Bible study with your kids

[jeff77]

Do you or did you (if your kids are grown up) have Bible study with your kids? What is a good way to study the Bible with your kids?

My wife and I have an 8 year old son who was saved and baptized last year and a 4 year old daughter. We have Bible study often but not everyday.as we should. Sometimes we work on my sons Bible verse memorization for his Bible Skills and drills class at church. Sometimes we use a children's devotional like "Jesus Calling" or the Bible story app on iphone. I'm sure there are many effective ways to stay consistent with having Bible study with your kids. Thoughts...Suggestions are welcome.

 

[Abigail123]

I did have Bible study with my kids, we used the NIV study Bible for boys, but I know they have other children studies. Through this they were able to learn the stories and an overall picture of the gospel, and many topical categories.

I used various resources for real life applications, however for this part of teaching, I relied heavily on real life situations. If a child was being bullied in class, what should they do. Talking and talking some more about behaviors as a Christian and focusing on a real live relationship with Christ is the most important, imo.

That's kind of how I approached it. My view was they should learn it at home first, versus relying on church.

 

[jeff77]

I did have Bible study with my kids, we used the NIV study Bible for boys, but I know they have other children studies. Through this they were able to learn the stories and an overall picture of the gospel, and many topical categories.

I used various resources for real life applications, however for this part of teaching, I relied heavily on real life situations. If a child was being bullied in class, what should they do. Talking and talking some more about behaviors as a Christian and focusing on a real live relationship with Christ is the most important, imo.

That's kind of how I approached it. My view was they should learn it at home first, versus relying on church.

Teaching how to apply Christ teachings in a real life situation is a great way to do it. We have had a similar situation about what to do if you are being bullied in class with our son. Often times we will have the opportunity to get the Bible out and have a teaching moment at the dinner table. Our son and daughter butt heads quite often and we use those times a "do unto others" teaching moment. In fact brother and sister can be picking on each other right during the middle of Bible study. Our daughter is still pretty young to understand that she is a sinner I think. We ask her tonight during Bible study if she knows what sin is and she said "when you feel sad". My wife said "sin is when you make Jesus feel sad". When I ask my daughter if she has ever sinned she said "No". I guess we have a ways to go with her..Lol

 

[Abigail123]

Teaching how to apply Christ teachings in a real life situation is a great way to do it. We have had a similar situation about what to do if you are being bullied in class with our son. Often times we will have the opportunity to get the Bible out and have a teaching moment at the dinner table. Our son and daughter butt heads quite often and we use those times a "do unto others" teaching moment. In fact brother and sister can be picking on each other right during the middle of Bible study. Our daughter is still pretty young to understand that she is a sinner I think. We ask her tonight during Bible study if she knows what sin is and she said "when you feel sad". My wife said "sin is when you make Jesus feel sad". When I ask my daughter if she has ever sinned she said "No". I guess we have a ways to go with her..Lol

Awww....your daughter sounds adorable, at least she knows that sin is a sad topic, huh? You're doing great, Jeff! At least you're having dialogue about all of it and you're starting young! Good job!

I forgot about the verse in 2 Peter that was/is, it was a scripture that we returned to again and again. Obviously it's over their head in what I'm providing but this is a KEY to godly living, imo, for the young and old. I think too many people by-pass these verses, it's 2 Peter 1:3-7. We add to each, the subsequent building up on the former in verses 5, 6, and 7.

3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

 

[reba]

The Old Testament stories... are great ...
See how Danial was bullied.
The story of Joseph is a terrific picture of Christ...
Samson shows what happens when we 'play ' with sin..
Noah shows obedience to God when the whole world around you thinks your goofy.
Joshua and Caleb looked on the bright side...

I still better with pictures...

 

[jeff77]

This is such an important topic in today's world. I am afraid that when they get into their teenage years things will be even worse. They need to have some spiritual maturity or they could easily fall. I know I did.

 

[Mike]

I'm late in my response to a discussion that left off 3 weeks ago. Actually, my first response in months, but you've struck a cord with me here. Aside from the Lord, my family is my passion.

In my experience, your ambition was much easier with one child. Once we had multiple children across different age ranges, this was more difficult. Different capacities and different interest levels. Add in a third child, and I've found this to be one of my greatest challenges of parenting. It's also been one of my greatest sources of remorse in my inadequacy as the spiritual leader of our home.

