In part 1 of Empowering God's Kids we learned about the power of storytelling. At the end of that post, I left you with a challenge to make yourself available to your church as a storyteller. I hope you've at least given it some thought!
Storytelling Tips:
Feeling a bit nervous? Most people I talk to about storytelling say, "I'm not a good storyteller." Don't worry! It’s more about connecting well than about being a great performer.
Know Your Little Listeners
Beginners (Ages 1-4): Keep it short and sweet! Focus on simple stories about God's love, kindness, and care (like Noah's Ark, Jesus blessing the children). Use colourful pictures, board books, or felt boards. Let them get involved. Ask them to make animal sounds or do simple actions.
Kindergarten (Ages 5-8): You can tell slightly longer stories with clear heroes and simple lessons (David and Goliath, Daniel and the Lions). Ask simple questions like, "What did David use to fight Goliath?" or "How do you think Daniel felt?" Connect stories to their experiences: "If we see someone hurt, like the man in the Good Samaritan story, what should we do?"
Primary/Juniors (Ages 9-12): They can handle more complex stories and think about why characters made certain choices. Discuss moral dilemmas and how these stories apply to their lives at school or with friends.
Tell It from the Heart
Eye contact is key. Look at the children as you speak. It helps them feel connected.
Use your voice. Change your tone for different characters or exciting parts. Whisper for secrets, get louder for shouts!
Show emotion. If the story is happy, smile! If it's serious, let your face show it. Your expressions help them understand the feelings in the story.
Sit with them. Get down on their level if you can. It makes it more personal.
Keep it Simple and Focused
Have one main point. Don’t try to teach too many things at once. Pick one important message you want them to remember from the story.
Short stories are often best. Especially for younger children, 5-7 minutes is a good length. You can always tell another story another time!
Make it Interactive and Fun!
Ask questions. "What do you think happened next?" "How would you feel if you were there?"
Use actions and sounds. Have them roar like a lion, march like a soldier, or make wind sounds.
Props are great. A simple blue cloth can be the Sea of Galilee, a shepherd's staff can be a stick. You don’t need fancy things! Even simple costumes can bring characters to life.
Repeat key phrases or verses. Have them say a short Bible verse with you.
Win their Hearts
Connect to Their World. Help children see how the story relates to their own lives. "David was brave. When do you need to be brave?" Listen to their answers and reply to them. This makes the Bible feel real and relevant and makes the child who spoke up feel valued.
Explain things patiently and simply. Children do not understand things the way we do. Their little brains are still developing those pathways. They may not get every detail right away, but you are planting seeds. Repetition is the second best teacher. Storytelling is the first! So repetition in a story is a very powerful thing indeed!
Tell stories often and willingly. Try to make storytelling a regular part of your time with children, both at home and at church. When children know you as “The Storyteller” you’ll be amazed how easily and often they will engage with you. I am often approached by kids and asked for more details about a story, to tell them a new story or just waved at from afar. Children love those who speak into their lives.
You Can Do This! Yes, YOU!
I know you can become a great storyteller because I have seen many people, with many different excuses, learn to love storytelling to children. Maybe you’re thinking one of these things:
"I could never do that in front of people at church." Try it out. You’ll be surprised by three things. The kids are very engaged and easily grab your focus. The adults are very supportive and love what you are doing. You will be proud of yourself afterwards. It’s a win for the kids, a win for the adults, and a win for you. Everybody wins!
"I don't know enough stories." Your willingness and love are what matter most. You will have plenty of time before each storytelling time to prepare your story.
"I'm not a 'natural' storyteller." There are two answers to this one. Nobody is and everybody is. We all tell stories. Every conversation you have is likely to have a story in it about something that happened, something that was said, or someone you know. Performance storytelling, however, is an art that develops with time and experience. Storytelling is a skill you will get better at with practice.
"I don't know the Bible stories well enough." Start with the stories you know and love. Prepare ahead of time and you can craft a new story at your own pace. Your genuine love of children will shine through. If you give them time, they will love you.
“I don’t know which story to tell.” Ask the preacher of the day for their topic and key verse. I do this every time I tell a children’s story for church. Tell a story that prepares the children (and the listening audience!) for the sermon to come.
"What if the kids get restless?" It happens! Don’t be afraid to gently bring their attention back. The goal is engagement, not perfect silence.
God’s Storytellers
The Bible is full of amazing stories—stories of God’s incredible love, His mighty power, His interesting people and His wonderful plans for us. These stories are waiting to be shared with the precious children in our lives and in our church.
You are a storyteller. We all are. Every story we tell shapes us and those we share it with. That’s a righteous responsibility! The epic story of redemption is only effective when we combine our personal story with the Biblical narrative. God’s storytellers will prepare the world for His return. Focus your storytelling on growing God’s Kingdom and you will naturally combine your story and the Bible stories. You are God’s storyteller. Tell it well. Tell it often!
Marlon Walters recently interviewed me on Upward Way, an interview-style show aired on Adventist World Radio. In this video, I’ve excerpted my testimony from the hour-long podcast.
During life’s journey, our story grows with us. This is mine, as it is today!
Have you ever seen a child’s eyes light up as you tell them a story? It’s magical! Stories have a special way of reaching deep into the heart. And when those stories come from the Bible they carry eternal purpose.
There are many storytelling opportunities in every church. Offer to tell the children’s story during a worship service. Volunteer to help in a children's class. Share stories with your children or grandchildren at home. Telling stories to children regularly makes a huge difference in their spiritual journey and your storytelling skills!
