CCBT Practicum – Unreached to Established

Facilitator Guide

Duration: 120 minutes

Focus of Session: This session emphasizes the ultimate goal or outcome of Bible translation. Instead of creating a product (a finished Bible) for its own sake, this activity is designed to see Bible translation as both the means to an end (a fully established, mature body of believers) and a practical way to achieve that end.

Method: Socratic method using open discussion and breakout groups.

Introduction

Use this time to set the tone for this session by asking questions and prompting student activity. Select an icebreaker activity to encourage the group to interact with one another and get comfortable with sharing ideas.

Thought Exercise

Welcome everyone to your session. Ask participants to describe what it is like to set up an orchard, a vineyard, or some other fruit-producing endeavor common to their culture. Have them outline the steps of the process. These could include:

• Soil preparation and/or amendments such as fertilizer
• Selecting stock to plant to have the proper variety
• Training the tree or vine to grow in the desired direction
• Pruning or trimming in order to grow properly
• Insect and disease control to keep the tree or vine healthy
• Other plant tending activities
• Harvesting fruit

Point out that the purpose of having an orchard, vineyard, or other fruit tree is in order to produce fruit. However, fruit production is the very last thing that a fruit producing plant does. Transition to the Biblical Foundation by suggesting that the very same thing is true of our lives - producing fruit for the Lord is the last thing we are expected to do.

Biblical Foundation

Objective: Participants will establish a biblical foundation for their labor.

Direct them to John 15:1-8. Lead them in a devotional reflection on the work of a vine-dresser or orchardist in tending to fruit-bearing plants, whether vines or orchards.