Encouraging others to share their life lessons can be the most effective tool in your teaching toolbox. Mrs. Lane raised nine children, enabling her to share life stories on numerous family issues. Mrs. Norton spent many years sharing the gospel with the people of Eritrea. Not only does she share the stories of lives changed, but also the greatest way to meet the needs of those who minister in other countries. Mr. Ledbetter has an elderly mother who needs round-the-clock care. His insight into ways to cheer the sick along with the principles of honoring parents makes the lesson come alive. Life stories merge spiritual mandates with practical application.

Six Ways to Encourage Life Stories

1. Find time in each class session to ask, “Do any of you have a life story to illustrate the lesson?” You may get a humorous story like the one my friend shared in response to a lesson on the greatest commandment: “We were walking out the door for a mommy-daddy date. I told the children to obey the babysitter. Steve, thinking the children needed to be reminded to be loving towards each other, said, ‘Remember the great commandment.’ Holly spoke up immediately, ‘We know, Dad. Thou shalt keep thy house clean.’” Amusing, yes. But also a reminder to teach our children that God’s rules are more important than our own.

2. Pre-plan life stories. When you know one of the class members has a life story that will illustrate the lesson, ask the person in advance to share his story. Explain the slant you’d like them to give to the story, and ask that they keep their story to five minutes. A lesson on the Word of God will be enhanced when Mr. Scott shares his method of Bible memorization. The story of Timothy’s grandmother teaching him about God comes alive when Mrs. Haldeman gives examples of how she’s teaching her grandchildren about God even though their parents don’t attend church.

3. Involve the shy in interviews. Prepare a list of questions for those who aren’t comfortable with public speaking. Give these students your questions a few days before class. Then present the life story interview-style. Are you teaching the principle of availability through Deborah’s story? Interview with these questions:

• What time was there in your life when you made yourself available for God?
• What was the result of your availability?
• How did this experience enhance your life?
• What are you doing today to continue being available to God?

4. When a lesson is a broad topic, ask for volunteers from the class before you need the life story. "Next Sunday's lesson is about a man who spoke before he thought. There will be time for you to share instances when you opened your mouth before thinking through the effects of what you promised." The next Sunday, after you present the example of Jephthath promising to sacrifice the first person out of his door and the agony caused by fulfilling his vow, you can apply the lesson effectively with real-life stories.

5. Engage those who have no story to tell. Ask, “What story have you heard that made an impression on you? Has someone made a difference because they shared a story with you?" My husband was providing music at a recent Thanksgiving luncheon. One of his favorite songs is “Great is Thy Faithfulness” by Thomas Chisholm, a perfect choice to play since most of the people there knew the words. While mingling afterward with the guests, he met a woman who knew Chisholm personally. In explaining how Chisholm lived and embraced the song he wrote, she gave R. B. a story he could share with his class. It gave me, and I’m sure the others hearing the story, a new love and appreciation for “Summer and Winter, Springtime and Harvest. Thine own dear presence to cheer and to bless.” If you are teaching Ehud and the risk he took thrusting the two-edged sword into the wicked king’s belly and killing him, then ask if someone has heard a story about a risk-taker. You may hear about small children who helped smuggle Bibles into Russia, students who boldly took a stand for Christ in their schools, or employees who shared the gospel with their boss.

6. Ask questions to clarify the life story.
To the storyteller:

• How did you see the hand of God working during this time?
• Is there something that could have been done to prevent this situation but you were unaware until it was too late?
• How did your family respond to what happened?
• How has this increased your faith?

To the class:

• What promises did God fulfill in this situation?
• How might this story apply to my life?
• What similar experiences have you had?
• How would you respond in a similar situation?

Enhance your class time with life stories. You can say with Paul, “We are Christ’s ambassadors. God is using us to speak to you” (2 Corinthians 5:20 TLB). Your students’ lives will be enriched, your lessons will be practically applied, and those who share their stories, even at the risk of being vulnerable, will be healed.

Pamela J. Kuhn is a freelance writer from Muncie, IN. She has written 40 teacher-resource books and numerous articles for Christian Education teachers.