have been planted, but transformation has not taken place.
Chapter 10 will get people saved for heaven, but if you want to see people’s lives transformed and communities lifted from poverty and nations that are just and free, we have to tell the whole story. We must retrieve the book and put the gospels back into the whole story.
What we need to do is to return the gospels to the Book – to God’s story and we need to tell the whole story. We need to be people of the Book, of God’s Kingdom Book. It is His book and He wrote it all for His people. (return Chapter 10 to the book)
We have a story to tell to the nations – it is a powerful story. It is the story they long to hear, but we need to tell the whole story.
Group response – what are you hearing? What are the implications of what we are saying? Where do you see this in your country? In your church?
Get the groups to respond with short statements.
Last Updated 7/07

12. Small Group Discussion 小组讨论
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
Small Group Discussion 小组讨论
What are you hearing?
Where do you see this happening in your church, your country and in…?
What are the implications of what we are talking about?
你听到了什么？
你在你的教会、国家和其他地方看到这样的事呢？
我们所讨论的有什么隐含的意义?
Methodologies: Small Group Discussion
Illustrations:
Content:
Have people break into groups of 4-5 to discuss the following questions.
Last Updated 7/07

13. The Nature of the Bible: Breadth and Depth 圣经的本质: 宽度和深度
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
The Nature of the Bible: Breadth and Depth 圣经的本质: 宽度和深度 宽度
创造: 起初
完成:
基督再来 救赎 堕落 永恒
创造以前
Methodologies: Visual Image
Illustrations:
Darrow – working for Food for the Hungry and the work in Bolivia
The staff was confused because of their theology.
Content:
We have been looking at the Transforming Story.
There is breadth of the Biblical Story.
The Big Picture of the Story
The breadth of the story is the flow of History – the chapters – 4 key parts – creation, fall, redemption, consummation (not just the return of Christ – a day to wait for. Consummation refers to God being at work in history and when He returns, all He has been working toward will be completed)
We must teach all of this to our people.)
Our story also has a depth – we can call this the worldview of the Bible. We have to teach the depth of these stories – it sets the framework for truth.
This is where the basic questions in life are answered in the Transforming story:
Who we are?
Where do we come from?
What are we here for?
All cultures have stories that answer these basic questions, but they all answer them very differently than the Biblical understanding. The depth of the story is the weightiness of the story – the metaphysical story.
The Bible tells us what is true, what is good, what is beautiful.
It answers the questions: What is the nature of God? What is the nature of creation? What is the nature of man? Where is history going?
These are parts of the story that we have neglected and are ignorant of. 深度
雄伟的故事*
*意义的故事:
真实的, 良善的, 美丽的
Last Updated 7/07

14. The Worldview Story 世界观的故事
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
The Worldview Story 世界观的故事
Ultimate Reality
最高实在
Man 人
History 历史
Nature
自然界
Methodologies: Visual Image
Illustrations:
Content:
Give some examples of stories other than the biblical story and how they confuse truth with lies
Animists – The way they see the world, everything has a spirit – the world is full of spirits – these spirits must be appeased or they will get you.
Secularists – Believe that there is no God – everything is physical and all problems are physical and have physical answers. This creates a totally different story.
The Bible – a different beginning and therefore a different story.
We have not understood the significance of worldview and how it impacts our society.
Some don’t care because they believe the only thing that matters is saving souls for heaven, but God seems to be sharing His broken heart for the poverty, injustice and brokenness of our world with many and it bothers them that when people get saved, things don’t change.
Animism
泛神论/万物有灵主义
Biblical Theism 圣经
有神主义
Secularism
世俗主义
Last Updated 7/07

15. Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
Man is made in God’s Image - A Living Soul, Heart & Mind 人是照着神的形象造的 是有灵的活人, 有心灵和思想
Methodologies: Visual Image, Question Asking
Illustrations:
Identified by ** in the contents notes.
Content:
What is Man?
How many of you have been taught Darwinism? This is the new story – in this view what is man? nature, an animal – a monkey. Remember the charts of the evolution of man? Blob, water life, monkey, aborigines, blacks, Europeans, blonde
Secularism - What does the materialistic, secularistic West tell us about man? He has a mouth and stomach; he is a consumer of resources, an animal,– a physical reality. Man has no spirit or soul. Life is about consumption. The whole western society is shaped by this way of thinking.
Animism - What does the Asian, African, tribal animistic story believe about who man is? Man is a spirit. Everything is inhabited by spirits and man is just a spirit, a ghost.
What does the Biblical story tell us about who man is? A creation made in the image of God. This will produce a very interesting story – we are made in His image. Let’s read Genesis 1:26-27
Last Updated 7/07

16. We are Made Like God Genesis 1:27 我们被创造的像神 创 1:27
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
We are Made Like God Genesis 1:27 我们被创造的像神 创 1:27
Methodologies: Group interaction questioning and reinforcement – turn to one another and say . . .
Illustrations:
Identified by ** in the contents notes.
Content:
Read Gen 1: What was God’s pattern? Where did He find a pattern? A monkey? No - Himself – He is the pattern with which he formed mankind
What does that mean about who man is? More than just a consumer and more than just a spirit. What does it mean to be made in the image of God? Are we teaching this in the church? If we aren’t, they are learning it in their culture. What are our churches telling people about what it means to be created in the image of God?
Turn to one another and say – you are made in the image of God. This is a profound announcement!
Two different sets of glasses – if man is just an animal, how do you treat him? Like a monkey. Biblical worldview – man is made in the image of God – then how do you treat him? Each person is significant!!
Give examples of people who understand what it means to be made in the image of God.
How would we look at children? As dogs, mouths to be fed?
Illustrations** - Stories where people are and are not seen as image bearers.
In Brazil some will kill the street children because they are problematic, so they just kill a bunch to decrease the number of them. They are treating them like cats and dogs, not people made in the image of God.
Darrow – Brazil children in the garbage dump and the ministry that teaches them – Girls are raped at the age of puberty. They don’t see them as girls who are made in God’s image, with purpose and creativity. We must see them with potential, purpose, gifts, talents to be nurtured and encouraged and developed. Dance in their feet and songs in their hearts.
Brazil church** – never considered doing special things for the children.
Terri Schivo** - She is made in God’s image with great potential. Degradation of the sacredness of life vs. the quality of life.
How will this change the way we relate to one another?
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
神就照着自己的形像造人，乃是照着祂的形像造男造女。
Last Updated 7/07

17. NO ORDINARY CHILDREN! 没有庸俗平凡的孩子！
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
NO ORDINARY CHILDREN! 没有庸俗平凡的孩子！
Every child has 每个孩子都有
a name, 一个名字,
a passion, 一个喜好,
a story, 一个故事,
and a place in history. 和在历史上的一个位置
There are no ordinary children. 没有庸俗平凡的孩子
Dr. Elizabeth Youmans, Chrysalis International
Methodologies: Quote, Storytelling
Illustrations:
Identified by ** in the contents notes.
Content:
Read the quote: Introduce Elizabeth Youmans and her ministry in education of children.**
Secular view - A child’s mind is empty and must be filled up – this is the story that our modern educational system is built on.
Elizabeth reminds us that biblically a child is born in the image of God – they are not born empty. They are born full of potential for:
Reason
Creativity
Beauty
Therefore our education should not try to fill them, but draw out of them the unique potential that already resides there– draw out and build upon all that God has placed in them.
What is your education system like? What is Christian education like? Is it really biblical or just secular with some Bible classes?
There are no ordinary children!! How does this story shape our ministries and work with children?
God is working in your nation – to bring them to Himself.
Each one is made for a purpose
How can we see the potential and draw it out?
How do we see others? – children, poor, handicapped, elderly, other tribes, colors, etc? Can we see that they are more than consumers, spirits, but an image of their creator? Each one has a name, a story, a purpose. That story has very significant consequences.
Last Updated 7/07

