The
Emmaus
Project


Week
4
–
Narrative
Tools,
Part
1



I. Biblical
Narrative




 What
are
the
different
literary
genres
in
the
Bible?

‐ Narrative

‐ Law

‐ Poetry

‐ Prophecy

‐ Epistle

‐ Apocalyptic


 


 What
is
the
most
prevalent
type
of
writing
in
the
Bible?




 Over
40%
of
the
OT
is
______________…Over
60%
of
the
NT
is
_________________.




 OT
–
Genesis,
Exodus,
Joshua,
Judges,
1
/
2
Samuel,
1
/
2
Kings,
etc.


 NT
–
Matthew,
Mark,
Luke‐Acts,
John.



II. Putting
the
Picture
Together








“A
whole
is
that
which
has
beginning,
middle,
and
end.”
 

‐ Aristotle

(philosopher)



“A
story
should
have
a
beginning
a
middle
and
an
end
but
not
necessarily
in
the
order”

‐ Jean
–Luc
Godard

(French
film
maker)



“A
story
has
three
parts:
a
beginning,
a
middle,
and
an
end.
And
although
this
is

the
way
all
stories
unfold,
I
still
can't
believe
that
ours
didn't
go
on
forever."

‐ Nicholas
Sparks

(author
of
The
Notebook)




http://theemmausproject.blogspot.com
 1

 III. Tool
#1
–
The
Beginning
and
the
End




 Example
1
–
Luke‐Acts



Luke
3:5‐205In
the
time
of
Herod
king
of
Judea
there
was
a
priest
named

Zechariah,
who
belonged
to
the
priestly
division
of
Abijah;
his
wife

Elizabeth
was
also
a
descendant
of
Aaron.
6Both
of
them
were
upright
in

the
sight
of
God,
observing
all
the
Lord's
commandments
and
regulations

blamelessly.
7But
they
had
no
children,
because
Elizabeth
was
barren;
and

they
were
both
well
along
in
years.
8Once
when
Zechariah's
division
was
on

duty
and
he
was
serving
as
priest
before
God,
9he
was
chosen
by
lot,

according
to
the
custom
of
the
priesthood,
to
go
into
the
temple
of
the
Lord

and
burn
incense.
10And
when
the
time
for
the
burning
of
incense
came,
all

the
assembled
worshipers
were
praying
outside.
11Then
an
angel
of
the
Lord

appeared
to
him,
standing
at
the
right
side
of
the
altar
of
incense.
12When

Zechariah
saw
him,
he
was
startled
and
was
gripped
with
fear.
13But
the

angel
said
to
him:
"Do
not
be
afraid,
Zechariah;
your
prayer
has
been
heard.

Your
wife
Elizabeth
will
bear
you
a
son,
and
you
are
to
give
him
the
name

John.
14He
will
be
a
joy
and
delight
to
you,
and
many
will
rejoice
because
of

his
birth,
15for
he
will
be
great
in
the
sight
of
the
Lord.
He
is
never
to
take

wine
or
other
fermented
drink,
and
he
will
be
filled
with
the
Holy
Spirit
even

from
birth.
16Many
of
the
people
of
Israel
will
he
bring
back
to
the
Lord

their
God.
17And
he
will
go
on
before
the
Lord,
in
the
spirit
and
power
of

Elijah,
to
turn
the
hearts
of
the
fathers
to
their
children
and
the
disobedient

to
the
wisdom
of
the
righteous—to
make
ready
a
people
prepared
for
the

Lord."18Zechariah
asked
the
angel,
"How
can
I
be
sure
of
this?
I
am
an
old

man
and
my
wife
is
well
along
in
years."
19The
angel
answered,
"I
am

Gabriel.
I
stand
in
the
presence
of
God,
and
I
have
been
sent
to
speak
to
you

and
to
tell
you
this
good
news.
20And
now
you
will
be
silent
and
not
able
to

speak
until
the
day
this
happens,
because
you
did
not
believe
my
words,

which
will
come
true
at
their
proper
time.”



