How to Use Bible Character Magnets for Bible Study and Teaching

Have you ever been sharing a Bible story and suddenly forgotten what happened next?

Or maybe you've been leading a Bible study, looking around the room, wondering if anyone is following along.

You know the Scripture matters.

You want people to understand it, remember it, and feel comfortable discussing it.

But sometimes simply reading aloud and asking, "Does anyone have any questions?" isn't enough to get the conversation started.

What if you could open your Bible, place a few illustrated magnets on a board, and walk through the story together?

That's exactly what Bible Character Magnets are designed to help you do.

And they're not just for children.

They're for adults who want to explore Scripture, grandparents sharing Bible stories, Sunday school teachers preparing lessons, ministry leaders facilitating discussions, and anyone who appreciates a hands-on approach to studying God's Word.

At TSO Custom Keepsakes, our approach is simple:

See it! Touch it! Read it! Stick it! Repeat!

Let's walk through how it works.

What Are Bible Character Magnets Used For?↑ Top

You can use them during:

Unlike a single decorative Scripture magnet, a coordinated Bible Character Magnet collection can help you follow a story from one event to the next.

The magnets support the lesson.

The Bible remains the source.

• Personal Bible study
• Adult small-group Bible study
• Sunday school
• Church ministry lessons
• Grandparent and family Bible time
• Bible storytelling activities
• Scripture review and discussion
• Christian fellowship gatherings

What Do You Need to Get Started?↑ Top

You don't need an elaborate classroom or expensive equipment.

Start with:

You can also keep a notebook nearby to record questions or observations.

No printing or cutting is required to use the finished magnets.

If you're leading a group, arrange the magnets nearby so everyone can see them.

For a larger gathering, check that the pieces are visible from where participants are seated. You may need a larger display or supporting visuals.

• A Bible, preferably NIV or NKJV for our lesson references.
• A Bible Character Magnet collection.
• A refrigerator, magnetic whiteboard, or other compatible magnetic surface.
• A few questions about the passage.
• About 15 minutes for a simple introductory lesson.

Step 1: Open Your Bible Before You Open the Lesson↑ Top

This is where every Bible Character Magnet activity should begin.

Open the Bible.

Read the passage.

Then introduce the corresponding magnet.

The purpose isn't to teach people to remember a picture without understanding the Scripture.

It's to encourage them to return to God's Word.

For example, when introducing Noah's Ark, begin with Genesis 6.

Discuss what the passage tells us about Noah and the instructions God gave him.

Then place the first story magnet on your magnetic surface.

Let the image help introduce the next question.

Step 2: Arrange the Magnets as the Story Unfolds↑ Top

You can use a table, a refrigerator, or a magnetic whiteboard.

Keep the magnets off the board at first.

As you read each section of Scripture, add the corresponding magnet.

This allows the story sequence to develop gradually.

You can pause between scenes and ask:

What just happened?

What does the Bible say about it?

What should we read next?

If you're working with a group, invite someone to choose the magnet that matches the passage.

Then check the answer together in Scripture.

Remember, the goal isn't speed.

It's understanding the passage.

Step 3: Ask Questions That Bring Everyone Into the Conversation↑ Top

You don't need complicated questions.

Some of the most useful Bible study questions are simple.

Try asking:

For adult Bible study, allow room for deeper discussion.

A participant might notice a detail you hadn't considered.

Someone else might ask about the historical context.

That's an opportunity to open the Bible and explore the passage together.

• What does this passage actually say?
• What do we learn about God here?
• What did the people in the passage do?
• What happened before this event?
• What happened afterward?
• Is there something we need to read again?
• What questions does this passage raise?

Step 4: Retell the Story Using the Magnets↑ Top

Once you've finished reading, look at the complete arrangement.

Invite someone to retell the account in their own words.

They can point to each magnet as they explain what happened.

If they forget a detail, don't turn it into a test.

Open the Bible and find the passage.

You can also remove the magnets, mix up the order, and invite the group to arrange them again.

Then compare the sequence with Scripture.

It's a simple way to revisit the account without preparing an entirely new lesson.

Step 5: Repeat the Lesson and Explore Something New↑ Top

One of the benefits of a reusable teaching resource is that you can return to the same story.

The first time, you might focus on the sequence of events.

The second time, you might explore the questions people asked.

The third time, you might examine a particular passage in greater detail.

With Noah's Ark, for example, one study might focus on Noah's obedience.

Another might examine God's covenant.

Another might focus on the dove and what happened as the waters receded.

The same collection can support different conversations as long as the lesson remains grounded in the biblical text.

A Ready-to-Use 15-Minute Noah's Ark Bible Study↑ Top

Let's put those steps into practice using the TSO Custom Keepsakes Noah's Ark Bible Character Magnet collection.

Our collection contains eight illustrated circular magnets:

These are the actual designs in our collection.

