This Spiritual Waimai is a part of a series entitled: Kids are Awesome: Leading the Next Generation of Faith. These articles are specifically written for anyone who is leading young children to grow in faith. We hope they can also be applied to leading younger generations of all ages.
这篇属灵外卖是 “小羊的力量：如何引领下一代的信仰”系列文章之一。本系列专为帮助引导孩童在信心之路上成长的同工而作。我们希望这些文章也能应用在不同年龄阶段的青少年事工中。
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圣经：最伟大的故事书
A story captures the imagination and a simple story told well can teach truth to people of all ages and spiritual maturity levels. The stories in the Bible teach about God’s character, the nature of humans, God’s laws for holy living, the way of forgiveness and redemption and His ultimate plan for all people. How can we use these timeless stories to pass God’s truth on to the next generation?
故事能激发人们的想象力，一个简单的故事讲得好，可以把真理教导给所有不同年龄和不同属灵成熟度的人。圣经中的故事教导神的品格、人的本性、神圣洁生活的律法、宽恕和救赎的方式，以及他对所有人的最终计划。我们该如何利用这些永恒的故事，将神的真理传承给下一代呢？
As we teach the stories of the Bible, our goal should not be to just teach the facts of the story that the children repeat. Our goal should be to awaken our children’s minds, hearts and spirits to engage with the story and allow the truths to touch their lives. When Jesus told stories, He often engaged His followers in discussion or invited them into action. How will we connect our children to the stories?
当我们教导圣经故事时，我们的目标不应该仅仅是教孩子们重复故事的事实，而是唤醒孩子们的心思意念，让他们参与到故事中来，让真理触及他们的生活。当耶稣讲故事时，他经常让他的追随者们参与讨论或邀请他们一起行动。那么我们如何将孩子们更多地与故事连接呢？
Preparing for the story
故事准备
Prepare a “hook” – a short introduction to catch their attention such as a prop, a game, or a song. This will not only increase their interest but also develop curiosity about the story.
准备一个“抓眼球的东西” – 通过一个简短的介绍来吸引孩子们的注意力，比如一件道具、一款游戏或一首歌。这不仅会增加他们的兴趣，也会培养他们对故事的好奇心。
Engage the minds of the children before reading the story. Helping the children to make connections to their life and also recalling what they already know about the story will turn their brains on preparing them to receive the story.
在读故事之前，先吸引孩子们的注意力。帮助孩子们与他们的生活建立联系，并回忆他们已经知道的故事内容，将使他们的大脑做好接受故事信息的准备。
- Ask the children what they already know about this topic or story.
When God created the world, what were some of the things He made, do you remember?
问孩子们关于这个主题或故事他们已经知道了什么。
如：当神创世时，他都创造了一些什么，你还记得吗？ - Connect the story to the children’s life.
Have you ever had to tell someone “I’m sorry”? Did they forgive you?
Did you do anything to show love to your family today?
Have you ever been on a boat? How did it feel?
将故事与孩子们的生活联系起来。
你有没有跟别人说过“对不起”？他们原谅你了吗？
你今天做了什么向家人表达爱的事情吗？
你坐过船吗？感觉如何？
Use a real Bible
使用一本真实的圣经
When presenting the Bible to children, always use a real Bible. Model for the children what it is like to hold a real Bible in your hands, turn the pages and find books, chapters and verses. This helps the children understand that this is not a magical fairytale but true teaching from God’s Word.
当给孩子们看圣经时，一定要用一本真正的圣经。为孩子们示范如何把真实的圣经握在手中，翻页、寻找书卷、章节和经文。这有助于孩子们理解这不是一本魔幻童话故事，而是神话语的真实教导。
Create a cozy and welcoming atmosphere
营造舒适和欢迎的氛围
Story time is a nice time for children to sit closer to the leader on the floor rather than on chairs. To manage behaviors and give the children boundaries, use cushions to help each child know their special spot.
讲故事的时候，孩子们可以坐在离主领更近的地上，而不是坐在椅子上。为了管理孩子们的行为并给他们划定界限，可以使用小坐垫来帮助每个孩子知道他们的特定位置。
Welcome the Holy Spirit to reveal truths
欢迎圣灵来揭示真理
Before reading the story, invite the children to pray with you to ask God to be the leader. In this way leaders model for children the importance of prayer and asking the Holy Spirit to be our guide. Reading the Bible is different from reading other books, this is God’s book and He will help us understand it.
在读故事之前，邀请孩子们与你一起祷告，求神来做主领。通过这种方式，主领们向孩子们示范祷告的重要性，并邀请圣灵成为我们的向导。读圣经不同于其他书，这是神的书，他会帮助我们理解它。
Read dramatically
戏剧化的方式来读
Bring the story to life through dramatic reading. Use different voices for characters, adjust the volume of your voice to create excitement.
通过戏剧性地阅读使故事生动起来，为不同角色配不同的声音，调整你的音量来创造兴奋感。
Use simple repetitive language
采用简单重复性的语言
Sometimes it is best to read a story straight from the Bible. Many stories in the Bible are told with clear and simple words that children can easily understand. But sometimes it is necessary to paraphrase the story to meet the level of our children.
