For some time now, disciple-making movement (DMM) implementers have wondered how to begin with new beginners. Some teach that one should derive themes from the culture, watching for local questions then calibrating Bible story choices based on the respective context. Meanwhile, others ask the question, “Yes, context matters. But aren’t there certain universals that should always be taught regardless of the questions being asked locally?” For these latter practitioners, trainers develop one series after another of “story sets.” These stories can be used regardless of culture or language because, they argue, the Bible was written for all people, all nations, and all languages. For those in this latter camp, a friend in Spain and I (Doug) have been collecting sets of these studies. You can download the entire list for free at https://leadershiptaskforce-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/dlucas_teamexpansion_org/IQCsujdMIZflTYrDd19ahA_TAemj-rIMQm1SrAAxz9MwtkI?e=T6V4O4 . There are 30 pages of story sets. This should keep your 3-thirds group busy for quite a while. Did we leave out any stories? Please share your take. (Thanks for asking this question, Jenny!)
10) Which Story Sets Should New Seekers/Believers Hear First?
Lesson I learned early in the orality movement is that the right story to start with comes first from listening to the culture. Working among Ewe tribe in Ghana I learned that the story of Jacob’s Ladder (Gen. 28:10-22) was where the storyteller I had trained had decided was the first story to tell in a village. Ewes are animists who don’t believe there is a direct connectoin for man on earth with the spirit world so a story about angels going up and down and wrestling with a man opened their minds to the possibility. Story lists are great. The number one question I’ve been asked by national leaders I’m connected with but they can’t be used blindly as silver bullets. My wife and I worked with 23 language groups in India taking them through a process to create their own story lists — or at least polish the many lists available to best work in their context.
Thank you so very much!! Your set of lists is truly helpful and I’m grateful for your response to my question.
Here’s a strong, balanced way to answer that question—affirming both sides and then offering a thoughtful take without sounding dismissive:
This is a really helpful question, and I appreciate the work that’s gone into collecting these story sets. I think the tension you describe is a healthy one, and in practice, it may not need to be an either/or.
On the one hand, I agree that culture and local questions matter deeply. Jesus Himself often began with what people were already asking or experiencing, then led them toward deeper truth. Starting with local questions can increase immediate relevance and engagement, especially with brand-new believers or seekers.
At the same time, I also resonate with the idea that there are biblical universals that every disciple needs to encounter. The Bible really is for all peoples, and certain core stories—creation, the fall, God’s covenant faithfulness, Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, repentance, obedience, and multiplication—form a foundational framework that transcends culture. In that sense, well-crafted story sets can be incredibly helpful, especially for reproducibility and training new facilitators.
Rather than choosing one approach over the other, I’ve found it fruitful to see story sets as a flexible backbone rather than a rigid script. A universal set can provide theological completeness, while facilitators remain free to adapt pacing, emphasis, or supplemental stories based on local questions and cultural realities.
As for stories that might be added, one area I’d always want to double-check is whether there are enough narratives that clearly emphasize:
Obedient faith (not just belief, but response)
The role of suffering and perseverance
The communal nature of the church (not just individual discipleship)
Multiplication and sending, not only growth
Overall, I’m grateful for resources like this. Having a broad collection of tested story sets is a gift to the movement, and the real wisdom lies in how they’re used—by prayerful, listening practitioners who hold Scripture and context together.
The people at Global Recordings Network has probably thought about this question when they thought about what audio video recordings to put on their website. It is probably more evangelistic rather than discipleship related. Many of the videos in multiple languages are Bible stories.
These are the recordings for Global Recordings Network for Spanish.
https://globalrecordings.net/en/language/4557