Why Do Bible Stories Matter So Much?
Jesus taught using stories, parables and illustrations. He knew that stories make big ideas easier to understand and remember. When we share Bible stories with children:
Children connect to stories emotionally. Kids don’t just hear the facts, they feel the story. They imagine being David while facing Goliath or Daniel in the lion's den. This emotional connection helps them remember the lessons better than just being told what to do. For example, a child will understand obedience and faith more deeply through the story of Moses receiving the 10 Commandments than by just memorising 10 rules.
Stories teach big truths in simple ways. Bible stories show God’s love, kindness and care in action. Stories teach children important values like honesty, forgiveness, courage and compassion in a way that makes sense to them. A child who hears about the Good Samaritan is inspired to be kinder to their classmates.
Stories build a strong faith foundation. Bible stories are the building blocks of your children’s spiritual lives. They learn who God is, how much He loves us, and how He designed us to live.
Children learn to apply the Bible to their lives. Bible Stories help bridge the gap between the ancient words of the Bible and your children's everyday world. Hearing about characters who faced challenges and trusted God helps them courageously face their own fears.
God’s Storytelling Family
You have a unique and powerful role to play. You know the children in your life better than anyone. When you tell them stories, they stick. Storytelling is a time of connection, love, and shared faith. Your stories combined with Bible stories speak into your children’s lives - giving them stories to live by.
Storytime is a time to create precious moments. Sharing your stories creates warm, lasting memories. Imagine your grandchild snuggled beside you, listening intently as you tell them about baby Moses in the basket or Jesus calming the storm. These are moments that build not just faith but also strong family bonds.
Storytime is a time to pass on your faith. This is how faith has been passed down for generations. When you share sacred stories, you are giving a precious gift – the story of God’s love and the stories of His people.
Storytime reinforces what they are learning at church. What children hear from you at home or in a quiet moment at church can beautifully reinforce what they learn in Sabbath School or during the children’s story time in the main service.
Storytime is a time for you to be a living example! When children see these stories are important to you they take them to heart more naturally. You are modelling a life of faith.
A Legacy of Faith
You can help your children and the children in your church connect with God by being involved in storytelling. Telling Bible stories is one of the most wonderful things you can do for your own faith and the faith development of those who listen. Telling a story for worship at home, the Children’s story in the church service or teaching in one of the children’s Sabbath School classes plants seeds of faith that will grow for a lifetime.
When family members like you step up to share Bible stories, it does more than just bless the children. It strengthens the whole church community. Children feel seen, valued, and truly part of the church family when adults take the time to share God’s Word with them in a way they understand. Telling Bible stories to children is a beautiful act of discipleship, following Jesus’ example when He said, "Let the little children come to me".
So, take a deep breath, say a little prayer, and start your storytelling adventure today! You have a wonderful gift to give. Fill the hearts of children with the timeless, life-changing stories of faith in God’s Word. Then, as they grow up, watch the church blossom with new life as your well-storied children step into faithful leadership in God’s Kingdom!
Performed at Lilydale Adventist Church - May 3, 2025
To prepare for this children’s story I had a chat with Gemini Deep Research about wisdom in the Bible for Children. Then, when considering a way to illustrate the point, an illustration of Tom Wright’s came to mind.
Angled Mirrors
Tom Wright’s mirror illustration can be found here:
Gemini Deep Research
Context: This well-known parable serves as the powerful conclusion to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7), His most extensive recorded teaching. Having laid out the principles of life in God's kingdom, Jesus uses this story to emphasize the critical importance of not just hearing His words, but actively putting them into practice.
Wisdom Demonstrated: Obedience to God's Word: The core of wisdom, as taught here, is active obedience. It's not enough to simply hear or agree with Jesus; true wisdom is demonstrated by doing what He says.
Building on a Solid Foundation: Wisdom involves choosing the right basis for one's life. Building on the "rock" of Christ's teachings provides enduring stability and security against life's inevitable challenges.
Foresight/Long-Term Perspective: The wise builder anticipates future difficulties (storms) and prepares by choosing a solid foundation, demonstrating prudence. The foolish builder likely chooses the easier, quicker path (sand) without considering the potential consequences.
Suitability for Children: The house-building analogy is simple, visual, and easily understood by children. It creates a clear distinction between the wise choice (hearing and doing) and the foolish choice (hearing but not doing). It practically illustrates the importance of obedience and grounding one's life in Jesus' teachings for strength and stability. The existence of a popular children's song based on this parable also aids familiarity and recall.
Further Considerations: The crucial difference between the two builders lies in their actions – doing versus not doing what they heard. This emphasizes that biblical wisdom is fundamentally active, requiring participation and application, not just passive reception of information. This has direct implications for teaching, suggesting that lessons should always aim for practical life application. Furthermore, the consequence for the foolish builder is severe – a "great fall," signifying complete destruction. Within the context of Matthew's Gospel, this points strongly towards the irreversible consequences of the final judgment. This highlights that the choice between the wisdom of obedience and the folly of disobedience is not trivial but carries ultimate, eternal weight.
Family Worship - 2025 Adventist Big Camp - Victoria, Australia
For Family Worship at Vic Big Camp 2025, each morning, I presented a segment of the story of Naaman. Taking time to pull apart the Naaman story was enlightening for me as a storyteller. There’s so much to the story!
It was also Easter weekend, so at the end of each session I tied the story of Naaman into the story of Jesus by talking about the t-shirt I was wearing each day (they lined up with the Jesus, Sabbath, Resurrection and Eternity).
