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Many teachers have found the reflective style of storytelling that has been developed within Godly Play to be a very helpful and effective way of opening up the Bible with children. For similar stories told in this style see Bible Storybags.
The following story is a reflective way of telling
a 'poem' from part of Paul's letter to the Colossians, chapter 1. Paul is
trying to explain what Christians think about Jesus. It can be quite hard to
focus on what Paul is saying in his letters, especially for visual learners, so
this uses objects to help communicate the message.
The original Bible passage can be found in Colossians 1:15-20. Present it using three-dimensional materials. You will need:
The blue circle represents things in heaven; the
green one represents things on earth, the gold one represents things visible
and there is an invisible one that you mime laying out, which represents things
invisible.
1. Gather the class in a semicircle, using a back row of benches or chairs if necessary so that all the children can see the following presentation of the story clearly.
2. Tell the story slowly and simply, using the words below and focusing on the story rather than the children. When you have finished telling the story, leave a short space and then use the suggested wondering questions and activities.
3. Print out the verses and divide them up into sections ready for the follow-up.
You can find the passage in a number of translations and versions at www.biblegateway.com.
4. You will also need felts, crayons or paints and some large sheets of paper or card.
Here is the story to tell:
Spread out the black underlay.
Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the
firstborn over all creation.
Place mirror in the centre of the underlay.
For by him all things were created: things in heaven
and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or
authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
Place circles of felt at four corners - blue,
green, gold, and one invisible one to be mimed, then touch each in turn for the
thrones, powers, rulers and authorities that are present in each of these four
dimensions.
He is before all things and in him all things hold
together.
Draw out silver ribbon to encircle the four
circles.
And he is the head of the body, the church.
Place darker circles on top of the four other
circles to show the church in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.
He is the beginning and the firstborn from among
the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Place the cross in front of the mirror.
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell
in him and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on
earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the
cross.
Place four pieces of red ribbon leading from the
cross to the circles.
Activity and
follow-up ideas
Encourage everyone to go into groups and to a table
where they should find a piece of this poem. As a group, can they illustrate their
part of the poem using crayons, felt tips or paints and large sheets of card or
paper?
Allow 15 to 20
minutes for the groups to create together, then bring them back to the front
and give speakers from each group the chance to talk about what they have
produced.
Use the thoughts from the groups as a basis for
some quiet reflection:
I wonder why these verses are so important for
Christians?
I wonder what new things about Jesus you have discovered in this poem?
I wonder what you still find puzzling in this story?
I wonder which part of the passage you liked the best?
I wonder what sort of music would go best with this poem?
I wonder what else Christians might like to say about Jesus in a poem like
this?
I wonder what sort of poem you would write about Jesus?
