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Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to encourage Christian educators to use narrative as a pedagogical strategy to enhance the knowledge of and authenticate the values of the kingdom of God. Effective biblical narrative illustrates and emphasizes heaven’s culture, or kingdom culture, in contrast to earthly cultural norms. Narrative effectively suspends disbelief and doubt in the mind of the listener and can facilitate sharing the distinctive Seventh-day Adventist biblical worldview (biblical worldview). Stories help the audience make sense of complex concepts and discover unknown facts and perspectives. The communication of cultural norms through stories has normative ramifications on the listener’s cognitive choices and resulting behavior.

Narrative is the primary instrument of teaching Jesus used in His ministry. His stories portray a biblical picture of the kingdom of God. It is incumbent upon the Christian educator to use narrative to normalize cognitive and affective behaviors as taught in scripture. The centerpiece of biblical narrative is salvation, and the centerpiece of a well-told narrative founded on biblical principles should be salvation. To illustrate the power of the narrative to normalize kingdom culture, examples of biblical narrative and business narrative are included in the study.

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