ROTATION.ORG WRITING TEAM

JESUS RAISES LAZARUS
STORYTELLING WORKSHOP

PASSAGE

Story: John 11:1-44
Key/Memory Verse: John 11:25

PURPOSE

Retelling the story

Objective(s) for rotation

See Bible Background.

Find Story in Bible
Be able to tell the story in own words
Memorize Memory Verse

Objectives for Storytelling Workshop

Associate key people/events/concepts within the story
Actively participate in the telling and retelling of the story
Use words, symbols, objects to represent key people/events/concepts in the telling of the story
Introduce the idea of “God’s timing” verses our timing

PREPARATION

Review Bible Background.

Materials List

Bibles
Cardstock
Chalk or markers
Chalkboard, whiteboard or newsprint
Computer with Internet access [Optional]
Glue or tape
“Improv” box or basket containing:

• Clothespin(s)
  
• Clock or timer, not digital
  
• Scarves, 3 (at least one oversized)
  
• Sheet
  
• Sunglasses
  

Pictures from used Sunday School materials or the Internet to represent:

• Days
  
• Dead/Death/Die
  
• Disciples
  
• Glory
  
• Jesus
  
• Lazarus
  
• Life/Live
  
• Martha
  
• Mary
  
• Sick/sickness
  
• Son of God
  
• Stone
  
• Thomas
  
• Tomb
  

Printer [Optional]
Scissors

Advance Preparation Requirements

Make Story Cards. Find images or pictures from used Sunday School materials or conduct a Google image search and find the illustrations suggested in the materials list. Glue or print the images on cardstock. Print at least one image per word/person/concept. You may wish to make more than one set of certain ones.

Review the Bible story.

Pray for the children you will be teaching, asking God to guide your preparation with them in mind.

PRESENTATION

Open – Introduction

Greet the children. Make sure you know who everyone is -- and they know you! Open in prayer.

Ask: Have any of you ever had to wait for something? What was it? What was it like to wait? Allow some time for discussion.

Dig - Main Content

Tell the children that today’s story has some people in it that had to wait for some things they wanted, too. Tell them that you will read/tell them the story, but will need their help to tell it. Tell them they will have to WAIT a few more minutes for the story so you can pass out some cards that will help them help you tell the story.

Storytelling Cards

Pass out the cards. Make sure each child has at least one, or preferably two, cards. Tell them to look at their cards. Make sure everyone knows what his or her card represents. Tell them that they will have to listen VERY carefully to the story as you read/tell it. When they hear their image or person named in the story, they are to hold up the right card so everyone can see.

Show the children where the story comes from in the Bible, John 11:1-44. Read or tell the story. Encourage the children to hold up their cards as their image fits into the story.

Ask: Who had to wait for things in this story and what did they wait for? Who was in control of how long they had to wait? (God) What does this story help us understand about God’s timing? (It may not be the same as ours, but it’s always best.)

Ask the children if they think they know the story well enough to tell it on their own. This gives an opportunity to repeat the story again, using the cards.

If they’re ready, go on to the “Improv” Box/Basket.

Tell the children they will now have a chance to tell the story in their own words. Tell them you have a box/basket of props for them to use. The only rules are that they have to stick to the story, AND they have to use ALL the props in the box/basket.

Have the children review the story. Use the board or newsprint to write down the key parts of the story as the children identify them.

You may want to organize the class into teams. Show them the contents of the box/basket. Give them a few minutes, no more than ten, to think about how they will use the props and who will tell or act out which part of the story. Then let each group act out the story.

Reflect – Closure

Ask the children: What was your favorite part of the story? What parts were happy? Sad? What parts help people to understand about God’s goodness and love?

Ask for prayer concerns. Form your closing prayer around these.

SOURCES

Idea for use for story cards and improve box/basket come from a variety of published material. The specific images/props proposed here are original.

CONTRIBUTOR: Ruth Wilcox