I really enjoyed the opportunity to explore a single Bible story in depth. By slowing it down, we explored multiple teaching points. Here are the four Bible storytelling sessions.
I cheat you of your God-given destiny … because you demand your own way.
I cheat you of contentment … because you “deserve better than this.”
I cheat you of knowledge … because you already know it all.
I cheat you of healing … because you’re too full of me to forgive.
I cheat you of holiness … because you refuse to admit when you’re wrong.
I cheat you of vision … because you’d rather look in the mirror than out a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship … because nobody’s going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love … because real romance demands sacrifice.
I cheat you of greatness in heaven … because you refuse to wash another’s feet on earth.
I cheat you of God’s glory … because I convince you to seek your own.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
You like me because you think I’m always looking out for you. Untrue.
I’m looking to make a fool of you.
God has so much for you, I admit, but don’t worry …
If you stick with me you’ll never know.
- From Beth Moore’s 2009 book: “Praying God’s Word: Breaking Free from Spiritual Strongholds”.
Pride is the great destroyer of all you were meant to be. Pride is the cloak Lucifer wore when he put on his Satan Skin. Pride always goes before the fall. In Heaven. In the Garden. In me. And in you.
Pride is untruth. Falsehood. It makes you look good when you are not. It fools you in order to make a fool of you.
Pride is everywhere today. It is the founding principle for many of the pursuits we call success. So what is the cure? Is there a remedy for pride?
Humility
A thousand years ago, Bernard of Clairvaux wrote a treatise, On the Steps of Humility and Pride, in which he comments, “Christ had all the virtues. But although he had them all, he especially commended one of them to us in himself, that of humility, when he said, ‘Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly of heart’ (Mt 11:29).” He could have chosen any virtue, for he possessed them all in perfect measure, but Jesus singled out humility as the primary one we are to learn from him.
So what is humility? At its heart, humility is a form of self-knowledge. The German philosopher Dietrich von Hildebrand defines humility as “the habit of living in the truth.” In opposition to the inflated self of pride, humility is a reality check of the way things really are. It is a recognition of the truth about ourselves, God, and everything else.
We live in a world that values pride. We idolize people who live above needing others. They are gods among us. Or, so we are told. But we know better. Pride is the swagger in the stride of those who walk darkened paths. So, how do we walk in humility while living in this world? Can we avoid pride?
Let’s read about a man who was able to rise to great heights without falling to pride. What can we learn from him about humility?
Prayer – Let’s pray before we open the Bible.
John 1:19–27“This was John’s testimony when the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?” He didn’t deny it but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” “What then?” they asked him. “Are you Elijah?” “I am not,” he said. “Are you the Prophet?” “No,” he answered. “Who are you, then?” they asked. “We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What can you tell us about yourself?” He said, “I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord—just as Isaiah the prophet said.” Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. So they asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you aren’t the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?” “I baptize with water,” John answered them. “Someone stands among you, but you don’t know him. He is the one coming after me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie.” ”
John the Baptist had a clear understanding of his role as a witness to Christ. Despite having his own disciples and hundreds of people who came to hear him, follow him and be baptized by him, John remained humble and redirected the attention to Jesus.
How did John the Baptist do this? How did he keep a humble heart and not be overwhelmed by pride? He had a very simple strategy. Self-knowledge. He knew who he was. He KNEW his place. He was not the Messiah. He was not Elijah. He was not the Prophet promised in Deuteronomy who would teach great things. No. John the Baptist knew his place in God’s larger story. He KNEW his role -- to prepare people for the arrival of the Messiah and then to point people to Christ when he arrived.
Behold the Lamb
And while John the Baptist baptised he waited for a sign. As he lowered each repentant sinner into the murky waters of the Jordan River he watched the sky for a sign. Was this one THE ONE? He wouldn't know who the Messiah was until ... Let’s keep reading.
John 1:29–37“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I told you about: ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ I didn’t know him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.” And John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and he rested on him. I didn’t know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The one you see the Spirit descending and resting on—he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” The next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus.”
John the Baptist knew his own identity. He was preparing the path for the Messiah. And, once the dove landed on Jesus, John knew -Jesus was the Messiah. “Behold the Lamb of God!” He didn’t waste any time! He pointed his disciples straight to Jesus.
I’ve often wondered if it was hard for John to give his disciples away. But, when you see the way it’s written in John, you know. Jesus walks past and it’s almost like John grabs his disciples by the shoulders and says, “That’s Him! That’s the Messiah! He’s the one to follow now! Get! Go! Don’t let Him get away!”
That’s humility. That’s a clear sense of self. John knew who he was. And he knew his mission. First, prepare the way for the Lord. Second, identify the Messiah. Third, give everything to the Messiah.
What is your mission today? If you are a follower of Jesus, your role is the same as John the Baptist - but the timing is different. Today, we are preparing for the second coming of the Messiah. Will you prepare the way - making straight paths for people to find Jesus? Will you proclaim “Look, the Lamb of God!” and point people to Jesus? Will you give everything to Jesus?
In short, will you let the humility of Jesus rule your heart rather than the pride of this world? It’s not easy to overcome pride. In fact, it is impossible, if you focus on the pride. The best way to defeat a bad habit or a destructive character trait is to replace it. Find something better and focus on that new pure good thing. Something helpful. Something holy. Something … like … JESUS!
