The Scripture Lady loves coming up with fun ways to tell Bible stories for kids — here’s a simple Bible storytelling example called “Nouns and Verbs” to help Christian teachers and parents with children ages 4–10, bring a gospel story to heart and life.

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“Wait a minute, Kathy!” some of you may be saying. “My kids go to school all week long. The last thing they will want to talk about is nouns and verbs in Sunday school!”

But I say, “Oh, yes they will!” A good friend of mine taught me a simple method that works for both visual and oral learners: in a Bible story the nouns become your props (the things kids can see or touch) and the verbs become the message links — the actions you use to point kids toward spiritual application.

Why this works: short, sensory Bible storytelling captures a child’s attention, helps them remember the story, and creates natural openings for faith conversations. A quick outcome you can expect: after a 10–15 minute activity (preschool) or 15–25 minute lesson (elementary), most children will be able to name at least one noun (prop) and one verb (action) from the passage and say one way it matters for their life.

A practical tip for teachers and parents: pick a familiar passage or a short gospel story this week (for example, a feeding miracle, the Good Samaritan, or a simple new testament passage). Prepare one clear prop for each major noun you expect to highlight — nothing fancy. This keeps setup quick and keeps children focused on the story instead of the props themselves.

1. Pick a passage or Bible story to share — choose a short gospel story or new testament passage that fits the time you have (10–15 minutes for preschoolers; 15–25 minutes for older elementary).

2. If you don’t want to mark in your Bible, make a photocopy or print a short passage you can write on. For oral bible and storytelling situations this makes it easy to plan props and actions without altering your personal Bible.

3. Circle the nouns in the passage — these are the props you can show or pass around (a loaf of bread, a basket, a blanket). For younger children (ages 4–6) choose 1–2 strong nouns; for ages 7–10 you can highlight several nouns and invite kids to help find them.

4. Underline the verbs — these actions become your message links. Pick one or two verbs to focus on as the life application for the group (for example, “thank,” “give,” “wait,” or “listen”).

When you prepare for bible storytelling, get creative but keep it simple. Example: for “The Feeding of the 5,000” (see Matthew 14:13–21 or John 6:1–15), identify the main nouns — bread, fish, a boy’s lunch, baskets, and many people — and bring an easy prop for each (a small loaf, a tin of fish or substitute, a basket).

Now choose the verbs you want to highlight. In that story you might focus on three: Jesus asked the people to sit (teach patience and listening), Jesus thanked God for the food (model thanksgiving), and Jesus gave the bread (teach generosity and sharing). These verbs become short, memorable lessons you can return to during the day.

Try these quick life-application prompts during your lesson: for “asked” ask, “When does God ask you to wait?” (pause for answers); for “thanked” model a 15-second prayer of thanksgiving and invite each child to name one thing they are thankful for; for “gave” suggest a small classroom kindness (share a sticker or a prayer card) to practice generosity. These short conversations help children connect the gospel to their daily lives and hearts.

Age adjustments and learning styles: ages 4–6 respond best to one clear verb and a dramatic prop (act it out together). Ages 7–10 can help identify nouns and verbs, act out short scenes, and answer 2 guided questions. For oral learners and kinesthetic kids, invite them to pass props, make the actions, or retell one sentence in their own words.

Focusing on the nouns and verbs of a story has helped me shape clearer, more memorable bible storytelling sessions — and I hope it helps you too. 

Want a quick resource? Consider creating or downloading a printable “noun and verb” worksheet for your group, or invite one parent or volunteer to join a short training time to build confidence in telling bible stories. Blessings as you bring these stories to life — may the children you teach experience God’s Word in a fresh, simple way that shapes their faith and daily conversations.

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“Let us throw off everything that hinders us and the sin that so easily entangles us an let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

Hebrews 12:1