The Bible Story Handbook

The Bible Story Handbook: A Resource for Teaching 175 Stories from the Bible is a relatively new release from Crossway Books. It is, as it says, a resource book. It caught my attention primarily because we're "in the zone" of telling Bible stories to our children and I love making good use of good resources. Coming from Crossway, I figured this was a safe bet.

Authors John H. Walton & Kim E. Walton put together this resource to aid in teaching children to know God through the stories. In the (lengthy) introduction - Why Do We Teach Bible Stories? - they discuss the fact that Bible stories and curriculum today focus primarily on teaching facts or drawing personal applications frequently unrelated to God and His character. This concerned them enough that they wanted to put this book together. Mostly, the authors are addressing Sunday School teachers and pastors in this book, assuming that they will be the primary audience. That may be true but I find it equally helpful as a parent as parents are the ones who front the large majority of their children's questions.

The Waltons aren't all together slamming the use of curriculum in Sunday School classrooms, but they are cautioning total reliance on it and using it just because that is "what is always done." They challenge the teachers to focus more on scriptures and less on prepared papers that tend to ignore discussions of the greatness of God, instead focusing on things like friendship, learning about the world around you, etc.

As the title suggests, they cover 175 Bible stories, beginning with the Creation and ending pretty much with Acts. (They have one lesson concerning Revelations but that's it.) Each lesson includes the following 7 elements to help the teacher as they relay scriptures:

• Focus of the story
• Theme of the story
• Application
• Place in the Bible
• Interpretation issues
• Historical and Cultural Background
• Mistakes to Avoid

I think the interpretation issues in particular are worth noting. Find a Christian without a strong opinion on any given topic and, well, I'd be kinda worried actually. Take for instance the issue of creation. The authors note that there are many opinions as to the length of days in question, how much God created or what He may have set in motion, etc. Honestly, this really rankles me in some ways. I'd rather the authors make a decisive declaration in some direction. (I'm a black-n-white kinda gal.) I can understand why they would present the information telling the teacher what is not necessary to cover in some in-depth level, education-wise, with a toddler. I can also see how many people would find it helpful to understand some of the pitfalls and fall-outs they might encounter if they take a sharp stand on particular interpretations. (This does not mean I am not going to interpret the Creation story in one particular way. Because I do.) However, for classroom purposes, I get the point of the explanation. (It does raise some additional questions in my head about pastoral oversight and firm doctrine but that's a whole 'nother issue.)

I did appreciate several of the author's statements that they make in their introduction. Instead of explaining them myself, I'll just use quotes.

When speaking of their desire that shared/taught Bible stories not be focused on the individual characters in scripture or personal applications that we think ought to be made, the authors say the following:

"This is not to say that Scripture's teaching has nothing to do with human characters. The authors of the Bible note Abraham's faith and Job's righteousness. Though we certainly desire to emulate these commendable examples, they must not take the focus off God. Each of these narratives seeks to reveal something about God. The characters are the witnesses that testify to God's work, in their lives and circumstances, to His nature as He interacts with them, and to His plan. They point us to Him; that is their role. The problem with teaching about the "heroes and heroines of the Bible" is that the hero of the Bible is God. All people have flaws, even at their best. We dare not obscure the view of God to elevate human heroes." (Why Do We Teach Bible Stories, page 21)

And this quote is just fantastic:

"The teacher's task in application is to recognize and communicate Scripture's relevance rather than to make Scripture relevant." (Why Do We Teach Bible Stories, page 23)

I think The Bible Story Handbook is an interesting and useful tool and I would be curious to see what would happen if some churches would pick it up and discuss it with their staff and Sunday School teachers. I wonder how much it would revolutionize and change Sunday School programs. (And I also wonder how much it would have to, in particular churches.) In the meantime, as a parent, I find it useful and helpful in continuing to answer questions for my children.

Thanks, Crossway Books, for sending a copy of this my way to check out!