When I became a Christian at the age of eighteen, I knew very little about the Bible. I knew a few stories, but I didn’t know about the Old versus New Testaments, how many books there were in the Bible, or any scriptures.
Amazingly, although I grew up in America, I didn’t even know what John 3:16 meant. I suppose that was the result of my lack of Bible training and my disdain for watching football on Sunday afternoons. Ha!
In junior high I decided to read the Bible and started in Genesis. A few pages into Exodus and I gave up. I didn’t realize that it was my lack of general Bible structure knowledge, not my lack of interest that was the real problem.
As a mom, I want my children to start out with a better foundation in the Bible. These are ten strategies and resources we have used to help make the Bible and its truth accessible to our children.
8. Ask me WhoOo catechism music available here. We use these songs at home with our own children, and at church to teach the catechism to the kids. Even though it’s music for kids, the music is really good, and isn’t annoying like some kids’ CDs. Bonus!
7. Bible Challenges. At different times we have set out some goals for our kids. We challenge them to memorize scriptures, read all the gospels, memorize a psalm, etc. Sometimes we offer some sort of incentive or prize, often we offer only our own enthusiastic cheering as a reward. The point with all of this is to encourage them to value and intentionally learn the Bible.
6. The Bible for Children website. Mr. Fantastic has used this website for years with our children. The pictures look a little rough, but the text is great, and the kids really like it. Many mornings I find him cozied up on the sofa with the children reading through the Bible on his computer. How cute is that?
5. Talking about scriptures that God is speaking to us right now. Sometimes I have to remind myself that my children are also my brothers and sisters in Christ, and they have the same Holy God living in them that I have living in me. Sharing the truth that God is speaking to me draws them closer to me and to God. Asking them to pray with me and letting them hear how much I lean on Christ are precious tools that teach them how to live as a Christian.
4. The Jesus Storybook Bible available here. This is our favorite children’s Bible. It teaches so well how to see God’s plan to redeem us in Christ from the beginning of time. Love, love, love to read this with my children!
3. Telling them my own story. I have often been asked by parents how we share the gospel with our children. This question often catches me off-guard, because we don’t really “preach” to them. The Bible does say in Revelation 12:11 that evil is overcome by the blood of Jesus and the word of our testimony. Whenever I share my own stories about how God has redeemed me, how He has healed me and led me into truth, there is an opportunity for my children to grow to understand the gospel better. Teaching them scriptures is good. Pairing that with our own testimony is better.
2. Reading the Bible while they are around. Modeling a value for God’s word is crucial. We all know how much they learn from our example. I am grateful that my children wake up and see my husband seeking God in His word. I often sit on the sofa and read my Bible while the Lady flits about and the boys play Legos. We shouldn’t just tell them it’s important. We need to show them, too.
1. Reading scripture together. We have begun to read a chapter of the Bible together at mealtime. Everyone gets out a Bible and we take turns reading to one another. I have found the epistles to be particularly helpful for all of us. After all, they are letters meant to teach how to live together as Christians, which is exactly what we are doing every day as a family. When we read in James that we should be slow to become angry, that speaks into all of our hearts. When we read that love is patient, even Mama is reminded that she is not above this call to love as the Bible commands. After we read, we take turns sharing what stood out to us, and then we pray together. It is then that I am reminded that this is a life worth living, a faith worth sharing, and that my family is God’s first.
Anyone have any more good resources to share? I would love to hear them!