有时侯直接从圣经中读故事是最好的。圣经中的许多故事都是用孩子们容易理解的清晰、简单的语言讲述的。但有些时候有必要对故事进行解释，来满足孩子的理解水平。
- Use short sentences. Example: “God made the sun. God made the stars. God made the moon.”
使用短句。例如：“神造了太阳，神造了星星，神造了月亮。” - Repeat the same phrases over and over. Example: “God made the sun and He made you. God made the stars and He made you. God made the moon and He made you.”
再三重复相同的词组。例如：“神造了太阳也造了你；神造了星星也造了你；神造了月亮也造了你。” - Explain difficult words in terms young children can understand. Example: “Righteousness is when we do what is right.”
用幼儿能够理解的术语来解释困难的词汇。例如：“正义就是我们做对的事情。”
Prepare visual aids
准备视觉教具
Use pictures and props as visual aids to help the children focus and understand the story.
使用图片和道具作为视觉辅助，帮助孩子们集中注意力，理解故事。
Engage all five senses
调动五官感觉
How can children use all five senses to interact with the story?
孩子们如何利用五种感官与故事互动呢？
Use different types of questions to inspire critical thinking
使用不同类型的问题来激发批判性思考
- Prediction Questions: What do you think will happen next? What would you do in this situation? What do you think she should do?
预测性问题：你认为下一步会发生什么？这种情况下你会怎么做？你认为她应该怎样做？ - Knowledge Questions: “What happened?”
知识性问题 ”发生了什么？” - Comprehension Questions: “What does it mean?”
理解性问题“这是什么意思？” - Application Questions: “What does this mean to me?”
应用性问题“这对我意味着什么？”
Foster active participation through play-acting
通过表演来培养孩子们主动参与
Act out parts of the story in a simple way by using hand motions or actions to involve everyone.
用简单的方式表演故事的一部分，使用手势或动作让每个人都参与进来。
Use “repeat after me!”
采用“跟我重复说”
Ask children to children repeat words from the story.
让孩子们重复故事中的单词
Bible Activities
圣经故事活动
1. Retell the story through drama
通过戏剧的方式复述故事
Children love to pretend. It is one of the key methods young children use to learn. Invite them into the story as they pretend to be the characters. Use simple costumes such as fabric and props. This is not just a show time where the children watch the leaders act out the story, but rather an activity for the children to participate in as actors.
儿童喜欢假装，这是他们学习的关键方式之一。邀请他们进入故事，假扮成其中的角色。使用简单的服装，比如布料和道具。这并不是一场孩子们只需当观众的表演秀，而是要邀请他们参与到剧中的角色来，一起出演。
2. Use pictures for story sequencing
使用图片进行故事情节排序
Prepare pictures of the story, allow the children to put the pictures in the correct order and retell it in their own words.
预备故事的图片，让孩子们把图片放到对应准确的故事情节里，并用自己的话复述出来。
3. Play games
玩游戏
Choose one of the elements of the story and create a game. Examples:
选择故事中的一个元素来创造一个游戏，比如：
- Race to collect the most fish and bread into your basket
比赛收集最多的鱼和饼到你的篮子里
- Find the lost sheep hidden in the room
找到藏在房间里的迷失的羊
- Gather the fruits of the spirit
收集圣灵的果子
- Follow the Good Shepherd by mirroring actions
效仿跟随好牧人
- Look for the hidden treasure
寻找隐藏的财宝
- Build an ark with blocks and place all toy animals inside
用积木搭建一个方舟，把所有玩具动物放在里面
4. Object lesson
实物小课堂
Use real items to demonstrate spiritual concepts. For example, children can try to fit sand, pebbles and large rocks into a jar. It is hard to start with sand and pebbles and finish with rocks! The lesson to be learned: God is like the big rocks. He should be placed first in your life and then there is room for other things to be added. Another example is to do a science experiment with white carnation flowers and water with red food coloring. If you place the white flowers in the red water, the flower will turn red. This can represent Jesus taking on the sins of the world.
用真实可触摸的小物件去阐述属灵层面的概念。比如，可以让孩子们试着把沙子、小石头、大石头一次放进罐子里。如果先把沙子、小石头放进罐子，大石头就很难放进去了。这教会我们的是：神就像是这样的大石头，祂需要先进入你的生命，余下的空间你可以再去装别的东西。再比如，可以用洁白的康乃馨和红色的食用色素水做一个科学实验，如果你把洁白的康乃馨放进红色的水里，花就会变红。这可以代表耶稣背负了世上一切的罪。
As you share the magnificent stories of God’s Word with children, may their imaginations be captured and hearts sown into. The seeds of God’s Word that you plant today will grow into a beautiful garden tomorrow.
当你给孩子们讲述关于神的精彩故事时，这故事会渗入他们的想象空间，浸润他们的心灵。你今日在他们心里撒下的种子，日后将会变成一座美好的花园。
