Help Your Child Find Interest in the Bible: 12 Suggestions

Every child is different, and every parent is different, on a different spiritual path, in a different place in life. Did I mention we're different? The facets of Christian parenting are so complex; and although the only one-size-fits-all is the Bible, connecting ourselves and our children to find, believe, and live out the truths may requires a variety of routes. So, I'm presenting 12 suggestions that I've applied in my own home, with my own children. Some of the suggestions were highly recommended from friends and fell flat with my kids, while others seemed to turn on a light bulb and really open their eyes. See which ones appeal to you:

1. Memorize the books of the Old and New Testament together. There's load of strategies and melodious lyrics to help out. here's two links:

Here's a 5-step strategy my children used to memorize the New Testament:

Step 1 - Memorize the first 8 books:

Matthew                Acts

Mark                    Romans

Luke                    1 Corinthians

John                    2. Corinthians

Step 2 - Remember "GEP-C" - Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians; OR remember that "G.E." (General Electric) works the "P.C." (Personal Computer). 

Step 3 - The 5 Ts - I Thessalonians, II Thessalonians, I Timothy, II Timothy, Titus. 

Step 4 - Introduce Philemon: "Hebrews James!"

Step 5 - 1,2, 1,2,3, Jude, Revelation (1 & II Peter; I, II & III John, Jude, Revelation). 


2. Include Bible drill time. Choose two verses for your children to look up and read. With different ages, assigning the verses may be helpful. Start easy so your children can feel a sense of connection to their Bibles (Genesis 1:1; Psalm 1:1; Psalm 100; . . .)


3. Play Bible trivia games. Apps seem to be the thing, and here's one from the Google Play store: https://g.co/kgs/Mz8Kv4 and Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/daily-bible-trivia-quiz-games/id1633307858

4. Be ready and prepared to provide a Bible verse or passage at struggling moments. Many of today's Bibles, particularly children's and teen's Bibles, are equipped with an appendix of topics and corresponding verses. Check there first. Here's another WONDERFUL resource from Bible Net.com: https://www.biblesnet.com/scriptures.html 

5. Before a Bible reading, or when discussing a Bible passage, look at a map with your children to provide perspective of location -- where the events were written and took place. Look online for pictures and photographs of the Sea of Galilee, or the Jordan River, or the city of Bethlehem. Give a visual. 

6. Close reading. Guide your child to place themselves in the shoes of the writer or persons involved in the read passage. Think imagery -- what do they see? hear? smell? how's the weather? how are their emotions?

7.  Instruct your child to read at least one verse per day. God equips us all with memory and skill with practice. 

8. Pray your child will develop a hunger for God's Word. Matthew 5:5 promises, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."

9. Make sure your child sees that you hold the Bible as essential in your own life. Do they see you reading the Bible daily?

10. Allot time for Bible reading. If at night, plan an earlier bedtime. If morning, allot quiet, unrushed time. 

11. Post Scripture throughout the house. It makes beautiful home decor. 

12. Provide the child with a helpful devotional and/or Bible study.  

No reason to get overwhelmed with all these suggestions. You won't be a less holy parent for not trying them all. Choose one, two, or three, and try implementing them into the New Year!