Mustard House

The Mustard House Project
A Different Approach to Lutheran Catechesis
(namely,
sneaking up on it, grabbing it from behind, and tying it up so it
can't get away)
- Introduction: What is it?
- Who gets the blame for this?
- How do you expect to pull this off?
- Okay, bottom line, what's it going to ¢o$t me?
- Cool! How do I get involved?
- Available Resources
What is it?
From Sesame Street Unpaved: "We knew that young children liked cartoons, game shows, and situational comedies; that they responded to slapstick humor and music with a beat; and above all, they were attracted by fast-paced, highly visual, oft-repeated commercials .""...TV commercials helped make Sesame Street possible...anyone who knows what to do in Nikes, what your bologna's first name is, and what not to do with the Charmin, knows the power of commercials. But you probably don't know that the rapid-fire pace, slick production, and catchy music of television commercials inspired Sesame Street's unique look and appeal Kids like commercials and banana-peel humor and avant-garde video and audio techniques we have to infuse our content into forms children find accessible."
The approach we're taking is not new. Children's Television Workshop has been doing it since 1969. But if they can pull it off successfully, teaching kids letters and numbers, why not apply the same teaching theory to Lutheran Catechesis?
Note that this is not just Sesame Street with new Lutheran scenes. In fact, this project is not a TV show or anything of that sort, although it may incorporate such in part. Instead, we use the theory behind Sesame Street: that you need to teach in a medium where the kids will respond and relate in order for them to learn.
What's up with the name?
Rev. Eric Zacharias proposed the name "Mustard Seed," playing off the Sesame roots and tying in Jesus' words in Mt 13:31, Mt 17:20, Mr 4:31, Lu 13:19, & Lu 17:6. I decided to build on this name and change "Street" to "House" to tie in with the Church and generate a feeling of "safeness."
Mustard House Teaching Theory
- The Word of God is the key to teaching, and no matter what method we use, the Holy Spirit will work through the Word to create and strengthen faith in the hearer.
- Through a combination of repetition and alternative media, memorization can be made easier, more fun, and better retained.
- Each generation responds to different media with different criteria. Determining the media appropriate for instructing youth will increase learning.
- Certain formats of media are more conducive to learning and retention than others, and certain genres will last longer and bridge generations better.
- Teaching (and hence learning) will be enhanced as more of the senses and various parts of the brain are used and applied to the same concept. Interactivity, both mental and physical, is crucial.
- If the student is not paying attention, very little, if any, learning will occur.
- A student will be more attentive if he feels a personal stake in the subject matter or sees it as applicable to his life.
- There's little point in having correct doctrine if nobody understands or knows how to apply it.
- The method is always a means, never an end.
Mustard House Teaching Method
A variety of methods can be used for teaching. They include, but shall never be limited to:
- Music
- Slogans and memorable phrases
- Artwork
- Drama
- Video: both live action and animated
- Games: Including all genres (Board, Card, Role-Playing, Video, etc.)
- Discussion
- Lecture
Who gets the blame for this?
The Mustard House Project is a joint effort by a number of LCMS Pastors and laypeople. Rev. Dale Critchley is the coordinator.
How do you expect to pull this off?
By means of various resources such as Yahoo!'s discussion forum and other cheap or free internet resources and each participant's personal and congregational resources, and a whole lot of prayer, we hope to make this program a success (although "success" has yet to be defined).
Okay, bottom line, what's it going to ¢o$t me?
Contributors need only pay for whatever resources they choose to use in production. Essentially, your only cost is for an internet connection and the equipment to access the various resources.
Those wishing to use the resources created by this group need pay nothing. A goal of this project is to make quality catechetical resources available to all at no cost. Everything will be free to download.
Note that some materials may eventually come available in non-electronic form (CDs, VHS tapes, DVDs, printed manuals, etc.). Every effort will be made to make equivalents to these resources available online in alternate formats, and the media will be made available at or near cost of the actual media used. This endeavor is not intended to profit anyone tangibly.
How do I get involved?
If you would like to contribute to the project and/or have ideas to share, simply register for the Mustard House Discussion list. More information is available at YahooGroups.
--Rev. Dale Critchley, LCMSPastor.com Webmaster & Mustard House Project Director












Resources
Available Resources
Games
(Here's my idea: Shockwave games for play on websites. I have a few ideas, like a "Carmen Sandiego"-style game that teaches the geography of Israel and other prominent locations; also a "Click on the book of the Bible that comes first" game or a Pac-Man-style "Eat the words to the memory verse in order" game. I'm open to other suggestions.)
Music
Music files are all available for download at the Mustard House YahooGroups files page. Included there are sheet music and MIDI files for about half the catechism and several Bible verses, all put to TV themes, commercial jingles, and hymns.
Skits
Skit 1. Law & Gospel
Skit 2. Luther & Reformation
Skit 3. Prayer
Skit 4. LP--Introduction
Skit 5. LP--1st Petition
Skit 6. LP--2nd Petition
Skit 7. LP--3rd Petition
Skit 8. LP--4th Petition
Skit 9. LP--5th Petition
Skit 10. LP--6th Petition
Skit 11. LP--Conclusion
Skit 12. Means of Grace
Skit 13. Nature of Baptism
Skit 14. Benefits of Baptism
Skit 15. What Baptism Indicates
Skit 16. Confession & Keys
Skit 17. Nature/Lord's Supper
Skit 18. Benefit & Power/Lord's
Skit 19. How to Receive the Lord's Supper
Skit 20. Old Testament-H&W
Skit 21. Old Testament-Prophets
Skit 22. New Testament-Gospels
Skit 23. New Testament-E&P
Skit1-Law & Gospel
Skit3-Apostles' Creed Creat
Skit4-Apostles' Creed Creat
Skit5-Jesus Who
Skit6-More Jesus
Skit7-Trinity&HolySpirit
Skit8-The Church
Skit9- The Life Everlasting
Skit10-1stCommandment
Skit11-2ndCommandment
Skit12-3rdCommandment
Skit13-4thCommandment
Skit14-5thCommandment
Skit15-6thCommandment
Skit16-7thCommandment
Skit17-8thCommandment
Skit18-9-10thCommandment
Skit19-EvangelismStewardshi
Skit20-WorshipLiturgy
Skit21-Baptism
Skit22-Lord's Supper
All of the above (Year 1 & 2) skits
Software
Accepting submissions
Video
Accepting submissions!
How do I get involved?
If you would like to contribute to the project and/or have ideas to share, simply register for the Mustard House Discussion list. More information is available at YahooGroups.