OralityTalks – OralityResources https://oralityresources.international International Fri, 01 May 2026 02:38:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://i0.wp.com/oralityresources.international/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Logo-ORI-NoCirle-512.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 OralityTalks – OralityResources https://oralityresources.international 32 32 229169570 DOBS https://oralityresources.international/dobs/ Sat, 17 Jan 2026 12:37:00 +0000 https://oralityresources.international/?p=1671 Disciple-making Oral Bible Strategy for Transformative Learning

by Romerlito C. Macalinao
Foreword by Samuel Chiang
Afterword by Mark Overstreet

ISBN: 978-621-8511-03-3

Millions of people around the world still wait for the Bible in their own language. Most of them belong to the Oral Majority—communities that live by story, memory, and spoken word rather than books. Traditional translation methods, built for literate cultures, often struggle to reach them.

The Disciple-making Oral Bible Strategy (DOBS) offers a revolutionary solution. Grounded in adult education, critical pedagogy, and cognitive neuroscience, DOBS is designed to fit the true nature of oral cultures. It moves away from “book-dependency” and transforms translation into an act of discipling the church, enabling spiritual growth within the language community.

At the heart of DOBS is a simple, repeatable process. Bilingual Mother-Tongue Translators (MTT) are equipped through Developmental Spiral Syntax (DSS) and Metacognitive Scaffolding (MCS)—tools that engage the Head, Heart, and Hand. Quality assurance is built into the community itself, through Peer, Community, and Leadership Checking.

The ultimate measure of success is not a perfect text but spiritual transformation—disciples multiplied, churches strengthened, and communities renewed. This book introduces a practical, shareable method that anyone can grasp. Discover how DOBS is accelerating Bible translation worldwide and helping fulfill the Great Commission today.

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Orality in Hindu Ministry https://oralityresources.international/orality-in-hindu-ministry/ Wed, 14 Jan 2026 04:47:48 +0000 https://oralityresources.international/?p=1686

This collection of books complements the OralityTalks Webinar held on January 14, 2026.

Check out the webinar recordings at The Power of Orality among Hindus.

The sacred in popular Hinduism: An empirical study in Chirakkal, north Malabar

Bangalore: Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society, 1983.

The Evolution of Hinduism

Whitefish, MT: Kessinger Publishing, LLC, 2007.

A Comparative Study of Religions: Second Edition

Nairobi: East African Educational Publishers, 1999.

Non-Christian Religious Systems: Hinduism

London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 1877.

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Expository Preaching in Africa https://oralityresources.international/expository-preaching-in-africa/ Wed, 09 Jul 2025 13:19:26 +0000 https://oralityresources.international/?p=1413 Engaging Orality for Effective

by Ezekiel A. Ajibade

How can expository preaching, rooted in a textual analysis of Scripture, be effectively utilized in oral cultures? In Expository Preaching in Africa, Ezekiel A. Ajibade engages this challenge directly, offering practical techniques for integrating African oral elements – such as myths, proverbs, folklore, dance, drama, poetry, and storytelling – into preaching that is both biblical and African. Alongside numerous examples and tools, Ajibade provides a rich overview of the nature of orality, the history and development of African preaching, and the reason biblical exposition must be central to gospel proclamation. He reminds us that it is the word of God, incarnated among us, that has the power to transform lives and revitalize nations. Contextualized expository preaching is not, therefore, one technique to be utilized among many; it is, rather, the heart of biblical teaching and the future of the African church.

While contributing significantly to studies in contextualization and homiletics, this book is immediately applicable to practitioners, especially African preachers and those working in oral contexts.

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Preaching to Oral Audiences https://oralityresources.international/preaching-to-oral-audiences/ Fri, 04 Jul 2025 02:10:01 +0000 https://oralityresources.international/?p=1389 by Larry Dinkins

Abstract: Larry Dinkins discovered, after trying a highly literate TEE approach for Bible study and a western approach to preaching, that the Thai were in fact “preferred oral learners” who responded best to the narrative sections of Scripture. Following a major fail during an orality workshop, he went on a quest to understand how best to communicate to concrete relational learners like the Thai. Dinkins has since been involved with one hundred Simply the Story workshops in ten countries, and has settled on a three-pronged narrative preaching approach that has produced gratifying results with the added benefit of being easily replicated.

This article was published in Mission Round Table 19:2 (May-Aug 2024): 20-28.

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Narrative Preaching https://oralityresources.international/narrative-preaching/ Fri, 04 Jul 2025 01:46:33 +0000 https://oralityresources.international/?p=1385

We are excited to share a collection of resources on the theme of Narrative Theology, compiled to complement the OralityTalks Webinar featuring Ezekiel Ajibade held on July 9, 2025.

🎞 Check out the recording of the webinar.