The Mindset of Christ
One of the most prideful people in the Bible was also the one who wrote the most books in the Bible! Paul fell from a great height to meet Jesus. When he met Jesus, Paul's prideful heart of stone shattered and he was given a new heart and a new spirit. His old calcified heart was replaced with a crucified heart — a humbled heart of flesh that relied not on itself for strength but on it’s Creator and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Once Paul understood the process of going from pride to humility, he wrote what he learned so we might learn it as well. What he wrote is a prayer, a hope, a strategy for us to follow. Humility takes years. It took Paul a lifetime. He explained the journey — out of arrogance and into life in Christ — by reducing it down to a one chapter ‘pride-defeat cheat-sheet’ Paul encapsulated the essence of all he learned about humility in Philippians 2. Let’s have a look together.
Philippians 2:1–11 “If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others. Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Paul calls us to have the same mindset as Jesus. Humility that leads to death. The death of self leads to life in the Kingdom of God. Jesus became obedient to the point of death. Even death on a cross.
We don’t like the word ‘obedient’ these days.
Don’t tell me what to do!
Jesus reveals that doing for others rather than doing for self -- is The Way. It’s the Kingdom way. Being humble is having the same love, the same spirit, the same purpose as Jesus. And that purpose is to lift others up and let God be the one to exalt you. Empty yourself. Dump pride back in the ditch where it belongs. And glorify God by serving others. This is the key to the Kingdom. Humble yourself, serve, and God will lift you up - to your full purpose in His Eternal Kingdom!
Have you ever met someone who embodied the love and humility of Jesus? I have.
Illustration: When I was attending Pacific Union College, I had a friend named Terry Hubert. Terry had perfect pitch. He was the 1st Tenor in our octet and I was the Bass. There was one song we sang that I knew the opening note by ear. No idea why. It was a C. I could just sing the note. When practicing the song he noticed I knew my starting note. The next time we performed the song, he said, “Dave give us a C.” He had a pitch pipe in his pocket. Everyone in the audience knew it because he had pitched the group with it on the other songs. But this song, “Dave give us a C.” I hummed a C and then he hummed each person's pitch to them. That’s the joy of humility. Terry was a great musician, classical guitarist, singer and a follower of Jesus. He didn’t need to get a C from me. But he did. In a concert. Because it lifted me up in the eyes of others. That was Terry. And that is like Jesus!
In Psalm 18:35 it says God defends us by lifting us up. Look.
“You have given me the shield of your salvation;
your right hand upholds me,
and your humility exalts me.”
What an amazing way to lift us up. “Your humility exalts me.”
Do you see how Humility works in the Kingdom of God?
Do you see its power?
God’s shield of salvation isn’t a steel plate of metal between you and the enemy. God’s shield of salvation is His right hand, clasping yours and lifting you up. And as He saves you, He takes all the strikes of the evil one – even death on a cross. So He can take you home. His humility exalts you as he lifts you up.
When we lift others up by humbling ourselves, we are empowering them the way God gives power — by meeting them where they are and taking hold of their hand.
Shine Like Stars
Paul wasn’t finished with his cheat sheet yet. We know WHAT to do — “have the attitude of Christ” — Look at Him, imitate Him, love Him and love like Him. But, in the next few verses, Paul gives us the HOW. How do we achieve humility? The secret to humility, Paul says, is obedience.
I need to make something very clear right now because it’s not worth spending one moment of your life letting pride define obedience. When pride defines obedience, it sounds like “I do” and it looks like work. When humility defines obedience, it sounds like “JESUS DOES” and it looks like grace.
“God does it all in Jesus.'’
In the next part of Philippians 2, Paul very clearly says, "God does it all. God has done, is doing, and will do His will in your life!”
Philippians 2:12–16 “Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, by holding firm to the word of life.”
“By holding firm to the word of life.” Who is the Word of Life? Jesus, of course. To hold firm to something, you keep your eyes fixed on it and you grasp it with every bit of your strength!
The more you look at Jesus the more you look like Jesus. That’s what Paul discovered after he was humbled by Jesus on the road to Damascus.
God stopped prideful Paul by saying, “Why are you persecuting me!?!?”
That question made no sense to Paul. He was serving God with every prideful beat of his heart. “Who are you, Lord?”
“Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”
… Oh… OUCH… Loud Proud Paul went silent for three years. He wandered off the scene and got to know God again. Or maybe for the first time. God through a Jesus filter. God on a cross.
And when Paul came back he had a new message. “God humbled himself to save us. God became one of us! A lowly human. And then God died as one of us - a horrible death on a cross - for all of us. So, hold firm to Jesus - the Word of Life - and you will Shine like Stars! You will Be… Like… Jesus!”
Humble yourself before the Lord and wait. Wait for Him to lift you up.
Don’t get up until Jesus lifts you up. Let go of pride. Give Jesus your hand. Let Jesus be your shield of salvation. Let Him lift you up. Let His humility exalt you. And when He does, you will be different. You will shine like stars.
You will grow more and more like Jesus because your heart and mind are fixed on Him.
Joyful Decrease
To conclude our thoughts on humility today, let’s have a quick look at what John the Baptist did next. After he told everyone who Jesus was and sent his disciples to Jesus, he continued to go to the river, to baptize people and to make new disciples. He told everyone: “The Messiah is here! Go find Jesus!” Some of his new disciples came to him and said, “Hey John, that other guy - Jesus - he’s out there doing everything you are doing, and more! How do you feel about that?”
John's answer is a great example of what a life of humility - built on serving God rather than serving self - looks like. You can almost hear John the Baptist laugh as he answers.
John 3:28–30“You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I’ve been sent ahead of him.’ He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.”
