When telling a Bible story, it’s important to maintain the integrity of the text, know the point you want to communicate, and diligently prepare so that you can fully engage your listeners. You’ll find a simple story prep worksheet in the “give-aways” section that will help you follow the steps below.
1. Read the story from the Bible.
Pre-read the story at least three times so that you know exactly what the Bible does and does not say. If you have a study Bible, follow the trail of cross-references to get a bigger picture. Know where the story comes in the timeline of history. Know who wrote it, where they lived, and what was happening in that era, culture and circumstance.
2. Decide upon one key point.
Determine the one point you want to drive home with your listeners. Turn the point into a catch phrase or sentence that is memorable and repeatable if possible.
3. Divide the story into 5 significant parts.
Decide what happened first, second, third and so on. You may want to tell the background or big picture in part one or simply begin the story. Write down the parts using 5 phrases or sentences and commit them to memory. Practice the parts using your fingers as a memory tool.
4. Add details and adjectives that touch on the five senses.
Think through part one. Ask yourself: what did people see, hear, touch, smell and feel? Consider what emotions surrounded the event. Write down key words or phrases that could help you communicate the entire scene and situation. Do the same for the other four parts.
5. Weave the key point into as many of the 5 parts as possible.
This is where creativity and flexibility are required. You want to restate the one key point as many times as you can, but do so in an appropriate manner. Use it where it fits, but don’t force it.
Now you’re ready to begin…
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