The Bible stories are presented during storying sessions. There are four typical parts to each storying session. How each part is conducted must be determined by the story teller and their knowledge of the people.
Typically the Bible storying session is NOT a worship service but a teaching time. If prayer is used keep it brief and directed to God’s blessing His Word and opening the people’s hearts to understanding it. Resist efforts of those with knowledge of Christian worship to force it into a worship service. Later, when there has been positive response to the Gospel elements of worship may be introduced as there is now reason to worship because of forgiveness of sin and the new relationship to God through Jesus.
Pre-story dialogue:
- Introductory greeting according to local culture and social practice. Inquire about recent events in the community. Look for tie-in to recent lesson topics and current lesson.
- Recall/review previous stories and the biblical truths in them with special attention to those relating to the current lesson theme.
- Ask questions to build anticipation, to arouse curiosity. At this point there are no “right or wrong” answers, but do note what is said and pick up on it in the post-story time. These questions are like adding a little “salt” to make the people “thirsty” for the story.
- Review any “bridging” or “linking” stories necessary to set the stage for or to get into the current story. (Ex: Moses’ killing the Egyptian causes him to leave Egypt and live in the desert where he meets God.)
- If applicable, give a Listening Task—to listen for certain things in the story to promote an active participation and arouse interest. It is “playing the game.”
Read from the Bible:
- Pick up the Bible and hold it in your hand (or however a holy book is held).
- Read from the a part of the story to “anchor” the story in the Bible.
- Continue to hold the Bible after finishing the reading.
Tell the story:
- Tell the story. Holding the open Bible signals the story is coming from the Bible.
- Tell the story as a story and not as a description of what God and the people did and said.
- Use summary statements as needed to bridge time gaps and to link episodes.
- Tell the story accurately but interestingly, preserving the biblical rhythm.
- At the end of the story—STOP! (Know where and how you are going to stop.) Put down the Bible.
Lead listeners to discover the truths in the story:
- Ask someone to retell the story in their own words. (If you get a poor or inaccurate retelling, ask if someone else would like to tell the story. Keep fishing until you get a good retelling. If not, then retell it again yourself. Tell the listeners perhaps they would like to hear it again.)
- Let the listeners respond to the Listening Task if used. (Fish for a good answer.)
- Continue the Discovery Time with easy self-evident questions and move to ones that provoke thought. From these move to questions that have a personal application.
- Where there appears to be uncertainty in answering, probe tactfully with more questions. Feel free to retell the story if necessary or to review portions of the story if that is acceptable to them.
- Handle incorrect answers in a culturally sensitive manner. (Thank you, would someone else like to answer.)
- Don’t entertain questions about yet-to-be-revealed truth. (Visiting Christians can really pose a problem here. Tell them you haven’t yet come to that part of the story. When you do they will get their answer.)
- Defer answering questions you don’t know the answers to—you will look in God’s Word for an answer. (Probably you would know the answer. This models for those you are training not to “wing it” if they don’t know. Defer answering until they have looked in God’s Word or asked someone who does know.)
- Be sensitive for the appropriate time to stop the session.
- Use a memory verse to sum up the lesson and to give the listeners a verse to hide in their hearts.
- Tell them a story about yourself, your family or your people.
Remember this is only a suggested ideal story session. Where there is hostility or suspicion it may only be possible to ask a few rhetorical questions and then tell the story without any discussion, trusting the power of the Word to begin changing attitudes. As trust grows and listeners do ask questions, answer them by referring to the stories—the story answers the question. In time there may be openness for a more typical teaching session.
Written by an IMB missionary whose identity will remain undisclosed