John was thrilled! “The party has started people! The groom is over there!” John’s personal self-worth did not suffer when Jesus showed up. He had played his role and he did a great job. He will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
John the Baptist shows us what happens in the life of someone who lives in humility. We find joy in a plan that includes us but isn’t about us. We redirect praise. And we know that Jesus is everything!
So They Might See Jesus
The life and death of Jesus show us that humility is the heart of the Godly life.
When Jesus knelt before His disciples and washed their feet, he showed what God does in the presence of humanity. He humbles Himself to lift us up.
To become like Jesus is to learn to walk in His footprints - in step with Him. In calling us to humility, Jesus calls us to himself. And we, in turn, humble ourselves and serve the world around us. Not so we may be praised. But, so they might see Jesus. And be drawn to Him. And be wrapped up in Him. Embraced tightly in His loving arms just as we are!
May you serve willingly today, as we await the return of Jesus.
May you prepare the way for his coming by laying aside the distractions of this life - both mountains and molehills - so His path to the heart of others is smooth.
May you say, with John the Baptist, “I must decrease” so the world might see Jesus!
Have you ever tried to put a puzzle together without looking at the picture on the box? It's pretty tough, right? You might get a few pieces to fit with each other, but no matter how much time you spent working on the puzzle, you wouldn’t have the complete picture in mind until you finished - if you ever did.
The Bible is kind of like that. It's a collection of 66 puzzles, each in its own box. These Puzzles (Bible books) present amazing images – stories, poems, and letters – that are best understood when we see the whole picture. The puzzles are designed and illustrated by a variety of authors in their time and place and written for an audience as particular as the author. Guided by the Holy Spirit, the authors of the Bible have created their chapter in the grand narrative of God and His People. These 66 puzzles then fit together in an epic mega puzzle that is the Bible.
Fruit vs Roots
I’m not sure if you’ve noticed this on my Substack: My Sabbath School discussion guides and sermons tend to focus on one large passage of scripture in the context of the book it is written in and then zoom out to explore the emerging themes from that passage in the rest of the Bible. I do this because I am more likely to rightly discern and teach the Bible if I have first understood it in context.
Some people cherry-pick the fruit and never dig around the roots. They pick out their favourite verses from the Bible and make them fit their own worldview rather than understanding the world where those verses were written. This is like only looking at a few puzzle pieces and guessing the whole picture. This leads to confusing and even wrong ideas about what the Bible is trying to teach us.
Imagine you opened the Bible and saw a single sentence: "Go, sell everything you have." If you only read that one sentence, you might think God wants everyone to sell all their stuff. But if you read the whole story, you'd find out that Jesus was talking to a specific rich young man who was struggling to put God first. The point wasn't that everyone had to sell everything, but that we should put God first – before anything and everything else.
Culture and Context
That's why it's so important to study the Bible in context. When we read a passage, we need to look at:
Context: What happened before and after?
Author/Audience: Who was the author, and who were they writing to?
Culture: What was life like at that time?
Writing Style: Is it a story, a poem a letter, or something else?
Think about the story of David and Goliath. If we just read the part where David throws the stone, we might think he just had good luck that day. But if we read the whole story, we see how David trusted God, how he prepared, and how he understood the situation. He wasn't just lucky; he was brave and faithful. By looking at the entire story we see that God uses those who trust in him, even when facing impossible odds.
When we study the Bible this way, we learn so much more! We understand the real meaning of the stories, and we can apply them to our own lives. When we explore the culture and context of the Bible passage we are studying, we will always discover hidden treasures!
Why does this matter?
When we understand the culture and context, we are being honest with the Bible. And when we teach the Bible this way, we represent God and His Word with integrity. We let the Bible speak for itself, instead of trying to make it say what we want it to. We learn to be humble, knowing that we don't know everything and can always learn more.
Slow down and Submerge
When you read the Bible, choose a passage and dive into it. Next time a teacher or preacher jumps around the Bible plucking pieces from random puzzle boxes and cramming them all together, ask them how they know they’re not just making up their own picture!
Bible study is a slow art, like raising children and discipleship. It grows with you and shapes you. Biblical understanding and wisdom happen as you are going through life with God. When you study the Bible, invest the time and dig deep. Try reading a whole chapter or even a whole book! Ask yourself questions like:
What's happening in this story?
Who are the characters?
What can I learn from this?
Get into the Bible and the Bible will get into you! By digging deeper and understanding the context, you'll discover the amazing picture of truth revealed in God’s Puzzle-Box Set – The Bible. As you faithfully study the Bible while on life’s journey, a mature relationship with God will blossom within you. When you invest in the box set of the Bible, one puzzle book at a time, you will see more clearly the big picture of God’s purpose, and you’ll see yourself in the picture!
It is uncanny how the topic of Spiritual Gifts keeps coming up in conversations I’ve had in the past weeks. Mentoring university small group leaders, talking to people after church, and chatting with kids after speaking for the chapel program at Edinburgh College. “How is God using you and your spiritual gifts?” just keeps popping up again and again.
Something is happening in the world, within me and, perhaps, you. It is a singularity focused on the Spirit and the gifts He releases to grow the Kingdom of God.
This morning, my wife and I enjoyed the view and the delicacies at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie. As she cut up her waffle, Jenny said, “We’ve been talking about Spiritual Gifts among the teachers at school.” I listened as she shared some thoughts from their conversations.
