Childhood Bible Stories
Sermon Series and Study
Rev. Chris Henry explores familiar Bible stories in this sermon series. We invite you into conversation around these stories and the sermons they have inspired. Dr. John Franke provides discussion questions for you to consider or to discuss with your small group.
Story #1: Jesus Welcomes Children
13 Then little children were being brought to him in order that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those who brought them; 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went on his way. (Matthew 19:13-15)
Questions for Reflection:
- Why do you think little children were being brought to Jesus so he could lay hands on them and pray? What do you think is significant about this?
- Why do you think the disciples were unhappy with this? What might have been behind their attempt to stop the children from coming to Jesus?
- What do you think Jesus means when he tells his disciples to let the children come to him because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these?
- How do you understand the “kingdom of heaven” referred to in this story? What is the connection between the kingdom of heaven and Jesus?
- How do you think the kingdom of heaven “belongs” to the children mentioned in this passage?
- Does the attempt to keep some people away from Jesus by his followers extend beyond children? Can you think of contemporary examples?
- Imagine yourself as one of the disciples. What would you have learned about the kingdom of heaven from this incident?
- What significance so you see in this story for your life and the life of the church?
- What is particularly significant to you in this story?
- What questions do you have?
Story #2: The Burning Bush
Listen to the sermon again and read the text (Exodus 3:1-15) carefully in preparation for engaging the reflection questions in a group or on your own.
Questions for Reflection:
- Why do you think God appears to Moses as “a flame of fire out of a bush” in this narrative? What might be the purpose for this unusual occurrence? What is its effect in the story?
- How does Moses respond to the appearance of the burning bush in the story? What is the task he receives from the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and how does he react to this calling?
- Imagine you are Moses in this story. How do you think you might feel in this situation? What questions would you have? What would you do? How would you respond?
- Do you think God speaks to us today? If so, how do we hear what God says? Have you ever experienced God in ways similar to what we read in this story? If so, how did you respond?
- What connection do you see between the way God appears to Moses and the command to go to Egypt? Why does God send Moses? How does God prepare Moses for this work? What promises does God make?
- Do you see any similar challenges in the present to the circumstances faced by Israel in Egypt? If so, how do you think God responds to those situations? What might God do to address them?
- What significance do you see in this story for your life and the life of the church?
- What is particularly significant to you in this story?
- What questions or new insights do you have?
Story #3: David and Goliath
Listen to the sermon again and read the text (1 Samuel 17:1-50) carefully in preparation for engaging the reflection questions in a group or on your own. Ask God to open your heart and mind and speak to you through this story.
Questions for Reflection:
- What is your reaction to this well-known story? What details stand out to you or seem particularly significant as you read it? Do you find anything surprising or unexpected as you encounter the story today?
- Who are David and Goliath in this story? What roles do they occupy in the telling of the story and what do you think they symbolize? How are they portrayed and do you see any significance in their respective depictions?
- Imagine yourself as a participant in this narrative. Where do you see yourself in the context of this story? With whom do you identify and why? How does your choice of identification shape the way you understand the story?
- Why does God choose David to face Goliath in this battle? What do you think is significant about God’s choice of David and why does it matter in the story? What might we learn about God from this?
- David chooses to meet Goliath without armor or a sword, instead taking his staff and five smooth stones. Why do you think the storyteller includes these details? What is their significance in the story? What do they tell us about David?
- What significance do you see in this story of David and Goliath for your life and the life of the church in the present? How does it make a difference for your faith? How does it invite you to live in new ways?
- What is particularly significant to you in this story?
- What questions or new insights do you have?
Story #4: Jesus Calms the Storm
Listen to the sermon again.
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. 37 A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:35-41)
Questions for Reflection:
- Imagine you are in the boat with Jesus. How do you think you would have felt as the storm arose and the boat was in danger? Have you ever experienced something similar? What happened? How did you react?
- Why do you think the storyteller includes the detail that Jesus was asleep in the in the boat during the storm? What does this element of the story communicate?
