12 Popular children’s Bible stories that have stood the test of time (with interpretation)

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If you’re looking for little children’s Bible stories to tell your children at bedtime, how about choosing narratives that convey ancient lessons and are full of wisdom? To help, we selected 8 stories, adapted for children, that everyone should know:

The Bible is a treasure trove of stories that have been passed down for thousands of years. These stories are not just for adults, but also for children. They are filled with valuable lessons and moral teachings that can help shape a child’s character and worldview. In this article, we will take a look at 9 popular children’s Bible stories that can help teach children about God’s love and guidance.

12 Popular children’s Bible stories

The Bible is full of stories that have captivated the imaginations of children for centuries. These stories are not just for children, however; they contain valuable lessons and insights that can be understood and appreciated by people of all ages. In this blog post, we will take a look at nine popular children’s Bible stories that have stood the test of time.

1. The Creation of the World

In the beginning, only God existed, but He felt alone. It was then that he resolved to create all things. First, he created light, because it is fundamental to life, and he separated it from darkness.

He called light “day” and dark “night”; then it got dark and dawned for the first time. Then, on the second day, he created the sky and united all the waters to form the seas.

On the third day, the earth appeared and, with enthusiasm, God made the seeds, plants and flowers appear. Soon after, beautiful trees and their colorful fruits began to appear.

On the fourth day, the sun and clouds began to decorate the sky; that same night, the moon and stars shone for the first time. The next morning, God filled the seas and rivers with life, with varied fish and creatures of many kinds.

Finally, the earth came to be inhabited by all species. As he was still not satisfied, on the sixth day, God created man from his own image. Amazed by the beauty of creation, on the seventh day, God rested.

(Adaptation of Genesis 1:3 – 2:3)

The famous episode shows the biblical vision about the creation of the world, which intends to explain everything that exists around us. The planet, the fauna, the flora and human beings themselves will have emerged from the will of God.

In the plot, we can see that His work was gradual: each day, He was building a little more and making life sprout in the most diverse ways.

On the seventh day, God finished his work and stopped to rest. This is why Catholicism considers Sunday to be a holy day that should be dedicated to worship and rest.

2. The Creation of Humanity

God created the world, a huge colorful garden full of life, but someone was missing to take care of it all. It was then that, using clay and clay, he molded the first man.

With just one divine breath, Adam began to live. He was impressed by the beauty of the things around him. God ordered to call the animals of all species and ordered him to choose the name of each one.

However, the man was lonely in that wonderful garden and he started to feel sad. There, the Almighty removed one of his ribs, next to his heart, and used it to create the first woman.

Thus was born Eve, Adam’s companion: made for each other, they fell in love and multiplied. As a result of this love and God’s will, the human race grew and spread throughout the world.

(Adaptation from Genesis 2-3)

The birth of Adam and Eve symbolizes the beginning of humanity. God was looking for someone to guard the wonderful garden he created and, for that, he was inspired by his own figure to make a man from clay.

However, Adam missed someone with whom he could share that perfection. Thus, Eve was born, made from Adam’s rib, and composed of the same matter as him. The narrative reminds us that we don’t feel complete when we are totally alone.

Adam and Eve would thus have lived the first love story and made a fundamental discovery about human beings: we are born to love and form bonds, not to isolate ourselves.

3. Jonah and the Big Fish

Jonah and the Big Fish
Jonah and the Whale by H. Mandel.

Jonah was a prophet who dedicated his life to spreading the divine word. One day, he received an order from God: he needed to travel to Nineveh and warn the residents of the place about the punishments that awaited them.

As that land represented danger to the people of Israel, Jonah was scared and decided to ignore his mission. Instead, he boarded a ship bound for Tarshish, which was in the opposite direction. However, God was watching him closely and sent a huge storm.

The crew, suspicious that Jonas was responsible, decided to throw him into the water. God, to save him, sent a gigantic fish that soon swallowed him. Thus, for three days and three nights, Jonah prayed and asked forgiveness, repenting for not having followed his will.

