Read Acts 1:1-4 and I Corinthians 14:40
.For this week, we will be developing different methods of ensuring that your readers comprehend what you write. The importance of order and structure are laid out in the devotional verses for this week.
Luke, the most likely author of both the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, was very comprehensive–and very comprehensible–in all that he wrote. At the outset of Acts, he wants his audience, Theophilus (and any others), to trust that what he writes of the beginnings of the Christian church were witnessed by many and that he has sent them out in order. He refers to his previous gospel and this new book as being set down in an orderly fashion. His approach is used to persuade the audience that his testimony has credibility and authenticity by stating that (1) Jesus gave the motivating commands to the disciples, and that (2), he gave “convincing proofs” (vs. 3) to the disciples. You will see the very large number of miracles and sermons done in public when reading the rest of Acts. Luke makes use of several types of organization in different parts of Acts, including time order (narrative), space order (the missionary journeys of Paul), and order of importance (note the amount of space given to public sermons and to the court trials of Paul). Think how important Chapter 2 is in explaining the rapid growth of Christianity immediately after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The beginnings of the Church did not occur in a corner somewhere!
I Corinthians 14:40 is famous in some churches as a guide to all meetings, business, and worship practices. It is also a good guide when you are trying to ensure that your communication is clear and doesn’t appear to be deceptive. We will see in the next few weeks that there are several ways or “modes” to organize your writing, whether by time (chronological or process), by space (description) or by importance (most to least, or least to most). Whichever one you choose must be based on principles we will reveal in Week 2, but the modes and steps of the writing process are intended to show you: (1) what you think and know about your topic, and (2) the best way to share that with your audience for a given purpose.
Answer these questions:
- List the main three points of a sermon or speech you heard recently. What did the speaker do to help you remember?
- Recall a recent situation where you gave a friend or family member advice to help meet a challenge. How did you organize what you said?
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