Storytelling biblical accounts can be an effective teaching method for a child's spiritual growth chiefly because of the opportunity it gives for making Bible truths come alive. Through the re-telling of the story, your child is given patterns of conduct to strive for. Do we want our children to reverence age and to be loyal? Let us tell the Bible story of Ruth, the Moabite, who was willing to leave her native land and to work in the fields day by day in order that Naomi might not continue to suffer hardship. Do we want our child to understand what helpfulness means? Tell him the Bible story of the Good Samaritan who was hated because of his nationality.

When to tell Bible stories... Bedtime, rainy days, quiet afternoons, holidays, family gatherings, while enjoying a meal, during a child's playtime, or home school ~ all these times offer opportunities for storytelling within the home. Bible storytelling is also used outside of the home such as in children's Sunday School. Flannel Boards, pictorials and role play dramas do go together quite nicely with storytelling younger grades. Parents and teachers alike can make storytelling useful in teaching practially any subject, but for the lesson at hand we'll go on with the topic of Bible storytelling.

Good Bible storytelling is an art. The children's Bible story must be chosen with the capacities, the interests, and the needs of the child in mind. Younger children enjoy flowers, and all growing things... the account of Creation draws their attention to God's power. Most young children take interest also in home life. We can tell stories of home life, like that one of Hannah who shines forth loving mommy skills by making her son a coat every year. Or how about the mother of Moses, who made a cradle for her baby to save her son's life. For older children, they are inspired by stories of action, adventure, and heroism. Bible accounts such as Abraham pioneering a new land, Joseph a man who was not spoiled by wealth, or the remarkable power of Jesus healing the ten lepers... all of these have strong appeal to older children and most likely turn into their favorite requests.

A wise choice of Scripture is important to the art of Bible storytelling. A wonderful use of the Bible is to impart its great moral teachings to children. The Children's Bible story you choose for your children, will not only give them a pattern for conduct, but through it's strong appeal to their conscience will make them want to be like the hero or heroine of your story. For instance after telling a young girl about Ruth, she now has the example of Ruth's loyalty in her heart, and may draw from the Bible account when a time comes for her to choose devotion or faithlessness. The same effect happens when children are told about the Good Samaritan's helpfulness, David's courageous heart, the Lord's passion and love for all mankind.

There are so many lessons we can gather and teach from the Bible. You'll find that your list will continually grow with each new Bible story you tell. The Bible account you share, may help a child visualize attitudes of trust, love, and devotion of God-conscious people and cause a seed of goodness to be planted in their inner man.

Constructing a Children's Bible Story is Not Hard... If a Bible account is to engage your young listeners, action should begin almost at once. For instance if you are telling the story of Joseph and his dreams, you could start off with: "once a good man had a dream". Telling the story of the Good Samaritan, you could begin with "Jesus told a story of a man who set out on a journey all by himself". Your introduction should be short but long enough to establish the setting.