26
In
the
sixth
month
the
angel
Gabriel
was
sent
from
God
to
a
city
of
Galilee

named
Nazareth,
27
to
a
virgin
betrothed
to
a
man
whose
name
was
Joseph,

of
the
house
of
David.
And
the
virgin's
name
was
Mary.
28
And
he
came
to

her
and
said,
“Greetings,
O
favored
one,
the
Lord
is
with
you!”
29
But
she
was

greatly
troubled
at
the
saying,
and
tried
to
discern
what
sort
of
greeting
this

might
be.
30
And
the
angel
said
to
her,
“Do
not
be
afraid,
Mary,
for
you
have

found
favor
with
God.
31
And
behold,
you
will
conceive
in
your
womb
and

bear
a
son,
and
you
shall
call
his
name
Jesus.
32
He
will
be
great
and
will
be

called
the
Son
of
the
Most
High.
And
the
Lord
God
will
give
to
him
the
throne

of
his
father
David,
33
and
he
will
reign
over
the
house
of
Jacob
forever,
and

of
his
kingdom
there
will
be
no
end.”34
And
Mary
said
to
the
angel,
“How
will

this
be,
since
I
am
a
virgin?”
35
And
the
angel
answered
her,
“The
Holy

Spirit
will
come
upon
you,
and
the
power
of
the
Most
High
will
overshadow


http://theemmausproject.blogspot.com
 2

you;
therefore
the
child
to
be
born
will
be
called
holy—the
Son
of
God.

36
And
behold,
your
relative
Elizabeth
in
her
old
age
has
also
conceived
a

son,
and
this
is
the
sixth
month
with
her
who
was
called
barren.
37
For

nothing
will
be
impossible
with
God.”
38
And
Mary
said,
“Behold,
I
am
the

servant
of
the
Lord;
let
it
be
to
me
according
to
your
word.”
And
the
angel

departed
from
her.



39
In
those
days
Mary
arose
and
went
with
haste
into
the
hill
country,
to
a

town
in
Judah,
40
and
she
entered
the
house
of
Zechariah
and
greeted

Elizabeth.
41
And
when
Elizabeth
heard
the
greeting
of
Mary,
the
baby

leaped
in
her
womb.
And
Elizabeth
was
filled
with
the
Holy
Spirit,
42
and

she
exclaimed
with
a
loud
cry,
“Blessed
are
you
among
women,
and
blessed
is

the
fruit
of
your
womb!
43
And
why
is
this
granted
to
me
that
the
mother
of

my
Lord
should
come
to
me?
44
For
behold,
when
the
sound
of
your
greeting

came
to
my
ears,
the
baby
in
my
womb
leaped
for
joy.
45
And
blessed
is
she

who
believed
that
there
would
be
a
fulfillment
of
what
was
spoken
to
her

from
the
Lord.



67
And
his
father
Zechariah
was
filled
with
the
Holy
Spirit
and
prophesied,

saying,



Acts
28:17‐31

17Three
days
later
he
called
together
the
leaders
of
the
Jews.
When
they

had
assembled,
Paul
said
to
them:
"My
brothers,
although
I
have
done

nothing
against
our
people
or
against
the
customs
of
our
ancestors,
I
was

arrested
in
Jerusalem
and
handed
over
to
the
Romans.
18They
examined

me
and
wanted
to
release
me,
because
I
was
not
guilty
of
any
crime

deserving
death.
19But
when
the
Jews
objected,
I
was
compelled
to
appeal

to
Caesar—not
that
I
had
any
charge
to
bring
against
my
own
people.
20For

this
reason
I
have
asked
to
see
you
and
talk
with
you.
It
is
because
of
the

hope
of
Israel
that
I
am
bound
with
this
chain."
21They
replied,
"We
have
not

received
any
letters
from
Judea
concerning
you,
and
none
of
the
brothers

who
have
come
from
there
has
reported
or
said
anything
bad
about
you.

