Oral Bible Storytelling Practicum: Group Preparation, Sharing, and Discovery

This practicum brings together the core skills from earlier sessions—learning a story by heart, using the Wise Counselor Questions, and facilitating discovery—so you can prepare and share a Bible story with another group. The emphasis is on participation: the more you put in, the more you gain. Expect to practice, make mistakes, refine, and try again.

Purpose of the Practicum

  • Integrate the five-step oral storying process with the Wise Counselor Questions in a live group setting. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
  • Practice preparing a “meal” (your story) that can be served to another group—an analogy that highlights the deliberate steps needed for good preparation.
  • Experience cross-group sharing as a form of witness: learn in one group, then send a volunteer “missionary” to tell the story to another group. 

Session Flow at a Glance

  1. Group assignments & passages: each group receives a short Bible text to learn and prepare. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
  2. Story learning (≈15 minutes): learn and rehearse the story aloud, ideally 2–3 passes; today, two passes may be all you can do—quality over quantity.
  3. Treasure-hunting: use Wise Counselor Questions to walk slowly from the start of the story; depth over speed. You likely will not reach the end—and that’s fine. 
  4. Send a storyteller: one volunteer goes to another group (cross-language or cross-room) to share the prepared story. 

Assigned Practice Texts

  • Genesis 1:1–5 — creation’s opening scene (English online group). 
  • 2 Kings 8:1–6 — the Shunammite returns (Estonian online group). 
  • Mark 12:41–44 — the widow’s offering (Russian online group). 
  • Luke 10:38–42 — Martha and Mary (English online group). 

Note: In-person groups will also pair to “evangelize” one another: Estonian ➝ Russian and Russian ➝ Estonian. 

Preparation: From Ingredients to a Meal

Preparing a story is like preparing potatoes well: it takes deliberate steps. Don’t rush the process—peel, cut, season, and cook. In story terms:

  • Peel: pray and read the passage aloud; aim for a clean grasp of the scene.
  • Cut: map the beats (who speaks/acts; where; what changes).
  • Season: add embodiment—voice, pace, gesture, facial expression.
  • Cook: rehearse out loud (twice today is acceptable); refine accuracy and clarity.

Learning the Story (Quick Guide)

  1. Keep an open Bible visible: this signals that the story is God’s Word.
  2. Tell it once naturally; tell it again imagining the scene and using hand motions.
  3. Retell in pairs if the group is shy—lower the barrier to everyone speaking. 

Wise Counselor Questions (Use Slowly, From the Start)

  • What is said? What is done?
  • What choices are made? What other choices were possible?
  • What are the results? (near-term and longer-term)

Go for depth, not distance: it is better to mine the opening verses well than to skim the whole passage thinly. 

Facilitation Tips

  • Participation first: invite every person to contribute; standing/stretching is fine if it helps focus. 
  • Model pace: if the group stalls, briefly supply the factual detail and move on.
  • Set expectations: two passes today are acceptable due to time; in normal practice aim for three or more.
  • Cross-group sharing: prepare one volunteer to tell the story to a partner group as a simple, clear witness. 

Suggested 30–40 Minute Plan

  1. 00:00–02:00 Pray; open Bibles; choose a narrator.
  2. 02:00–12:00 Learn & rehearse (2 passes); pair retells if needed.
  3. 12:00–25:00 Wise Counselor Questions—walk from the beginning slowly; note “treasures.”
  4. 25:00–35:00 Coach a volunteer to tell the story elsewhere (clarity, accuracy, embodiment).
  5. 35:00–40:00 Send the storyteller; debrief on what you learned.

What “Success” Looks Like Today

  • You can tell the assigned story naturally with all essential details.
  • Your group can name at least 3–5 “treasures” (insights) from the opening of the passage.
  • One person is ready to share the story simply with another group. 

Summary

  • This practicum integrates story learning and discovery questions in one exercise.
  • Prepare deliberately (like cooking): pray, map, embody, rehearse—then serve your “meal.”
  • Go slow and deep; accuracy and participation matter more than finishing the whole passage today.
  • Cross-group sharing turns practice into witness: learn, tell, and listen for what God reveals.
Viimati muudetud: neljapÀev, 20. november 2025, 16.16 PM