There are few things more fulfilling than to watch a child begin to grasp an aspect of life in the Kingdom of God, and see their face light up when they begin to encounter Jesus. As parents strive to ignite a love for the Bible, helping the next generation navigate what feels like a limitless landscape of scripture can be daunting. How does one ensure that they are not just receiving the Bible’s highlights, but rather a comprehensive understanding of God’s story--the whole counsel of God’s scripture?
The call to teach the "whole counsel of God" finds its roots in the book of Acts. Here, Paul writes in his letter to the Ephesian elders, in Acts 20:27 "I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole counsel of God." Paul is imploring the elders in Ephesus to present a coordinated picture of God's character. How do believers accomplish sharing the whole counsel of God, from Genesis to Revelation, with the next generation today? In God’s Big Picture Bible Storybook, author N.T. Wright sets out to accomplish this goal in a fun and creative way.
While some say that children’s pastors should shy away from "difficult" passages, there are convincing reasons for welcoming the whole story. First, it allows for the possibility of building a solid spiritual foundation. When leaders teach our children the entirety of scripture, it equips them with a foundational understanding of the nature of God. His love. His compassion. His wrath. His mercy. His grace. All of it allows them to see the Bible as a unified message, not a collection of disconnected stories.
If the whole counsel of God is presented within our children’s ministerial programs, children will learn how the Bible helps them to navigate complex issues like suffering, forgiveness, and temptation. Exploring these topics prayerfully and thoughtfully gives kids a chance to navigate life’s challenges with a biblical worldview.
In God’s Big Picture Bible Storybook, Wright attempts to make the whole counsel of God feel accessible to the young mind, with an emphasis on God’s faithfulness and drawing attention to God’s plan of restoration. The book shares Jesus’s message of hope as children navigate a complicated world. God’s Big Picture Bible Storybook uses a chronological approach to help children understand the flow of God's redemptive story from beginning to end, using age-appropriate language without compromising the message. Through 140 Bible stories showing the connections to God’s faithful promises, this book will be a captivating resource that offers a unique approach to introducing children to the story of God.
5 ways to use God’s Big Picture Bible Storybook in your Children's Ministry
- Storytelling: The book shares over 140 captivating stories. Some of them are our familiar Vacation Bible School favorites, like Noah's Ark and David and Goliath. Others are lesser-known scriptural treasures. When teaching these stories, integrate the scripture that is highlighted on each page. Show your children how the stories draw our attention to the bigger picture.
- Thematic Exploration: Choose a central theme, such as God’s faithfulness or redemption. There are a variety of biblical stories that illustrate various themes, reinforcing the concept presented in each story.
- Interactive Activities: Create timelines, charts, or illustrations that visually represent the connections between stories. Encourage children to participate actively in finding these connections.
- Connect to Everyday Life: Help children see how the Bible's overarching themes are relevant to their lives (i.e.- friendships, schoolwork, life at home, etc.).
- Equip your kids to explore: Embracing the “big picture” approach to children’s ministry and empowering young people to seek God on their own is key. This is monumental to the foundation of children’s lifelong journey with Jesus. Revealing the big picture of Scripture through engaging storytelling, interactive activities, and relevant application will spark a lifelong love for God's Word in their hearts.
God's Big Picture Bible Storybook is more than just a children's book. Its purpose is to illuminate the connective thread within scripture for our kids. By equipping children with a biblical narrative, parents and leaders empower them to feel confident in saying “yes” to having a lifelong adventure with Jesus. This book will hopefully become a ministry tool that ushers in a sense of wonder for kids of all ages. May it leave them eager to discover the next piece of their faith puzzle.