Preparing to Sketch and Tell a Bible Story

Updated: 17 July 2011

Let the Bible speak for itself

Grow the story out of the Bible text, and grow the sketches from the Bible story. This is far better than bringing a bright idea and trying to find something in the Bible to support it.

Use Lightning Lettering

Put in a few key words (which are the summary of your own study of the Bible text) using Lightning Lettering. This has great visual and memory impact.

Make sure there is some good Bible truth in there!

You should know the 1, 2 or 3 things you hope they will learn from your Bible story. What is the major theme. Do get to know the Bible passage and its truths. When you can run through the passage's key points, and how you will weave words and pictures to tell it, in your head, in bed, in the car, etc. then you are in good shape.

My Method

I find it most helpful to set out the Bible verses for myself (easy if you have the Bible on a computer).
Then I go through verse by verse asking questions - "what is this saying?" "who is it meant for?" "how does this fit in with what has gone before?" (ie, the immediate context) "how does it fit in with the story-line of the Bible?" (God's overall context - the movement from paradise, to the fall, to the promise of a Restorer, and how this unfolds over the centuries till we see the spotlight on Jesus the Christ, the "Sent One").
I write in my thoughts, and any answers to questions that I have
Then I look for the overall pattern, or to say it another way, for the major theme. This is what I aim to teach. I search for key words to use in the story-telling. These are the ones I draw in (using Lightning Lettering. Ideally the words come from the text, but do not be afraid to improvise, as long as the sense of it is maintained.
Finally, I work out the pictures (this should be the last step - it's fine to have some ideas, beforehand, and even some thumbnail sketches, but don't let these get set in concrete - you need to go to the text, as above, first).

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