Finally, when he agreed to go preach to Nineveh, Jonah was dropped onto the beach by the huge fish. Arriving there, he warned the people that God would devastate those lands, unless they changed their behavior in 40 days.

The people of Nineveh believed in the prophet’s message and heeded his advice, changing their way of life. And that’s how, after 40 days, they received divine forgiveness and everything was in place.

(Adapted from Book of Jonah, Old Testament)

Jonah’s story recalls the value of obedience and the need to honor our commitments and duties. The man, who until then was faithful to God, did not want to listen to his plans and tried to change the fate that awaited him.

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When he was thrown into the sea, that could be the end of him, but God didn’t allow it because he had a mission for him. Trapped in the belly of the fish for days, Jonas realizes that he has no way of escaping the divine will and finally accepts to fulfill it.

The plot also shows that forgiveness can be obtained by all those who truly repent.

4. Samuel, the Servant of God

Once upon a time there was a very devout woman who had the great dream of becoming a mother. Every year, she asked God to give her a son, but her wish did not come true. Until, one day, she decided to make a promise: if she got pregnant, she would give her son to be a servant of the Church.

Soon their prayers were answered and a boy was born who was named Samuel. When he reached the right age, his mother turned him over to the Church, fulfilling her part of the promise.

One day a voice called to him and he thought it was Eli the priest who was speaking. Eli then said that Samuel needed to learn to listen to the voice of God and he should reply “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening” if that happened again.

During the night, the boy heard the same voice and responded in the way he had been taught. From then on, God began to speak to Samuel, warning him of many things that would happen.

The boy thus became a messenger of the Lord’s will and began to warn others about what they would face in the future.

(Adapted from Book of Samuel, Old Testament)

Born as an answer to his mother’s prayers, Samuel was already destined to serve God. The family does its duty and delivers the boy to the Church when the time is right.

Although Samuel strives to learn and behave well, he still doesn’t know how to respond when he first hears the divine voice.

Later, when he discovers that he needs to demonstrate humility, stating that he is ready to listen to him and follow His orders, he begins to spread the word of God among the people.

5. Birth of Baby Jesus

In the Arab city of Nazareth lived a kind young woman named Maria. One day, she receives a surprising visit from the Angel Gabriel, a being sent by the divine to warn her that she was chosen to be the mother of the son of God. The girl was then instructed to name the child Jesus.

Thus, miraculously, Maria became pregnant. Her husband, the carpenter José, took over his pregnant wife and together they decided to raise Jesus.

Already with her pregnancy well advanced, Maria needed to go with Joseph to Bethlehem, following orders from the Roman Emperor Caesar Augustus.

After an exhausting journey, they reached their destination, but there were no more accommodations in the city. That way they took shelter in a stable.

Maria was already about to give birth. Thus, in a peaceful way, amid the animals and surrounded by love, Jesus was born, being placed in a manger.

Far away, three wise men – Melchior, Baltasar and Gaspar – decided to follow a bright star in the sky, because they knew that that night an enlightened being would be born.

That’s how they arrived at the stable in Bethlehem and presented the baby with gold, frankincense and myrrh.

The story of the birth of the one who would be recognized as the savior of humanity brings a very beautiful teaching, that of simplicity and goodness.

She tells us about the coming of this enlightened man to Earth, showing the companionship between the couple Mary and Joseph in the midst of difficulties and how was the warm reception of Jesus.

It also points to the humility of that family, recalling the poor and simple origin of Jesus and his commitment to the people.

6. The Good Samaritan

The Good Samaritan
The Good Samaritan by David Teniers the Younger.

One day, a man asked Jesus what he needed to do to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. He replied that he should follow the words of the Bible: worship God above all else and love your neighbor as yourself.

The man then asked, “Who’s next?” Jesus responded with the help of an old story: the parable of the Good Samaritan.

There once was a Jewish man who walked from Jerusalem to Jericho, a difficult journey that took two whole days. He was still happy, but he was attacked by a group of bandits who robbed and beat him, leaving his body on the road.

