Session 1 Classroom
1: Welcome
Welcome to the Session 1 Classroom.
Everything you need for working through the first session is right here on this page. Start with the video lecture. Download the fill-in-the-blank notes page to help you follow along!
After the video move on to the discussion questions, recommended readings, and practice exercises.
If you are still hungry for more go to section 4 and comb through the open-source introductory communications textbooks.
2: Session 1 Video Lecture
The first session provides an introduction to general communication theory with the intention of using the information to serve the Lord in His church. Download and print the fill-in-the-blanks notes page:
⬇️ Download Session 1 Notes ⬇️3: After The Video
Discussion Questions:
- What things make communication a “complex process”?
- What do you find difficult in encoding a message so that it is easy for someone else to decode it well?
- What makes it difficult for you to decode the intended message someone else is trying to encode?
- What kind of interferences make it difficult for you to receive or give communication?
Readings for Session 1:
- Lucy Lind Hogan, Graceful Speech: An Invitation to Preaching (Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2006), Chapter 2, pgs. 15-30.
- Teresa L. Fry Brown, Delivering the Sermon, Elements of Preaching (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2008), Chapter 1, pgs. 5-14.
Practice Exercises
Talking in Code
With a partner, practice your encoding and decoding skills. Take turns in the encoder and decoder role. Spend no more than 2 minutes encoding a message based on the topics given below. After the 2 minutes are over have the decoder explain back to the encoder what their thoughts and feelings were about the given topic to see if they decoded the message well.
Topics for Talking in Code:
- Conserving the environment
- Favorite and least favorite movie of all time
- Best trip you’ve ever taken
- The happiest day of your life so far
- The worst day of your life so far
Spiritual Show & Tell
Just like you might have done in school – a show and tell, but of a spiritual nature. Take no more than 5 minutes and no less than 3 minutes to show and tell something that relates to your faith.
Some examples of the kinds of things you could bring:
- Grandpa/Grandma’s Bible they gave you
- Family Bible passed down for generations
- A t-shirt from a conference you went to that was very formative for you (Promise Keepers, Catalyst, etc.) [Bonus points if you wear the shirt!]
- Crucifix or other art that is meaningful to you.
