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CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
The Need for Bible Stories
by Jeremy Thomas Samples
Stories touch us. They get us to care about characters, ideas, and even places. They tear at our hearts, they frighten us, and they bring us unimaginable joy. Stories teach us. They introduce us to new places, people, and experiences. They help us see the familiar in new ways. They help us to look within ourselves. —Eileen Dugan Waldschmidt*
It is difficult to overestimate the importance of Bible stories in understanding Christian faith and sharing that faith with others. It has been said that stories help us make sense of our lives. It could also be said that Bible stories (told and retold by Christians for centuries) lead us to faith and then help us make sense of that faith. And that is why the job of a children’s Sunday school teacher is so important. Sunday school teachers often introduce and teach children the stories that inform their faith throughout their lives. Because stories are so important in both teaching and passing on the faith, I want to suggest a few ways teachers can guide children (particularly grades 3-6) to experience Bible stories in Sunday school.
Drama
Drama is a great way to help children experience Bible stories in real and meaningful ways. Drama presentations help children imagine how events might have happened, how biblical characters might have felt, and why the people in the stories behaved as they did. Dramas could take the form of monologues, pantomimes (dramas without words), role-plays, imagination tours, or even a pretend T.V. news show. A simple form of drama would be to have the preteens pose in various scenes from the Bible story. When using drama, it is important to guide the children to think about the events of the story, the feelings of the biblical characters involved, and how the story applies to the lives of the children. Otherwise, drama presentations can become excuses to show off, rather than learning exercises.
Story telling and Story re-telling
Telling stories in your own words is another way to guide the children to experience Bible stories. Before telling the story, encourage the children to listen for something specific in the story. This listening task encourages children to take a more active part in imagining the Bible story as it is told. Consider pausing periodically to highlight specific events, feelings, or relationships that may be applicable to the lives of children. Another way to encourage active listening and participation is to have children re-tell the story in some way after you have shared the story with the group. You might have children tell the story from a particular person’s point of view, have them write diary entries about the events of a story, or even have small groups create art projects that re-tell the story in some way. This process will help children internalize the Bible stories and apply them to their everyday lives.
Creation
Another way children can experience Bible stories is through the creation of art projects related to the stories. Some educators argue that all learning is creative. So, it stands to reason that creative ventures, employed properly, can help us learn Bible stories and the truths they have to share. Creative projects that might help children experience Bible stories include writing songs, prayers, or their own real-life stories in response; creating mobiles, short books, or other art projects that reflect the truths and feelings of the Bible story; or making murals in response to the Bible stories.
In a sense, we are all a part of the story of God’s relationship with humanity through Jesus Christ. The stories of the Bible can teach all of us about this relationship and help us make sense of it.
* Eileen Dugan Waldschmidt, Teacher Stories: Bilingual Teachers and Creative Drama. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of New Mexico.
Formerly an editor for FaithSteps, Jeremy Thomas Samples is currently the editor for Intersection and Reflections at Smyth & Helwys Publishing.
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