18. We Are Co-Creators With God Genesis 1:26 我们与神同为创造者 创 1:26
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
We Are Co-Creators With God Genesis 1:26 我们与神同为创造者 创 1:26
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock over all the earth and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
神说，我们要照着我们的形像， 按着我们的样式造人，使他们管理海里的鱼，空中的鸟，地上的牲畜，和全地,并地上所爬的一切昆虫。
Methodologies: Large Group Bible Exploration
Illustrations:
Identified by ** in the contents notes.
Content:
Notice this does not say – “Let me make man in my image”
If it said that, what great religion of the world would it be? Islam
It doesn’t say that – it says OUR. What does that mean?
There was community before the world began.
God made US in THEIR image – He was making community.
One man can not fulfill the complete picture of what it means to have community.
Not even male and male. Two men can not fulfill all that it means to be “the image of God”.
It took male and female to produce community that reflects the image of God.
We are also co-creators with God
God didn’t just tell man to maintain what God made – he put man in the garden and told him to be creative – create ideas, write songs, paint masterpieces, build things, dance. Why? Because we are made in his image. “God speaks and creates the universe, Man speaks and creates culture.”
Last Updated 7/07

19. Created Male and Female Genesis 1:27 被造的男人和女人 创世记1:27
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
Created Male and Female Genesis 1:27 被造的男人和女人 创世记1:27
Methodologies: Large group Bible Exploration
Illustrations:
Identified by ** in the contents notes.
Content:
Read Genesis 1:27 again replacing male and female with male and male.
Is that what it says?
Didn’t God just make man in his image and woman is just a help mate?
No, that is not what the Bible says – why?
Being made in the image of God – God says let’s make man in OUR image.
This represents the presence of community – making male and female in his image – both
Genesis 1:26 Male and Female – another completely unique aspect of our story – male and female, he created them. Do you see the significance of this statement?
Men and women together are created in his image!!
There is dignity in being female – you are created in his image.
There are differences in males and females, and we are to celebrate these difference because together they reflect the image of God – they are equally valued, but different.
The lie that says that men are superior to women is one of the major causes of poverty in our world today. This lie is furthered in every culture. This lie is spelled POVERTY.
Illustrations**
Korea – Nom jam Yobi.** Men are high and women are low. What is life like for women where this is believed?
India** – A man who sins greatly in this life will come back in the next life as a woman. Women must suffer greatly to become a man in the next life. Wedding night **– drink the water of cleaning her husband’s feet. When there is not enough dowry money, kitchen accidents, at birth, sati.
Rwanda **– Real men beat their wives
Kenya** – (one tribe) we don’t have a word for women so we call her tool.
There are 100 million missing women in the world today – China, India, Africa, America
The lie that women have to become like men (work in the same jobs and wear the same clothes and do the same things) to have dignity is also a lie.
We must bring good news into our communities – God created us in His image – male and female.
If you want to see your nation transformed and poverty eliminated – we have to change the story that is being believed and lived out.
We need to tell the whole story.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
神就照着自己的形象造人, 乃是
照着祂的形象造男造女。
Last Updated 7/07

20. Naming the Animals Genesis 2:19 给动物命名 创 2:19
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
Naming the Animals Genesis 2:19 给动物命名 创 2:19
Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name.
耶和华神用土所造成的野地各样走兽和空中各样飞鸟都带到那人面前，看他叫什么。那人怎样叫各样的活物，那就是它的名字。
Methodologies: Large Group Bible Exploration
Illustrations:
Identified by ** in the contents notes.
Content:
Naming the Animals – Gen w:19
Why does God have Adam name all the animals?
God says He will call them by the name that Adam gives to them.
What kind of God is this?
God even gives us the ability to have children and allows us to name them and He calls them by that name!!!
Last Updated 7/07

21. Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
History is Going Somewhere - Moving Toward the Kingdom of God 历史是有方向的 – 迈向神的国度
Methodologies: Visual Image, Song
Illustrations:
Identified by ** in the contents notes.
Content:
Where is History Going? Three different stories:
Secularism - Time is running out (bolded words are statements that are used for the fill in the blanks on the participant notes)
We don’t believe in the after life. This is all there is – this life. Time is running out.
If time is running out and if we are consumers, what is the purpose of life? Eat, drink, and be merry because tomorrow you die.
Look at all the images we see: TV, advertisement, books, entertainment, pleasure, luxury and toys – what is the message of the purpose of life? Have a party today because this is all it is. We are just consumers. This is a secular story.
Animism – History is something that happens to you - Life is going around in a circle, life is on the wheel.
Nothing ever changes; or another word is fatalism - We are poor and we always will be poor, there is nothing we can do about it. This is your destiny. Whole nations think this way. They believe history is something that happens to you. People are paralyzed in their situation.
Spanish culture – que sera sera – whatever will be will be **
Islam – En shala**
Peruvian flag** - Tree (forest and agriculture potential), llama (ranching potential), silver/gold (mineral potential) – did the person who designed this think Peru is poor? Why do you believe it?
History is something that happens to you!
Biblical Theism - A very different story (The City of God, The New Jerusalem, we are on a journey to this city. Teleos – the purpose, the end. The end goal of the coming of the Kingdom of God)
History is going somewhere. History is something you make!
There is a purpose in life and history – God is moving nations and people toward the coming of Jesus.
History is something you make – it isn’t just something that happens to you!
Do we see this fatalistically? No, reinforce the force of the flow of history and the reason this is significant. There is a play unfolding and we have a significant role to play in the process (consummations) of where history is going.
We are to advance the Kingdom of God
We are nation builders / disciplers
Last Updated 7/07

22. You Make History! Jeremiah 5:1 你可以谱写历史！ 耶5:1
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
You Make History! Jeremiah 5:1 你可以谱写历史！ 耶5:1
Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find one who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.
你们当在耶路撒冷的街上跑来跑去，在宽阔处寻找，看看有一人行公义、求诚实没有？若有，我就赦免这城。
Methodologies: Dramatic Question asking – How many people was God looking for?
Illustrations:
Identified by ** in the contents notes.
Content: What is God looking for?
Read Jeremiah 5:1
God wants to redeem Jerusalem – what is he looking for?
10,000 people? No
1,000 people? No
1 person
Yes, The Bible says God is looking for one person and with one person He can change the destiny of the city.
God doesn’t need 10,000 people to change history. He only needs one person.
God has made you to change history.
Last Updated 7/07

23. God Uses Little People Ecclesiastes 9:14-16 神使用小人物 传道书 9:14-16
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
God Uses Little People Ecclesiastes 9: 神使用小人物 传道书 9:14-16
Methodologies: Large Group Bible Exploration
Illustrations:
Identified by ** in the contents notes.
Content:
Read Eccl 9:14-16
One man – one poor man with wisdom
God will use poor people to change the course of history
What was this man’s name? No one remembers except God.
What if people in your church understood that God could use them to change the destiny of their city?
History is something you make!
There was once a small city with only a few people in it. And a powerful king came against it, surrounded it and built huge siegeworks against it.
就是有一小城，其中的人数稀少，有大君王来攻击，修筑营垒，将城围困。
Last Updated 7/07

24. God Uses Little People Ecclesiastes 9:14-16 神使用小人物 传道书 9:14-16
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
God Uses Little People Ecclesiastes 9: 神使用小人物 传道书 9:14-16
Now there lived in that city a man poor but wise, and he saved the city by his wisdom. But nobody remembered that poor man.
城中有一个贫穷的智慧人，他用智慧救了那城，却没有人记念那穷人。
Methodologies: Large Group Bible Exploration
Illustrations:
Identified by ** in the contents notes.
Content:
One man – one poor man with wisdom
God will use poor people to change the course of history
What was this man’s name? No one remembers except God.
What if people in your church understood that God could use them to change the destiny of their city?
History is something you make!
Last Updated 7/07