Anyway, enough about me. If I had to give advice to a parent of young children, it is first to let them see you in the Word. Be that example that God's Word is important to you, and they are much more likely to value its place in their lives. We all leave a legacy. Let your legacy be a love for the Lord and a demonstrated love for His Word. To be honest, I haven't practiced what I preach as much as I should have.

At a certain point, I believe personal conversations are just as important. At the dinner table, I try to make poignant conversation. Pray on them. Pray on them. Pray on them! Pray on the Lord to guide you as you guide them. This response may not reach you, but if it reaches anyone and speaks to them, we will be blessed.

Be blessed.

 

[jeff77]

I'm late in my response to a discussion that left off 3 weeks ago. Actually, my first response in months, but you've struck a cord with me here. Aside from the Lord, my family is my passion.

In my experience, your ambition was much easier with one child. Once we had multiple children across different age ranges, this was more difficult. Different capacities and different interest levels. Add in a third child, and I've found this to be one of my greatest challenges of parenting. It's also been one of my greatest sources of remorse in my inadequacy as the spiritual leader of our home.

Anyway, enough about me. If I had to give advice to a parent of young children, it is first to let them see you in the Word. Be that example that God's Word is important to you, and they are much more likely to value its place in their lives. We all leave a legacy. Let your legacy be a love for the Lord and a demonstrated love for His Word. To be honest, I haven't practiced what I preach as much as I should have.

At a certain point, I believe personal conversations are just as important. At the dinner table, I try to make poignant conversation. Pray on them. Pray on them. Pray on them! Pray on the Lord to guide you as you guide them. This response may not reach you, but if it reaches anyone and speaks to them, we will be blessed.

Be blessed.

Thank you for your response Mike and Amen for such a positive and informative post. I have an 8 year old son and a 4 year old daughter (if I didn't mention already). I am doing my best to be the spiritual leader of our home and it is not always easy. Tonight we did something we had not done in a while. We played a children's Bible Trivia Game. Everyone had a blast even my four year old could answer a couple of questions correctly this time.

 

[Mike]

jeff77 that's awesome. In my experience, it became more difficult as the kids got older to do that kind of thing without them feeling that it was being forced. It's nice when a game or a conversation emerges naturally. Kids are so intuitive! I'm sure you'll be better at that than I've been.

 

[jeff77]

Do you or did you (if your kids are grown up) have Bible study with your kids? What is a good way to study the Bible with your kids?

My wife and I have an 8 year old son who was saved and baptized last year and a 4 year old daughter. We have Bible study often but not everyday.as we should. Sometimes we work on my sons Bible verse memorization for his Bible Skills and drills class at church. Sometimes we use a children's devotional like "Jesus Calling" or the Bible story app on iphone. I'm sure there are many effective ways to stay consistent with having Bible study with your kids. Thoughts...Suggestions are welcome.

I started this thread a while back and I feel that this is an important topic. Does anyone have anything new to add? Recently we started writing down a Bible verse on little card to keep with us during the day (a different verse for each of us) and when we meet the following evening for Bible study we recite the verse to see how well we memorized it. Keeping the verse in my pocket during the day has been particularly helpful, not just for memorizing it, but to have scripture at hand to keep me focused on the Lord.

 

[Mike]

We used to do something similar in the car, and I kinda got out of the habit. I'd write key verse(s) from the message at the worship service on a piece of paper and tape it to my rear view mirror. At red lights, I'd flip it down and work on memorizing it. We made it into a game when they were in the car with me. The first kid to memorize AND explain what it meant and how it applies to us got to choose what we had for dinner on a certain night. It had the benefits of emphasizing scripture memorization and getting them to think about what our pastor was saying in his message.

It's always been important to me that they invest themselves in the worship service and not let their minds check out. Too often I'd look over at them and get the feeling that their minds were a thousand miles away. That's still a bit of a thing, but not as much as it used to be.

 

[jeff77]

We used to do something similar in the car, and I kinda got out of the habit. I'd write key verse(s) from the message at the worship service on a piece of paper and tape it to my rear view mirror. At red lights, I'd flip it down and work on memorizing it. We made it into a game when they were in the car with me. The first kid to memorize AND explain what it meant and how it applies to us got to choose what we had for dinner on a certain night. It had the benefits of emphasizing scripture memorization and getting them to think about what our pastor was saying in his message.

