5 Ways to Make Bible Study a Family Affair
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The first time I told the story of Noah’s Ark to my toddler, I stopped in my tracks because it was the first time I realized this was not a nursery story, this was a tragedy. Earth had become so corrupt that every person, aside from one family, was sentenced to death. As bad as we may think our culture is now, we are a long way from the world being that dark. The gravity of the cute animal story that I had also learned as a kid hit me, and suddenly teaching my kids the Bible felt like an overwhelming task. How could I make sense of these graphic and raw stories, especially from the Old Testament, for my young kids?
We also have loved the Louie Giglio Indescribable kids devotionals. He has a few now and they all are quick, engaging, and full of truth. Oftentimes we can align the devotions with topics we are studying in school, which is super fun. There are so many amazing resources out there for families. Don’t get overwhelmed by the choices, just choose one or two books you love and make them a regular part of your reading routine as a family.
As our kids have gotten older, their ability to attend to the Scripture has grown too! My husband has begun reading chapters of the Bible with my boys at least once a week and then talking about them. He started in John and is moving through the book at snail speed. That’s okay! Simply reading a few verses together weekly and then talking about what they mean has sparked many fun conversations in our home.
At the start, our boys struggled to converse about what they thought about the text. But the more practice they have had, the more they are willing to discuss what they are hearing. We do this one on the weekend because it’s a Dad-led task. Our nights get full, so slipping in 20 minutes of time together in the Bible on a Saturday or Sunday feels more doable. But mostly, it’s important to just make reading together a part of your family rhythm.
The next key element in letting God’s word be a lamp to our feet is community. Our kids need to be in church with us. Let them hear the Bible lessons in kid’s church, attend youth groups, and watch you study with friends in small groups. They need to see how their community is engaging with their faith and the word of God. As they age, our kids will need more than just us to hold onto Jesus. Equip them with a village of believers that they can trust when they have questions you can’t answer for them. Church is where you find that village.
Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Exposing our kids to God’s holy written word is a key part of what it means to train our kids in the way of the Lord. As truth has become harder to find, teaching our kids to go back to the primary source becomes more vital than ever.
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