Faith Path: Bible
Recommended Ages: 7+
One of the greatest joys and responsibilities you have as a parent is to teach your child to love God's Word. Find practical ideas and suggested resources to open the Bible to your child.
Open God’s Word to Your Child
One of the greatest joys and responsibilities you have as a parent in order to build a solid foundation based upon truth is to teach your child to love God’s Word. Psalm 119:11 says, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.”
how to get started
Help your child discover the importance of God’s Word using these suggestions:
- Choose a Bible: Find a translation that is easy for your child to read and understand. We recommend the New International Reader’s Version (NIrV). The Kids' Devotional Bible by Zonderkids is a wonderful option available in the NIrV (find link below).
- Model It: You cannot pass on to your child something that you do not have. Schedule a regular time of reading the Bible where your kids can see you.
- Use as a Guide: Show your child how the Bible can be used as an everyday guide for life by helping him or her search and learn how to use the Bible. This is a great opportunity especially when your child might be struggling with a particular issue or looking for wisdom on a particular topic.
- Keep It Simple: Choose one simple Bible truth or verse and repeat it often such as “God is love.”
- Be creative: Do not just read the story. Become the Bible character or use games and crafts to engage all five senses in the learning experience.
- Do Not Bluff: It is okay to not know the answer to a question your child might have. Use the opportunity to show your child how to search in God’s Word for wisdom. Be authentic by admitting that no one understands everything. Only God is God, and we must learn to trust what He says in the Bible. You can also tell your child you will get back to them within a certain time period so that you can investigate and/or ask for guidance from someone you trust.
- Study It: Show how to study God’s Word using a simple Bible study plan. Teach your child to look at any scripture and ask questions about the passage such as “Who wrote this passage?”, “What does this verse teach us?”, or “How can I apply this truth in my own life?”
- Find Tools: There are many great tools like a kid’s Bible, Bible storybooks, Christian scripture songs, Christian videos, and games to make understanding the Bible easier and more fun.
- Pray: Ask God to give your child a love for God’s Word as well as understanding and wisdom as they read and memorize scripture.
recommended bible activities
- Have your child memorize the books of the Bible by writing them in order and/or singing along with the Old and New Testament songs (see Additional Resources below).
- Write verses on index cards to place in your child’s Bible, backpack, or lunchbox. Tape them to the mirror or refrigerator.
- Write out Bible verses using colorful pens or markers. Cut each word out, and mix them up on the floor. Play a game as you put the verse back in order or make into a memory match game.
- Try teaching your child memory verses using sign language or making up your own hand signals.
- Play a memory game by passing a ball or beanbag as each person says the next word in the verse.
- Allow your child to pick a book of the Bible, book, or devotional to read with you at breakfast or bedtime.
DOWNLOAD FULL RESOURCE KIT REQUEST PRINTED RESOURCE KIT
RECOMMENDED BOOKS
What the Bible is All About: Bible Handbook for Kids
By Frances Blankenbaker
Unlock the secrets of Scripture and discover Jesus in every book of the Bible! What the Bible Is All About Bible Handbook for Kids, based on Dr. Henrietta Mears’ classic Bible handbook, is your ultimate guide to God’s Word. Inside you’ll find maps, charts, timelines, and illustrations that will help you track down the richest treasure of all: God’s plan to save the world! As you discover and decode each book of the Bible, God’s Story will take shape and you’ll begin to see Jesus on every page.
Inside you’ll find:
- Background on the writer of each book
- Jesus Connection for every book in the Bible
- Word definitions to help you understand the Bible’s meaning
- Lists of important people so you know who to watch for as you read.
- Illustrations, timelines, and maps that show when and where key events took place
- Summaries for each book that reveal how each part fits with the “big picture”
- Info on archeological discoveries and life in Bible times that gives insights on the world of the Bible
Parenting with Scripture
By Kara Durbin
Equipping parents with scriptural guidance and activities for teachable moments. It's inevitable that children from toddlers to teens will misbehave. It's tempting to discipline them and let the moment pass. Kara Durbin's passion is for parents to capture those teachable moments and use Scripture to shape their children's behavior. She offers Parenting With Scripture, a unique topical guide to prepare parents with scriptural teaching and helpful activities on 100 specific behaviors.
Kids' Devotional Bible
By Zonderkids
The NIrV Kids' Devotional Bible is complete with a year's worth of devotions that will help children develop a habit they'll want to keep. Engaging weekday devotions, fun weekend activities, interesting illustrations, and a dictionary make this a Bible they'll want to read and apply to their lives. It includes the complete New International Reader's Version (NIrV)---the stepping stone to the NIV---making it easier for young readers to read and understand. Recommended for ages 6 to 10 years.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
About Faith path
We believe God designed the family to be the primary disciple-making relationship. In other words, God gave parents the privilege of nurturing faith in the next generation. That’s why the Faith Path was created. It's a step-by-step plan to help you be intentional as you prepare for key faith milestones and foster spiritual disciplines in your child’s faith journey. From parent dedication to leading your child to Christ to launching your young adult, the Faith Path resources are designed to assist you in discipling your children.