The following originally appeared in the invisible castle resource Beyond Monologue: Preparing Interactive Talks, available here. We are including it here for the benefit of those listening to the upcoming audiobook version of Beyond Monologue, in case a written version of this section is helpful to them.

reading group questions

There are numerous ways you could discuss Beyond Monologue in a group. One would be to spread it across a number of leadership/preaching/staff team meetings, at whatever pace seems fit. Another would be to devote one evening, morning, or day to it.

If you spent a day on it, then you could hold it at a location where everyone will have space to sit and quietly read the introduction and the ‘why’ section (chapters 1-7) in the morning, and the ‘how’ section (chapters 8-13) in the afternoon. Participants could do the exercises in the eighth and twelfth chapters during this afternoon reading time. After each reading session, you could have a discussion time.

Below are the outlines for two discussion sessions, each lasting approximately sixty minutes. Every session requires that participants have already read the relevant chapters.

The timings are obviously flexible, and you could remove, add, or adjust questions as you feel fit. But, hopefully, it gives you a helpful starting framework to use in your setting.

Session One: The ‘Why’ Chapters (1-7)

Part One: Our Experience (20 mins)

Share the story of your own journey to faith. What was the process, and what were the key moments of crisis?

What part did talks or organised events play in all this? What else was important?

What was the interplay between the talks and events, and everything else?

Part Two: Our Practice (20 mins)

Think about the six factors Luke identifies as driving his interactive speaking approach:

1) Conversion as process in community (ch. 2).

2) The distance of many contemporary people from the Christian faith (ch.3).

3) The contributory nature of current communications technology (ch.4).

4) The need for continuity; letting people make steps to more of the same, not leaps into something else (ch.5).

5) Events as changing rooms, not just catwalks; calling for places where storylistening can happen, and people find they and their stories belong (ch.6).

6) The non-verbal symbolism of our events (ch.7).

Were you already taking any of these factors into account before reading Beyond Monologue, and how has your reflection on them affected your practice?

Which of the six factors do you think you or your Christian community have most overlooked?

Why do you think you or your Christian community tend to overlook this?

Part Three: Our Reflections (20 mins)

Does Luke’s proposed response to these six factors address them adequately? What other adjustments, aside from those suggested by Luke, would you want to make to your current evangelistic practice, in light of what you read here?

What other questions did the first seven chapters provoke, which you would like to discuss?

Session Two: The ‘How’ Chapters (8-13)

Part One: Our Worked Examples (30 mins)

Share with one another your worked examples from chapter twelve, and provide one another with feedback on them.

Part Two: Our Practice (30 mins)

What aspect of formulating a good question came most naturally to you? And which one was most challenging, and why?

How well does this approach integrate with your existing speaking style? Are there any further adjustments you might need to make when employing it?

When will you have an opportunity to use this approach? Is there anything, aside from the talk, you would need to adjust in the organization of that event—room layout, seating, or something else?

What other questions did chapters eight to thirteen raise for you, which you would like to discuss?

Order 'Beyond Monologue'

The Kindle version is also available in (including in the UK, the US and Australia). Visit there to buy, or scroll down to find out more.

We’ve also written a number of books for other publishers, which you can discover in the ‘Our Books’ section of this site.

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About the book

Beyond Monologue: Preparing Interactive Talks reimagines how we engage people with the story and message of Jesus through our public events. It describes an innovative approach, blending speaking with discussion, which has proved fruitful around the UK and the rest of Europe — both in the university campus setting, as well as in the local church.

Drawing on years of experience, and full of stories, as well as reflections on culture and scripture, this is a vital resource for anyone involved in outreach events as either a speaker or organizer.

Beyond Monologue is also ideal reading for preaching and leadership teams looking to refresh their practice in this area.

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What readers are saying

‘A gem of a book... Whether you are new to public speaking, or looking to sharpen your skill, Beyond Monologue is a treasure trove of lessons and ideas that will help you clarify the purpose of your event, prepare well, and deliver an interactive talk that engages, inspires and influences your audience.’

Tim Adams, General Secretary, International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES).

'Theological praxis at its best, providing scripturally-informed practical guidance, drawing on Luke Cawley's vast experience as a missional practitioner. If you are involved in public proclamation of the gospel, then this is essential reading.’

Kristi Mair, Lecturer in Philosophy, Ethics and Apologetics, Oak Hill College.

‘In the beginning was the conversation.’ So Erasmus translated John 1:1 in 1519. Out of the loving communion of Father-Son-Spirit, new life is always born. In the intervening half millennia, we’ve seen a rebirth of inter-activity in the humanities and arts, in education and sciences, even rediscovering the form of the church and how we make disciples. But what about preaching the gospel and evangelistic addresses?

On this, Luke Cawley leads the way ‘Beyond Monologue’. Heralding God’s word clearly is critical. But unless you bring this into divine dialogue with the cultural world your hearer inhabits, and draw out their personal story with well crafted questions that land in their everyday life, it’ll fall on deaf ears or leave them still born. Jesus modelled a better way to walk with disenchanted and disoriented people as they slowly stumble toward Emmaus.

Out of Luke’s extensive experience speaking with university students, he brilliantly explains why the time has come for a better conversation, especially in a Web3.0 world that respects everyone’s agency and freely invites them to wrestle. And he patiently guides every presenter to make natural bridges for a sceptical crowd to try Jesus on, and continue the journey with like-minded pilgrims. My heart jumps just picturing these buzzing rooms full of curious outsiders finding their own authentic way to faith through real community. Please, read and innovate. No gimmick, it’s right and it works. Enough talk. It’s time for new life to be born with a fresh dialogue-driven apologetic.'

Dave Benson, Director of Culture and Discipleship, London Institute for Contemporary Christianity (LICC).

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About the author

Luke Cawley is the Director of Chrysolis, a small non-profit which helps churches and organizations develop innovative projects engaging the people and culture around them. He has written or coedited several books, including Campus Lights: Students Living and Speaking for Jesus Around the World (Muddy Pearl, 2019), a journalistic account of God’s work in universities across the globe, and The Myth of the Non-Christian: Engaging Atheists, Nominal Christians and the Spiritual But Not Religious (IVP, 2016) — a practical guidebook to contextualised apologetics. Luke is also the co-creator of invisible castle, and on the leadership team of a growing local church in the South West of England.

Where to order

Beyond Monologue is available for order via our online store.

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Details

Publication Date: September 2023

Length: 140 pages

ISBN: 978-1-3999-5694-9