Logo

 

Banner Image:   Baptist-Times-banner-2000x370-
Template Mode:   Baptist Times
Icon
    Post     Tweet


‘…if your church can put on a Nativity, you can stage ‘The Bible in 60 Minutes’…’ 

 

Lucy Marfleet explores how local churches can be intentionally inclusive in sharing the story of the Bible, and grow in biblical literacy in imaginative ways



Telling the Big Story - the Bible in 60 minutes, by Lucy Marfleet coverHave you ever wondered why somebody brought baskets to a talk Jesus gave?

I often overlooked that when reading about Jesus feeding the 5000. Recently I’ve been hungry for more.

Each gospel adds tasty crumbs of information about this story. In Matthew 14 we learn that there were 5000 men as well as women and children. In Mark 6 we are told that the grass was green. In Luke 9 we find out it took place near Bethsaida, north of the sea of Galilee.

And in John 6, it was no one special but an unnamed boy who brought and offered his simple lunch. Five small barley loaves and two small fish – probably sardines.

Jesus multiplies this humble and practical offering, blessing it and feeding the crowds.

Somebody else present brought baskets. We can only speculate why, and yet all four gospels record that there was so much food that the leftovers filled 12 baskets. Surely this was just as practical and useful.

All this feeds into what I really want to bring you: the idea of intentional inclusivity when it comes to church community gatherings. The least likely people in society are frequently the ones Jesus blesses and spends time with; they are also the ones he asks to help him. In our churches some people never make a fuss or get attention. There are many who do not feel included.

I am passionate about inclusion, having worked in various settings where people have traditionally felt sidelined. I want to champion those at the edges. I am also a biblical scholar and have tutored ‘Equipped to Minister’ courses for Spurgeon’s College under my married name, Lucy Robinson, since 2018. I have a hunger for increasing biblical literacy in our churches.

A red screen in a church displays colourful sticky notes arranged in a creative pattern.God took these passions and kept prodding. I felt a conviction to see if our community at Histon Baptist Church could deliver the metanarrative of the Bible in under an hour. To engage the entire church family, I found helpers to assist with food, displays and props and asked individuals of all ages and abilities to participate with scripts. On a cold, dark and wet Sunday evening one January, I began to worry whether people would turn up. Were they hungry too?

As I waited, the church filled with people. Many were either involved or had family members taking part. ‘The Bible in 60 Minutes’ turned out to be a great success. We had biblical food, cake and a hunger to learn more, together. We saw God at work stirring hearts and breaking barriers.

This led to a resource other churches could use to bring biblical literacy and intentional inclusion together. The premise is relatively simple: if your church can put on a Nativity, you can stage ‘The Bible in 60 Minutes’ and engage a diverse range of people in the process.

Kevin Mayhew Publishers jumped on board, and we have just released a book: Telling the Big Story: The Bible in 60 Minutes. Now schools, churches and communities of all flavours can stage this event.

In the book I have prepared ‘easy read’ scripts to include more people, even if their English fluency or reading ability might usually stop them. At lucymarfleet.com there are further versions using Widgit symbols, dyslexia friendly font, large print and high contrast.   

Bowl of biscuitsWe planned an unusual launch: using one of the ideas in the book, we staged a ‘Telling the Bible Story with Food’ event at Histon Baptist. People visited to get a flavour of what food in Bible times might have been like, sampling red lentil stew, figs, barley rolls and lots more.

The final station was all about cake and cups of tea. I love the verse in Revelation 22:2 that says that the leaves of the tree in Heaven are for the healing of the nations, and I also love a good cup of tea, even though I doubt that’s exactly what God had in mind there.

We remained mindful of being inclusive, with written instructions for those who are deaf, labels concerning allergens and a warm welcome for everyone. The team did an amazing job and all of us felt part of something exciting.

Reviews of the book have also been really positive:
“I really loved it and think it will be such a valuable overview of the whole Bible story for people who are new to the faith and for those who have learning differences.”
Lynn McCann, Autism Support Consultant

The book can be used for inclusive variations and is also available as a practical church bundle. The idea is good for church weekends, youth groups or evangelistic outreaches.

Each of us humbly and willingly brings what we have to Jesus. It doesn’t matter if it does not feel like a lot; it’s not our job to multiply it. We might be quite surprised at how many people our offerings feed. Or how many baskets of blessings there are to pass on to others in the wider community.


 

Telling the Big Story is published by Kevin Mayhew and is available to buy at a discounted rate at lucymarfleet.com 

Lucy Marfleet is an ‘Equipped to Minister’ biblical tutor for Spurgeon’s College. She has an MTh in Biblical Studies from the International Baptist Theological Seminary


 




Do you have a view? Share your thoughts via our letters' page

 
   

 

Baptist Times, 08/07/2025
    Post     Tweet
‘…if your church can put on a Nativity, you can stage ‘The Bible in 60 Minutes’…’
Lucy Marfleet explores how local churches can be intentionally inclusive in sharing the story of the Bible, and grow in biblical literacy in imaginative ways
Intercultural worship is desirable and possible
In the UK and across the world, a vision for intercultural worship is developing, writes Ian Collinge, who has just authored An Intercultural Worship Handbook for congregations seeking to find out more
Is your church “dementia friendly”?
Tony Hall launched the Bristol Dementia Action Alliance following his wife Barbara's dementia diagnosis. He offers this reflection to help churches consider how they can support those living with dementia
The incredible faith and legacy of the 'peanut man'
George Washington Carver was a former slave who became a scientist and blessed thousands of impoverished farmers. He 'unfolded peanut potential in order to bring good news to the poor', explains Mark Roques
From Reddish roots to Westminster calls: a heart for the hurting
Debt isn’t just a financial problem, it’s a profound crisis of isolation and fear gripping the UK, says a new report from Christians Against Poverty. Head of Policy and Public Affairs Kiri Adams is all too aware of this reality through her local church
New edition of The Bible Course offers 'pathway of discovery' to Christianity
​A new edition of The Bible Course has launched, created by theologian Dr Andrew Ollerton and his team at Bible Society. Around 140,000 people took part in the original
     The Baptist Times 
    Posted: 08/01/2025
    Posted: 07/01/2025
    Posted: 16/12/2024
    Posted: 10/12/2024
    Posted: 16/11/2024
    Posted: 11/09/2024
     
    Text Size:  
    Small (Default)
    Medium
    Large
    Contrast:  
    Normal
    High Contrast