4 Steps to Making Family Bible Study a Reality in Your Home
Brace yourself.
Because I am going to say three words that immediately cause the majority of us to feel inadequate and guilty, if not defeated: (Are you ready for them?)
FAMILY BIBLE STUDY
For many Christians, the words “family Bible study” produce feelings of guilt, frustration, inadequacy, and mild panic. We know how important it is to teach our children God’s Word, but we feel paralyzed by our lack of knowledge, lack of time, or sheer exhaustion.
If you feel this way, you are not alone. I don’t know of any Christian parent who has gotten to the point of saying, “Wow. I am doing an AMAZING job of teaching my children God’s Word. Every night we read through four chapters of the Bible followed by heart-felt prayer, an altar call, and the Doxology (sung in four part harmony).” (And if you are saying that right now, please help the rest of us out!)
None of us have “arrived” in the area of family Bible study.
But all of us can take some small steps towards improving this area of our family life.
Today is a New Day
Maybe family Bible study has become a chore for you. Maybe it has slipped out of your family’s schedule altogether. Maybe it has never actually been a part of your family’s schedule. That’s OK, because today is a new day.
You can step out in faith today as you seek to make family Bible study a reality in your home.
4 Steps to Make Family Bible Study a Reality In Your Home
Step 1: Pray About It
Ask God to give you the strength, wisdom, and determination that you will need to make family Bible study a priority. Ask God for wisdom and grace to know which areas of your life need to be trimmed in order to make time for Bible study. Then, ask God to open your spouse’s heart to desire family Bible study time, as well.
Step 2: Start Small
Family Bible study doesn’t have to be complicated or long. Intentionally set aside ten to fifteen minutes each day to study the Bible with your family. Don’t know where to start? Try reading one Psalm, a couple of verses from the book of Proverbs, or one chapter from the Gospel of John each day. Discuss what you have read with your family.
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Step 3: Make it Age Appropriate and Engaging
It may not be most beneficial to read three chapters out of the book of Leviticus to your hyperactive three-year-old. Conversely, don’t insult your teen’s intelligence by trying to take him through a devotional that was clearly written for younger children.
Find resources that are age appropriate and engaging for your children. If your child is artistic, find a Bible study that focuses more on drawing. If your teen is struggling with doubts about her faith, find a good apologetics book written for teens. The Bible is written for your child. Help them to discover that through engaging Bible studies.
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Step 4: Approach the Bible as the Living Word of God
Do you ever wonder at the fact that the all-powerful, all-knowing God Who created the heavens and the earth took the time to communicate with you and your family through His precious Word? Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with awe and amazement at this wonderful fact.
What Step Will You Take This Week?
We know that faithfully teaching our children God’s Word is our highest calling as Christian parents. Often we get busy, distracted, overwhelmed, and just plain tired. But that doesn’t mean that we have to be defeated in this area of life. Instead, we can intentionally take that first little step, then the next, then the next, as we faithfully show our family what it looks like to walk with God.
What step are you going to take today to improve your family Bible study time? Will you make it a matter of prayer? Do you need to find a better family devotional? Do you need to just set aside those ten minutes and make it happen?
Author Bio: Anna Joy is a Christian mom and blogger passionate about helping families discover that family Bible study is not only doable, but enjoyable! She blogs about creative Bible study and writes Bible studies for families and churches at Path Through the Narrow Gate
Great ideas! We try as a family to read the Word every night as a family. It doesn’t always happen but is always a sweet time when it does. Our kids are older, both teenagers now, and this time has become all the more special and I’m grateful we started when they were younger. If I could change one thing, it would be to have been (and be) more consistent and add a family study. Will use your ideas and get one started! We homeschool and do Bible study through the day as part of “school” but you’ve reminded me to be more intentional at night as a family, when dad is home, to study as a family. Thank you 🙂
I love hearing what a special time it was for your family while they were younger. Good job, mama!
I think for us it is more about time, our kids do Bible in our homeschool so I feel a little less guilty knowing that they are getting that time. We used to do it before bed and that makes it a special time knowing that they get to stay up to listen to a Bible story! Thanks for the inspiration this morning 🙂 Popping in from Inspired BN 🙂 Love your blog!
I can see how that would be easy to let yourself slide. Give yourself grace and just start where you’re at! 🙂
Yes, I felt like a failure. I initiated nightly Bible time with the kiddos several years ago. It lasted until life got busy. I gave up on it every happening again.
You have encouraged me to try and try again.
I understand! We are currently out of routine of Bible study with the kids and I am giving myself grace and starting again!
I am going to make more effort to read our son’s children’s bible to him. We talk a lot about Jesus and focus on prayer, but starting to teach him more stories from the bible would definitely be a good step!
I am focusing on that, too! It’s never too early or late to start!
in my house we didn’t have a Bible study growing up (didn’t know the Lord back then….)
You are not alone, Andi! All you can do is move forward and embrace your relationship with Him as you have one today!
Well done, I really appreciate this although I don’t have kids yet. It’s hard enough for my husband and I to get into a routine and I know we’re going to have to conquer this if we want to be consistent with our kids.
Good point about starting with your marriage, first. As a couple this is something we need to improve on. Thanks for the suggestion!
Love the grace in this post!
We go through seasons of life where we are more regular than others, but we do try to make family Bible study a priority. We listen to The Word of Promise audio Bible together as we follow along in our Bibles. We will then have a discussion and a time of family prayer. We usually cover 2 chapters of the New Testament.
In order to keep with the habit, we do it immediately after dinner (even before dishes!). We have found that if we try to do it right before bed, we are less consistent as other things inevitably come up. Grabbing our Bibles and heading to the couch as soon as we finish eating has worked well for us. The key is for each family to find what works best for them.
Thanks for the post. Blessings to all!
I am passionate about family devotions. They are well worth the time and the frustrations…you have given some great suggestions! Thanks!!