Picture the Bible is a set of 52 images depicting 52 individual Bible stories. The images and corresponding student engagement pages offer a creative approach to Bible study that fosters biblical literacy and interpretation, and encourages people to see connections between their lives and the biblical story. Picture the Bible adapts to a wide variety of congregational settings; connects worship, education, and mission; and provides a link between church and home.
Bible Storybook!
Proud to announce the publication of the new Picture the Bible book, published by Pilgrim Press. Order here! See the trailer here!
An Approach, not a Curriculum
Picture the Bible is an approach to Bible study; it is not curriculum in the traditional sense. Picture the Bible is designed to engage learners and leaders in conversation, everyone learning from each other. To encourage and guide discussions, Conversation Pages include a great variety of ideas, images, art, questions, information, and background that bring together the Bible and people lives. Picture the Bible seeks to occupy the intersection of the Bible and peoples’ lives in God’s world.
Picture the Bible places serious emphasis on biblical texts as well as on issues of social justice. When interacting with the Conversation Pages, learners and leaders will consider together how Bible stories can inform their lives, shape their view of the world, and articulate what means to be a faithful disciple.
Picture the Bible is extremely flexible. It can be used with groups of the same age learners or several different ages. Including older teens or adults in groups of children and younger teens is a good way to add interest and perspective to the conversation and learning. Picture the Bible can be incorporated into faith formation and worship, placing the Bible at the center of a congregation’s life.
Learn more in this informational Picture the Bible flyer.
What is the Bible?
Often Christians say the Bible is God’s Word. In the Bible are stories and ideas that tell us and show us who God is and what God is like. The first words of the Bible are: “In the beginning” and the last word is “Amen.” In between are all kinds of stories; long stories, short stories, scary stories, funny stories, confusing stories, and comforting stories—and all of these stories tell us about God and God’s Way.
When you use Picture the Bible, you will do more than look at the Bible’s stories. You will look through these stories. After all, these stories have something to say to you! Remember: The Bible is your story!
Picture the Bible is a collection of easy-to-use resources with a wide range of possibilities to tailor to your programming:
- Be creative.
- Use your brain. Ask questions, the more the better.
- Connect each image and story to your life and to the world.
- Talk, learn, think, and explore these images/stories together.
“If you look at a window, you see flyspecks, dust, the crack where Junior’s frisbee hit it. If you look through a window, you see the world beyond.”
— Frederick Buechner, pastor, writer, and theologian; from Wishful Thinking