One of your duties as a Christian parent is sharing the Word with your spouse and children. You could have a great personal Bible study or be a great teacher in the church but none of these should replace family Bible study.
I know it is difficult and scary. Sometimes you may feel you are doing everything wrong. That’s totally okay. We all feel that way at some point. There is no sugarcoating it, teaching children is the hardest. They have different ‘languages’ and attention spans. But that doesn’t mean you have to quit. If you train them up in the way to go now, you will be happy at the fruit they bear many years to come.
I hope these tips help revive your family Bible study time.
- Give God control
First, you must understand that you cannot achieve this by leaning on your own understanding and strength. For your family Bible study to thrive, you ought to give complete control to God. He alone can open their heart to receive the message. If you haven’t done this yet, try submitting control to God and see the change.
- Use their ‘language’
By language, I mean something appropriate for their age. Learning and understanding occur differently at different stages of development. I have seen that younger children prefer storytelling while older kids stay engaged when it involves visuals. Take the time to understand what works best and use it to keep them interested and enlightened.
- Help them relate
It is one thing to know the best learning channel, it is a different thing to know the right message to pass through that channel. The Bible is a complex book but it is not boring. As the teacher, you are responsible for bringing the Word to life. Instead of going on and on about theology, why not do what Jesus would do – explain to them in ‘parables’ they can relate to. You can use their favorite comic or superhero. It could be people/events in their everyday life. Whatever you do, be sure to help them relate to the story/lesson.
- Prepare a takeaway
Another way to make learning fun is to give them takeaways. Now that they relate to the story/lesson, ensure it is practical by having them apply the lesson to their everyday life. Always give them fun and easy task based on the lesson of the study. Another takeaway is the memory verse. Even if they cannot remember the entire teaching, they should be able to remember the main verse. This will improve their understanding and keep them engaged.
- Be patient
The most important tip is patience. You need patience to deal with children. You cannot teach them everything at a stretch. You cannot rush it over so you move on to the next. You need to give them time. Baby steps. Help them learn at their pace. Answer all their questions. Keep the study short and simple. There is always time to teach another lesson. Most importantly, be kind to yourself. Be patient with yourself. You are doing a great job!
Conclusion
Family Bible study may be difficult to maintain but it is highly rewarding. Besides laying a strong Christian foundation for your kids, it brings your family closer and stronger through the transforming power of the Word. It is totally worth it. Don’t give up!
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