Curriculum
Orality Concentration Subjects
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Primary Subjects + Integration
Foundations of Orality
Module 1
Explore God’s design for communicating among people created in His image. How can we communicate with higher impact and scale? We will discover how orality affects every aspect of communication.
- Communication in the image of God.
- A learned framework for expressing the mind and heart.
- From definitions to transformation.
- 15 traits and tendencies that connect with your audience.
- 7 biblical principles and methods with transformative applications.
Competency: Build a biblical theology of orality for bringing the Kingdom of God to a targeted people group.
Narrative / Narratology
Module 2
Learn from The Master Storyteller! He modeled driving everyday stories that went viral. We engage people in Bible story dialogue, leading them to discover God’s message, remember it, and share it with others.
- Creating compelling narrative.
- Bible story dialogue.
- Contextualizing a Kingdom meta-narrative.
- Narrative theologizing and narrative preaching.
Competency: Enable others to create and perform transformative narratives built on biblical truths.
Culture & Arts
Module 3
Arts penetrate the heart like nothing else. They are expressions of who we are. We explore using the arts as integrative communication strategies for increased Kingdom impact.
- Learn to employ artistic expressions of inner speech.
- Value the shape and beauty of cultural expression.
- Giving voice by promoting personal and communal expressions of the Truth.
Competency: Demonstrate appreciative and critical awareness of your own culture and the cultures of others and lear to view Christian teachings and traditions through the lens of the arts.
Instructional Design
Module 4
Transformative learning takes intentionality. The Scriptures give numerous examples of what this is and how it can be done. We learn to apply Jesus’ teaching methods. We experience the process of building learner-centered instruction with planned outcomes and results.
- Orality as expression of inner speech (expanded).
- Facilitating transformative and informative learning.
- Practicing Jesus’ instructional communications model (7 descriptive disciplines of orality).
Competency: Apply transformative holistic communication methods using narrative and the arts for a audience in your ministry.
Integrative Project
Draw upon all 4 primary modules to design, develop, implement, evaluate, and publish a transformative Kingdom initiative in a real-time project that addresses the needs of our specific target audience.
- Foundations of Orality
- Narrative / Narratology
- Culture & Arts
- Instructional Design
Biblical & Practical Theology
Orality in the Old Testament
Module 5
The Old Testament was shaped by oral cultures that preserved and transmitted God’s revelation through storytelling, poetry, and prophetic speech. This module explores how biblical texts reflect oral traditions and how understanding these dynamics enhances biblical literacy and interpretation.
- Oral Foundations of the Old Testament.
- Spiral Thinking in the Torah.
- Orality in Biblical Genres.
- Jewish Hermeneutics & Revelation.
Orality in the New Testament & Early Church
Module 6
The message of Jesus and the early church spread through oral proclamation, public reading, and storytelling. This module examines how oral traditions shaped the transmission, interpretation, and preservation of the New Testament, providing deeper insight into its message and impact.
- Oral Transmission & Revelation.
- Biblical Performance & Public Reading.
- Orality in the Gospels & Letters.
- Apocalyptic Tradition & Church Fathers.
Character Theology & Integrated Hermeneutics
Module 7
Understanding Scripture requires more than just analyzing texts—it involves engaging with the narratives, emotions, and theological constructs that shape our perception of God. This module explores how different interpretive frameworks, from historical to artistic and emotive approaches, contribute to a holistic understanding of theology and hermeneutics.
- Theology as Cultural Constructs.
- Integrated Hermeneutics.
- Divine Drama & Character Theology.
- Artistic & Emotive Hermeneutics.
Media Competencies
Module 8
Effective communication in today’s world requires mastery of diverse media platforms, research methodologies, and digital tools. This module equips learners with the skills to navigate, analyze, and create content across various media channels while integrating ethical and theological reflections into their vocational contexts.
- Understanding Media Channels.
- Essential Media Research.
- New & Digital Media.
- Media Production & Presentation.
Participatory Communication
Module 9
True transformation occurs when communication is participatory, engaging communities in dialogue and action. This module explores participatory methods, community-driven change, and research approaches that empower individuals and groups to take ownership of their learning and development.
- Participatory Methods.
- Community Transformation.
- Research & Learning Models.
- Cognitive & Social Influences.
Frontier Mission Strategies
Module 10
Engaging in mission work among unreached or resistant communities requires a deep understanding of cultural and religious contexts. This module explores orality-based mission strategies, storytelling methods, and approaches for various religious and secular worldviews to develop effective and contextually appropriate outreach.
- Church Planting Movements (CPM) & Disciple-Making Movements (DMM).
- Storytelling as a Missional Tool.
- Contextual Strategies for Different Worldviews.
- Cultural Exegesis & Application.
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