The beginning Bible storyer may be tempted to take one of the existing popular model sets of Bible Storying lessons, translate the story lessons verbatim, and begin using them. While this may serve to produce some quick, though limited results, it must be realized that each story lesson model must be crafted for addressing worldview issues in culturally acceptable ways and means to the end that biblical truths speak claerly to a particular group of listeners. If the new listener group happens to be similar in worldview and at about the same point in their spiritual knowledge and quest as a group for whom the Bible story lessons were originally crafted, the use of existing models may produce acceptable results. As the worldview differences between the original and new listener groups increase, the end results typically become more unpredictable.

As the worldview that the existing Bible Storying model is based on differs from the worldview of the new listner group, unanswered questions may arise and many spiritual issues can remain unchallenged and unaddressed. …

Two prolems areas stem from the failure to customize the Bible Storying process for particular peoples and their worldviews. First, the failure to address spiritual issues can and does lead to potential syncretism. Second, failure to customize the storying to the culture may increase the resistance and hostility of the listeners by actually innoculating them against the gospel. By the inappropriate choice and crafting of stories or poorly adapted lessons and teaching themes, Bible storyers may delay or obstruct the acceptance of the Message.

-J. O. Terry, Basic Bible Storying– Preparing and Presenting Bible Stories for Evangelism, Discipleship, Training and Ministry, revised edition (Church Starting Network, 2008), Foreword