The Power of Stories: Using the Bible to Shape a Child’s Imagination

Little Seeds, Big Fruit Series — Blog 3

September 8, 2025

Becky Chocklette

Stories as Seeds of Faith

Every parent knows the power of a good story. Children lean in, eyes wide, hearts open, ready to be shaped by the words they hear. Stories sink quietly into the heart like seeds into soil. With patience and care, they sprout into patterns of thought, daily practices, and a faith that endures.

Jesus Himself understood the power of stories. He often chose parables to teach, using everyday images like mustard seeds, sheep, and coins to reveal eternal truths. These simple stories were seeds that grew into wisdom and faith in the hearts of those who listened.

For Christian parents, the stories of Scripture are fertile soil for shaping a child’s moral and spiritual imagination. Sharing Bible stories isn’t just about teaching facts; it’s about planting seeds that will grow into courage, trust, and love.

Planting the Seeds of Story

1. The Role of Biblical Stories in Shaping Imagination

The psalmist captures the responsibility of parents and communities in Psalm 78:4–7 (NIV):

“We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done… Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands.”

Stories give children a framework for seeing the world. They shape their understanding of good and evil, right and wrong, hope and despair. When children hear the story of David and Goliath, they learn that faith can overcome fear. When they hear the story of Ruth, they see loyalty and trust in God. When they hear the parables of Jesus, they glimpse the Kingdom of God.

Marty Machowski writes that “stories help children grasp truths that are too big to explain all at once. They plant ideas in young hearts that the Holy Spirit will grow in time.”[1]

Biblical storytelling plants seeds of truth in a child’s imagination. These seeds grow into values and perspectives that shape how they see themselves, others, and God.

[1] Marty Machowski, The Ology: Ancient Truths Ever New (Greensboro, NC: New Growth Press, 2015), x. 

2. Practical Tips for Planting Seeds with Scripture Stories

Jesus’ ministry shows us the power of stories. In Matthew 13:34–35 (NIV), we read:

“Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: ‘I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.’”

Through stories, parents walk in the footsteps of Jesus, planting seeds of God’s truth in the fertile soil of their children’s hearts.

Here are practical ways to do that:

a) Read Scripture Stories Regularly

Make Bible stories a normal part of daily life. Read a story before bed, over breakfast, or during family devotion time. Use children’s Bibles for younger kids and transition to full-text Scripture as they grow.

b) Retell Stories in Your Own Words

Don’t be afraid to put the story in your own voice. Retelling makes it conversational and helps children grasp the key truths. Encourage them to retell the story back to you — this deepens their understanding and memory.

c) Act Out Bible Stories

Children learn best through play and imagination. Act out stories together — let them be Jonah in the belly of the fish, Esther approaching the king, Joshua marching around Jericho, or the Good Samaritan helping a neighbor. These embodied experiences turn stories into living lessons.

d) Connect Stories to Daily Life

Stories become powerful when children see their relevance. After reading about the Good Samaritan, ask: “Who can we show kindness to this week?” After telling the story of Jesus calming the storm, ask: “What are you afraid of right now, and how can we trust God to calm our fears?”

These connections plant seeds that grow beyond knowledge into lived faith.

3. Guarding the Imagination Garden

Our culture pours out stories through movies, television, social media, and books, shaping the soil of children’s imaginations. Some stories plant truth and beauty, but many scatter weeds that grow into selfishness, fear, and broken values.

Paul reminds us in Romans 12:2 (NIV):

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Parents are called to help guard the garden of their children’s imaginations, pulling weeds where necessary and ensuring that God’s truth is the strongest influence.

Isaiah 55:11 gives us confidence in the enduring power of Scripture:

“So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

This means we don’t need to despair over cultural influences. By consistently planting biblical stories, we are filling children’s minds with seeds of eternal truth that will grow stronger than the temporary weeds of culture.

Practical ways to guard imagination include:

• Monitoring what children watch and read.

• Filling your home with stories, books, and media that cultivate faith and godly values.

• Talking openly about the messages in cultural stories and contrasting them with God’s Word.

By doing this, parents create an environment where God’s stories thrive and imagination blossoms into faith.

From Seeds of Story to Fruit of Faith

Every Bible story told to a child is a seed planted in fertile ground. Parents may not see the fruit immediately, but over time those seeds grow.

• The story of Noah may grow into courage to stand for what is right.

• The story of Joseph may grow into trust in God’s plan during hard times.

• The story of the Good Samaritan may grow into love and compassion for neighbors.

Stories shape imagination, and imagination shapes lives.[1] As parents, we are entrusted with filling our children’s imaginations with the stories of God’s faithfulness, power, and love.

Little seeds of stories planted today will one day grow into the big fruit of wisdom, courage, and faith.

[1] Holly Catterton Allen, Christine Lawton, and Cory L. Seibel, Intergenerational Christian Formation: Bringing the Whole Church Together in Ministry, Community, and Worship, 2nd ed. (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2023), 228.