A priest and a priest passed the wounded man, but continued on their way, ignoring his suffering. It was then that a Samaritan, people who were rivals of the Jews, at that time, passed by.

Worried about the blood-soaked body, he stopped to help the other. He first cleaned his wounds and then placed the stranger on his donkey. Then he took the man to an inn and asked them to look after him, offering to pay the expense.

When Jesus finished the story, the one who asked the question asked: “but, after all, who was next?”. And the son of God replied: “He who had compassion. So do the same!”.

(Adaptation from Luke 10:25-37, New Testament)

This story talks about essential values ​​such as charity, empathy, respect, and love for other people. As a compass that must guide our actions and conduct, we must never forget to treat other human beings with the same dignity we expect from them.

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Just like the character in the plot, we cannot ignore the suffering of others. Instead of turning our heads when we see someone who needs help and pretending it’s not our problem, we have a moral obligation to reach out and spread kindness around the world.

7. Isaac in Gerar

When Abraham and Sarah were already elderly, God granted a son to the couple and announced that a great and important lineage would emerge from him. When Isaac was already an adult, hunger began to take over that region.

Seeing that many were leaving in search of a better life, he thought of traveling to Egypt. Then God appeared in a vision and spoke to him: “If you stay on this earth with your family, I will be by your side and bless you”.

The man did not hesitate to carry out the divine orders and stayed in Canaan. With God’s protection, crops multiplied and cattle grew strong and healthy. Soon, Isaac’s wealth increased and he began to annoy those around him.

Envy, they filled his wells with earth, preventing the animals from drinking water, and ordered him to go away. It was then that Isaac and his family moved to the Valley of Gerar. There he dug a well and found a source of pure water.

Claiming that Isaac had no right to this water, the locals closed the well. The story repeated itself several times: even though his work was destroyed by those who envied him, Isaac remained serene and just started over.

After a while, others began to realize that the man must be being guarded by God. So their leader resolved to seek him out and make peace.

(Adaptation from Genesis 26)

Faced with misery and scarcity in his land, Isaac was preparing to leave, but God decided otherwise. Following this order did not seem very logical, since everyone was looking for opportunities to get rich elsewhere.

Even so, he did not question the mission he was given and fulfilled the destiny reserved for him. Always maintaining absolute trust in God, man withstood all attacks and never wavered or abandoned his purpose.

History is an impressive example of someone who never lost faith and always strived to keep the peace, even when he was humiliated and challenged by those who didn’t like his success.

8. Noah’s Ark

children's Bible stories
Noah’s Ark by Edward Hicks.

Once, God was looking at the world and he was very sad about human beings. They seemed more and more selfish and mean, they had forgotten values ​​such as sharing and love of neighbor.

Disappointed with all the sins he saw, the Creator decided to put an end to so much evil. So he looked for Noah, a good man, and gave him a difficult mission: he should create a gigantic vessel, capable of surviving a flood.

Then Noah had to gather a couple of animals of each kind and enough food to feed them. If he managed to do so, his entire family would be saved during the terrible storm to come.

The man worked for many years to complete the work. Around, everyone questioned what he was doing. When the vessel was finished, the Lord warned that Noah would only have 7 days to prepare everything.

As soon as everyone got into the boat, God sent a rain that lasted 40 days and 40 nights. Water flooded everything and spread destruction while Noah’s Ark sailed for over a year.

At the end of that time, the earth dried up, everyone was able to disembark and restart life on the planet. Pleased with Noah’s efforts, God forgave mankind and promised that he would never again send such a flood.

(Adaptation of Genesis 6-9)

Noah, the man who according to the Bible would have lived for 500 years, was responsible for saving life on Earth during the huge flood. By his conduct, he was chosen by God and had to work for a long time to build the Ark.

For those who didn’t know about his mission, the gigantic construction seemed absurd, but Noah knew his purpose and continued the work. So, due to his efforts, the divine will of God prevailed and all life returned.

