Narrative is a major literary genre across the Old Testament, running from the creation stories that open Genesis to the postexilic stories set in Persia in Ezra- Nehemiah and Esther. In this course, we learn the rules for interpreting Old Testament narrative. Using these skills, we read through the Books of Samuel to understand what the big themes are, and what narrative theology emerges from the text. We will seek to apply the text’s message to our faith and daily practice. Borrowing from the didactic purposes of the Samuel narrative, we will see how storytelling can be useful in ministry to adults.