Education & Training |
Supporting Schools & Parishes |
Bible Stories and Collective Worship Themes
Most schools like to organise their Acts of collective worship in a series of weekly or fortnightly themes. Below is a table of such themes with a smattering of possible Bible story connections. You will find some Bible stories appear several times under different headings; which helps to demonstrate the breadth of each story. This is not intended to be a definitive list and the headings are fairly arbitrary (!).
As the list is confined solely to stories, we would recommend the use of a good Biblical concordance if you are looking for all the teaching on a particular theme. We have put the Bible references rather than the name of the story to save space, of course during collective worship you may wish to use the Bible, a Bible storybook, or re-tell the story yourself. In most cases we would recommend a retelling of the story, rather than reading from the Bible for young children, because of the difficulty of inappropriate language levels.
(Note: a v number followed by f indicates that v and the one immediately following.)
Theme |
Bible References |
|
Actions count |
Genesis 24; Jonah; Matthew 18.23-34; Matthew 25.31-36; Mark 6.14-30; Mark 10.30-37; Mark 12.31-44; John 13.1-20 |
|
Authority & Leadership |
Genesis 37 -45;I Samuel 8 with 10.17-24; I Samuel 16.1-13; II Kings 18.13-37 & 19.1-36; Nehemiah 1.1-4, 2, 4, 6.1-16; Daniel 3 & 6; Matthew 4.1-11; Matthew 8.5-13; Matthew 21-28; Mark 4.35-41; Mark 9.2-9; Mark 5.1-20; Mark 6.45-52; Mark 11. 1-19; Luke 2.39-52; Luke 6.1-5; Luke 19.28-40; Luke 19.45-48; Luke 20.19-26; Luke 23.1-49; Acts 27.1 - 28.1 |
|
Barriers |
Genesis 2.4 - 3.24; Genesis 11.1-9; Joshua 6.1-23; Matthew 19.13-27; Mark 2.23 - 3.6; Luke 10.25 -37; Luke 18.35-43; Luke 19.45-48; Acts 10 - 11.18; Acts 19.21 - 20.1 |
|
Beginnings |
Genesis 1 & 2; Genesis 2.4 - 3.24; Genesis 6.5 - 9.29; Genesis 11.31 - 13.18; Genesis 24; Genesis 32.3 - 33.12; II Kings 5; II Kings 22.1-20 & 23.1-25; Nehemiah 1.1-4; 2; 4; 6.1-16; Matthew 3.11-17; Matthew 4.18-22; Matthew 19.13-27; Matthew 21-28; Mark 5.1-20; Luke 18.35-43; John 21.1-14; Acts 10 - 11.18 |
|
Belonging |
Luke 2.39-52; Matthew 3.11-17; Matthew 7.24-27; Matthew 13.3-8; Luke 15.4 -32 |
|
Call |
Genesis 11.31 - 13.18; Exodus 2.11 - 3.12; I Samuel 3.1-19; I Samuel 16.16-23; Jeremiah 1.4-19; Jonah; Matthew 4.18-22; Luke 19.1-10; John 21.1-14; Acts 9.1-18; Acts 10 - 11.18 |
|
Caring |
Exodus 1.8 - 2.10; II Kings 5; Amos; Matthew 9.1-8; Mark 2.1-14; Mark 12.31-44; Luke 10.25 -37; Luke 15.4 -32; John 12.1-8 |
|
Changes |
