Ways to Bring Bible Stories to Life
Published:
December 4, 2019
Contributor:
Jeannette Tuionetoa
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Teaching God’s story of the complete gospel message can be brought to life for our young ones with some creativity and effort. Getting kids engaged and understanding concepts in God’s Word is more doable than some might think. There are many ways to bring Bible stories to life, let me share some ideas with you.
It is said that, by percentage, people will learn more before the age of 5 than throughout their lifespan. This means that young children, in general, can absorb way more information than we can as adults.
Teaching our young children all about God’s Word is a building block towards a Christian worldview as adults. Learning about the Lord doesn’t have to begin and stop with Sunday School or kids’ church. My husband and I are firm believers that, as parents, it’s our responsibility to teach our children about God and His Word.
The way we choose to teach our kids can bring a world of a difference to their understanding and interest in learning the amazing Bible stories which teach, edify, and bless them. The Bible is a gift and is sufficient within itself to teach our kids.
God’s Word is inspired by Him and profitable for us all, ALL of us, and every word in it as per 2 Timothy 3:16. From Genesis to Lamentations, in Habakkuk, and straight through the New Testament, the Bible is profitable for learning at any age.
Yes, even the dimensions of how the temple and furniture should be built like in the Book of Ezekiel, show God’s attention to detail and ties into how He has every hair on our head counted and calls every star by name.
God breathed all Scripture and intended every word of the Bible to profit us. Therefore, reading the Bible book by book to our kids shouldn’t be something we steer clear of, but something we just must do.
Some of our favorite Bible story books for children:
The Child’s Story BibleThe Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His NameThe Gospel Story Bible: Discovering Jesus in the Old and New TestamentsLong Story Short: Ten-Minute Devotions to Draw Your Family to God365 Bible Stories and Prayers: Biblical Readings to Share All Through the YearThe Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible (The Complete Illustrated Children’s Bible Library)
Here are read aloud tips that bring Bible stories to life:
Step into the story with your children.
Ask them questions about how they would feel in certain Bible situations. Get them to imagine if an old, old man was visited by an angel saying his wife would be giving birth to a baby who would pave the way for the Messiah. Have your kids act out w their reactions would be or how they would tell people. Ask your kids about what they would have thought if, like the boy in John 6:9, they had two small fish and five loaves of bread — and Jesus fed five thousand people with them.
In Luke 17, how many lepers were healed, how many returned; and why do you think only one returned? Ask your kids to think about what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thinking when there was a fourth person in the furnace with them in the Book of Daniel or how people watching would react.
Always finish the Bible story with a question for kids to think about.
Questions help to increase and improve a child’s critical thinking skills while evaluating if they can think logically and make predictions from the text. For instance, pause for a moment and ask, “What do you think is going to happen when the tomb is open after Christ died on the cross?” “What do you think Pharoah will do after the ten plagues have struck Egypt? Then leave it on a cliffhanger until the next day.
Help kids experience the Bible with all 5 senses.
When teaching Creation, go to a petting zoo and let kids feel the animals He created. Go outside and let them feel the wind on their hair to describe how those who have faith but do not see He calls blessed.
Use technology to show Bible stories after you have read them.
Learning is built on connections. It is helpful for children to see with their eyes what they have just read about and discussed with you.
As you are reading through the stories in the Bible with your children, provide some of these opportunities to help bring the Bible stories to life:
Bible Crafts:
Joseph Jacket – FREE Craft Ideas and Printables | True Way Kids
Jesus’s Parables Bible Lessons, Complete Unit | Julie Faulkner
Teach Bible Stories with Art | Proverbial Homemaker
Easy Bible Crafts for Children | 3Boys and a Dog
Bible Story Sequencing Cut and Paste
Interactive Bible Activities:
Birth of Jesus Story For Kids: FREE Printables and Activities | Money Wise Steward
Bible Stories Sequencing Activity Cards | The Pinay Homeschooler
Activities to Help Teach the Parables| The First Grade Round-Up
Bible Stories STEM Challenge (Jesus Heals a Paralytic Bible STEM Activity) | Jewel’s School Gems
Bible Story Printables and Freebies for Early Elementary
Bible Games:
Teaching Kids The Fruit Of The Spirit – Printable Memory Game | Arrows and Applesauce
Tips & Tricks for Using Games to Teach Bible Truths | I Choose Joy
12 Seriously Fun Memory Verse Bible Games | Path Through the Narrow Gate
Minute to Win it – Old Testament Bible Style Games | Holly’s Home
FREE Bible Charades Cards:
Bible Projects:
FREE Bible and Character Studies for Preschoolers
Science Project – Jacob Wrestles with God | Future Flying Saucers
4 fun science experiments to illustrate your next Bible lesson | ResourceUMC
These different ideas to bring Bible stories to life are perfect to go alongside God’s good Word. Some people only do activities without context or reading the scripture itself.
The truth is that reading through the Bible with our children is the very best way we can ensure our children will follow Christ. Do you know why that is?
See, the Bible said that the Word would never return void, but accomplish what He desires and achieves exactly the purpose it was sent out for.
One cannot read and be untouched by scripture in one way or the other. Readers are either repelled by it or God speaks through it to the ears of the reader. The Bible is an instruction book, the whole story of redemption and God’s sovereignty.
If we say that we should teach our children with entertainment, fun, and other attention-seeking activities alone, we are saying that the Lord’s Word is not enough. Don’t shy away from reading even those books of the Bible you think your kids won’t “get”. They might just impress your socks off.
The stories within God’s guide book is precisely what we need to learn about who He truly is and our purpose here in the world. So, read the Word with your kids, make learning fun, enjoy laughs with your kids, and use these resources alongside the Bible to bring the stories to life.
