Have you ever heard Christians called “people of the Book”? This phrase emphasizes how important the Bible is to Christians. We try our best to memorize Scripture, study God’s Word, and read it from cover to cover. But we often fail at some of these tasks perhaps because we lose sight of its importance.
I was blessed to grow up as part of a family who believed in reading the Bible in family devotion times. My mom actually read us the entire Bible in family devotion times! Then she challenged us to read through the Bible on our own, following one of those read the Bible in a year guides. I found out very quickly that Leviticus laws and census counts in Numbers were not as kid-friendly reading and may have de-railed my efforts.
So how do you help your kids stay in God’s Word? Check out the following things you can do to help teach kids to have a daily time with God:
- Pray and ask God to be with your time in His Word and invite God to speak to you through you study.
- Model to kids how to have a quiet time with God. Have a quiet time together so that a child will understand.
- Treat the Bible with respect as you handle and carry it, affirming its trustworthiness, authority, and reliability.
- Read a passage out loud together.
- Ask kids what they think the passage means.
- Memorize important verses.
- Talk about what actions God is telling you to take as a result of your Bible study. Take action where God tells you to take action!
- Respond to God in prayer.
- Journal about the things you are learning and God’s answers to your prayers.
- Thank God for answering your prayer.
Notice how this movement starts and ends with prayer and opening yourself to God speaking and your taking action. What great lessons for our kids! It is even better to take this journey together and read the same passages and talk about them together.
Foundations for Kids is one example of a great tool that helps parents teach their kids God’s Word. Not only does it provide a 260-day reading plan (5 days per week for one year), but it coincides with the Foundations adult devotional so that parents and kids can go through this study together: reading God’s Word, memorizing Scripture, understanding and applying Bible truths, and responding to God in prayer.
Check out Foundations for Kids.
William Summey is the team leader for Lifeway Kids Discipleship and Devotional products.
