I wanted to give you an example of how to read through the Bible with your kids. It seems particularly fitting, with a state-mandated lockdown in place, for us as parents to think about how we are intentionally training our children in the Scriptures. This is the first part of a blog series. Part two will take the method below and apply it to a short passage.
The “important” steps are bolded with clarifying thoughts beneath them. I am not saying you have to follow this structure. This loose outline is a starting point for what is involved in reading and studying Scripture. The important thing is that we are taking some time to teach the Word to our kids and train them to apply it. Your faithfulness will be rewarded. We plant and water; God gives the growth.
The process you follow will be heavily dependent on the age of your kids. 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. While we must study the Word with our kids, the format will differ from family to family.
- 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.
- Discuss the passage’s meaning.
- Pick out important words to define.
- Talk about each verse individually.
- Connect the separate ideas in 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?
- 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?
- Application
- Start by reinforcing the gospel during application.
- We don’t want moralistic children who “try to do what’s right.” We want children who know they are sinners and helpless to save themselves. We want kids that turn from their sins to Jesus in repentance.
- What does this passage command?
- What does the passage prohibit?
- What can we, as a family, do differently to obey God’s Word?
- Start by reinforcing the gospel during application.