22But
we
want
to
hear
what
your
views
are,
for
we
know
that
people

everywhere
are
talking
against
this
sect."
23They
arranged
to
meet
Paul
on
a

certain
day,
and
came
in
even
larger
numbers
to
the
place
where
he
was

staying.
From
morning
till
evening
he
explained
and
declared
to
them
the

kingdom
of
God
and
tried
to
convince
them
about
Jesus
from
the
Law
of

Moses
and
from
the
Prophets.
24Some
were
convinced
by
what
he
said,

but
others
would
not
believe.
25They
disagreed
among
themselves
and

began
to
leave
after
Paul
had
made
this
final
statement:
"The
Holy
Spirit

spoke
the
truth
to
your
forefathers
when
he
said
through
Isaiah
the
prophet:

26"
'Go
to
this
people
and
say,
"You
will
be
ever
hearing
but
never

understanding;
you
will
be
ever
seeing
but
never
perceiving."

27For
this

people's
heart
has
become
calloused;
they
hardly
hear
with
their
ears,
and

they
have
closed
their
eyes
Otherwise
they
might
see
with
their
eyes,
hear


http://theemmausproject.blogspot.com
 3

 with
their
ears,
understand
with
their
hearts
and
turn,
and
I
would
heal

them.'
28"Therefore
I
want
you
to
know
that
God's
salvation
has
been

sent
to
the
Gentiles,
and
they
will
listen!"
30For
two
whole
years
Paul

stayed
there
in
his
own
rented
house
and
welcomed
all
who
came
to
see
him.

31Boldly
and
without
hindrance
he
preached
the
kingdom
of
God
and
taught

about
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ.


 

IV. Tool
#2
–
Connect
the
Dots



Luke
13:22

22
Then
Jesus
went
through
the
towns
and
villages,
teaching
as
he
made
his
way
to

Jerusalem.
23
Someone
asked
him,
“Lord,
are
only
a
few
people
going
to
be

saved?”
He
said
to
them,
24
“Make
every
effort
to
enter
through
the
narrow
door,

because
many,
I
tell
you,
will
try
to
enter
and
will
not
be
able
to.
25
Once
the
owner

of
the
house
gets
up
and
closes
the
door,
you
will
stand
outside
knocking
and

pleading,
‘Sir,
open
the
door
for
us.’
“But
he
will
answer,
‘I
don’t
know
you
or
where

you
come
from.’
26
“Then
you
will
say,
‘We
ate
and
drank
with
you,
and
you
taught

in
our
streets.’

27
“But
he
will
reply,
‘I
don’t
know
you
or
where
you
come
from.

Away
from
me,
all
you
evildoers!’
28
“There
will
be
weeping
there,
and
gnashing
of

teeth,
when
you
see
Abraham,
Isaac
and
Jacob
and
all
the
prophets
in
the
kingdom

of
God,
but
you
yourselves
thrown
out.
29
People
will
come
from
east
and
west
and

north
and
south,
and
will
take
their
places
at
the
feast
in
the
kingdom
of
God.

30Indeed
there
are
those
who
are
last
who
will
be
first,
and
first
who
will
be
last.”

31
At
that
time
some
Pharisees
came
to
Jesus
and
said
to
him,
“Leave
this

place
and
go
somewhere
else.
Herod
wants
to
kill
you.”
32
He
replied,
“Go
tell
that

fox,
‘I
will
keep
on
driving
out
demons
and
healing
people
today
and
tomorrow,
and

on
the
third
day
I
will
reach
my
goal.’
33
In
any
case,
I
must
press
on
today
and

tomorrow
and
the
next
day—for
surely
no
prophet
can
die
outside
Jerusalem.
34

“Jerusalem,
Jerusalem,
you
who
kill
the
prophets
and
stone
those
sent
to
you,
how

often
I
have
longed
to
gather
your
children
together,
as
a
hen
gathers
her
chicks

under
her
wings,
and
you
were
not
willing.
35
Look,
your
house
is
left
to
you

desolate.
I
tell
you,
you
will
not
see
me
again
until
you
say,
‘Blessed
is
he
who
comes

in
the
name
of
the
Lord.’”