25. God Uses Little People Ecclesiastes 9:14-16 神使用小人物 传道书 9:14-16
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
God Uses Little People Ecclesiastes 9: 神使用小人物 传道书 9:14-16
So I said, “Wisdom is better than strength.” But the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are no longer heeded.
我就说，“智慧胜过勇力。” 然而那贫穷人的智慧，被人藐视，他的话也无人听从。
Methodologies: Large Group Bible Exploration
Illustrations:
Identified by ** in the contents notes.
Content:
What does God use to save this city?
One man – one poor man with what? A great army? No, a poor man with wisdom
God will use poor people to change the course of history
What was this man’s name? No one remembers except God.
What if people in your church understood that God could use them to change the destiny of their city?
History is something you make!
Two Stories
Helen** – FH staff in Rwanda that got burned by putting fresh oil in a lamp. Her brother wouldn’t allow the doctor to amputate her arms; he saved her arms – she does data entry for FH now. He changed history for Helen’s life.
William Wilberforce** – Amazing Grace movie How many of you know this man’s name? Lived in England during the time of slavery. Graduated at 21 and was elected to the House of Commons at 24 he became a Christian, at 27 he wrote in his diary he received the call of God – to fight the evil of slavery. Alone in this process. His political party said, don’t rock the boat. 3 nights before Wilberforce died, he got word that parliament passed the laws to abolish slavery. One man!!
How many of you are older than 27? How old do you have to be to make a difference? What are the evils of your nation?
Slavery was a giant evil of his nation – the economic situation depended on slavery.
He was standing against the whole nation.
He fought for the emancipation of slaves for 43 years – one man called a nation to follow.
Three days before his death, he received a note that parliament passed the bill to emancipate slaves.
The Bible says you were made to make history – it may be for one person, your family, a community or maybe it is for your nation.
My friends – You are history makers. What has God made you for? What is your call? What injustice do you want me to stand against? Are you ready to hear his call?
History is not something that happens to you – it is something you make!!
Last Updated 7/07

26. The Universe Is an Open System 宇宙是一个开放的体系
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
The Universe Is an Open System 宇宙是一个开放的体系
Methodologies: Visual Image
Illustrations:
Identified by ** in the contents notes.
Content:
What is the nature of the universe?
Animism– What is important is the spiritual realm.
This world is passing away and it isn’t that important. So we don’t need to take care of it
Hinduism – this world is maya (an illusion)
Secularism– There is no spiritual realm.
This world is all there is. By definition, resources are physical things that are in the ground – the box around the globe. Resources are finite by definition.
Here is the dilemma – if humans are primarily mouths and we have more and more people on the planet and resources are finite, what is the problem – over population. Too many mouths to feed for the resources.
Thomas Malthus – Malthusian Theory - resources if they grow, grow by “addition”. But populations grow by “multiplication”.
Biblical Theism – the Bible says something very different
The bible - how did God create – by speaking
Words are powerful (reinforcing back)
There is only two limitations of resources:
Human imagination
Lack of moral stewardship
Last Updated 7/07

27. Created by His Word Psalm 33:9 借着神的话语所创造的 诗 33:9
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
Created by His Word Psalm 33:9 借着神的话语所创造的 诗 33:9
Methodologies: Large Group Bible Exploration
Illustrations:
Identified by ** in the contents notes.
Content:
Read Psalm 33:9
How did God create? He spoke, He commanded
He created by His spoken word
Read Hebrews 1:3
All things are sustained by powerful His word
For He spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded and it stood firm.
因为祂说有，就有。
命立，就立。
Last Updated 7/07

28. Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
Mind Controls Matter (Not the other way around) Heb. 11:3 心灵控制物质 (不是物质控制心灵) 来 11:3
Methodologies: Large Group Bible Exploration, Storytelling, Question Asking
Illustrations:
Identified by ** in the contents notes.
Content:
Read Hebrews 11:3 “Mind controls matter” –
Here we see a fundamental principle – what is it??? Wait for response.
The principle is that the invisible produces the visible.
Secularism says resources are limited and are in the ground.
Theism says resources come from the mind and are a product of creativity.
Illustrations – True Stories
Israel** – forest in the desert and two perspectives of this land. One people believed that god cursed the land – it is now a desert and there is nothing you can do. The other people believed that God blessed the land – it is a land of “milk and honey”.
Gila Garaway** – Messianic Jew leading Burundian pastors on a tour in Israel and come to Bethlehem and see trees growing in the desert and are dumbfounded by it and ask Gila about it. We have dark fertile soil in our nation, but how can trees grow out of sand. Gila – God has given every people in the world a land and when He returns, he will ask, what have you done with the land I have given you. To the Jews He gave a desert.
What will you say when he asks about your nation? The key is your people and their story? What do the people of your nation believe?
Singapore** – they don’t even have drinking water – water is imported from Malaysia. What was this rich nation built on?
Sand** – Silicone – Computer chip. No value to thousands of dollars –
How did sand become valuable?
What happened so that something that had no value became something with great value – human imagination.
We are made in the image of God.
The greatest source of resources are you – what is in your mind can be created!! Why not? Why not here in this nation? Why not?
Do your people know the whole story? A framework for understanding their lives, they are not poor,
They are made in the image of God
They are not stuck, they are history makers and
God has given them the greatest resource – the resource of their mind which was made in the image of God.
We must tell the whole story.
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
我们因着信，就知道诸世界是借神话造成的。这样，所看见的，并不是从显然之物造出来的。
Last Updated 7/07

29. Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
Application 应用
What part of the story are you not telling?
Breadth – Any of the “chapters” of our Biblical Story?
Depth – Any of the major topics covered?
What part of the transforming story is your culture dying to hear?
这故事的哪部分你没有讲述 ?
宽度 – 我们圣经故事中的任何一章？
深度 – 任何主要的议题?
你的文化背景特别需要听到有关转化故事中的哪个部分？
Methodologies: Application
Illustrations:
Identified by ** in the contents notes.
Content:
Personal Application – Reflect on the following questions, what is one simple step you can take to begin telling aspects of the Transforming Story that you have not been telling?
Reference Take Aways Page at the end of the participant notebook.
Thoughts, God’s words and action plans
Last Updated 7/07

30. The Transforming Story 转化的故事
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
The Transforming Story 转化的故事
Methodologies: Dramatic close
Illustrations:
Identified by ** in the contents notes.
Content:
Story of the Nepalese man who heard this message and drew this picture.**
Is this good news for your country? YES. Then we need to teach the whole story.
We have a story to tell the nations !!!
It is a powerful story
It is God’s story!
It is a powerful story because . . .
it has the ability to transform individual lives,
it also has the ability to lift communities out of poverty and
it also has the ability to build nations –
nations that are free and not enslaved,
nations that are compassionate and not cruel.
nations that are just and not corrupt.
Let’s tell the whole story!!!
Trainer Name
Ministry
培训者的名字 事工
Last Updated 7/07

31. The Transforming Story Review 转化的故事的复习
Transforming Story - VC Lesson Trainer Notes
The Transforming Story Review 转化的故事的复习
In 4 words, what is the breadth of the Biblical story?
We have said that we are not telling the whole story; why?
What does the Biblical story tell us about who man is, where history is going and what is the nature of the universe?
请用四个字概括圣经故事的宽度是什么?
我们说我们没有叙述完整的故事,为什么?
圣经的故事告诉我们人是什么？历史要往哪里去？宇宙的本质是什么？
Methodologies: Peer Learning/Reviewing and Reinforcement
Illustrations:
Identified by ** in the contents notes.
Content:
Review the answers to these content questions for The Transforming Story lesson review before the 2nd lesson is taught.
Allow time to share testimonies from the applications of this lesson’s application.
Last Updated 7/07