It's always been important to me that they invest themselves in the worship service and not let their minds check out. Too often I'd look over at them and get the feeling that their minds were a thousand miles away. That's still a bit of a thing, but not as much as it used to be.

Thanks for the input Mike. The second paragraph you wrote is something that I am concerned about with my son lately. He was saved and baptized recently, but I have noticed that he does not seem to be as tuned in to the services as he was just before he made the decision to follow Jesus. Lately he has been squirming around in his seat or fiddling with a piece of paper and not looking as interested. My wife and I ask our daughter if she knew if it was time for Jesus to enter her heart and she just gets upset when we ask. So we ask that she pray to ask Jesus to know what it means to have Him in her heart. Our kids are really fighting a lot lately. We could use some prayers for them.

 

[Knit-n-stitch]

I started this thread a while back and I feel that this is an important topic. Does anyone have anything new to add? Recently we started writing down a Bible verse on little card to keep with us during the day (a different verse for each of us) and when we meet the following evening for Bible study we recite the verse to see how well we memorized it. Keeping the verse in my pocket during the day has been particularly helpful, not just for memorizing it, but to have scripture at hand to keep me focused on the Lord.

One suggestion, try to make sure your children understand the meaning of words.
I said "The Lords Prayer" all my life but actually looked at what it said when I was older, not yet grown, but older. Sometimes we are so use to reading we forget that children may not know what the words mean.
The Bible trivia games are great! It seems they remember better when it is put in game form.
Sounds to me like you are doing a wonderful job!

 

[Mike]

Knit-n-stitch That's a very good point! One of my favorite types of message that our pastor gives is when he takes a set of verses, or even one verse, and breaks it down bit by bit. Sometimes they are verses I've read many times, but the insight he gives busts them wide open with meaning I never found on my own. I imagine there's a similar dynamic happening in the chasm that exists between our kids' understanding and ours.

jeff77 I've found something that might be more relevant to your son (8) than your daughter (4) with our 3 children. As they get older, their sphere of influence broadens. Early on, we are virtually their entire scope of influence, but this changes as they get to the age where they have teachers and friends at school that don't have a Christian world view. They might not proactively deter them, but they can distract them. This is not to relieve our children of all responsibility, but they do have an impact.

We have stressed over and over the importance of choosing friends who will support their walks with Christ. I just think it's hard during childhood years and even more so as teens to stay focused on the kingdom. They increasingly value the opinions of their friends, so it's important that these friends have a like-minded set of priorities. If we can limit that hindrance, it makes guiding them at home so much easier.

At home, it's a challenge to spend that time with each child individually in scripture so that the content can be age-appropriate. Trying to connect with them at the same time often leads to one losing interest out of boredom or the other not understanding. I'm interested in how other people succeed in engaging their kids in family time across different age and maturity levels.

 

[SurvivalStudent87]

My wife and I have a 5 year old daughter and find it quite difficult to get her to actually pay attention to what we're saying/reading when doing any type of Bible Study. We use a children's devotional, but it doesn't seem to help. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep her attention and help her comprehension?

 

[Mike]

SurvivalStudent87 God bless you, brother! That's an awesome time of life! I have no doubt you will see her light coming on in time, and it is an AMAZING thing to see when you find His Word has hung on her heart, and she knows some of the stories. Kids are all different. If she's not comprehending or able to focus, my advice would be to bring it down a notch and keep doing it until you meet her at her level. It might be just looking at pictures and talking about them. Keep it at her level and make it fun for her! Tell her over and over and over and over and over how much Jesus loves her and will always love her. When she begins to grasp this secure feeling, the stories will have so much more meaning to her.

I don't mean to give you life advice when you simply asked for advice about devotionals. I'm just trying to help you set the stage for meaningful devotional times when she gets to that point. Thru this, you will be filled with an incredible sense of purpose. He gifted you this beautiful little life to teach and bring to a knowledge of Him! How great is our God!!?

In short, don't rush it or try to force more than she can handle. Take it slow, and treasure - treasure - this devotional time with your little girl! You are going to create memories for all three of you that will last your lives. It's been 15 years since our oldest was her age, and I can put myself right back in those times when we'd be laying in bed paging thru his picture Bible. He has nice memories of them, too! I'm so excited for you! Great times ahead!

Be blessed!

 

[SurvivalStudent87]

Thanks for the advice and words of encouragement. I'll browse around for some more basic devotions or picture bibles!