ODJ: master broadcaster
April 9, 2011
In fact, in His public ministry He never taught without using parables; but afterward, when He was alone with His disciples, He explained everything to them (v.34).
READ: Mark 4:21-34
Jesus was a strategic broadcaster. Whenever crowds gathered around the Savior, it wasn’t long before He sat down to teach them about His kingdom. But how did Jesus teach the masses? He told stories. A farmer sowed seed in a field (Mark 4:1-8); a seed sprouted without anyone knowing how (vv.26-29); a mustard seed grew into a tree that provided shade (vv.30-32). These stories were often left hanging without a punch line or explanation. All Jesus said to the crowds was, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand” (vv.9,23). Jesus had a different approach with His disciples. He explained the meaning of the parables (see vv.10-20). Mark tells us this was Jesus’ communication strategy: He broadcast faith-eliciting stories to the crowd, but explained their meaning only to those who wanted the answer (vv.33-34). Those with “ears to hear” left behind the unbelieving crowd to become Jesus’ disciples.
For the past 20 years, an interesting experiment has been taking place in Australia. Select Christian radio stations have been using Jesus’ approach. These stations have blended Christian music with mainstream music. Instead of playing wall-to-wall preaching programs, relatable announcers befriend the listener and elicit spiritual interest with testimony-type interviews and brief “God spots.” The gospel is offered to these audiences “as much as they [can] understand” (v.33). Those who want to know more receive personal attention.
This broadcasting format, once considered to be controversial, is now accepted and successful. Non-Christians comprise more than 60 percent of some station’s audiences, and many people have experienced transformed lives.
But this way of reaching people isn’t original—the stations have simply been following the Master Broadcaster! —Sheridan Voysey
How has Jesus caught your heart and imagination with His parables? How can you use Jesus’ technique of curiosity-piquing stories to share your faith?
Tweet This
Share on Facebook
Digg This
Save to delicious
Stumble it-
RSS Feed
Related
ODJ: Sustained
May 3, 2012 Trust Him, and He will help you (v.5). READ: Psalm 37:1-7 Several years ago, I had the privilege of interviewing Tony Dungy’s wife, Lauren, for a sports magazine. At the time, Tony was the head coach of an American football team and—based on his faith, integrity, and contributions on and off the [...]
ODJ: character that counts
October 19, 2010 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God (v.11). READ: Philippians 1:9-11 Rod Handley, director of the ministry Character That Counts, has devoted his life’s work to helping people grow [...]
ODJ: God’s perplexing answers
December 5, 2010 I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it (v.5). READ: Habakkuk 1:5-2:1 My best friend’s mother just passed away. In an attempt to cheer her up, I brought her to a scenic spot in Singapore where we could watch the sunset. But [...]
ODJ: behaving badly
July 23, 2010 The trouble is with me, for I am all too human (v.14). READ: Romans 7:14-25 Evelyn Waugh is the author of such literary classics as A Handful of Dust and Brideshead Revisited. He possessed a scathing wit, and numerous other personal flaws we won’t enumerate here. After flirting with agnosticism, [...]
Christian Courses
Day Of Discovery
Discover The Word
Discovery Series
Help For My Life
My Utmost For His Highest
Our Daily Bread
Our Daily Journey
RBC Ministries
WarungSateKaMu
Manasociety
雅米