Story Diamond
Helping Your Kids See Scripture as a Sweeping, Connected Story
PARENT INTRODUCTION
You’re More Ready Than You Think
Helping your kids understand the Bible doesn’t require a theology degree or a perfect family routine. It begins with something much simpler: being present, reading the Scriptures together, asking good questions, and helping your kids see the Story God is telling.
The Story Diamond is a simple picture that helps you do exactly that. It teaches four foundational truths about the Bible:
The Bible is one big Story, not just lots of little ones. From Genesis to Revelation, God is telling a single, sweeping Story of love, rescue, and renewal.
Every story in the Bible fits into four parts of the Story Diamond. Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration help kids understand where they are in God’s Big Story.
Jesus is the center of the Story. He is the hero who holds everything together—the One the whole Story points to.
We are invited to join God’s Story every day. Kids discover that the Bible isn’t just something to read—it’s something to live.
You don’t need to have every answer. You just need to show up with curiosity, honesty, and a willingness to wonder alongside your kids.
You are already discipling your kids every time you read a Bible story, pray before bed, ask for forgiveness, talk about right and wrong, or notice something beautiful in creation. This tool simply gives you structure, language, and confidence so you can do it with intention.
For parents, it might be helpful to walk through “The Story Diamond” tool yourself before working through this kid-friendly version with your own children.
Finally, we will suggest different stories from the Jesus Storybook Bible. Parents might find it helpful to work through the tool as an overview, then use the tool as a reference while reading stories from the Jesus Storybook Bible. Don’t mistake it for a mere children’s version of the Bible. You might be surprised at how reading Scripture through this lens brings it to life in a new way for you.
THE BIBLE IS ONE BIG STORY
Helping Your Kids See Scripture as a Sweeping, Connected Story
Before you draw the Story Diamond or talk about the four parts, take time to help your kids see something simple and beautiful: The Bible is one giant Story from the very beginning to the very end.
Kids often think of the Bible as:
a book of random stories,
a list of rules, or
a collection of “heroes” who got everything right.
But when you help them see the Bible as one Story with a beginning, middle, and joyful ending, it changes how they understand everything else.
You might begin like this: Before we learn the Story Diamond, I want to tell you something really important about the Bible. A lot of people think the Bible is a bunch of separate stories…Noah in one place, David in another, Jonah somewhere else, and Jesus later on. But the Bible isn’t a pile of disconnected stories. It’s one big Story God is telling, and it begins with creation and ends with everything being made new.
Then ease into curiosity:
“What’s your favorite story? What makes it good?”
“Have you ever thought about the Bible as one big Story?”
“What do you think God’s Story might be about?”
Let kids talk. You don’t have to correct anything. Curiosity will invite them to shape the conversation with you.
You might say something like, “We’re going to walk through God’s Story together. We don’t have to finish this quickly. We can draw a little, talk a little, or come back later. But let’s start by drawing a diamond. We’ll fill in the parts as we go.”
For now, draw a diamond on a sheet of paper.
CREATION
God Made Everything Good
Once your kids have their diamond drawn, invite them into the first part of the Story. You might say something like: “Now that we have our diamond, we’re ready to begin the Story God is telling. And, this one starts with something beautiful.”
A Story to Read Aloud (Genesis 1 - 2 or Storybook Bible pp. 14-27)
“In the very beginning, before anything existed, God was there. And God decided to create a world, not because He needed anything, but because He wanted to create. It’s a part of who He is.
So He made light that chased away darkness. He shaped oceans and mountains. He filled the world with plants and animals and stars and seasons. And then, God created people who were made to know Him, enjoy Him, and care for the world He made.
Everything was exactly as it should be, full of beauty, peace, and joy. And Genesis tells us that everything God made was good.”
Pause here. Let them picture it.
Ask:
“What stood out to you?”
“What is something God made that you think is amazing?”
“If you were there at creation, what do you think you would have seen or felt?”
Let their imagination take the lead.
Add It to the Story Diamond
Have them write at the top diamond: CREATION — God made everything good.
Then invite them to draw anything beautiful from creation:
sun or stars
trees or flowers
mountains or oceans
animals
people
light bursting into darkness
Let them color, doodle, or make it their own. The point is wonder, not perfection.
Parent Tip
Don’t rush this part. Kids often connect most deeply with the Story when they’re drawing, imagining, or describing creation in their own words.
This is where they begin to see that God’s Story is full of goodness, and that the world was made with love and intention. You can pause here and continue on with The Fall on another day, or keep going. Attune to your kid.
THE FALL
People Tried to Do It Their Own Way
Once you’ve lingered in the goodness of creation, gently guide your kids into the next part of the Story. This part explains why our world doesn’t always look the way God made it.
You might say: “Every great story has a moment when something goes wrong, when the characters make a choice that changes everything. That’s what happens next in God’s Story.”
Again, focus on being slow, calm, and curious. This one can stir big thoughts and feelings, so go gently.
A Story to Read Aloud (Genesis 3 or Storybook Bible pp. 28 -36 )
“After God made the world good, He gave people a beautiful gift: the ability to choose.
