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This experiential activity helps participants engage more deeply with biblical stories by imaginatively stepping into the narrative and responding from the perspective of a character.

• Choose a Biblical Story: Select a short, vivid passage from the Bible that includes a clear setting, characters, and some form of conflict, transformation, or dialogue. (Examples: the healing of Bartimaeus, the woman at the well, Zacchaeus, the prodigal son, etc.)

• Set the Scene: Briefly introduce the story and the idea of placing oneself within it. Explain that participants will imagine themselves as a character in the scene—either one of the named figures or someone they invent who might have been there (a bystander, a family member, a skeptic, etc.).

• Read the Story Aloud: Read the story slowly and clearly. Consider reading it twice—once for familiarity, and again to allow deeper immersion and imaginative engagement.

• Time for Reflection: Give participants a minute or two of quiet to choose a character and imagine what that person might have felt, thought, or said in response to the events of the story.

• Speak from the Character: Invite participants, one at a time, to stand and speak a short monologue—one to three sentences—in the voice of their chosen character. They should begin speaking without identifying who they are. 

  For example: “I didn’t think anyone like him would look twice at a man like me. But he saw me. Really saw me” or “I was furious. Who does he think he is, forgiving sins like that?”

• Debrief and Discussion (Optional): After everyone who wants to has spoken, you can invite a group discussion.

  • What stood out to you in what others said?

  • Did anyone’s imagined perspective give you a new insight into the story?

  • How does this change the way you read this passage?

Guidelines:
Encourage honesty, creativity, and respectful listening.

Avoid having anyone take on the voice of Jesus, to keep the exercise grounded in discipleship and observation rather than divine perspective.

Remind participants that there are not right answers—this is about exploration and discovery.

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