Raising Your Family In The Bible
I remember that when we had our first child, having a Christian home was what I really wanted. My parents sent me to Sunday School but they never went themselves so what to do was all new to me. But where do you start and how do you start? In Ephesians 6:4 we read that it is the father’s special responsibility to instruct the children in the way of the Lord through the word of the Lord. In other words, as parents we cannot hand this responsibility over to other people, though they can help us in it, but it is ours to make sure it happens.
Put the Bible at the centre of your home life – the Bible read and the Bible lived out.
It gives our children a different story from that of the world.
1. We need to Teach the Word - We know that in God’s Word we find out who God is and what he is like, the way he has chosen to make himself known. We see how he works in the lives of people, how he saves us and how we become his children. So we need to read the Bible as a family. Some of you will find they can do that most days but maybe you find reading it together once a week is the best option. Make going to a church which teaches the Bible, every Sunday a priority and as children get older encourage personal Bible reading as a habit.
2. Live the Word - We are saved by grace and receive the gift of forgiveness through the death and resurrection of Jesus and are able to repent by the power of the Holy Spirit. This makes Christian family life different. We can admit we’re not perfect, even as parents and say we’re sorry. Sometimes we do expect more from our children than we do from ourselves.
3. Apply the Word - to yourselves constantly, to children aptly. Are we ‘quick to listen and slow to speak.’ James 1:19. In 2 Timothy 3:16 Paul reminds Timothy to continue in what he has learned since childhood which are able to make him wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. But then he goes on to say that all Scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that we may thoroughly equipped for every good work. As parents we are to continue being shaped by God’s Word.
But the Bible is a big book, and all this could become routine and boring. Have you got any tips for putting it at the centre of home life successfully?
Over the years with our five children we tried different methods, often depending on the age they had reached. Some ideas worked better than others. Simply reading the scriptures at the dinner table worked well and sometimes led to discussions. We didn’t get to that stage till our eldest was at University. At that stage our youngest, the twins, were 8, and as well my father in law was living with us.
Prior to that, at one stage when we had our first two, we read a Bible story first thing in the morning in bed. Later it used to follow story time at night. Mind you, no matter when Bible reading and prayer was, that was often when the phone rang, someone had to go to the bathroom or an argument broke out!
Variety in teaching is the key. Be prepared to change and make sure there’s involvement. Here are some ideas:
Be realistic
Turn off the screens
Don’t let it become boring.
Remember the ages and age range of your children.
Have variety for interest’s sake - memory verses, read a Christian book, use different versions of kids’ Bibles
Try teaching Biblical truths through using a Catechism - ‘The New City Catechism’ by Tim and Kathy Keller has lots of ideas including songs.
Keep it short
Don’t give up – it’s OK to start again
Don’t be legalistic
Make it fun…mind you, it can’t always be.
Meet the Sunday School teachers – invite them for a meal.
Create habits - it is worth the time even in the busyness of life.
Encourage interacting in Bible time - questions sometimes by you, sometimes the children can ask the questions.
Does all this have any affect?
One of the things that has surprised me as a parent is how my children have remembered things which I thought had gone in one ear and out the other. Family prayers were often interrupted by those constant distractions, but God in kindness has used those times to help build a foundation for them in their adult lives which they are passing onto their children. Even those who caused us deep grief have remembered. I am so thankful for their Sunday School teachers, Youth group leaders, Christian studies at school and Scripture when they were young.
And I am thankful especially for my Sunday School teachers, Youth group leaders and teachers who taught me to know and apply God’s word. The Bible verses that are deep in my heart are those I learnt at Sunday School.
The other thing we need to do is to teach children how to pray and that prayer is normal and natural. I suggest that at the end of each session with the Bible story, you invite one or more of the children to speak to God. We chose a different topic for each day such as Church (including Sunday School), school, friends, Missionaries, godparents/god children (we prayed for our godchildren and they prayed for their godparents, neighbours and of course family.) We found that children do this naturally, although rarely at any length as long as they hear us doing it naturally.
If you would like some further TIPS, Sandy Galea’s website Kidswise is very helpful.
Christine Jensen has had many opportunities to encourage women in their love and knowledge of God as she served with her husband, Peter, at Moore College and in leadership in the Sydney Anglican Diocese. She enjoys teaching the Bible to women of all ages. She was a primary school teacher and then completed her ThL at Moore College. Her family, with 23 grandchildren at last count, gives her a wonderful opportunity to share her great love of children’s literature.