Jesus the Hermeneutical Key: Creation, Communication, and Ministry

In this session we deepen a theology of communication by starting where Christian theology itself must start: with Jesus. Rather than beginning with abstract proofs about God and only later arriving at the Trinity, we read all theology in the light of Christ. This shift reframes how we preach and teach: our communication is not a side activity but participation in God’s own communicative life. We will connect Genesis 1 and John 1, explore the relationship between creation and communication, outline four modes of communication, see how Jesus models each, and finish with a case study from Luke 10 to glean practical communication lessons for ministry.

Begin with Jesus: The Hermeneutical Key

Luke 24 challenges typical theological sequences by placing Jesus at the centre of interpretation. He is the key who unlocks our understanding of Scripture. We do not merely read forward to Jesus; we also read the whole Bible in the light of Him. When we ask, “How will I preach and teach in the ministry to which God has called me?”, we begin with Jesus, the living Word, who reveals how God communicates and how we are to communicate.

Creation and Communication in Genesis 1

Genesis opens with God creating by speaking. The Spirit is actively moving, and God says, “Let there be light,” and there is light. The first portrait of God is Creator-Communicator: His speech brings reality into being. If Scripture were a “book of exceptions” with no relevance for our practice, it would be of little help. But Genesis gives us a pattern: divine communication creates.

Reading Genesis 1 through John 1

John 1 clarifies Genesis 1: “In the beginning was the Word… and the Word was God.” In light of Jesus, we see that the Word was present and active in creation—creating by communicating. Thus, when we communicate in ministry, we reflect God’s image: our preaching and teaching are creative communicative acts that can either move toward light and life or toward confusion and darkness. Communication and creation are intertwined: when God communicates, He creates; when God creates, He communicates. Made in His image, our communication likewise “creates” atmospheres, understandings, and responses.

Four Modes of Communication

Within a communication framework, we can distinguish four basic modes. Ministry typically requires all four, and Jesus models each:

  • Public communication — addressing large groups (e.g., the Sermon on the Mount; synagogue readings where Jesus declares Scripture fulfilled).
  • Small-group communication — engaging a few (e.g., explaining parables to the disciples in the house; the healing of Jairus’s daughter with three disciples and the family; the Transfiguration witnessed by a small inner circle).
  • Personal (one-to-one) communication — focused conversations (e.g., with Nicodemus; the Samaritan woman; Mary and Martha; the rich young man; the man born blind).
  • Internal communication — the inner dialogue of the self, and in God’s own life, intra-Trinitarian communication (e.g., the Father speaking over the Son at Jesus’ baptism; the Son addressing the Father in John 17; Jesus’ anguished prayer in Gethsemane; Jesus’ promise that the Holy Spirit will teach and remind the disciples).

Attention to all four levels matters. Leaders often emphasize public preaching but neglect small-group dynamics, personal conversations, or the formative role of internal dialogue. Christlikeness in communication touches every level.

Trinitarian Patterns of Communication

Scripture gives glimpses of God’s own communicative life: the Father addressing the Son (“You are my beloved Son…”), the Son addressing the Father (John 17), and the Spirit teaching and declaring concerning the Son (John 14). There are also hints of divine deliberation (e.g., God’s musing before revealing plans to Abraham). These moments invite reverent humility before the mystery of the one God in three Persons and provide the deepest grounding for our communicative practice: truthful, relational, purposeful, and holy.

Implications: Preaching and Teaching as Creative Acts

Every time we stand to preach or teach, we do more than transmit data—we participate in God’s communicative creativity. Our words can shape an atmosphere in which people hear God’s voice. This raises the stakes for preparation, prayer, and attentiveness: our communication should reflect the goodness, clarity, and life-giving power of God’s speech.

Case Study: Jesus and the Lawyer (Luke 10)

To learn from Jesus’ method, consider His interaction with the lawyer in Luke 10. This is a hard, even adversarial conversation (“to test” Jesus) about the most important question imaginable—eternal life. Note the cultural background needed to follow the subsequent parable: mutual hostility between Jews and Samaritans; priestly/Levitical purity rules that could restrict contact with the wounded.

Summary of the Encounter
  • The lawyer asks: “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
  • Jesus responds with questions, directing him to Scripture: “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”
  • The lawyer cites the Shema and love of neighbour. Jesus affirms: “Do this and you will live.”
  • Seeking self-justification, the lawyer presses: “And who is my neighbour?”
  • Jesus tells the Good Samaritan parable: priest and Levite pass by; a Samaritan sees, is moved with compassion, tends wounds with oil and wine, transports the victim, pays for care, and pledges further cost.
  • Jesus reframes the question: “Which of these proved to be a neighbour?” The answer: “The one who had mercy.”
  • Jesus concludes with an imperative: “Go, and do likewise.”
Communication Lessons from Jesus’ Method
  • Begin with Scripture. Jesus roots the conversation in the Law and invites personal engagement: “How do you read it?”
  • Ask probing questions. Questions surface motives and create space for self-discovery under God’s Word.
  • Affirm what is true. Jesus commends the correct summary before pressing deeper.
  • Expose the heart. The push for “Who is my neighbour?” reveals a desire to limit obedience; Jesus addresses the heart, not just the mind.
  • Tell a transformative story. The parable reframes reality and invites imitation, not mere agreement.
  • Redefine the frame. The issue is not “Who qualifies as my neighbour?” but “How can I be a neighbour?”
  • Call to action. Clear application—“Go and do likewise”—moves listeners from comprehension to obedience.

Practicing Christlike Communication Across the Four Modes

  • Public: Preach with clarity, Scripture-saturation, and doxological aim. Create an atmosphere where God’s voice can be heard.
  • Small group: Explain, question, and personalize truth; invite dialogue and deeper processing.
  • Personal: Engage people’s stories; ask discerning questions; speak grace and truth tailored to the individual.
  • Internal: Cultivate a God-honouring inner life—prayerful self-talk, submission to the Father’s will, attentiveness to the Spirit’s teaching.

Key Takeaways

  • Jesus is the interpretive key to Scripture and the pattern for our communication.
  • Creation and communication are linked: God creates by speaking; in His image, our words “create” understanding, trust, and response.
  • Faithful ministry engages all four communication modes, as modelled by Jesus.
  • Hard, high-stakes conversations are opportunities to embody Christ’s method: Scripture-first, question-driven, story-shaped, and obedience-oriented.

Summary

Starting with Jesus reshapes our theology of communication. Genesis 1 and John 1 reveal God as Creator-Communicator whose speech brings life. Jesus embodies and models communication in public, small-group, personal, and internal modes. His conversation with the lawyer shows how questions, Scripture, story, and a call to action work together to form disciples. As we preach and teach, we participate in God’s creative communication—so let our words be true, compassionate, and aimed at “go and do likewise.”

Last modified: Wednesday, 15 October 2025, 6:14 PM