God invited Adam and Eve to trust Him, walk with Him, and enjoy His world with Him. But one day, they decided to make a different choice. They wanted to decide for themselves what was good and what wasn’t. They wanted to write their own story rather than trust the One who loved them.
And when they turned away from God, something cracked inside the world. Everything broke.
From that moment on, people kept trying to fix things on their own, to be good enough, strong enough, or wise enough. But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t fix what sin had broken.That’s why so much of the Old Testament feels like people trying, and failing, and trying again. They needed help that they couldn’t give themselves.”
Pause. Let them feel the shift — from beauty to brokenness.
Ask:
“What stood out to you?”
“Why do you think Adam and Eve wanted to choose their own way?”
“Where do you see brokenness in the world today?”
“How do you think God felt when His people turned away?”
There are no wrong answers. You are making room for honesty.
Add It to the Story Diamond
Have your kids write on the left or right side point of the diamond: THE FALL — People tried to do it their own way.
Then invite them to draw something that feels “not right”:
a cracked heart
a storm or dark cloud
tears
something broken
people arguing or walking away
Let their drawing help them express how the Fall feels.
Remind them: “It’s okay if this part feels sad. This part of the Story is sad, but it’s not the end.”
Parent Tip
This section is about helping kids understand why the world feels the way it does, and why people hurt each other, why things break, and why we need Jesus.
Go slowly. Let them name broken things if they want to. Don’t rush to fix or soften it. The weight of the Fall prepares their hearts for the joy of Jesus in the next part of the Story.
You might end by saying: “God saw the brokenness, and He made a promise that someone would come to rescue the Story.”
REDEMPTION
Jesus Came to Rescue the Story
After the heaviness of the Fall, this is the moment of hope, the turning point of the story.
You might say something like: “Even though the world was broken and people kept choosing their own way, God never gave up. From the very beginning, He promised that Someone would come into the Story to make things right again.”
Let the mood shift from sadness to hope.
A Story to Read Aloud
(Luke 4:18-20 and John 10:10 or Storybook Bible pp. 177–324)
“When the time was just right, God kept His promise.
Jesus, God’s own Son, stepped right into the Story. He didn’t come as a king in a palace, but as a baby in a manger, growing up in an ordinary family. As Jesus grew, everywhere He went, He brought God’s goodness close again.
He healed sick people. He fed hungry people. He welcomed lonely people. He forgave hurting people. He even calmed storms and raised the dead, showing that nothing was too broken for Him to restore.
Jesus lived the life we couldn’t live, and He loved in a way no one had ever seen before. Then, He did something that changed the entire Story forever: He died on a cross to rescue us from sin, and then He rose again to defeat death.
Jesus is the hero of the Story. He is the One all of Scripture points to, the One who holds everything together, and the One who brings us back to God.”
Pause. Let your kids feel the goodness and relief of this part.
Ask:
“What stood out to you?”
“What do you love most about Jesus?”
“How did Jesus bring goodness back into the Story?”
“How would you feel if you were one of the people Jesus helped or healed?”
Let their answers shape the conversation.
Add It to the Story Diamond
Have your kids write at the bottom point of the diamond:
REDEMPTION — Jesus came to rescue the Story.
Then invite them to draw something that reminds them of Jesus’ rescue:
a cross
a heart
light shining in darkness
Jesus with people
an empty tomb
a healed person
a smile or a hope-filled picture
Let them draw freely, and if they want to add more later, they can.
Remind them: “This part of the Story shows how much God loves us.”
Parent Tip
Let joy be the dominant emotion here. Kids intuitively feel the sadness of the Fall, and they also need to feel the hope of Jesus. You can remind them, “Jesus came because He loves you.”
You might end by saying: “And the Story doesn’t end here. After Jesus rose again, something amazing happened, and we get to be part of it.”
RESTORATION
We Join Jesus in Making All Things New
Once your kids have taken in the joy of Jesus’s rescue, guide them into the final part of God’s Big Story, the part we’re living in right now.
You might say: “After Jesus rose again, the Story wasn’t over. In some ways, it was just beginning. Jesus didn’t leave His followers and say, ‘Good luck!’ Nope. He gave them His Spirit and invited them to join Him in bringing His goodness into the world. And one day, He’s going to make everything new again.”
Let this part feel hopeful and exciting, full of purpose.
A Story to Read Aloud
(Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1–2 or Storybook Bible pp. 326–351)
“After Jesus rose from the dead, He spent time with His friends, eating meals with them, teaching them, and reminding them of everything He had told them. Then Jesus gave them a promise: that He was sending the Holy Spirit to help them. They wouldn’t have to bring God’s goodness into the world alone.
And that’s exactly what happened. The Spirit came, and suddenly ordinary people were filled with courage and love. They shared the good news and cared for the poor, just as Jesus did. They forgave enemies and welcomed outsiders just as Jesus did. They healed the sick and prayed for one another just as Jesus did. Everywhere they went, people could see that Jesus was alive and still rescuing the Story through His people.
And the Story keeps going today.
