Some of those who read this blog may be aware that Concordia Publishing House invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in the past decade on new biblical art for use in our Sunday School curriculum. The resulting paintings are a rich library of authentic biblical images. The Bible accounts they illustrate were studied carefully for clues about the settings and contexts for each account. The details included in the art were carefully researched to be appropriate and likely. The artists were chosen based on their ability to convey the culture and people of the Bible well. And the images were reviewed through our in-house doctrinal review process for theological accuracy. The results are often stunning.
These paintings are truly worth studying in class, exploring the details and nuances that will inform the students' understanding of the biblical text. The setting and culture of the Bible is unfamiliar for many students; pictures are a simple way to bridge the gap, The pictures can be used in a variety of ways in the lesson.
Before, During, and After
Pictures can be used before the presentation of the Bible account in the lesson as a kind of formative assessment (a pretest of sorts).- Study this picture and tell what you remember or discover about the Bible account.
- Who was present?
- What happened before the moment depicted in this picture?
- What happened after?
They can also be used as a hook to draw the students in to the Bible account.
- Why do you think these people are smiling or angry?
- What do you think will happen?
During the presentation of the Bible story, pictures can be used to unpack the cultural and practical details of the account.
- Who are these men wearing fancy clothes?
- Why are they walking?
- Where is this taking place?
After the Bible account has been presented and discussed, pictures can be used to review the lesson (another formative assessment). Let the students use the picture to tell the story again. Use this "before, during, and after" strategy for that review.
- What happened before the moment of this picture?
- What is happening here according to the Bible test?
- What happened after this picture?
Why and How?
The process of Christian education, all education really, is taking students from where they are in their understanding of the Bible's message, providing experiences and information that add to their understanding, and deepening their knowledge of God's Word. Pictures provide a simple way to provide new information and experience. What the children discover as they study and hear about a picture gets added to what they already know to build knowledge.A good picture, then, is always worth studying. Encourage children to look both at the big picture, the event that is taking place, and at the details, the small things that add meaning. This kind of study takes time. Make sure that the students can all see the picture well enough and long enough to absorb the details. This is why the biblical art is always prominent on our leaflets, so each student can see and learn. If you are using posters, display at eye level and encourage the students to stand close enough to see the details, even if it means getting them up out of their seats. If you are showing pictures from a picture book display the pictures fully (turning so all students can see them) and move it very slowly (slower even than you think is possibly necessary) so that students catch the details.
A good picture is truly worth a thousand words!
God bless you as you teach His children His Word — through pictures!
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