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Are you looking for a creative way to captivate your family’s interest whenever you gather with them to discuss God’s Word?
Do you long for the day when your teenagers will eagerly open their Bibles and spend quiet time with God because they recognize the relevance of Scripture in their lives? As parents, we long for them to understand that
the word of God is alive and active (and) sharper than any double-edged sword — Hebrews 4:12
Do you pray that your kids will become so enthralled with the Bible stories they are learning that they will begin to embrace biblical visionaries like Abraham, Joseph, and Daniel as their spiritual superheroes and turn to Mary, Ruth, and Esther as role models for their faith?
If so, try the art of masterful storytelling!
In a ministerial context, masterful storytelling is the art of making Bible stories and characters come to life so that we can effectively communicate essential spiritual truths to people who might otherwise not hear them.
As parents, we already have basic skills in biblical storytelling, whether we realize it or not. As we read to our children and share God’s love with them day in and day out, we become experienced at communicating foundational Bible stories and essential spiritual truths in a way that captivates listeners with limited attention spans.
Now, let’s cultivate these skills and use them with intentionality. Let’s look for opportunities to weave them into our daily conversations whenever an appropriate opening presents itself!
No matter where God places us– whether we spend our days caring for young kids, tending to rebellious teenagers, working with frazzled parents or assisting senior citizens – we are surrounded by people who long to hear a story that will transform their lives.
So, instead of emulating the world and tickling the ears of those around us with small talk and the latest news stories and gossip, we can bless others by ministering to their spiritual needs.
Ephesians 4:29 says:
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Let’s take this to heart by sharing the life-changing stories of the Bible and presenting the spiritual truths contained within them in compelling and relatable ways!
Here are some tips to help you take your biblical storytelling skills to the next level.
- Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Ask God to help us communicate His message effectively so that those who hear it will be transformed by His Word. Pray John 8:32 for the special people that the Lord places upon your heart:
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
- Practice consistency in your spiritual life. Model the holy habits you want to cultivate in your kids. Set aside time to read your Bible each day, and then share the stories and lessons you are learning. Actively engage them in the process, keeping 1 Corinthians 15:58 in mind:
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
- Ground yourself in foundational truths. Read and re-read the stories of the Bible until you become intimately familiar with them. Study them with fresh eyes, digging deep with questions like these:
- Who are the main characters in this story?
- What types of problems do they have?
- How do they solve their problems?
- How does God fit into this story?
- What details in this story jump out at you?
- What details in this story are you noticing for the first time?
- Which characters do you relate to the most and why?
- Are there any questions or concerns that this story raises for you?
- What lessons can you learn from this story and apply in your life?
As you study the stories of the Bible, take the words of 2 Timothy 2:15 to heart:
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
- Finally, as you work your way through the different stories of the Bible, look for the over-arching, connecting threads and themes that tie them together. Remember to communicate to your kids and whoever else you are sharing with that each Bible story is ultimately part of an over-arching larger story about God – and that we are a part of God’s story also!
Recently, a friend asked if I knew of a good children’s Bible that he could share with his niece and nephew during family visits. The Tiny Truths Illustrated Bible is the perfect book to help your favorite Bible stories come alive to the youngsters in your life. It’s also the perfect book to illustrate some of the masterful Bible storytelling principles we’ve been talking about!
The Tiny Truths Illustrated Bible uses whimsical illustrations featuring diversely represented characters to present all of the key stories from the Old and New Testaments in a joyful and memorable way. Each story introduces the most important ideas and characters of the Bible to our kids while making it clear that each of these stories fits together to tell one big story – the story of God’s abundant love for His children!
By sharing The Tiny Truths Illustrated Bible with your kids, you will help them to discover:
- Who God is — the one who made everything and everyone
- Who we are — His children, whom He loves unconditionally
- What we were made for — to love God and everyone else
The Tiny Truths Illustrated Bible will brighten your home, lighten your spirits, and help you to understand the power of masterful storytelling!
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Your Turn
What is your favorite Bible story and what life lesson have you learned from it? Please share your thoughts in the comments!