For teaching, arrange them in biblical story order rather than relying on their position in a product photograph.

Scripture: Genesis 6–9

Time: Approximately 15 minutes

Audience: Adults, Bible study groups, teachers, ministry leaders, grandparents, and families.

Materials: Bible, Noah's Ark Bible Character Magnets, and a magnetic surface.

• Two by Two
• God Spoke to Noah
• Noah Obeyed God
• Safe in the Ark
• Noah's Ark
• God's Rainbow Promise
• The Flood Came
• The Dove Returned

Minutes 0–2: Introduction↑ Top

Open to Genesis 6.

Ask:

"What do you remember most about Noah's Ark?"

Give everyone a moment to answer.

Then explain that you'll read portions of the biblical account and use the magnets to follow the story.

Minutes 2–5: God's Instructions and Noah's Response↑ Top

Magnet: God Spoke to Noah

Read Genesis 6:13–14.

God told Noah about the coming judgment and instructed him to build an ark.

Ask:

"What specific instructions did God give Noah?"

Magnet: Noah Obeyed God

Read Genesis 6:22.

The passage tells us Noah did what God commanded him.

Ask:

"What does Noah's response teach us about obedience?"

Magnet: Two by Two

Read Genesis 7:8–9.

Discuss the animals entering the ark.

Ask:

"What details do we notice when we read the passage rather than relying only on familiar pictures of Noah's Ark?"

Minutes 5–8: The Ark and the Flood↑ Top

Magnet: Safe in the Ark

Read Genesis 7:16.

The Lord shut Noah in.

Ask:

"Why is it important to notice exactly what the passage says?"

Magnet: The Flood Came

Read Genesis 7:11–12.

Discuss the beginning of the flood.

Ask:

"How does the biblical account describe what happened?"

Magnet: Noah's Ark

Use this magnet as an overview of the story while reviewing Genesis 6–9.

Ask:

"How would you summarize the purpose of the ark in this account?"

Minutes 8–11: The Waters Recede↑ Top

Magnet: The Dove Returned

Read Genesis 8:8–12.

Noah sent out a dove to see whether the waters had receded.

Ask:

"What happened when the dove returned with an olive leaf?"

Give participants time to locate the answer in Scripture.

Minutes 11–13: God's Covenant↑ Top

Magnet: God's Rainbow Promise

Read Genesis 9:8–17.

Discuss God's covenant and the rainbow as its sign.

Ask:

"According to the passage, what promise did God make?"

Encourage participants to distinguish what the Scripture says from ideas we may have added to the story over time.

Minutes 13–15: Review and Retell↑ Top

Remove the magnets from the board.

Invite participants to arrange them in the order of the biblical events.

Remember that the Noah's Ark overview magnet represents the whole account, so it can be placed separately as a title or summary.

Ask someone to retell the story using the magnets.

Finish with:

"What's one detail from Genesis 6–9 that you want to study more closely?"

That's your 15-minute lesson.

No complicated preparation.

No stacks of printed worksheets.

Just Scripture, conversation, and a reusable visual teaching resource.

How to Adapt Bible Character Magnets for Different Groups↑ Top

For Adult Bible Study Groups↑ Top

Use the magnets to introduce the passage and encourage discussion.

Adults can examine the text, compare passages, explore historical context, and ask deeper questions.

The magnets are conversation starters, not substitutes for careful Bible study.

For Sunday School Teachers↑ Top

Use the collection to organize a lesson and review the story.

The finished magnets are reusable, so you don't need to print and cut new story pieces for each session.

Adapt the questions and level of detail to your participants.

For Grandparents↑ Top

Invite grandchildren or other family members to choose a magnet while you read the corresponding Scripture.

Ask what they notice.

You can revisit the story during another visit.

For Ministry Leaders↑ Top

Use Bible Character Magnets for small-group discussions, fellowship activities, and Scripture storytelling.

For larger audiences, consider how everyone will see the illustrations.

For Personal Bible Study↑ Top

You don't need a group to use them.

Read a passage, arrange the magnets, and write down questions or observations in your journal.

Return to those questions during your next study.

Bible Character Magnet Collections You Can Explore↑ Top

TSO Custom Keepsakes creates reusable Bible Character Magnet collections inspired by biblical stories and teachings.

Noah's Ark

Follow the account of Noah, the ark, the flood, the dove, and God's covenant.

Scripture: Genesis 6–9.

Nativity

Explore the biblical events surrounding the birth of Jesus.

Scripture: Matthew 1–2 and Luke 1–2.

David and Goliath

Study David's response to Goliath and his trust in the Lord.

Scripture: 1 Samuel 17.

Armor of God

Explore Paul's teaching about spiritual armor.

Scripture: Ephesians 6:10–18.

Fruit of the Spirit

Study the qualities identified in Galatians 5:22–23.

Each collection offers opportunities to read, discuss, and revisit Scripture.