Teaching Children the Bible Can Be Simple
Marty Machowski, Author of "Long Story Short"
I remember feeling the full weight of my leather-covered adult Bible when I first sat down to teach my kids. At that moment, the responsibility seemed overwhelming. Questions flooded my mind: “Where do I start? How much should I read? What should I say?” And the biggest question of all: “Am I even qualified to do this?”
But teaching the Bible to my children was easier than I thought. It’s easier than most parents think. Here are a few helpful tips I’ve learned along the way:
Start with the Stories. There’s a reason story Bibles are so popular. Who wouldn’t be captivated by stories about giants, battles, miracles, and shipwrecks? These stories are in your adult Bible with even more detail. Read Genesis, Exodus, 1 Samuel, the Gospels, and the book of Acts. Watch your children get excited about what will happen next.
Shorter is Better. All you need is ten minutes a day. Read a shorter passage—not a whole chapter—using your Bible’s chapter subdivisions as a guide. Ask a few simple questions after you read. Let the discussion go where it will—then pray. Keep your Bible at the dinner table, and pick up where you left off the next day. After a couple of weeks, your children might remind you that it’s Bible study time.
Be prepared for distractions. It’s no surprise that children’s attention spans are short. I’ve blown more than one family Bible study by getting frustrated when my children lost focus. Allow distractions to run their course. Pause for a minute, and then draw your children’s focus back to what you are reading.
Family Time and Relationships
by Jim Burns
My wife, Cathy, and I stared at each other in disbelief as our oldest daughter, Christy,
told us she was running away. When she started packing her suitcase, we knew she was
serious. Cathy and I weren't sure if we should laugh or cry — after all, Christy was only
6.
Our daughter told us she was moving to Julia's house across the street because her
mommy and daddy were nicer. My wife called Julia's mother to tell her what was taking
place and that Christy was on her way over. Then, we stood on our sidewalk and watched
our little girl carry her suitcase and favorite doll across the street where Julia's mother
waited outside the door to greet her.
A few hours later, Julia's mom reminded Christy it was Monday night and that our family
always went to the Golden Spoon for frozen yogurt after dinner. It was a tradition my
three girls looked forward to — including Christy. To our delight, she called and asked if
she could go. It was a joyous reunion!
The weekly yogurt run was part of our family identity — part of what made us who we
were. Even the neighbors knew our routine and sometimes shouted to-go orders as we
pulled out of our driveway. Our three daughters are now grown, but when our family gets
together, we still make trips to the Golden Spoon. It's one of those simple traditions that
have kept our family bonds strong.
Not surprisingly, a strong family identity also helps children develop a strong and healthy
self-identity. Knowing what makes their family unique — traditions, values, ways of
relating to one another — gives children a clear starting point for discovering their own
place in the world. Studies even show that kids who identify with their family's values
tend to be less promiscuous and face less risk of drug and alcohol abuse.
Perhaps you're wondering, How can we build a strong family identity? Here are three
principles to get you started.
Your presence matters. Children regard your presence as a sign of care and
connectedness. Families who eat meals together, play together and build traditions
together thrive. Does your family eat together at least four times a week? If so, there
is a greater chance your kids will perform better in school and be less likely to exhibit
negative behavior.
Although it may seem trite, a family that plays together, stays together. I'm not talking
about just cheering on your kids at soccer games or dance recitals but actually playing
together. One family I know has a pingpong tournament each week. The winner doesn't
have to do the dishes for a day. Our family had a Fun Day once a month. One of the girls
picked an activity, and the rest of the family participated.
Celebrate everything. Don't miss a single chance to celebrate your family. You can
celebrate rites of passage and other events such as Little League victories and graduations
— from any grade
On birthdays, we go out to dinner then play a game called Affirmation Bombardment, in
which each family member shares three words of encouragement for the birthday person.
Talk about faith. Spiritual topics don't always come naturally for families. Discussions
about God, however, can help build family identity. They also help kids have strong
convictions as they get older.
Maybe you have some anxiety about starting a faith conversation with your children.
Remember, your talk doesn't have to be forced or lengthy; it can be simple, short and
spontaneous. Let the discussion be as natural as possible. Getting preachy with your
children can be just as unhelpful as avoiding the topic of faith.
One way to create opportunities to share your faith with your kids is to pray with them
every day and do a weekly family devotional, even if only for five minutes. When
your children are exposed to God's truth in small amounts, it can, as a friend of mine
says, "help them develop a sweet tooth for Jesus."
Jesus said, "Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a
wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the
winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on
the rock" (Matthew 7:24-25).
This truth applies to families. At some point, storms will come to every family. But when
you proactively build a strong family identity on the rock of Christ, your family can
withstand whatever winds and rains come your way. A strong family identity will give
your kids a solid foundation to cling to during those difficult times.
