Using Your Grey Matter

I began my video by talking briefly about brain science.  How our “grey matter” works is really important as we consider faith formation.   In order to increase our effectiveness, we need to understand at least the basics if we want the people we lead to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Imagine you are on a long walk with a friend and the two of you are catching up as you walk.  Suddenly, a little Yorkie-poo dog starts barking and runs at you from behind a bush.  Your friend screams and starts climbing the nearest tree.  You think, “what a cute little dog,” and bend over to pet it.

What just happened in that moment?  You and your friend processed the same “inputs” into your brains, but you reacted very differently.  This example perfectly exhibits an important point about the brain.  Inputs associated to emotion travel faster than other inputs.  Perhaps your friend was attacked by a dog as a child and the Yorkie-poo triggered the emotion of fear.  Before his or her brain could rationally process the idea that the dog weighed about five pounds and was not a real threat, the emotional processes in the brain “outran” the rational processes.  Have you ever heard of “crimes of passion”?  This is the same idea…the faster “emotional processing” of the brain causes people to do things the person would otherwise never think of.

This is why sharing stories and storytelling are so important in faith formation.  A great story usually connects with several emotions within the listeners.  This in turn helps make the story…and the lesson…memorable.  Conversely, “lecture” style lessons that consist of a “stream of data” are usually the least effective and least memorable. 
Think back to your most memorable faith formation experiences.  Maybe they include retreats or confirmation or a Disciple Bible Study.   How did storytelling contribute to making those memorable experiences?  What emotions did those stories trigger within you?  How do you use or encourage stories when you facilitate?  Do you make intentional time to find emotional connections you have to your “content” (your topic or scripture)?

Rev. Chris Barbieri

Minister of Service and Administration

Rome First UMC