Jesus promises that one day He will return and make everything new, a world with no sickness, no sadness, no fighting, and no fear. It will be a world full of joy, peace, beauty, and love. Until that day, we get to join Him, bringing little pieces of His future world into our world right now.”
Pause. Let them imagine the world made new.
Ask:
“What stood out to you?”
“Where do you think the Holy Spirit is helping people today?”
“What do you think God’s perfect world will be like someday?”
“Is there someone we could help, love, or encourage this week?”
Let them wonder. Let them dream.
Add It to the Story Diamond
Have your kids write on the remaining left or right point of the diamond:
RESTORATION — We join Jesus in making all things new.
Then invite them to draw something hopeful:
a sunrise
a healed world
smiling or joyful people
a heart made whole
peace signs
a garden or new creation
people helping or hugging
light filling the world
Let their imaginations lead.
You might say: “This part reminds us that God’s Story isn’t finished, and we get to be part of what He’s doing.”
Parent Tip
This is the part of the Story where kids can see their own lives inside God’s Big Story:
kindness at school
forgiving a friend
helping a neighbor
praying for someone
standing up for someone who feels left out
creating something beautiful
being brave
showing love
Feel free to name specific ways your child already reflects Jesus. Kids need to hear that their ordinary acts of love are part of God’s restoring work.
You might end the whole tool by saying:
“God’s Story is still being written in our lives. And we get to join Jesus in making the world more like the world He promised.”
THE WHOLE STORY IN ONE PICTURE
A Simple Summary for Kids and Families
Now that you’ve walked through all four parts of the Story Diamond, take a moment to look at your drawing together.
You might say something like:
“Let’s look at the whole Story we just learned.
The Bible is one big Story God is telling — a Story that moves like a diamond.”
Take your time. Point to each corner.
CREATION — God made everything good.
The world began with beauty, peace, joy, and purpose.
Everything was just as God intended.
THE FALL — People tried to do it their own way.
Sin cracked the world and broke our relationship with God.
No matter how hard people tried, they couldn’t fix it on their own.
REDEMPTION — Jesus came to rescue the Story.
Jesus stepped into the brokenness to heal, forgive, restore, and bring us back to God.
He is the hero at the center of the Story.
RESTORATION — We join Jesus in making all things new.
Jesus rose again, sent His Spirit, and invites us to join Him in His work.
One day, He will make everything new forever.
Then close with something like:
“This is the Story God is telling.
And our stories fit inside His.”
Let your child hold their paper, smile at their drawings, and see that they now understand the whole arc of Scripture.
HOW TO USE THIS TOOL REPEATEDLY
Turning the Story Diamond Into a Way of Reading Scripture Together
This tool isn’t something you use once and forget. It’s a picture you can return to again and again as your family reads the Bible.
Here are simple ways to use the Story Diamond as a regular rhythm:
1. Keep Their Drawing Handy
Tape it to the fridge. Put it on a bedroom wall. Keep it inside the Bible.
Say something like, “Every time we read a story from the Bible, we can ask: Where does this fit in God’s Big Story?”
Kids will quickly learn to recognize the shape of the Story as they read.
2. Use It as a Reference Whenever You Read Scripture
When you read a story from the Bible:
Creation: Do you see beauty, peace, or goodness?
Fall: Do you see something broken or someone choosing their own way?
Redemption: Do you see Jesus healing, helping, forgiving, rescuing?
Restoration: Do you see people joining Jesus in love, forgiveness, courage, or hope?
This simple question, “Where does this fit?” turns Bible reading into discovery.
3. What About the Old Testament?
Parents often wonder about how to explain the Old Testament. The Old Testament fits inside the Fall movement of the Story Diamond.
Humanity keeps trying to be good enough.
They try to obey perfectly.
They try to fix things themselves.
They try to earn their way back to God.
And they keep failing.
The Old Testament consistently reveals this truth: People needed a rescuer to do what they couldn’t do themselves. If you read the Jesus Storybook Bible with your kids (or for yourself), you’ll see over and over again how every story points to a coming Rescuer.
That rescuer is Jesus.
4. What About the New Testament Outside the Gospels?
Almost everything after the Gospels fits inside Restoration.
The church is learning to follow Jesus.
People are filled with the Spirit.
They love, forgive, share, pray, heal, and proclaim good news.
They join Jesus in His plan to make all things new.
Stories from Acts through Revelation show how God’s people participate in the Restoration Jesus began.
5. Let Kids Ask Their Own Questions
Sometimes kids will say:
“Why would someone disobey God?”
“Why did Jesus have to die?”
“What will the new world be like?”
“Where is this in the Story Diamond?”
Let their questions lead the moment, not your agenda. Your curiosity with them is discipleship.
6. Return to the Diamond Often
When you’re reading through Scripture, use the diamond. Talking about something at school that felt broken or beautiful? Use the diamond. The more familiar kids become with the flow of the Story, the more naturally they will see God at work in the world around them.
7. Celebrate that You Are Part of the Story
Remind your child often: “You’re in God’s Story too. And Jesus is still rescuing, healing, and making things new, through us.”
This is where formation happens.
