When we read the Scriptures with our children, we must help them meet God. We accomplish this by reading the Bible for more than the facts. We want them to encounter God, learn about themselves, and be courageous to change their lives and behaviors. These new lives and behaviors will now beautifully align with the Word of God.
I remember having science homework in middle school. We had to read the chapter on the skeletal system in preparation for the next day’s lecture and possible pop quiz. I read each word on the page, including the ones in the captions of the pictures. Looking at the diagrams and making sure that I knew where the ulna and fibula were, I readied myself. I memorized the important facts in the chapter. I wanted to know all I could to a good grade on the quiz.
Now that I am a mom I realize when it comes to reading the Bible with our children, I often can fall back into this same type of reading. I read my Bible for the facts instead of reading to develop a relationship with its author, my Heavenly Father. I have met many parents who struggle with the same thing. Parents want their children to know who Jonah or Paul were. They want their children to be able to tell them details of the character’s life or chart the cities Paul went on his second missionary journey. But is that truly the point of the stories we encounter in the Word of God? Is the story about THEM or is it really all about God Himself?
As we read the Bible with our children, I believe that we need to focus on three main things:
1. What can we learn about God?
2. What can we learn about ourselves/mankind?
3. How should this transform what we think and what we do?
1. What can we learn about God?
The Bible tells us right from the first sentence that the Bible is all about God Himself. “In the beginning God…” Genesis 1:1 is the topic sentence of all of Scripture. The Bible is all about God – every sentence, every chapter, every book, and each Testament. The whole story is about God so we need to be looking in every story for what this tells us about Him. What is He like? What does He do? Why does He do what He has done?
For example, Genesis tells us the beautiful account of Creation. The sun, the mountains, the trees, the oceans, the elephants, and mankind were all created by God in the seven days of Creation. On the seventh day God rested. Most of us stop with these facts. We list the created things and memorize which days God made them. We even have clever devices that help us remember each day of Creation.
But have you ever stopped to think deeply with your children about Creation? God made all these things from nothing… without a prototype. He did not have a first draft. He just created. If you and I were to make something, we would rely on the passed knowledge that we had or something that we have already seen to give us ideas on our new masterpiece. Not so with God. He made everything for the first time, and He thought that everything was good… and people were very good. He did not and does not make mistakes in His Creation.
The account of Creation screams to us about the character of our God. We can see not only His creativity but also His humor, His infinite wisdom and knowledge, His power and majesty, His beauty, His love, and more! What does this passage help you see about God?
When we take the time to step back from the stories of Scripture (especially ones that we are most familiar with), we see that every part tells us about God. We need to be looking for the character of God in each Bible passage, making a list of who He is and what He does. Download this simple worksheet to help your children collect their thoughts.
When we read the stories of Jesus’ miracles but fail to see the compassion, power, kindness, and generosity of Jesus, we have failed our children. This is not just a nice story for our children’s picture Bibles. God strategically placed every passage into our copies of the Word of God to show us about Himself. God is the main character in the Bible… everyone else is just a supporting character. Read your Bible for more than just the facts… read it to develop a character study on its author, God Almighty.
2. What can we learn about ourselves/mankind?
The world’s view of our identity bombards us everyday. It tells us that we are basically good and we need to “follow our hearts”. But learning about ourselves/mankind through the lens of Scripture will help us to know the Truth about who we really are… who God says we are. His perspective is the only one that truly matters. When we know the Truth, we are able to combat the ideas of the world to proudly and confidently navigate through life.
If we look back at the account of Creation, what can we learn about ourselves/mankind? Firstly, Genesis 1:27 tells us that we are made in the image of God. This gives our lives worth and significance. God made us like Him — not in every way, but He created us with spiritual component and a desire for relationship. It certainly is a special thing to be made in God’s image.
Secondly, we are also known by the Creator since He was intricately involved in our creation, fashioning us from the dust of the ground and even breathing life into him. We didn’t evolve by chance, and He continues to shape us. The Bible talks about God being a potter (for example, Isaiah 64:8). We are clay which He is making into a work of art. He molds and shapes us with His hands, doing the intricate work to make us who He desires us to be. The God over all of the Universe knows me!
Lastly, God continues to have His hand in every part of our lives. He didn’t just leave Adam and Eve in the Garden. He walked with them. God talked with them. He provided for them. He isn’t a God who is far off, who made people and then left them to their own ways. The Bible tells us that He is “closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:24), “is near to the brokenhearted” (Psalm 34:18), and “lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:17). List all the things that you have learned on your worksheet. (Download it here.)
3. How should this transform what we think and what we do?
After reading through the Scriptures and looking at who God is and who we are, we must lead our children to wrestle with life transformation and heart change. We cannot go on living in the same ways that we have always lived. It takes courage for believers to take the step of faith required after encountering Truth in the Word of God.
After studying the Creation account in Genesis, we see God’s fingerprints all over our lives. He is intricately involved in all His Creation. He cares deeply about His people from the very beginning when He made us in His image. From what you now understand about God and yourself, what are you challenged to do? Do you need to change how you think about yourself as an image bearer of God? Should you ask forgiveness for the way you have treated your body that God so perfectly made? Do you need to value the people around you more, especially the ones who may look different that you do?
Going from reading the facts of the Creation account, to developing a theology about who God is, to discovering who mankind was created to be, to now changing how we think and how we live is a huge step into making true followers of Christ and Biblically-minded families who will radically change the world. Write down the ways that you feel God is asking you make some life changes on this downloadable worksheet.
I believe that Biblically-minded families must approach teaching God’s Word using these three principles to guide our study. We cannot merely be ones who know the Word of God so we can win medals to hang on the wall or have notebooks filled with facts. If we are to truly raise warriors for God’s army, we must think more critically about what the Scriptures are telling us about who God is and who we are. This will transform what we think and what we do. It is here that we develop into true followers who have a rich understanding of God, His Word, and ourselves. This will contagiously lead others to the Savior.
DOWNLOAD a FREE simple worksheet here to lead your family in this plan to study the Bible.
Click here to learn more about what it means to be a Biblically-minded family.
Click here to find my guides on discipling your children by age groups.
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