What does it mean to be a Christian?

Lucy Moore

Introduction:

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 version of Ephesians 1:3-10. Ideally you should tell this without a script - there's not much to learn and the visuals will help you remember it all. Tell it very slowly and deliberately, keeping your attention focused on the visuals as you lay them out. Give the children space to listen to what the story is saying to them. When you have finished telling the story, leave a short space and then use the wondering questions written out for you at the end of the piece.

Preparation:

For this presentation you will need the following items, choosing or making 3-D objects that are both simple and attractive:

• a nice gift box to hold all the materials
• a red heart shape, about 75cm long made from card, wrapping paper or felt. (I found three squares of felt cut into three thirds of a heart worked well and had Trinitarian overtones!)
• a basket with about ten people figures in it - 'Godly Play' people of God, or Lego/Playmobil or cut-outs from card
• a nightlight and matches

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.

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.

Print out the verses and divide them up into sections ready for some follow-up.

You can find the passage in a number of translations and versions at www.biblegateway.com.

Development:

1.
Some people try to tell us what God is like through words. Paul was trying to explain to some Christians just how much God loved them, so he wrote them a letter. He wrote:

2.
God our Father loves you so much!

Lay out a big red heart.

He chose you before he even made the world.

Pick out five figures from the basket and place them on the heart in a circle.

3.
He chose you to be holy.

Place a lit nightlight on the heart among the figures.

He chose you as his adopted daughters and sons.

Kiss your finger and touch each figure.

So you can have all the good things that come from being princes and princesses with Jesus in God's kingdom.

4.
Together with Jesus... you can cuddle up close to God.

Cup your hands around the figures.

When you do something wrong,

Blow out the candle.

God will put it right

Relight it.

... and God lets you into his secret plans.

Bring out four more figures from the basket and place them in the circle of figures on the heart.

5.
Now allow some time and space for thinking about this. You could ask some questions like the ones below. Remember that some children will prefer to keep their thoughts to themselves and shouldn't be forced to share out loud. In the questions, you may like to find out the children's view of what they would like the world to know about God and how the church can share this.

I wonder what do you like best about God?

Touch the heart.

I wonder what Christians like best about being a son or daughter of God?

Touch a figure on the heart.

I wonder what would you like other people/children to know about God?

Pick out a figure still in the basket.

I wonder what Christians could do to let others know this about God?

I wonder what the church can do to let others know this about God?