what they need v. what i think they need

we are working on our 7/8 teaching stuff for the fall. my associate ricky and i are shooting video on a variety of things to serve as the foundation for discussion on sunday mornings. i've got a legal pad full of ideas that are what i think that the kids need to know regarding how to live lives of faith in the world we inhabit. as i look through, i'm starting to wonder what they need to hear. how close am i to teaching at their interest and need, and delivering the truth to them in a way that will make a difference? or am i operating in a completely different atmosphere, presuming to know what they need and then attempting to spew it at them in hopes that some of it will stick?

reading lately on communication and how as 'preachers' we ought to have our audience in mind -- teach what will be meaningful and connect with them at their moment and life, rather than decide what we really want to teach and then throw it at them. it's a delicate, beautiful dance, really; trying to discern what God is speaking to our hearts and what He's whispering to us to say, and then figuring out where that intersects with johnny or sally in 7th grade (or college, or in their 40's), what their status in life is, what they are wondering about, and how God and His truth can impact that in a way that will have them walking around thinking about it on tuesday or friday.

Jesus did this really well. (He did everything really well...) He was able to confront folks with the truth that would change their lives, and do it in a way that hit them where they were at, in the moment. like the woman caught in adultery -- when everyone was ready to throw down, Jesus spoke to her need. she needed to understand forgiveness, to feel the love that she was looking for in her extra-marital relationships. but He didn't leave it at the love -- He brought the truth to the forefront with the closing line...extending forgiveness and commanding that her life look different because of it.

so now it's our job to do the same...

read: john 8:1-11