Storytelling has been a part of sharing Christianity for as long as Christianity has been there to share. Jesus told stories to his disciples, stories of the kings and prophets were passed down in families, and the Bible is often called the story of God's love.

Just as good stories are key, so is good storytelling.

That's where Messy Church comes in.

Having given a platform for Church leaders across the country to share stories of the Bible with families across the UK, they now want to empower people into better, more vivid and captivating ways of storytelling.

Messy Parables gives you not only hints and helps into captivating storytelling, but provides you with new retellings of the parables to help share Jesus' message in way that will stay in the listener's mind.

Each of Jesus' parables is broken down into different ways of communication that will reach all kinds of listeners:

• Each parable begins with the Biblical text, the very root of the lesson you are teaching that day
• Get Ready - a first look at what the story means, the details surrounding it, and all the other aspects of the story to help flesh it out
• Get Set - Here are the materials you may need to help visualise the parable
• Go! - Here is the meat of it - the dialogues, questions, sketches, scenes and invitations for response. Here is where the parable is related to life today, and its meaning are explored
• Prayer idea - each parable ends with a time of prayer, and different prayer, and ways to pray, are presented for everyone to pray along with

Storytelling is a tradition as old as humanity, and it's your turn to carry the torch.

It's time for vivid stories, exciting tales, and life-filled lessons.

It's time for Messy Parables.