Then, sawing my way through an impossibly tall Avo Stack, I said, “How do you feel about your spiritual gifts?” She smiled and said, “I know God is using me every day as a teacher. Some days I feel it and other days it’s more in the background. But, as far as ‘gifts’ go, I’m not sure.”
When I was mentoring Lilli in Tasmania (over video chat) last Friday, she said, “I did one of those Spiritual Gift quizzes last year at church. But, I was left wondering afterwards. It just seemed really random.”
After speaking to the High School students at Edinburgh College the previous Friday, four students came from different directions with questions after my talk. A couple were just looking for details about the Bible story I had just shared. But, one said, “You mentioned that your Spiritual Gifts have changed but tend to revolve around communication. How do I know my gifts?”
In all of these chats, I shared the answer I was given decades ago, as a pastor. I was leading a church through a Spiritual Gift inventory and found myself really disillusioned as I planned it. Did God really drop a list from Heaven and say, “Here’s a list of all the ways I might need your involvement. Consult the list and find your purpose! If you are on the list, you are in! If you find the list odd and unlike you, you are not trying hard enough! Read the list again!” It just seemed… shallow, boring and quite unlike the God I see in the Bible. He’s anything but boring!
I spent time in prayer and reading anything I could find on Spiritual Gifts and participation in the Kingdom of God as ambassadors for Christ. I do not remember the first time I said it, but when it came out of my mouth, I knew – Those were not my words. God had just collated everything I’d been studying and praying about and given me an answer simple enough that even I could remember it. Since that day, I’ve been answering the “Spiritual Gift” question with the same answer. This is the answer I gave the student, the mentee and the people at church. (My wife has already heard it at least a thousand times! lol)
There are two questions to ask to know your Spiritual Gifts:
1. What do I take joy in doing for God? (Where do I feel excited, blissful, impassioned and filled with love for God and for people?)
2. What do other people say I do well? (Other people can often see God using you long before you see it yourself.)
With those two questions in mind, you will find your role in the Kingdom of God. Jesus is our bliss. He calls us and then equips us. Don’t look at your skills to know your Spiritual Gifts. Look to Jesus. He doesn’t call the gifted, He gifts the called.
A few Sabbaths ago, while preaching at Warragul Church, a sentence came out of my mouth that wasn’t in my notes or my mind. A lady came up afterwards and said, “I’m so glad I visited Warragul today. When you said, (she looked down at her notes) ‘our energy and our giftedness do not come from the same place — our energy is physical and comes from our fitness. Our Gifts are spiritual and come from the Holy Spirit’ — I really needed to hear that.” I remembered saying it, because I thought, “Hmmm. That’s a good thought. Wish it was mine!”
God is like that. I told you already that my gifts revolve around Communication. If you look at a list of Spiritual Gifts, you will not find the words ‘communication’ or ‘revolve’. But, I know this is where God has gifted me because this is where God peeks and speaks through me into the world.
Sometimes, it’s when I’m writing. Time rushes past and I realise I’ve been lost in the flow of the Spirit for hours.
Sometimes, it’s when I’m mentoring. A kind word or a helpful thought comes out of my mouth and I know that was God meeting needs I hadn’t even seen.
And sometimes, it’s when I’m preaching. Someone will hear something I didn’t say but God wanted them to hear, or God will use my mouth to say something new so I’ll hear it and say it again and again and again in the future.
I tell you all of this to show you, this is my bliss – to share Jesus in my words. And to invite you to explore your bliss. Where is God honoured through you? Where do you find your joy? How have other people affirmed you recently?
God is there. He is gifting you! Lock in on those Spiritual Gifts and use them to serve Jesus with your heart and soul. You’ll never regret those minutes, hours, days and years spent serving in the Kingdom of God.
Have you ever had the chance to share something you love with someone you respect? I had this opportunity twice on the same day!
This past Tuesday morning I had the opportunity to share my favourite way to study the Bible with two people who are already Bible experts. One is a Life Group leader, a Bible worker and a future church planter (I’m sure of it!). The other is a friend I’ve known since we were both young ministers 30 years ago. Even though both of them are Jesus-loving, Bible-knowing believers - I got to share something new with them!
Writing Bible Studies
I’ve had the honour of mentoring Eve as an AUC Life Group leader. She is a passionate Bible student and a dedicated disciple-maker for Jesus. She runs a Life Group in Canberra. In our monthly mentoring video chat the week before, she said, “I enjoy the Sabbath School discussion guides you post each Thursday but was wondering if you could send them to me earlier in the week?”
I explained, I write them on Thursday mornings. Then I asked why she wanted them earlier. She explained that her Sabbath School started together and then separated into discussion groups and she put a few questions on the screen. She was spending time each week choosing a Bible passage or two and a short question list for each. If you’ve read my studies, there are a lot of questions!
I said, “I’m happy to do next week's SS prep earlier, if you have time. You can join me and I can show you my process for creating a study. Then you will be able to do it yourself.”
Eve thought this was a great idea and we met in a video chat on Tuesday morning at 8 AM. When she arrived, I loaded Logos Bible software and let the magic show begin. The Bible Study Builder in Logos is a gift from God! I love it! At the end of the hour, Eve was thrilled to see how easy developing a well-structured Bible study can be.
Researching and Writing Sermons
At 10 AM, the same morning, I called Mike. He’s old school and I had to call him on his phone. We chatted about life for a while and then we got into the reason for the call.
Mike had emailed me a week before:
Hi Dave
I’m needing help with sermons. I have struggled through preaching and dodgy PowerPoint presentations for years and you are so creative, I thought you might be able to help me.
