Structuring family worship is important for success. I am often asked how to best read and study the Bible with kids. Below is one example that I found works well. The “important” steps are bolded with clarifying thoughts beneath them. Take time, ideally each day, to teach the Word to your kids and to train them to apply it. Your faithfulness will be rewarded. We plant, weed, and water; God gives the growth.
The process you follow will depend heavily on your kids’ ages. If you have a four-year-old, you won’t follow all these steps in their entirety. However, you can still read the passage, discuss, and apply it. Adjust the format to your family’s needs. That said, strive to stretch your kids a bit rather than settle for what is entirely comfortable. Kids will rise (or fall) to the standards that we set.
- Read through the passage with your kids.
- If your kids are old enough and comfortable doing so, consider having them read a verse or two aloud.
- When reading, be animated. An engaging reader makes for attentive listeners.
- Discuss the passage’s meaning.
- For Epistles
- Talk about each verse individually.
- Connect the separate ideas in the verses. (How does the first half of verse one connect to the second?)
- What is the main point of each verse?
- Connect the verses.
- How does verse one relate to verse two?
- Pick out important words to define.
- If you read a whole passage, try to find the main idea.
- Talk about each verse individually.
- For Narratives
- Discuss the main points of the plot
- Review the main characters
- Highlight important moments in the story and discuss the meaning
- For Epistles
- Discuss the Big Picture (Connect this passage to Scripture as a whole)
- What does this passage teach us about God? Scripture? Our need for Jesus?
- How does this passage talk about the gospel?
- Are there other passages or stories in Scripture that this one reminds you of?
- Look for opportunities to introduce key doctrines: Justification, God’s sovereignty, etc.
- Application – Consider making the application specific for each member of the family.
- Start by reinforcing the gospel during application.
- We don’t want moralistic children who merely “try to do what’s right.” We want children who know they are sinners and helpless to save themselves. We want kids who turn from their sins to Jesus in repentance. We don’t seek mere behavior modification, but holistic heart transformation.
- What does this passage command?
- What does the passage prohibit?
- What positive or negative examples are given?
- What can we, as a family, do differently to obey God’s Word?
- Start by reinforcing the gospel during application.