During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide, Student Page, Family Connection Card, and other resources can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
*If you use the optional image from The Action Bible, save it to use again in Lesson 12.
Unit Introduction: This unit will help children learn how to tell stories. As the children develop storytelling skills, they will be better able to talk about stories from their own lives. This can help them to process trauma and talk about both positive and negative experiences they have had. To give the children examples of how to tell a good story, each lesson begins with the true story from the Bible of Paul’s shipwreck. Once the children have the opportunity to hear a story, they will find more success in telling their own.
It is strongly recommended they draw on paper, cardboard, or another material that can be referenced each week. As children build on their stories, they will be able to practice all of the skills outlined in the lessons. If you have the children draw in the dirt, be prepared for the children’s stories to change each week.
An added learning opportunity: As the children learn the skills they need to tell stories, they will also learn a story from the Bible! Lessons 9–12 each include a version of the story of Paul’s shipwreck. By Lesson 12, most children will be able to share the story of Paul’s shipwreck with others.
For this lesson, you will need to create a place, characters, and something the characters want to do or learn. You will also need to draw a picture of your character and the place where your story will begin.
God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light. God saw that the light was good. He separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day.” He called the darkness “night.” There was evening, and there was morning. It was day one.
Genesis 1:3–5
The beginning of the greatest true story ever told begins with God speaking creation into existence. God’s story is revealed to us over what seems to be a very long time. Every smaller story in the Bible has a purpose. Our own stories should also be told with purpose.
Think of something that has happened to you that led you on a journey. Think about what you learned or how you changed as a result of this event. Try to recall the details of this story. Who was in the story with you? Where were you when this happened? When you take the time to remember your own story, you can increase your understanding of why you do the things you do. Also, it can help you to see how God is moving in your life. God created you, and He knows your journey. Praise God for walking alongside of you through all you will do and everything you will become!
Encourage families to talk with their children about what makes a good story. Ask them to give examples of reasons why they tell stories. Explain to the families that the children are learning about how stories help us to communicate and share our experiences with others.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Greet the children as they enter. Ask them to sit at the front of the space. If you have a Bible, hold it up as you tell the children about God’s great story.
The whole Bible tells God’s great story. Within this large story, there are many small stories told by many good storytellers. The apostle Paul was one of the storytellers of the Bible. In fact, he wrote many of the books of the New Testament. During the next few weeks, we will use 1 story from Paul’s life to help us learn how to tell our own stories. Paul explains that God’s Word is used to teach and to guide our lives.
God has breathed life into all Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right.
2 Timothy 3:16
Today’s true story from the Bible is interesting and exciting, but it is also a story about God’s mercy and Paul’s faith in Him. As I tell the story, listen for the ways Paul showed his faith in God.
Optional: If possible, share the image from The Action Bible.
Our true story from the Bible begins with Paul in front of a court. Paul was being tried because the Jewish leaders said he did wrong things. We do not know the exact details of what the Jewish leaders said, but we do know Paul told the Roman king this:
If possible, read this verse directly from your Bible.
Today I am on trial because of the hope I have. I believe in what God promised our people of long ago.
Acts 26:6
What did Paul say about his faith?
He said it gave him hope. He explained this was why he was on trial.
Paul explained to the king that he used to do everything he could to go against those who believed in Jesus. He put people in prison and wanted them to be punished. Paul himself had arrested and punished Christians before hearing Jesus’ voice and being humbled by Him. Paul’s experience gave him hope. He told the king about his mission to teach others about Jesus.
After the king heard Paul speak, he sent Paul to Rome. There, Paul would speak with Caesar, who was the ruler of the whole empire. To get to Rome, Paul would need to take a boat. Paul boarded the boat with other prisoners. The leader of the ship was a Roman commander named Julius. The Bible tells us Julius was kind to Paul. Listen to what happened on their journey.
A lot of time had passed. Sailing had already become dangerous. By now it was after the Day of Atonement, a day of fasting. So Paul gave them a warning. “Men,” he said, “I can see that our trip is going to be dangerous. The ship and everything in it will be lost. Our own lives will be in danger also.”
Acts 27:9–10
What did Paul say would be a problem for the men on the ship?
Their trip would be dangerous. The ship would be lost. The men’s lives would be in danger.
How would you feel if you were on the ship and Paul said this to you?
Allow 2–3 children to respond.
We will hear more about Paul’s shipwreck story the next time we meet. Let’s do some activities to help us begin to create our own stories.
Have the children sit in their normal places for the Teaching part of the lesson.
Stories help us to tell others about our experiences, what we have learned from them, and in what ways we have changed as a result of them. Stories also help us to understand the emotions we feel as we go through a situation. This is why it is important to know how to tell a story.