Blessings
Mike
It had been years since we chatted, so we spent quite a while telling stories on the phone. Then, I said, “Mike, you asked me about creativity in sermon content. Do you have a computer in front of you?”
He said he did and we switched over to a video chat so I could share my screen with him. I showed Mike around the latest version of Logos — The Sermon builder, the Bible study builder and, especially, the new AI-infused search engine. There’s nothing like it! You can limit your question to the Bible, the books you own or the entire Logos library. Then, Logos uses the power of its already powerful search engine and AI intelligence to write a superb summary. Every time. To every question. It’s epic!
Mike said they already have Logos but hadn’t used it for a year or two. He’s keen to do so now that he’s seen what Logos can do!
So, That’s My Secret!
Creativity is about having the right tools. And Logos is my favourite Bible study tool.
You might think I work for Logos. I don’t.
This is not a paid promotion. It’s free in every way. I want you to get the most out of the Bible because God has so much in store for you in those precious pages!
I love showing people how I do what I do. I don’t see any reason to keep my creative process or my favourite tools secrets. The more people who can turn their Biblical questions into solid answers and their creative ideas into blessings for others - the better!
I also love using standard AI (Gemini/ChatGPT) to flesh out ideas. Used intelligently, AI is like having the fastest research assistant on the planet. I love it!
If you haven’t checked out Logos since they added the AI feature, and you love Bible study, I highly recommend it!
If you want a quick introduction to AI, Logos with AI or some other creativity-based question, just ask me! It’s free. Like all the best things in life!
This week, I started mentoring Small Group leaders online for 2025. I forgot how much I love it! I love hearing the stories of young people who are changing the world for Jesus. I’m writing this Friday afternoon.
This morning, I was chatting with a Life Group leader in Newcastle, NSW. He runs two groups. One at his university and another online for his friends from home in China. He has been running the online group since he came to Australia 4 years ago. It keeps him connected to home while also allowing him to minister to those he loves. In our conversation, He told me what he loves to do the most. I asked him about his giftedness and his passions. “I love leading people to Christ,” he said. Then, with a smile, he said, “My favourite thing to do is cook for my small group. They love Chinese cooking!” Then he laughed and said, “I also really like driving them places.”
“That’s hospitality!” I said. “The places where your passion and spiritual gifts intersect are the primary spot where God shines to others. It’s your spiritual sweet spot! Cooking for friends who are being discipled by you - that’s your bliss!”
He laughed and said he would love it if that’s all he had to do. He’d love to spend his every waking moment talking about Jesus as he drove people around and cooked for them!
It is my joy, as a spiritual mentor, to help people have these aha moments about themselves and their spirituality. There’s nothing more rewarding for me. That’s my bliss!
Disciple-Makers All
Yesterday, I mentored a Life Group leader from Finland who lives in Canberra. She was unable to attend the Mentoring Workshop at Converge in February due to being in Finland for a funeral. Her grandmother lived to 100 years old! She said it was good to see family again and share stories about grandma with everyone.
Then I gave her a nutshell version of the workshop. It revolved around one simple statement. If we can make this statement live in the front of our mind every moment of every day, we will be the most effective Christian leaders in the world. Here it is, “I am a disciple-maker.” That’s it. You are a disciple-maker.
As a follower of Jesus, you are a disciple-maker. Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” Spot on - we follow and are followed. All. The. Time!
As a small group leader, you are a disciple-maker. At church, you are not running programs; you are making disciples. After every event, conversation, Bible study, and program, our primary question should be: “How did we shape disciples?” When we plan a sermon, study, or worship set, our primary question should be: “How will we intentionally build disciples for Jesus this time?”
After this review, she said, “I’m really enjoying the Sabbath School lesson discussion guides you write. Is there any chance of getting them sooner in the week?” She explained she uses my studies to prepare her own discussion guides to hand out to break-out group leaders in a larger Sabbath School. So, she needed something shorter.
I can see a future writer and curriculum writer in her! So, I said, “Would you like to join me as I prepare next week's study? We can meet online and I’ll share my screen and my process. That might help you in your planning.”
She was very excited, and so we are having a Sabbath School lesson-building session next Tuesday at 8 a.m. I am in my bliss! Seeing a young person who wants to grow spiritually and develop skills to increase the Kingdom of God—yes, yes, yes! This is disciple-making for me!
Cultural Norms
Wednesday, I had two mentoring sessions. One was a meet and greet with a Life Group leader from Wagga Wagga I hadn’t met before. So, I asked questions and told stories so we got to know each other. Then we prayed together.
The next session was with a duo in Ballina, NSW. They are both missionaries from other countries. We talked about the art of running a small group when nearly everyone is from a different country with different cultural norms.
As an example, we went through how each of our cultures engages in conversation, time management, personal space, and group structure. All three of us laughed a lot. We are each living in Australia but from somewhere else. California, Brazil and Norway.
As we opened our cultural suitcases, we realised things about ourselves, each other and our expectations. It was enlightening and enjoyable.
After our conversation, we prayed together and went back to life away from our screens. I went out into the warmth of sunny Melbourne and they went out to fill more sandbags to get ready for Cyclone Alfred! Yikes!
Mental Health
Last Sabbath, I taught the Sabbath School lesson and preached in Wangaratta. After the church service, as I was greeting people at the door, I asked one man, “How have you been?”
“Not well,” he said, “not well at all, really.”
The sermon had been about struggles in life and I had mentioned that I work in mental health. I realised his response was not a complaint, but a request for help.