More resources on Narrative on GOMAP and the corresponding training materials at Orality.Academy.

Videos

A Likely Story: The Perils and Power of Narrative in Preaching

Options for Biblical Preaching in the Narrative Mode

The Expository-Narrative Method of Preaching

Bibliography

Allen, Ronald J., ed. Patterns of Preaching: A Sermon Sampler. St Louis, Missouri: Chalice Press, 1998.

Arthurs, Jeffrey D. How to Preach Narrative. Dallas: Fontes Press, 2022.

___. Preaching With Variety: How to Re-create the Dynamics of Biblical Genres. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel, 2007.

Davis, D. R. The Word Became Fresh: How to Preach from Old Testament Narrative Texts. Dublin: Mentor Publishing, 2006.

Edwards, Kent. Effective First-Person Biblical Preaching: The Steps from Text to Narrative Sermons. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2005.

Eslinger, Richard L. The Web of Preaching: New Options in Homiletical Method. Nashville:     Abingdon, 2002.

Hoezee, Scott. Actuality: Real Life Stories for Sermon that Matter. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2014.

Jonker, Peter. Preaching in Pictures. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2015.

Lowry, Eugene. Doing Time in the Pulpit: The Relationship Between Narrative and Preaching. Nashville: Abingdon, 1985.

___. How to Preach a Parable: Designs for Narrative Sermons. Abingdon Preacher’s Library. Nashville: Abingdon, 1989.

___. “Narrative Preaching.” In Concise Encyclopedia of Preaching. Willliam H. Willimon and Richard Lischer, eds. Louisville, Kentucky, Westminster John Knox Press, 1995. pp 342-344.

___. “Narrative Preaching.”In The New Interpreters Handbook of Preaching. Paul Scott   Wilson, ed. Nashville, Abingdon Press, 2008. pp 201-202

___. The Homiletical Plot: The Sermon as Narrative Art Form. Exp. ed. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2001.

Matthewson, Steven D. The Art of Preaching Old Testament Narrative. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Publishing Group, 2021.

Miller, Calvin. Preaching: The Art of Narrative Exposition. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006.

Robinson, Torrey. “First-Person Narrative Sermons.” In The Art and Craft of Biblical Preaching: A Comprehensive Resource for Today’s Communicators. Haddon Robinson and Craig Larson, eds. Grand Rapids, Michigan. Christianity Today International, 2005. pp 448-450

Wilson, Paul Scott. Preaching and Homiletical Theory. St. Louis, Missouri: Chalice Press, 2004.

___. The Four Pages of a Sermon: A Guide to Biblical Preaching. Nashville, Tennessee: Abingdon Press, 2018.

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Mission Publishing Frontiers https://oralityresources.international/mission-publishing-frontiers/ Fri, 14 Mar 2025 07:52:14 +0000 https://oralityresources.international/?p=825

These resources serve as companion materials and recommended readings provided by our speakers from the Mission Publishing Frontiers webinar held on March 12, 2025. They are designed to deepen your understanding and support further study on the topics discussed.

Scribd

A digital library and subscription-based platform offering access to books, audiobooks, documents, and academic papers.

Figshare

An open-access repository for researchers to store, share, and publish datasets, figures, and academic outputs.

ResearchGate

A professional network for researchers to share papers, collaborate, and engage in academic discussions.

Academia.edu

A platform for academics to share research papers, track readership, and connect with scholars.

KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing)

Amazon’s self-publishing service allows authors to publish and distribute e-books and print books globally.

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Holistic Hermeneutics https://oralityresources.international/holistic-hermeneutics/ Thu, 09 Jan 2025 01:34:18 +0000 https://oralityresources.international/?p=760

These resources serve as companion materials and recommended readings provided by our speakers from the Holistic Hermeneutics webinar held on January 8, 2025. They are designed to deepen your understanding and support further study on the topics discussed.

Check out the recording of the webinar and journal article on the OralityTalks website.

ResearchGate

Check our Joshua’s publications on ResearchGate, especially his chapter A Method for Exegeting Emotions in the Bible for Higher Quality Translation in the book Quality in Translation: A Multi-Threaded Fabric.

Akuo: The Spoken Bible

Translations of the Bible that are intended to be heard and told.

Psalms: Layer by Layer

Psalms: Layer by Layer, run by Scriptura, provides scholarly yet accessible resources to Bible Translation teams working on the book of Psalms.

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Orality & Theological Education https://oralityresources.international/orality-and-theological-education/ Thu, 07 Nov 2024 23:48:10 +0000 https://oralityresources.international/?p=733

These resources serve as companion materials and recommended readings provided by our speakers from the Orality and Theological Education webinar held on November 13, 2024. They are designed to deepen your understanding and support further study on the topics discussed.