To begin a story, we need to gather a few important details:
Let’s begin with the last detail. What event leads to the action the characters will experience? This may be a problem or challenge the character experiences, and it causes them to do something to begin the action of the story.
In Paul’s story, Paul had just been arrested, and he wanted Caesar to hear what he had to say about it. This caused Paul to go on a boat that got stuck in a very bad storm. Paul never spoke to Caesar, but this is the event that began his journey. Some journeys physically move a character from 1 place to another while others cause the character to grow and change without leaving his home. Planning a story can be like planning a journey. You need to start with where you want the story to end.
Think about an event that happened in your life and caused you to learn, grow, or change in some way. Maybe you learned something from a problem. Maybe a challenge you faced led to an experience or adventure. You can create a story using this event or an event you think of using your imagination.
Give the children 30 seconds to think about an event that could lead to a journey. Then help them find partners. Allow them to discuss their ideas with their partners for about 1–2 minutes.
If you are not sure yet what event will lead to a journey in your story, you may continue thinking about it as we talk about the other important details needed to begin a story.
Next, let’s talk about characters. Characters can be real people, people from your imagination, animals, objects, and even places!
Who are the characters in the story of Paul’s shipwreck?
Paul, Julius, and other prisoners are characters in the story.
God is also part of Paul’s true story. God set Paul on his journey, and He helps Paul throughout this story.
Show the children the picture of the character or characters you created before class. Tell the children about this person or these people.
Let’s take a moment to create characters for your own stories. Who will go on the journey you are creating? You need a main character. This will be the person who the story is mostly about. You may only have a main character, or you may also create other characters. Maybe your main character argues with another character, or maybe 1 or more characters are needed to help your main character do something in the story. I will give you a moment to draw your characters.
Give each child a space in the dirt and a stick or paper and a crayon or pencil. Allow them to draw their characters. After 2–3 minutes, ask the children to finish drawing their characters. Give them another 30 second to 1 minute to finish drawing.
Now that you have characters for your story, you need a place for your story to happen. In Paul’s story, he began in a courtroom and then boarded a ship on the sea. Your story could happen in 1 place or many places. Let’s start where your characters will begin the story.
Talk about where your story will take place. Draw some details to show this place. If it is outside, for example, you may draw water, mountains, trees, or other details to show where the characters are.
You may want to think of somewhere you have been and use that as the place for your story. Or, you could create a place using thoughts and ideas from your imagination. On your paper, draw details to show where your story will begin.
Give the children 2 minutes to draw the places where their stories will happen.
Great! Let’s all bring our stories as we sit together in a circle.
Optional: If you are using Student Pages, you may have children draw the beginnings of their stories on the pages instead of on a blank paper.
Now that you have thought about your own characters, what event will lead to their journey, and a place, it is time to create the beginning of your story. In a moment, you will draw your characters and what happens to them at the beginning of your story. Be sure to only draw the beginning of the story. We will talk about the rest of the story in the next class.
If you are using paper or cardboard, have the children use the other side of the paper or cardboard the children drew their characters and places on. Help the children fold or draw lines on their material so they have 4 sections to write in. They will turn their papers or cardboard pieces over to the side that is blank. Select 1 section of the paper or cardboard for the beginning of the story. Show this to the children. If you are using a space in the dirt, have the children erase their first drawings and use the same space for this activity. Allow the children to begin drawing what will happen at the beginning of their stories.
After about 2 minutes, ask the children to add more details. They could add details that show the plants or buildings in the place where the story happens. Or they could add details that show more about their characters. Allow about 2–3 minutes for the children to finish their drawings.
Wonderful! Now turn to a child sitting next to you. I will give you 2 minutes to share the beginning of your story with your partner. Be sure to include some of the details you drew in your pictures.
After 1 minute, let the children know it is time for the other partners to share if they have not yet begun to share. Walk around the space and listen to the children tell their stories. If the children drew pictures on paper, write or have the children write their names on their papers. Collect the papers and put them somewhere they can be handed out in the next lesson.
You are creating some very interesting stories. Stories are important. They help us learn about others and about life. The Bible is God’s big story that begins with the true story of creation. Our memory verse today tells us we can find stories all around us.
If you are using the Memory Verse Poster, show it to the students.
The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies show that his hands created them.
Psalm 19:1
Say this verse with expression. Have the children repeat this with you 3 times.
End class by saying this blessing, based on 2 Timothy 3:16, over the children.
Blessing: May you trust that your story is part of a greater story. May you trust that God can help you with stories just as you can help others with your own stories.
Lead the children in singing this quarter’s song, if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
