The Stories We Show

When I first started telling Bible stories, I was doing it for 4-9 year olds in children’s church. Now, as you may know, children are renowned for their inability to sit still. They’re a noisy, wiggling, thoroughly distracted audience, the toughest of crowds to please. In order to keep their attention, I had to take it by force, so I learned to be the loudest, most engaging storyteller I could be. I used every visual I could lay my hands on. If an army was rushing into battle, I’d bring my sword and wave it (ever so safely) around. If Peter’s feet were being washed, I was down on my knees washing wiggly little feet. If a blind man shouted, so did I. And when the Pharisees grumbled, I put on the haughtiest show of all.

And you know what? The kids loved it. They ate it up. They rarely, if ever, complained when story time came around. And, though little bodies will always wiggle, their eyes were on me.

But at some point down the line, I got fooled. I was told that tactics like these only applied to children, that when a child hits teenage years they suddenly stop enjoying oral storytelling and prefer lectures. Teenagers no longer have any compunction to wiggle. They’re developed enough to sit quietly, take notes, and learn from them.

Well, now that I’ve seen a little more of the world, I can see that this does apply to some teenagers, but certainly not to all. The average youth has as many wiggles as a small child does. They still have tons of pent up energy. And down in their hearts, they still have a love for stories. And a desperate need for them, too.

At our recent Storytelling Camp in March, my role was that of the Bible storyteller. My job was to tell one of Jesus’ parables each day to a group of youth (mostly boys), who would then discuss the story simply with the leaders on our team. The first day of camp I used visuals, simple stick-figure pictures that outlined the story of the Good Samaritan. On the second day, I used stick-figures again, but drew them in real-time as I told the story. Finally, on the third day, I drew a few pictures for reference before acting out the story of the Prodigal Son. I made a point of using regular language, not stilted Bible-speak, for the benefit of the students and translator. As the Prodigal, I demanded my inheritance, took the money given, and spent it all on friends and parties. I seriously contemplated eating pig slop, before snatching at the idea of returning home as my father’s servant. And when I, now acting as the father, saw my son coming home? I dashed across the stage, grabbed my son up in a hug and swung him around in joy.

And the youth? They didn’t mock me. They weren’t bored. I had all their attention. And they were touched, because adults don’t usually display emotion, real, strong, raw emotion, when they teach. And while children are entertained, youth are impacted. Because they have a deeper grasp of what these emotions mean. And they desperately need to know that these emotions aren’t a farce, but starkly, wonderful real. There is a Father who runs for them, no matter what. Who throws them a party. Who receives the lost with joy. No matter how many older brothers grumble and complain, the Father doesn’t stop the celebration. His noisy, wiggling, thoroughly distracted child has finally come home.

So don’t be fooled, as I was. Continue to both tell and show the young people around you how much they are loved. Let them see Jesus in the raw reality of your life, and hear him in the sincerity of your stories. They might not listen perfectly, but they can and will be touched.

About the author: Caity Lucchi started telling Bible stories as a teenager and never stopped. As an adult she left her home in Iowa to go “on mission” with her husband and two young children in the Czech Republic. She loves being able to share her passion for Jesus stories in the Czech Republic and across Europe. In her free time, Caity enjoys writing, traveling, learning new languages, and caring for her new lawn and garden.

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