I put my hand on his shoulder and we stepped outside next to the church door. Then I said, “Tell me more. How have you been unwell?”
“Mentally,” He said. “My mental health has not been good.”
“What does that look like,” I said, “for you?”
“Just so much negative self-talk,” he said. “I just constantly beat myself up.”
We chatted for a while and a group formed around him. I realised, he was loved here. He was in the right place. The head elde,s wife added valuable comments to the conversation. I could see they knew and loved this man. They cared deeply for him., caring
“What is your best advice for someone like me?” He asked.
“Two things,” I said. “First, find people. Being alone isn’t good for mental health.”
“Yeah,” he said, “I walk down to the corner shop and just chat with people.”
“Fantastic,” I said, “Doing something with others, or even better - for others, is very good for mental health.”
“Yeah,” he smiled and pointed at the head elder, “That’s what he says.”
“The second thing,” I said, patting the brickwork of the church, “Is to participate regularly in a community that acts like an extended family. Keep coming to Church. This place is very good for you.”
He looked at the head elder, “Those are the same two things you are always telling me to do!”
The head elder smiled and nodded.
“Smart man,” I said, laughing. “I think you know what to do!”
Spiritual Sweet Spot
I’ve just finished packing the van for our Lildyale church camp which starts tonight. I’ll head out to do the food shopping and then pick up my wife from the school where she teaches and we will drive to Howqua. A weekend getaway with my best friend and social time with our church family!
My mental well-being is on a high. I know why! I’ve been investing in others this week. That’s my spiritual sweet spot and I know it.
The Bible, both Old and New Testaments, reveals a consistent picture of God's character, particularly His unwavering love and capacity for forgiveness. However, our human understanding of God's nature has matured over time, deepening and expanding as we encounter new revelations of His grace.
When Jesus came onto the scene, he framed God’s character very differently than the religious leaders of his day. In one of his most well-known stories, the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus offers a profound insight into the nature of God’s forgiveness, demonstrating that it's not a transaction based on obedience but an outpouring of unconditional love.
A Foundation of Law and Love
The Old Testament, particularly the book of Deuteronomy, emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's law. This emphasis on law and covenant might lead some to believe that God's forgiveness is conditional, dependent on human adherence to rules and regulations. However, a closer look reveals that even within the legal framework of the Old Testament, God's love and compassion shine through.
Chapters 29 and 30 of the book of Deuteronomy, while outlining the consequences of disobedience, also highlight God's willingness to forgive and restore those who return to Him. After Chapter 29’s harrowing prediction that Israel would forget God and His Law ending up lost in the territory and hands of their enemies, a promise emerges in Deuteronomy 30: God will bring back scattered Israel. He will bring His beloved people home and circumcise their hearts, enabling them to love Him with all their heart and soul — when they “come to their senses” (30:1) in the depth of their despair.
Jesus uses this phrase in his story of the prodigal son to trigger his law-literate listeners to recall Deuteronomy 30:1-10. Jesus insinuates the Father's love remains constant despite the son's rebellion.
A Revelation of Unconditional Love
In the parable of the prodigal son, found in Luke 15:11-32, Jesus offers a powerful illustration of God's unchanging love and forgiveness. The younger son, who represents those who have strayed from God's path, leaves the Father with half the family’s wealth. He squanders it in wasteful living and ends in the ditch, feeding pigs - the worst ending a Jew could imagine.
And when the son “comes to his senses” in the squalor of a pig pen, he comes home expecting the Father’s wrath. He even prepares a speech. But the Father’s response in Jesus’ story is much the same as it is in Deuteronomy 30. The Father’s love and forgiveness lead to a righteous robe, a family ring and a thump-thump-thumping celebration of life. With the Father, Jesus says, love always wins.
Jesus finishes his Character reveal of Israel’s God by suggesting something readers of God’s law already know: When we return to God, filled with remorse, we experience the depths of God's mercy and love. The Father's joyful welcome and extravagant celebration demonstrate that God's forgiveness is not earned through obedience but freely given to all who turn back to Him.
This parable challenges the notion that God's forgiveness is transactional, contingent on human performance. Instead, it reveals that God's love is unconditional, extending to all who seek Him, regardless of their past mistakes. The prodigal son's experience mirrors the journey of countless individuals who have found forgiveness and restoration in God's loving embrace.
The Older Brother's Struggle with Forgiveness
The parable also introduces the figure of the older brother, who represents those who have remained faithful to God's law — faithful Israel. The older brother's resentment towards his sibling highlights the difficulty of extending forgiveness to those who have wronged us. His anger and refusal to celebrate his brother's return expose the limitations of a legalistic understanding of forgiveness.
The older brother's struggle serves as a reminder that true forgiveness is not an act of obedience but the overflow of a heart transformed by a relationship with the God of love. It is so full of the Father’s love that letting go of resentment and embracing compassion, even for those who have hurt us deeply, is our natural desire. The father's plea to the older brother, "You are always with me, and everything I have is yours," underscores the importance of extending grace and forgiveness to others, just as God has extended grace to us.
Conclusion
In the parable of the prodigal son, Jesus offers a profound insight into the nature of God's love and forgiveness. He reveals that God's love is not conditional, dependent on human obedience, but freely given to all who turn to Him. Jesus challenges us to move beyond a legalistic understanding of our relationship with God and embrace a deeper understanding of His heart.
As we reflect on the parable of the prodigal son, may we be inspired to extend forgiveness to others, just as God has forgiven us. May we also remember that God's love is unchanging and unconditional, always available to those who seek Him.
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