📜 [EN] Brief summary of Lecture 11

Preaching Bible Stories: Blind Bartimaeus, Narrative Method, and Using Non-Narrative Texts

This session models how to preach a biblical story when the congregation cannot talk back in real time. We walk through the story of Blind Bartimaeus, draw out character choices and “heart” motives, and then generalize a method for preaching narrative texts. Finally, we address how to handle non-narrative passages (epistles, prophets, wisdom) without abandoning the strengths of story-centric discipleship.

The Story: Blind Bartimaeus (from Mark)

Jesus is leaving Jericho with His disciples and a large crowd. A blind beggar, Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus), sits by the road. Hearing that Jesus of Nazareth is passing by, he cries out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” The crowd rebukes him to be quiet, but he cries out all the more. Jesus stops and calls him. Bartimaeus throws off his cloak, comes to Jesus, and, when asked “What do you want me to do for you?”, answers, “Lord, I want to see.” Jesus says, “Go; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he receives sight and follows Jesus on the road.

Reading the Story Through Choices (and Hearts)

• Names and titles: The crowd speaks of “Jesus of Nazareth,” but Bartimaeus chooses “Jesus, Son of David.” That title signals royal hope and the One who makes things right. The blind man “sees” what the seeing crowd does not.
• Risk under pressure: Rebuked to be silent, Bartimaeus faces a choice: stay quiet to avoid humiliation/abuse, or cry out louder. Desperation moves him to persistence.
• Jesus’ response: Jesus stops when He hears the cry, calls the man, and invites him to name his need (“What do you want me to do for you?”). The question dignifies the sufferer and clarifies faith.
• Faith and following: The healing links to faith expressed in rightly naming Jesus and boldly asking. Sight leads to discipleship: he follows Jesus on the road.

Preaching a Narrative When the Room Can’t Answer Back

Use the same discovery logic you’d use in an interactive group, but phrase it as guided reflection:

• Walk the beats: Set, characters, movements, turning points, resolution.
• Surface choices: What was said? What was done? What choices were made? What other choices were possible? What were the results?
• Name the heart: From words/actions/choices, what do we learn about motives, fears, hopes?
• Invite identification: Where are we like Bartimaeus (desperate, persistent)? Where are we like the crowd (near Jesus yet misnaming Him)?
• Land in prayerful response: Encourage listeners to cry out, to name their need before Jesus, and to follow Him in the light He gives.

Application Trajectory (Bartimaeus as Template)

1. Does this happen today? People face “unsolvable” situations unless Jesus intervenes.
2. Examples now: finances, sickness, broken relationships, fear, job loss, grief.
3. Personalize gently: Where am I tempted to go silent because of the “crowd’s” rebuke?
4. Practice next time: Cry out specifically to Jesus the Son of David; name the need; persist; respond to His call; follow.

Keeping the Focus When Listeners Chase Other Topics

• Honor the question, hold the text: “Great question; today we’re staying with this story. Let’s return to your topic with a fitting passage next time.”
• Depth over breadth: Avoid stitching many scattered verses; most seekers won’t retain the references. One well-told, well-applied story is memorable and portable.
• Link only when it serves clarity: Occasionally tie parallel narratives (e.g., a psalm that echoes the scene) after the primary story is clear.

Why Lead with Narrative?

• Scripture’s own pedagogy: A major share of the Bible communicates through narrative (with poetry and prophecy often delivered orally). Genesis opens the canon as story; later letters assume the narrative.
• Doctrine through story: Even epistles explain doctrine by narrating God’s works (e.g., faith through Abraham; Exodus imagery in the letters). Story provides the concrete frame where propositions make sense.
• Formation of imagination: Stories train desires and identity, not just abstract beliefs.

How to Handle Non-Narrative Passages

• Start with the story behind the letter: Situate an epistle in Acts and in its city’s story (e.g., Ephesus) to illuminate the letter’s theology.
• Read aloud and image: Even propositions can be voiced and embodied; use tone, pace, and metaphor to carry meaning.
• Balance the diet: Aim for a teaching rhythm that reflects Scripture’s own mixture—major narrative exposure with focused times in epistles and wisdom.

Practical Tactics for Story Preaching

• Tell → retell (modeled) → walk back through: In a sermon, you may compress retell into guided recap questions the congregation answers silently.
• Use embodiment wisely: Gesture and pacing can help, but don’t overshadow the text. The goal is Scripture seen and heard, not the storyteller’s performance.
• End with encounter: Pray from within the story’s logic (e.g., “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy; open our eyes that we may see”).

Summary

• Blind Bartimaeus models persistent, rightly-directed faith that names Jesus truly and names the need plainly.
• Preach narratives by tracing beats, highlighting choices and motives, and inviting concrete, prayerful response.
• Guard focus: honor off-topic questions but keep the group with the day’s passage; add cross-references only when they clearly serve the story.
• Lead with narrative in discipleship, then set epistles within the story God has told; this mirrors Scripture’s own pedagogy and forms hearts as well as minds.