Tag Archives: Angels

The Ethiopian Eunuch


Acts 8:26-40 as told by Casey FitzGerald


A shorter TALE

This is a longer story. You might want to start out with a smaller chunk of it to learn (especially any younger storytellers out there). Consider learning only this section: 

and the eunuch said,

He commanded the chariot to stop,
and both of them, Philip and the eunuch,
went down into the water,
and Philip baptized him.

When they came up out of the water,
the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away;
the eunuch never saw him again,
but went on his way rejoicing.

Here is a copy of the entire story Acts 8: 26-40!

Ways to Wonder

For all ages:

*Once More, with Feeling! Using either the “shorter tale” or the whole text, play this game of “emotional” telling. A sentence or a section at a time, tell the story with the emotion chosen by the spinner (link to spinner here: Once More, with FEELING!). Just click on the spinner and you’re emotion will be chosen for you! This is a fun activity to do for a group re-around (each person spins and then reads). Add another layer–at the end of the telling, have the group guess what feelings were being portrayed! If you are having a tough time understanding the emotion of a part of your story, this is a great way to explore the possibilities.

*When Philip asks the Ethiopian eunuch if he understands what he’s reading from Isaiah, the eunuch replies, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” Tell a story about someone who guides you.

*The Ethiopian eunuch is an outsider, in his baptism he becomes an insider–he is now a part of the followers of Christ! As a way of connecting to the story, tell a story about a time you felt like an outsider (or a time you experienced becoming an insider).

For the younger set:

*Find a doll and some water. Pretend you are Philip and baptize the doll. (The man in our story was not a baby, so you don’t have to use a baby doll.) Do you remember how your pastor baptizes babies? What words are said? Describe what baptism looks like in your church.

the more you know…

*Though the Ethiopian eunuch held a high rank within the queen’s court, because he was considered “half man,” it is unlikely that he was actually allowed full worshipping rights in Jerusalem. Deuteronomy 23:1 tells us that such a man would be unable to enter “the assembly of the Lord.” He was, in many ways, an outsider. What does this story show us about what God is doing in the world?ethiopian

*I believe I pronounced “Candace” wrong in the video! DOH! I used my American way of saying “Candace” because it is such a familiar name. The correct pronunciation is kan-DAY-see.Here is a great place to check on your pronunciations!  (I posted this video despite the error–there will always be changes I want to make to my stories–because I am always learning! I am actually working on learning this story for an event six months from now…there will be many changes between now and then!)

Click here for more on telling this story!

Does Jesus Get Hangry? Storytelling for Lent 1

This is the first in a series of videos to get you ready to story-learn and tell this Lent!


Matthew 4:1-11
As told by Rev. Leslianne Braunstein



FASTING To “fast” is to intentionally not eat food as a way to become closer to God. Here is an explanation of the practice of fasting in biblical times offered by Bible.org: 

“The [Old Testament] uses fasting and abstinence from food to point to something even more necessary for life—communion with and dependence on God. Fasting behaviors were sometimes commanded, sometimes voluntary, and sometimes even ritualized, but the Hebrew Bible rather consistently portrays fasting in conjunction with themes of disruption and restoration. In the midst of disruption, fasting comes to symbolize hope. Through repentance and prayer, fasting can signify the centering of the self in humility, the renewal of the relationship to God’s sustaining force. As such, fasting takes on a dual significance of mourning and hope.”

Have you ever fasted? What was it like? What was the hardest part? Did it make you feel closer to God?

If you haven’t fasted, find someone who has and ask them about their experience! Better yet–try a fast yourself–even a brief fast might help you tell the story!

learn it BY HEART

Verbal Threads Look for the words or phrases that are repeated through the story. Click HERE for the text (thanks again to gotell.org). There is a lot of repetition in the story, which makes for great storytelling! I like to print out a copy of the story and with my colored pens circle and connect the verbal threads. What do you notice about the repetition?interlaced-herringbone-10

Giving VOICE to the devil I am always struck by what good things the devil offers Jesus. If he’s meant to be the savior of the world, wouldn’t it be great if he was well-fed and already ruled everything??? In order to consider how the devil sounds, you might want to think about (or tell a story about) what tempts you. Is the devil angry or…persuasive…or something else? What works better when one is trying to be tempting

Looking for CLUES What does Jesus look and sound like in this story? Consider what it would be like to fast for 40 days and nights…how might this have affected his speech or the way he stands? Was he hangry? (When I am hungry, I am almost always also short-tempered and angry.) Does he start off the same way he begins, or is he changed over the course of the story? (For example, does he start of weak and get stronger, or could it be the other way around?)


For all ages: STORY BOARDING This story has great visuals (some kids may need a bit of explanation from adults).

  1. Draw Jesus alone in the wilderness (consider…what is the wilderness?)
  2. Draw the temptation of the bread (consider…what do we “live by”?)
  3. Draw Jesus and the devil on the pinnacle of the temple (consider…how do we test our God?)
  4. Draw them up on a high mountain looking at all the kingdoms (consider…what things in this world are particularly tempting to you?)
  5. Draw Angels attending Jesus (consider…when have you felt God caring for you?)