To meet the needs of accessibility, relatability, and relationship the Christian orality movement birthed a number of methodologies for sharing the Gospel through stories. While there are many methods available, most fall into one of two categories: Bible storying or Oral Bible study.
Bible Storying | Oral Bible Study |
| Often chronological | Can be chronological or character-based |
| The story teller crafts the story to the context of the listener. | Emphasis is placed on keeping the text accurate to written scripture. |
| May shorten long lists to make the story easier to tell and hear. | Tells the passage in its entirety—including lists of names, places, and things. |
| Explains definitions and terminology during the telling of the story. | Uses an introduction to explain background and needed definitions rather than giving the information in the midst of the passage. |
| May change minor details to contextualize the story to the audience or culture. | Emphasis is placed on keeping details the same as written text. |
| Requires the narrator to understand the culture and context in order to craft the story. | The passage is not contextualized to culture. |
Where to learn orality skills:
General information:
Oral Bible Study Methods
Simply The Story: oral Bible study workshops in person and online, presented by The God Story Project.
International Orality Institute: Free downloadable digital curriculum in nine languages or available for for purchase in print format.
Bible Storying Methods
One Story: demonstrations and information on training for Bible story crafting.
Scriptures in Use: Online training and resources.
S-T4T: online resources and downloadable manual for church planting method using Bible storying.