- Why do you think the companions of Jesus take the time in the midst of the storm to wake him up and ask him if he does not care that they “are perishing?”
- The wind and sea obey Jesus in the story producing a dead calm and leading his companions to ask, “Who is this?” What does the storyteller want us to learn about Jesus? Who is Jesus to you?
- Why do you think Jesus asks his companions “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” What do you think he means? What does he want to teach them?
- What significance do you see in this story for your life and the life of the church?
- Is anything particularly meaningful to you in this story? What? Why?
- What questions do you have?
Story #5: All Our Losses
Listen to the sermon again.
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. 8 “Or what woman having ten silver coins, if she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? 9 When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:1-10)
Questions for Reflection:
- Why do you think the “Pharisees and scribes were grumbling” about Jesus welcome to “sinners”? Why do you think this detail is included here? Why is this significant?
- Why do you think these stories focus on the one lost sheep and the one lost coin when ninety-nine and nine coins are secure? What does this mean to you? Do you see significance in this for your life?
- Why do you think Jesus tells these stories? What do think he wants to teach those who were listening to him? What can we learn from these stories in our time?
- The focal point of these stories is joy. Where do you find joy in your life? What do these stories teach you about the nature of joy? How will you respond?
- What significance do you see in this passage for your life and the life of the church?
Story #6: Jonah
Listen to the sermon again and read the Jonah 1-4 text carefully in preparation for engaging the reflection questions in a group or on your own. Ask God to open your heart and mind and speak to you through this story.
Questions for Reflection:
- What is your reaction to the story of Jonah? What details stand out to you or seem particularly significant as you read it? Do you find anything in the story surprising or unexpected as you encounter it today?
- Who is Jonah in this story? What role does he occupy in the telling of the story and what do you think he symbolizes? How is he portrayed in this narrative and do you see any significance in his depiction?
- Imagine yourself as a participant in this narrative. Where do you see yourself in the context of this story? With whom do you identify and why? How does your choice of identification shape the way you understand the story?
- Why does God choose Jonah to deliver the message of God to Nineveh? What do you think is significant about God’s choice of Jonah and why does it matter in the story? What might we learn about God from this?
- Why is Jonah angry with God? How does God respond to Jonah? What do we learn about God in the encounter between God and Jonah? Have you ever been angry with God? If so, why? How did God respond to you? What did you learn about God?
- What significance do you see in this story about Jonah for your life and the life of the church in the present? How does it make a difference for your faith? How does it invite you to live in new ways?
- What is particularly significant to you in this story?
- What questions or new insights do you have?
Story #7: Paul Follows Jesus
Listen to the sermon again and read the Acts 9:1-20 text carefully in preparation for engaging the reflection questions in a group or on your own. Ask God to open your heart and mind and speak to you through this story.
Questions for Reflection:
- What is your reaction to this story about Saul/Paul? What details stand out to you or seem particularly significant as you read it? Do you find anything in the story surprising or unexpected as you encounter it today?
- Who is Saul/Paul in this story? What role does he occupy in the telling of the story and what do you think this means for its readers and hearers? How is he portrayed in this narrative and do you see any significance in his depiction?
- Imagine yourself as Saul in this story. How would you have felt in response to the events described on the road to Damascus? How would you have responded to God’s call on your life? Does God work like this today?
- Imagine yourself as Ananias. How do you think you would have responded to God’s call to go to Saul? Would you have been afraid to do this in light of Saul’s reputation? What do you learn about God from this aspect of the story?
- Why do you think God chose Saul to bring the good news of the gospel to the Gentiles? What do you think is significant about God’s choice of Saul and why does it matter in the story? What might we learn about God from this?
- What significance do you see in this story about Paul and Ananias for your life and the life of the church in the present? How does it make a difference for your faith? How does it invite you to live in new ways?
- What is particularly significant to you in this story?
- What questions or new insights do you have?