RELEVANT CHILDREN'S MINISTRY

Great children's ministries are great storytellers.  When it comes to capturing kids' attention and communicating truth...story rules.

The Bible contains the greatest stories ever told.  And the greatest stories deserve the greatest presentation.  Want to up the storytelling skills of your children's ministry?  Here's 5 tips for sharing compelling Bible stories.

Tip #1 - Immediately jump into the story and share the truth connection afterwards.  
Instead of saying, "Let me tell you a story that will illustrate God's love," dive right into the story and pull them in.  Then follow the story with how it illustrates or applies to the truth you want to share.  Taking this approach will help you grab kids' attention from the get go and then cement the truth into their hearts through application.

Tip #2 - Build their anticipation.  
Start with some energy, but don't bring it all at once.  Let the energy and anticipation build as you tell the story.  The farther the story goes, the more on the edge of their seat they should be.  A good way to do this is to build your voice and energy level as the story goes along.  An example would be the story of David and Goliath.  When David arrives at the battle scene, your energy level would be at a 3.  When Goliath makes his challenge, your energy level would be at a 5.  When David walks out and faces Goliath on the battlefield, your energy level would be at 7.  When David kills Goliath, your energy level would be at a 10. 

Tip #3 - Eye contact. 
Learn to make good eye contact while you are telling the story.  Do your best to make brief eye contact with every child in the room over the course of your story.  This will draw the kids to you.

Tip #4 - Give them the silent treatment. 
Strategic pauses emphasizes what you just said or what you about to say. 

Tip #5 - Up and down. 
Vary your voice level.  There should be times when you are whispering and times when you are shouting.  Don't be monotone.  Monotone speaking will put kids in a daze.

What other tips do you have for teaching Bible stories?

What has worked well for you?

Share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.

One mistake I see people make when they are teaching kids is keeping their voice at the same level the entire lesson.

A good communicator with kids will vary his or her voice level throughout the lesson.  They will vary between loud, medium, and a faint whisper.

When you keep the same voice level the entire lesson (monotone), you begin to sound like Charlie Brown's teacher.  When this happens, kids will tune you out.

To vary your voice level, you have to be intentional.  Identity parts of the lesson where you will whisper.  Identify parts of the lesson where you will be loud.  Identify parts of the lesson where you will maintain a normal tone.

Try it the next time you teach and watch the kids' engagement improve.

Do you want to improve your large group communication skills with kids?  Here's 6 tips that will help you grab kids' attention and effectively share God's Word with them.

Use the volume of your voice.
Don't talk monotone.  Vary between loud...soft...medium...whispering...shouting.

Involve the kids.
Have them make sound effects...make a motion every time you say a certain word...repeat key phrases to their neighbor...act out the Bible story as you tell it.

Tell stories.
We are wired to love stories.  80% of the Bible is stories.  Jesus was the master storyteller.  Use stories...lots of them.  It's a guaranteed way to connect with kids. 

Change the speed of your voice.  
Vary the speed.  Talk fast...slow...pause between words...use normal speed.  When you change your speed, it resets kids' attention spans. 

Be animated.  
Don't just stand there.  Move.  Use your arms and hands to visually describe what you're talking about.  Get excited about what you're teaching and show it through your body language.

Target the oldest child in the room. 
Cool rolls downhill.  Aim your teaching level at the oldest child in the room.  An example.  If you're teaching 3-5th graders, let your target be the 5th grade boy.  If you connect with him, all of the kids will think it's cool and engage.

What other tips do you have for teaching kids?  Share your thoughts and ideas with us in the comment section below.