Luke
14:35

“Whoever
has
ears
to
hear,
let
them
hear.”



Luke
15:1‐2


 1
Now
the
tax
collectors
and
sinners
were
all
gathering
around
**to
hear


 Jesus.
2
But
the
Pharisees
and
the
teachers
of
the
law
muttered,
“This
man


 welcomes
sinners
and
eats
with
them.”3
Then
Jesus
told
them
this
parable:



• lost
sheep

• lost
coin

• lost
brothers


http://theemmausproject.blogspot.com
 4

 Luke
15:25‐28

25
“Meanwhile,
the
older
son
was
in
the
field.
When
he
came
near
the
house,

**he
heard
music
and
dancing.
26
So
he
called
one
of
the
servants
and
asked

him
what
was
going
on.
27
‘Your
brother
has
come,’
he
replied,
‘and
your

father
has
killed
the
fattened
calf
because
he
has
him
back
safe
and
sound.’

28
“The
older
brother
became
angry
and
refused
to
go
in


Luke
18:9‐14

9To
some
who
were
confident
of
their
own
righteousness
and
looked
down

on
everybody
else,
Jesus
told
this
parable:
10"Two
men
went
up
to
the

temple
to
pray,
one
a
Pharisee
and
the
other
a
tax
collector.
11The
Pharisee

stood
up
and
prayed
about
himself:
'God,
I
thank
you
that
I
am
not
like
other

men—robbers,
evildoers,
adulterers—or
even
like
this
tax
collector.
12I
fast

twice
a
week
and
give
a
tenth
of
all
I
get.'13"But
the
tax
collector
stood
at
a

distance.
He
would
not
even
look
up
to
heaven,
but
beat
his
breast
and
said,

'God,
have
mercy
on
me,
a
sinner.'
14"I
tell
you
that
this
man,
rather
than

the
other,
went
home
justified
before
God.
For
everyone
who
exalts

himself
will
be
humbled,
and
he
who
humbles
himself
will
be
exalted."



Luke
19:9
(Story
of
Zacchaeus‐
tax
collector)


9
Jesus
said
to
him,
“Today
salvation
has
come
to
this
house,
because
this

man,
too,
is
a
son
of
Abraham.
10
For
the
Son
of
Man
came
to
seek
and
to

save
the
lost.”



V. Group
Activity




 Look
at
the
beginning
and
end
of
the
book
of
Mark.
See
if
you
can
find
a


 theme
with
the
framing
of
the
book…then
look
to
see
if
there
is
something
in


 the
middle
that
is
connected
to
the
frame.








 
 
 




http://theemmausproject.blogspot.com
 5

 VI. Conclusion



When
covering
a
book
of
the
Bible,
macro
framing
(beginning,
end,
connect

the
dots)
is
one
of
the
most
important
things
you
can
do
as
a
Small
Group

Leader
and
Sunday
School
Teacher.
It
is
easier
for
an
audience
to
understand

the
details
of
a
passage
once
they
have
grasped
the
big
picture.









Giving
people
the
big
picture
also
allows
them
to
see
the
unified
message/theme.




“A
fool
will
take
something
simple
and
make
it
complex…a
genius
will
take

something
complex
and
make
it
simple.”
‐
proverb



Next
week
we
carry
on
our
journey
to
become
better
“art
experts”.
We
will

continue
to
look
at
narrative
tools
and
apply
them
to
narrative
texts.





 






Opportunities
for
Growth:



‐ Read
article,
Macro
Framing

‐ Read
Article,
Connecting
the
Dots
(Preaching
NT
Narrative)




http://theemmausproject.blogspot.com
 6