Whose story are we telling?

I was in the middle of preparing my seminar for the upcoming Hand in Hand Conference, where I’m sharing about connecting Bible Engagement and Holy Spirit Encounter. But then God started to speak to me about something else… when we open up the Bible with children, whose story are we telling?

In Sunday School we love to share dramatic Bible stories about characters — Daniel facing lions, Jonah hanging out inside a fish, David taking on a giant. These are the people whose pictures are found in almost every children’s Bible. Why is it that Sunday Schools come back to these stories year after year? Surely not so that we can train our children to become zookeepers or expert rock throwers!

Here are three reasons we aren’t sharing these stories — and one very important reason that we are.

1) We’re not sharing these stories because they’re easy

These stories have become such staples of Sunday School that we could be forgiven for thinking they are safe and straightforward. The illustrations might show cute lions curled up around Daniel, but these are stories of life-and-death situations. Whether it’s kingdoms at war or world-changing floods, these Bible stories invite children to ask big questions about the big, shaking world we see around us today.

2) We’re not sharing them because we expect children to face the exact same problems

I’m not anticipating many children in my Sunday School will be sitting inside a giant fish any time soon or facing a literal giant in borrowed armour! But I do think they may be asked to stand up to bullies, share their faith, or trust God when situations feel overwhelming.

It’s important, however, that we don’t just shrink these epic stories down into sweet sayings — “God helps me be brave” or “God helps me share my faith.” These situations weren’t easy for the people facing them. It was only because of God that giants were defeated and courage was found.

God doesn’t always promise to make things easy — only possible.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”— John 16:33

3) We’re not sharing them because they are perfect examples

A friend recently shared about a student studying the Ten Commandments who asked, “But didn’t Moses murder somebody?” The humans in the Bible are flawed, sinful, messy people. Any success they experience comes from God, and any fresh start comes through Jesus.

The only example in Scripture without mistake is Jesus. We can admire Samuel’s listening ear or Joseph’s trust in God, but we shouldn’t edit their stories to remove the mess. Instead, these moments point us to the brokenness of the world — and to our need for Jesus’ sacrifice so that relationship with God can be restored.

So why do we tell these stories?

Because they tell us about God

We tell these stories, again and again, because they reveal who God is. They are part of a much bigger story — one of love, forgiveness, and God’s greatest act of restoration.

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.”— 2 Timothy 3:16

Next time you prepare a lesson or open a Bible with children, ask yourself:Am I telling the story of humans… or the story of God?

Here at Foundationstones Resources, we’re passionate about building Bible Literacy — helping children understand where individual stories fit into the Big Story of Scripture. Our colour-coded materials and brand new ‘Building Bible Literacy’ book are designed to grow confidence in teachers, so they can help children connect not just with stories or characters, but our living God!  Whatever passage we share, our heart is that children draw closer to God and deeper into relationship with Him.