I’ve seen and used quite a few very elaborate visual aids and presentations in the 35+ years I have been teaching Children’s Bible Classes.

I’ve used…

• black lights for glowing pictures of The Fiery Furnace
• live actors (including a baby) to teach about Abraham, Sara and little Isaac and
• helium balloons to depict the Ascension of Jesus.

Once I even convinced a wonderful man at church that he should construct an amazing “feat of engineering” whereby a young man was lowered, on a stretcher, down through an air vent in the ceiling, into the church auditorium to teach the story about the Man Lowered Through the Roof.  That was just awesome (thanks, Steve!).

Even though these times were memorable for the children and great fun for me and others involved they could certainly not be done every time I teach.  That would be both exhausting and expensive.

Jesus used amazing miracles but what did he do day in and day out as he taught people?  It seems to me that he made use of situations and teaching tools on hand.  Once it was lilies in a field.  Another time a coin in the mouth of a fish.  In John chapter 8:6 Jesus even wrote on the ground using his finger.

Very simple.  Very effective.

Recently, Samer (Sam) Samlertaree, a student at the South Pacific Bible College offered to help add to this website.  Sam had seen some simple line drawings and thought he could create some more to depict Bible stories in a way teachers might find useful.  The drawings could be used for flip charts or included in Power Point presentations.

Knowing Sam was a great student of the Bible I challenged him to tackle some stories that teachers sometimes can’t find visual aids for.  Drawing what the Bible says is much more difficult than it appears and I challenge you to give it a try.  At first glance this picture here seems simple.  But have a closer look.  In a simple drawing Sam has captured the essence of 1 Samuel 8:4-9 by showing the people’s desperation for a king and Samuel’s confusion at their request.  Sam has proved that a simple visual aid can say it all.

Kids love simple drawings!   I’m no artist but that has never stopped me from using stick figures to teach a lesson.  Once I have set aside my self-pride and make attempts I find that children encourage and even want to help me give it a go.  And simple drawings inspire children to listen to the story and draw their own pictures.

Click the links to view the Bible story pages where you can view and/or download the pictures Sam has drawn.  (The pictures appear in the lower sections of each Bible story page so be sure and scroll down once you are there.)

Achan’s Sin Joshua 7-8:1

Saul Becomes Israel’s 1st King (1 Samuel 8-10) 

Jehoshaphat and the People Pray 2 Chronicles 20:1-30

All you need for this visual aid is a bible, 1 piece of paper and a pen or pencil for each child.

1. Before teaching your class you will read over the Bible story and divide it into main points.  I suggest you draw these yourself as practice so you know it will work!
2. Provide each student with a piece of paper and something to write with.
3. Tell them how many parts of the story there are going to be (your main points) and ask them to draw that many squares on the paper.
4. As you tell the story (or read it straight from the Bible) the children will fill in the squares with drawings.  Guide them in this as much as is needed.
5. Older children could read the story from the Bible themselves and draw.
6. When everyone is finished they can tell the story to the class using their own pictures.

I think you’ll like this teaching idea because it can be adapted to any story.

For full instructions, templates, examples and other ways to adapt this idea click here.

As an example I used the Bible Story: Death of Samson from Judges 16:21-31.

Try this simple idea for telling the story. Younger children enjoy it. Older children will like this one too if they are the ones creating the characters.

You or the children draw simple figures and mount them on the sides of upturned paper cups with tape to make stand-up characters.  Move the characters around as you tell the story.

This visual aid can be adapted to any story.

Click here for complete instructions.

In the instructions I used the story of Nadab and Abihu as an example.