Instant Replays
Illustrated Stories and Bible Stories for E-LIFE

Special Thanks To:
Nena Hiatt and Marshall Bruner for creating the illustrated stories and Bible Story Theme Activities
Lisa Lyons, for editing and layout

Note: The “Instant Replay” Theme Activities below may require more than five minutes to conduct.

The term illustrated story or illustrated Bible story refers to the application of storytelling by using a children’s leader (or leaders) and the children themselves to act out a scene or a Bible story. The life applications used in this section can be done with as few or as many children as you choose and need not be rehearsed. No rehearsal is necessary because you simply read or tell the story in a narrative form and have the children repeat lines after you. This method of illustrated storytelling can be spontaneous and fun for the children, while helping both the participants and the audience of kids to easily recall the lesson application. To make the illustrated stories more effective, look for background music to play while the stories are being performed, to add depth and dramatics (though this is not required). Make the illustrated stories and Bible stories colorful and memorable.

The Instant Replays are presented to emphasize one of the E-LIFE Kid commitments through the Theme Applications. The props listed in each illustrated Bible story are not required but helpful to enhance the presentation. The leader portraying Super Agent E need not rehearse these presentations because as the “narrator,” he or she reads the story to the kids and has the kids simply repeat their lines. The illustrated Bible story creates a dynamic and fun application that helps the children through integrated learning.

Visit our videos page for E-LIFE Video Clips, which can be used to introduce E-LIFE or to play during the E-LIFE activity.

Taken from Instant Replay

The files below list illustrated story Theme Activities for 5-minute segmens on E-LIFE and can be printed off and duplicated for leaders.

Seek

• The Crucifixion of Christ
• Peter Leads 3,000 to Christ

Show

• Zaccheus the Tax Collector
• The Helping Samaritan
• Martha, Martha, Martha
• Jesus Feeds the 5,000
• Friends for Life
• A Story of Friends

Share

• The Old Saul, the New Paul
• The Healing at the Pool

Invite

• It Took Time, But Peter Finally Got It!
• Follow Me
• Can't Take It with You!

Invest

• It Took Time, But Peter Finally Got It!
• Follow Me
• Can't Take It with You!

About Super Agent E
Super Agent E is here to help you solve the mystery! Super Agent E (the“E” emphasis of Evangelism and E-LIFE) is a character the leader can portray when telling the story (or if you have an additional leader available, have him or her be Super Agent E). Super Agent E is the infamous detective who is powered up by the Holy Spirit to help the E-LIFE Kids solve the mystery. And the mystery in each story is solved by revealing the life application.

The character can easily be portrayed by dressing up in any or all of the following apparel, which can be purchased almost anywhere: costume glasses (such as bottle glasses) or sunglasses, a hat, a costume wig, an all-weather jacket (trench coat). A leader can transform into this character right before the kids like this: “Wait a minute! I think Super Agent E may be here to solve a mystery. Yes, I think I hear him now (hold up hand to ear). Wait right here while I go find him!” Now you simply turn your back to the students, pick up and don the costume apparel, which should be close by. When you’re outfitted, turn around and say, and in a different and humorous voice if possible, “It’s Super Agent E! I’m here to solve a mystery!” Then begin.

The scripts do not need to be memorized. The students simply repeat their lines after Super Agent E. The person playing Super Agent E can either read the script or simply paraphrase the lines according to the general storyline given.

Please Note: If you are teaching a small group with few kids, do not be concerned about having too few children to play each role as outlined in the application. If need be, simply tell the story or read it to the students.

For Your Information: The objective of the first theme application listed below is to tell the story of Christ—His birth, life, death, resurrection, and the plan of salvation. The ideal is to ensure that every child first has the chance to accept Jesus as Lord. Do not assume that every child in your church, even those who have attended all their lives, have a personal relationship with Jesus.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version®; NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.