Seven Ways to Preach Without Being “Preachy” and Teach Without Being “Teachy” 

Can Christian fiction books teach important truths and historical facts without sounding like school lessons? Can Christian fiction for children incorporate Scripture without putting the reader in “church”? 

Christian nonfiction books include a wealth of biblical truths and tips on living a Christian life. With the components of Scripture and Christian tips, the nonfiction Christian book would likely survive and be well received. But what about writing Christian fiction? If you want to teach Christian beliefs, values, and ethics in a fiction work, how can you do so without sounding “preachy” or “teachy?”  

Advice from Others on Avoiding Preachy Tone 

C.S. Lewis, a great master of Christian writing, advised Christian authors to first write an excellent story to decrease the book’s preachy tone. 

In an article on avoiding being preachy in novels, Jodi Clark listed three things to avoid: long sermons, perfect characters or imperfect characters who become perfect after redemption, and unlikely magical events rescuing the hero. 

Rachel Garner’s Blog, “Telling a Religious Story Without Being Preachy” (March 17, 2016, https://kingdompen.org/preachy-novels/) offered valuable advice. She recommended against forcing a character’s dialogue solely for preaching. Instead, she suggested a more subtle approach, where the character for whom the sermon is intended does not readily accept the message. The receiver appearing less than eager for the message can help to maintain the reader’s interest and prevent the narrative from becoming didactic. 

Christian fiction writers may seek to write novels that model Christian values, highlight an occasional Scripture, and touch a range of emotions in their readers as they entertain using clean, well-written books. Other fiction authors may write to challenge and increase the reader’s Christian faith as they turn the pages.  

What if You Want to Teach or Preach in Your Work? 

A CIPA blog posted in November of 2023 (https://christianpublishers.net/biblical-fiction-framed-by-biblical-truth/) points to the difficulties of writing biblically as a Christian author and specifically how writing about the Bible rather than merely clean fiction, can have risks. Writing biblical passages might discourage general readership. Some readers with strong Christian faith may believe in tenets relevant to a denomination, and the evangelical author may not be aware of differing beliefs. 

But as a retired teacher, I wrestled with other issues. My focus centers on writing books for children of different age groups; my goal is to write books that will bring children and teens closer to God. What if I want to teach and preach to increase readers’ beliefs in Scripture? Is there a way to do so while engaging and entertaining the reader? Is there a way to keep kids and their parents interested in reading Christian books with Scripture in the story? Better yet, can Christian fiction for children increase the reader’s curiosity about the Bible? 

Seven Strategies to Try 

Although it remains a challenge, I write fiction to share the Word and teach content areas like world history, United States history, and Biblical history using a Christian worldview. Here are the strategies that have worked for me.  

1. Place the characters in a setting that invites Scripture and history. The child or adult characters in a particular setting need to know how the Bible, or a verse, played a part in a similar situation to resolve a problem or advance events. The Scripture or historical fact will move the characters further in the story.
2. Use clues to incorporate history and Bible verses. In a mystery, time travel story, or problematic contemporary setting, the characters find clues that propel the adventure or solve a puzzle. The clues may be a quick Bible quote scribbled in a note, an old, torn newspaper article, or a map to another place or clue. The reader discovers these clues along with the characters. The clues are Bible verses, adding to the sense of adventure or mystery, and the character reads the verse rather than having it taught. The characters must figure out how the clue, a Bible verse or historical fact, helps them to make their next move. The reader will also wonder what the clue means for the characters and how the clue will impact the adventure.
3. Use meaningful dialogue. As stated previously, Jodi Garner warns us not to force the dialogue or make the receiver instantly be “saved” or rescued. The dialogue must be believable, and this situation might be one in which the reader would not expect a Bible verse to appear. Once the Scripture is said by a character, there might be a variety of reactions by different characters. Although the characters will not tell each other that the verse fixes everything or prevents future obstacles or challenges, the reader will sense that the verse has meaning and will improve the situation or test the character’s next steps.
4. Use characters across generations. The writer should carefully handle the inclusion of characters across generations in the story. If the older character is going to teach information or provide Scripture, make sure the readers already love the character. Once the character is strong and the readers are in love with the older person, have a younger character ask the older one a question. Only then can the older character teach or preach.
5. Keep teaching characters’ presence minimal. A character does not need to be a main character to play an important role at precisely the right time. But once their job of teaching, preaching, or giving advice is done, they remain only to support, not teach or preach. 
6. Put the main characters in a scene or a setting where they long for Christian values. This type of setting does not mean they exist in a heathen world. The setting only means they long for something in a Christian world. In one of my series, the kids are in a setting where books and the Bible are banned. They long to read books and study the Bible. The trick is to refrain from telling readers they need books and should study the Bible, but rather, make the readers realize the value of books or other essential aspects of their lives because they are reading about a world where those things are no longer present or allowed. In another book series, a boy searches for his father, who is presumed to be dead. Imagine how much he misses his father and searches for him. In his mind, he tells readers of his loving memories of his father and his family. 
7. Model curiosity. Take the reader by the hand and model curiosity in your characters. A character picks up a piece of paper with an ancient map, turns to the other character, and together, they dialogue what they think the map means. A character finds a highlighted passage in an old Bible with notes written to the side and reads the passage and the note to another character. They puzzle over this passage or note and dialogue the possibilities. One character finds an old, yellowed photograph of two soldiers heading to fight in WWII. One character turns to the other and wonders about the photo and the writing on the back: John 15:13. They are drawn to a Bible to search for the meaning. A secret doorway opens, and one character discovers an old, dusty Bible or a history book. All of these scenarios present opportunities for curiosity. Readers will be moved to follow the characters and grab their own book or Bible to see what the clues are about.

In summary, there are ways to share the messages of Scripture and the values of Christian life without sounding preachy. Let the characters’ dialogue with each other about the information you feel is important, which will move the plot along while keeping the readers engaged. Place the story in a setting that begs for a return to Christian life. Model curiosity for readers and show young readers they too can discover more about the Bible, faith, and history, through Christian fiction books. They might just pick up a Bible on their own and start reading the passages. 

About the Author 

Terry Overton is a retired university professor, dean, and author of academic papers and textbooks. In 2016, she began writing Christian fiction and devotional books for all ages. Her current focus is middle-grade and teen books that teach Scripture, history, and Christian values. 

Current series: The Underground Book Readers: The Secret Society, book https://a.co/d/hNvXJFt. 

Website: https://www.authorterryoverton.com.