9. David and Goliath

Saul was king of Israel, but he lived far from divine laws. Therefore, God spoke to the prophet Samuel and ordered him to go look for the sons of Jesse, because one of them would occupy the throne.

Jesse had 8 children and Samuel met the oldest and strongest, but he listened to the voice of the Lord who warned him not to look at the appearance of the boys, but to seek a good heart.

David was the youngest son, a teenager who tended the sheep. As soon as he looked at him, the prophet received confirmation and blessed the young man with holy oil.

From that day on, the power of God accompanied the shepherd, who followed his life among the valleys and the animals. However, a great war had arisen between the people of Israel and the Philistines.

In the Philistine army was Goliath, a menacing giant that no one could defeat. With his body protected by armor, he used to shout loudly, challenging rival soldiers to combat.

One day, David passed by and heard his words. Bravely, he took a slingshot and filled his pocket with pebbles, going after the giant. Goliath laughed when he saw the size of his opponent, but he was not intimidated.

David threw a stone between the giant’s eyes, causing him to lose consciousness and fall. From that moment on, he delivered Israel from the threat of Goliath and became a hero to his people. He was later crowned king.

(Adaptation from Book of Samuel: 17, Old Testament)

This is, without a doubt, one of the most inspiring narratives to emerge from biblical texts. When he sent Samuel to look for a new king, God warned no matter his size, but the courage of his soul.

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Even though he was small and apparently fragile, David had faith in God and in himself. Therefore, he was not frightened by the size of the giant and managed to defeat him, knowing that he could count on divine protection in the most difficult moments.

Good youtube children’s bible stories

The Bible is a rich source of stories that are not only entertaining but also educational and inspiring. From the creation of the world in the Garden of Eden to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, these stories contain valuable lessons that can be passed down from generation to generation.

10. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden:

This is the first story in the Bible and it tells of how God created the world and everything in it. He also created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden, a beautiful and perfect place. God gave them only one rule to follow: they could eat from any tree in the garden except for one, the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. They were tempted by a serpent and disobeyed God’s command, resulting in them being cast out of the garden and facing the consequences of sin. This story teaches children about the importance of obedience and the consequences of disobedience.

11. The Last Supper and the Crucifixion

These stories tell of the final days of Jesus’ life on earth. The Last Supper is the final meal Jesus shared with his disciples before his arrest and crucifixion. The story of the Last Supper teaches us about the importance of sharing a meal with loved ones and the idea of sacrifice. The crucifixion of Jesus is the event where Jesus was crucified and died on the cross. The story of the crucifixion teaches us about the ultimate sacrifice Jesus made on behalf of humanity, and the importance of selflessness and forgiveness.

12. The Resurrection of Jesus

The resurrection of Jesus is the event where Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. The story teaches us about the power of God and the hope of eternal life. It is the foundation of the Christian faith and is celebrated annually in the form of Easter. The story of the resurrection teaches us about the ultimate power of God over death and the promise of eternal life for those who believe in him.

All these stories are not just for children but also for adults, as these stories contain valuable lessons and insights that can be understood and appreciated by people of all ages. It is through these stories that we are able to learn about God’s love, compassion, and the importance of living a righteous life. The Bible is a treasure trove of stories that can inspire and guide us in our daily lives, and it is our hope that this post has been able to give you a taste of just a few of the many wonderful stories that it contains.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the Bible is full of stories that are not only entertaining but also educational and inspiring. These stories have stood the test of time and continue to be passed down from generation to generation. In this blog post, we highlighted 12 popular children’s Bible stories, such as Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Noah’s Ark, David and Goliath, and the birth, ministry, and resurrection of Jesus.

Each story comes with a summary of the lesson to be learned. The Bible is a treasure trove of stories that can inspire and guide us in our daily lives, and it’s a great way to introduce children to the beauty and wisdom of the Bible. These stories can help children understand the core values of humanity, and how they can apply them to their daily lives.

We hope that this post has been able to give you a taste of just a few of the many wonderful stories the Bible has to offer and that it will inspire you to explore more of the Bible’s stories with your children.