How to Tell a Children’s Bible Story: Tips from a Master Storyteller

Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes

We’ve all been there. You open a Bible story at bedtime or in a classroom, and within two minutes, your young audience is looking out of the window or asking when snack time is.

It’s easy to feel like you need to be a professional actor to keep a child’s attention. But at Eden, we believe that anyone can share God’s Word with joy and impact. To help you tell a story that won’t be forgotten by lunchtime, here are four rules:

Love the Story First

"You can't tell a story that you don't love.” - Bob Hartman

The passion you feel for the truth and message of a Bible story will resonate in the way you tell it. If you find a story boring or confusing, your child will too.

Take some time to discover the “wow” factor before you read it aloud. Discover which bits excite you, surprise you or make you smile. Zone in on those, and your voice and face will naturally come to life, and your children will follow your lead.

Make it Stick

To help your children succeed in understanding and remembering the Bible, try these three techniques used by the pros:

1. Engage the Senses (The "Sound and Action" Method) Stories aren't just for our ears. Bob Hartman often builds retellings around sounds, like the "log-sawing" snores of a jailer or the "splashing" of water during a baptism.

• The Plan: Ask your kids to make the sound of the wind during the Great Flood, march around the walls of Jericho or to "swish and flap" like the birds during Creation.
• Top Tool: Bob Hartman’s Rhyming Bible is perfect for this, as the rhythm and rhymes naturally invite kids to join in.

2. Look for the "Struggle" We relate most to people who are facing a problem. Instead of just telling a list of facts, highlight what the characters were feeling. Was David scared of the giant? Was Peter sad when he let Jesus down?

• The Plan: Ask, "How do you think they felt?" or “how do you feel when someone ignores you?” This helps kids see that Bible characters were real people with real feelings, just like them.

3. Use the "Surprise Bag" Visuals are a hero tool for storytelling. Place a few items related to the story, such as a stone, a piece of bread, or a small toy sheep, into a bag or box.

• The Plan: Pull out one item at a time as you tell the story. The suspense of what is coming next will keep even the most energetic toddler focused. You could even ask for volunteers to discover what is inside the bag.

Choosing Your Storytelling Tool

For different ages, we recommend different guides:

• For Toddlers (Ages 0-3): Look for bright, short retellings with captivating pictures, such as The Usborne Children’s Bible.
• For Primary Kids (Ages 5-9): The Lion Storytelling Bible is a classic for a reason. Bob Hartman shares his best tips and tricks for epic storytelling.
• For the Aspiring Guide: Want to hone your Bible storytelling craft more? Anyone Can Tell a Bible Story by Bob Hartman is a training manual and resource all in one, featuring over 35 stories to practice on.

Respect the Clock

Remember, a child’s attention span is usually about 1 minute per year of age. If you have a five-year-old, aim for a five-minute story. It is much better to leave them wanting more than to have them "tune out" because the story is too long.

By following these simple steps, you are doing more than just reading a book. You are planting seeds of faith and showing your child that God’s Word is the most exciting story ever told.

Ready to find your next story? Find Bible Stories for Kids at Eden today.