Genesis 11.1-9; Genesis 37 - 45; Matthew 19.13-27; Luke 19.1-10; Mark 5.1-20; Acts 10 - 11.18 |
|
Commitment |
Genesis 11.31 - 13.18; I Samuel 17; II Kings 5; II Kings 22.1-20 & 23.1-25; Jeremiah 38.1-13; Luke 2.39-52; Luke 4.1-13; Luke 21.1-4; Matthew 7.24-27; Matthew 13.3-8; Luke 12.13 -21; Mark 14.66-72; Matthew 21-28; Acts 6.1 - 8.1; Acts 19.21 - 20.1 |
|
Community & co-operation |
Exodus 19.s 1-20; 20; 24.3-8; Joshua 6.1-23; Judges 6 - 7; II Kings 22.1-20 & 23.1-25; Esther |
|
Courage & conscience |
Genesis 2.22 - 3.15; Exodus 2.11 - 3.12; Exodus 5.1-12 with 42; Joshua 2; Judges 7; I Samuel 17; I Kings 19.1-21; II Kings 18.13-37 & 19.1-36; Jeremiah 36 & 38; Nehemiah 1.1-4, 2, 4, 6.1-16; Esther; Daniel 3 & 6; Luke 10.25 -37; Luke 18.35-43; Luke 19.45-48; Mark 14.66-72; Matthew 21-28; Acts 5.12-42; Acts 6.1 - 8.1; Acts 15.1 - 16.40; Acts 20.22 - 25.12; Acts 27.1 - 28.1; Philemon |
|
Deceit & dishonesty |
Genesis 27.1-45; Judges 16.4-30; I Kings 21; II Kings 5; mos; Matthew 2.1-12; Mark 14.12-26; Luke 19.1-10; Luke 19.45-48 |
|
Doubts & uncertainties (fear) |
Exodus 2.11 - 3.12; I Kings 19.1-21; Jeremiah 1.4-19; Jonah; Esther; Matthew 21-28; Mark 4.35-41; Mark 6.45-52; Mark 14.27-52 & 66-72 |
|
Dreams and visions |
Genesis 32.3 - 33.12; Genesis 37 - 45; I Samuel 3.1-19; I Kings 19.1-21; Jeremiah 1.4-19; Ezekiel 37.1-14; Matthew 2.1-12; Matthew 4.1-11; Mark 9.2-9; Acts 9.1-18; Acts 10 - 11.18 |
|
Fairness and justice |
Genesis 6.5 - 9.29;I Kings 12.1-16; Esther; Matthew 20.1-16; Luke 19.45-48; Luke 23.1-49 |
|
Family; friendship & relationships |
Genesis 2.4 - 3.24; Genesis 2.22 - 3.15; Genesis 11.1-9; Genesis 25.27-34 with 27.1-45; Genesis 37 - 45; Exodus 1.8 - 2.10; Ruth; Luke 2.39-52; Luke 19.1-10; Matthew 9.1-8; Mark 2.1-14; Mark 14.66-72; Luke 10.30-37; Luke 15.11-32; John 12.1-8; Acts 10 - 11.18 |
|
Favouritism |
Genesis 27.1-45; Genesis 37 - 45 |
|
Forgiveness |
Jonah; Luke 19.1-10; Luke 15.4 -32; Matthew 9.1-8; Matthew 18.23-34; Matthew 21-28; Luke 18.10-14 |
|
Foundations for life |
II Kings 22.1-20 & 23.1-25; Matthew 25.31-36; Luke 6.47-49 |
|
Freedom |
Exodus 5.1-12; Exodus 5 - 6.13 & 7.14- 12.51; Luke 6.1-5; Mark 5.1-20; Luke 18.35-43 |
|
Good & evil |
Genesis 2.4 - 3.24; I Samuel 17; Amos; Esther; Matthew 4.1-11; Matthew 21-28; Mark 5.1-20; John 13.1-20 |
|
Intolerance |
Ruth; I Kings 12.1-16; Acts 10 - 11.18; Acts 19.21 - 20.1 |
|
Jealousy |
Genesis 27.1-45; Luke 15.11-32 |
|
Journeys |
Genesis 11.31 - 13.18; Exodus 5 - 6.13 & 7.14- 12.51; Ruth; Jonah; Luke 2.39-52; Luke 10.25 -37; Mark 4.35-41; Luke 19.28-40; Acts 9.1-18; Acts 20.22 - 25.12 Acts 27.1 - 28.1 |
|
Light & dark |
Genesis 2.4 - 3.24; Matthew 21-28; Acts 15.1- 16.40 |