Interpreting the Bible With the Poor

Good Bible interpretation is basic to the doing of good theology and missiology. It is foundational to individual and cultural transformation, especially among the poor. Such interpretation involves exegeting both the biblical text and the culturally-specific audience with whom the Bible interpreter is attempting to communicate that text. While the theory of this Two Step approach has dominated western and non-western theology/missiology, in reality the exegesis of the biblical text has far overshadowed the exegesis of the culture of the audience. This paper will attempt to better understand the interplay between textual and cultural exegesis in the context of ministry with the poor by asking: How might this Two Step approach be enhanced in order to help the poor do better Bible interpretation and thus theology/missiology? This question will be answered in three parts. Part 1 will set Bible interpretation in its worldwide context by examining the relationship between colonization and theological/ missiological education, followed by an examination of Bible interpretation and the constituencies it serves. Part 2 will focus on whether or not courses and curricula are truly contextualized for the worldwide church and the need for “lower-based” training programs and “border” pedagogies, including a case study from the Philippines specifically addressing the urban poor. Part 3 examines strategies for professors and institutions as they endeavor to exegete both the biblical text and the culture of the audience. The paper concludes with practical suggestions to help make Bible interpretation with the poor more relevant and engaging within their local contexts.

Reconsidering Our Biblical Roots: Bible Interpretation, the Apostle Paul and Mission Today

This series of articles examines how cultural assumptions shape biblical interpretation, especially within mission contexts. He notes that evangelical missions rely on hermeneutics to guide belief and practice, yet often overlook how Western interpretive frameworks influence their approach. Caldwell highlights the need for “deep-level contextualization,” a practice that involves recognizing and adapting to cultural differences in hermeneutics. By analyzing the Apostle Paul’s distinct interpretive style, which reflected his own cultural influences, Caldwell demonstrates that effective mission work requires an awareness of both the cultural assumptions within Scripture and those of the missionary. This approach encourages a more authentic, culturally resonant transmission of the Gospel across diverse settings.

Comparative characterisations of Jesus and the disciples in the Gospel of Mark, with special reference to ancient oral narration

The study explores how the Gospel of Mark was crafted for public oral performance rather than private reading, reflecting an ancient oral culture. An eclectic “oral-memorial-comparative hermeneutics” approach analyzes the characterizations of Jesus and his disciples within this context, showing how the narrative’s oral, social, and performance dimensions would have influenced early audiences. The research concludes that Mark’s portrayal inspired followers toward discipleship, embodying an ideological contrast between domination and Jesus’s way of service and sacrifice.

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Digital Media Design https://oralityresources.international/orality-and-digital-media/ Tue, 03 Sep 2024 01:47:13 +0000 https://oralityresources.international/?p=598

This is a collection of resources for our webinar from Sept. 11, 2024, on the topic Engaging Oral People: Harnessing Digital Media for Ministry.

Asia Pacific Media

A global creative agency specializing in social media and digital marketing, offering insights, case studies, and services to help brands engage with their audiences effectively.

Indigitous

A community to reach the world through digital media.

The State of the Great Commission

The State of the Great Commission brings together the best global data and key strategic thinkers to understand where the greatest gaps and opportunities are for the Great Commission’s fulfillment.

faith.tools

The best place to find apps for Christians.

Design Thinking

A collection of videos and articles to guide teams create digital content.

We Are Social

A global creative agency specializing in social media and digital marketing, offering insights, case studies, and services to help brands engage with their audiences effectively.

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Arts: Local Ways for Praise https://oralityresources.international/arts-local-ways-for-praise/ Wed, 10 Jul 2024 12:00:00 +0000 https://oralityresources.international/?p=512

This is a collection of resources on the theme of More Local Ways for Praise: Arts for Mission & Ministry, compiled to complement the OralityTalks Webinar featuring Deborah Kim & David Ige held on Juli 10, 2024.

More resources on Arts on GOMAP and corresponding training materials at Orality.Academy.

Why Local Arts are Central to Mission

From his years of serving among the Mono tribe in Congo, Brian Schrag propounds on why local arts are crucial to mission.

Four Ways Culture & Worship Relate

Anne Zaki lists four ways culture and worship relate.

The Biblical Basis for Indigenous Arts in Worship

John Piper is known for his statement “Mission exists because worship doesn’t.” In this article, he lays the Scriptural foundations for the use of local arts in worship.

Strengthening Christian Identity through Scripture Songwriting in Indonesia

Matt Connor and Matt Menger have facilitated more than 30 songwriting workshops. They share their insights on how these events have strengthened the Christian identity of communities in Indonesia.

Redeeming the Arts: The Restoration of the Arts to God’s Creational Intention

A paper on redeeming the arts, it includes discussion on the theological bases of the arts, its implications on education and discipleship, and creativity among others.

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