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Today’s blog will explore how pastors can use character studies to bring scripture to life, and use characters from the Bible to relate to congregants on a deeper level.
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Stories and narratives are powerful tools for us as humans to help understand truths, observations, theories, philosophies, or even ask questions about life. When we look at the Bible, we see all the ways history, parables, allegories, and poems are used to communicate narratives about God’s character, His truths, and our own humanity. Although as individuals, we tend to connect with narratives through the use of characters.
By delving into the lives of biblical figures, pastors can illuminate profound lessons, human struggles, and divine interventions that personally resonate with the experiences of the congregation.
Today’s blog will explore how pastors can use character studies to bring scripture to life, using characters from the Bible to relate to congregants on a deeper level.
The Bible is an important text that allows us to spend time with God, learning what He asks of us, and how He calls us to live in flourishment with Him. While the stories of the Bible take place long before our contemporary lives, we can still relate to the timeless wisdom of God’s Word. One of the ways we do this is through learning from the characters of the Bible.
The Bible is full of people of different backgrounds, imperfections, and diverse personalities. From these characters, we can begin to see ourselves in their faith, struggles, and perseverance.
Connecting with these characters not only allows us to see ourselves in the Bible, but brings the stories of the Bible to life –– in a very real and tangible way for us to understand.
In the scientific study, Why Inspiring Stories Make Us React: The Neuroscience of Narrative, Dr. Paul J. Zak states that:
“If you pay attention to the story and become emotionally engaged with the story’s characters, then it is as if you have been transported into the story’s world. This is why your palms sweat when James Bond dodges bullets. And why you stifle a sniffle when Bambi’s mother dies.”
So, how exactly can pastors use character studies for an effective sermon? Here are a few ways that might help:
Pastors can use character studies to find the commonalities between characters in the Bible and how they relate to our lives today. From Ruth, we can learn what true faith and devotion look like –– even when it seems we’ve lost everything, we’re made to feel like we don’t belong, or we’re not sure what a big life change will look like. We can find hope in the way God is able to use Moses, a modest shepherd who was “slow of speech and tongue” (Exodus 4:10), to take on a calling bigger than himself. We can learn God’s grace for us in studying Peter’s arc –– from being willing to die fighting for Jesus to denying Him three times, then being forgiven by Jesus Himself (Matthew 26:35, John 18:10-11, Luke 22:54-62, John 21:15-17).
As put by the organization, Revival and Reformation:
“Whether you’re studying for personal devotion or preparing a lesson or sermon, when you dive deep into the lives of biblical characters, you realize that there was nothing special to set them apart; God didn’t choose these individuals because of any intrinsic greatness. In fact, God delights in using sinful, flawed people who nevertheless turned to him in reliance on his grace.”
While the settings and circumstances of biblical characters may differ from those of contemporary believers, the core themes of their stories often mirror universal, human experiences.
Context is crucial for understanding the nuances of biblical characters and their narratives. When it comes to studying a character, Pastors should invest some time in researching the historical, cultural, and geographical background of the characters they intend to study. By contextualizing the lives of these figures within the societal, cultural, and political framework of their time, pastors can offer deeper insights into their motivations, struggles, and contributions to God's unfolding plan.
Understanding the social dynamics and customs of the time not only helps us understand what the characters are going through, but allows us to better connect to what they might’ve been feeling –– placing us in their shoes, and allowing us to think about how it relates to us in today’s world.
Just as in any compelling narrative, biblical characters go through arcs of growth, transformation, and redemption. Pastors can trace the trajectory of a character's journey, from their introduction (whether it be humble beginnings, low points of struggle, or positions of power) to their ultimate destiny –– highlighting key moments of growth, challenges, and encounters with God.
By emphasizing character development, pastors can underscore the importance of spiritual growth and perseverance in the lives of believers –– no matter how radical that change might be. Whether it's Abraham’s calling to father God’s people in spite of old age, or Paul’s journey from persecuting the Christian Church to becoming one of its most outspoken disciples, these stories offer valuable lessons for navigating life's trials and triumphs.
The ultimate goal of studying biblical characters is not simply to gain historical or theological knowledge, but to encourage personal transformation and understanding real life applications of God’s Word.
Pastors should invite their congregations to reflect on how the lessons learned from character studies can be applied to their own lives. This may involve asking questions to reflect on, offering practical insights on what these characters might look like in today’s world, or suggesting actionable steps for spiritual growth.
By fostering a culture of personal reflection and real-life practice, pastors can encourage their congregations to –– not only relate to these characters but to live out the principles of scripture in their daily lives. This level of engagement with the scripture not only moves beyond intellectual understanding but allows the congregation to understand the reality of God’s Kingdom.
While character studies are an effective way of relating biblical concepts to an audience of listeners, they can take some time and careful thought. Pastors must spend time studying the scripture, understanding the character, and analyzing the topic and themes we can learn from that character. Additionally, it’s important to compile research for historical and theological context –– developing a well rounded understanding of the character’s action, feelings, and struggles.
For this reason, pastors can use sermon preparation applications for an easier, more time-efficient work-flow. These sermon applications use AI as a tool to generate character studies, instantly giving pastors a mold to work with.
In addition to developing character studies, pastors can also use these applications to generate sermon outlines, modern-day examples of scripture, and quick search Bible verses.
Understanding the characters of the Bible is a powerful way of relating God’s Word to the congregation, conveying the timeless truth of scripture in a way that feels relevant and personal. By showing the universal qualities of these characters, how they reflect ourselves and our own walks with God, pastors can create sermons that not only resonate with the congregants, but inspire, challenge, and nurture spiritual growth.