|
Loneliness |
Jeremiah 1.4-19; Matthew 4.1-11; Matthew 21-28; Mark 14.66-72; Luke 19.1-10; Luke 10.25 -37; Luke 18.35-43; Luke 19.1-10 |
|
Lost & found |
Genesis 37 -45; Luke 2.39-52; Luke 15.4 -32; Philemon |
|
Loyalty |
I Samuel 24 & 26; I Kings 12.1-16; I Kings 18.7 - 19.3; II Kings 18.13-37 & 19.1-36; Jeremiah 38.1-13; Mark 2.1-14; Mark 14.66-72; Matthew 21-28 |
|
Peer Group Pressure |
Judges 16.4-30; Daniel 3; Daniel 6; Matthew 13.3-8; Mark 14.15-72; John 12.1-8 |
|
Perseverance |
Genesis 11.31 - 13.18; I Kings 19.4-18; II Kings
5; |
|
Prayer |
I Samuel 3.1-19; I Kings 18.7 - 19.3; I Kings 19.4-18; Luke 18.10-24 |
|
Precious things & gifts |
Matthew 13.45f; Matthew 19.13-27; Matthew 20.1-16; Mark 12.31-44; Luke 19.1-10; Luke 21.1-4; Luke 12.13 -21; Luke 15.4 -32; John 12.1-8 |
|
Promises (including covenant) |
Genesis 6.5 - 9.29; Exodus 2.11 - 3.12; Exodus 19.1-20; 24.3-8; I Samuel 16.16-23; II Kings 22.1-20 & 23.1-25; Ezekiel 37.1-14; Mark 14.66-72; Luke 19.1-10 |
|
Renewal or Repentance |
II Kings 22.1-20 & 23.1-25; Ezekiel 37.1-14;
|
|
Rules & laws |
Exodus 19.1-20; 20; 24.3-8; I Kings 12.1-16; II Kings 22.1-20 & 23.1-25; Mark 2.23 - 3.6; Luke 6.1-5 |
|
Signs; symbols & symbolic actions |
Genesis 6.5 - 9.29; Exodus 2.11 - 3.12; Joshua 6.1-23; I Samuel 16.1-13; I Kings 19.4-18; Jeremiah 1.4-19; Jeremiah 36 & 38; Matthew 3.11-17; Matthew 21-28; Mark 4.35-41; Mark 11.15-19; Luke 19.28-40; Luke 19.45-48; Luke 20.19-26; John 13.1-20; Acts 10 - 11.18 |
|
Speaking up |
I Kings 18.7 - 19.3; Jeremiah 19.1-20; Jeremiah 36 & 38; Daniel 3; Daniel 6; Matthew 5.14f; Mark 14.15-72; Luke 2.39-52; Luke 20.19-26; Acts 5.12-42; Acts 6.1 - 8.1; Acts 15.1- 16.40; Acts 20.22 - 25.12 |
|
Temptation |
Matthew 4.1-11; Mark 14.66-72; Luke 4.1-13 |
|
Trust |
Genesis 11.31 - 13.18; Genesis 21.1-3 & 22.1-19; Joshua 2; Judges 7; I Samuel 17; II Kings 18.13-37 & 19.1-36; Jeremiah 38.1-13; Daniel 3; Matthew 4.18-22; Matthew 8.5-13; Matthew 9.1-8; Mark 4.35-41; Mark 5.1-20; Luke 12.13 -21; Luke 18.35-43; Acts 27.1 - 28.1; Philemon |
Contents
- What is worship?
- Collective Worship and the law
- The Anglican Tradition
- The Aims of Collective Worship
- The Policy
- Ways of planning and recording
- Planning Issues
- Collective worship ideas and support on the world wide web
- Asking Visitors to lead worship
- Guidelines to be given to Visitors to lead worship
- Are Assembly and Collective worship the same thing?
- Themes and schemes for planning collective worship
- Bible stories for use with collective worship themes
- Involving pupils in Collective worship
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