Teaching Kids About The Bible

"Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them." Deut 4:9

As Christian parents our greatest responsibility is to help our children get to know and love the God who created them. I love God and I love my kids and I hate to admit it, but I sometimes struggle in my quest to get the two together. 

This wasn't a problem when they were small because they were a captive audience (so to speak). I could read to them, teach Bible verses, pray with them and watch endless Veggie Tales videos. 

This year when I began homeschooling, we started each day by reading the Bible together, and it was ok. They understood it well enough and we had some good discussions, but then I heard an interview with Phil Vischer, the creator of Veggie Tales, talking about his new video series. Phil explained that with Veggie Tales, he was teaching kids how to behave like Christians, but they didn't know about Christianity or the history of our faith. 

His new series, Buck Denver Asks... What's In The Bible?, teaches the entire Old Testament in a funny and engaging way.

I'm not joking. As soon as I heard that interview, I snapped up the entire 9 DVD set, and I'm not ashamed to admit that my kids and I are learning and laughing every morning with puppets.

I've been reading the Bible every day for the past ten years and even I'm learning things I never knew.

I feel good giving them something they can relate to and I know God's getting in there and doing His work in them. 

What a relief! 

Of course, it's just a jumping off point, but it's sparking discussion and reigniting their interest in building a relationship with Him.

Thank you God for creating Phil Vischer:)

 

Teaching Kids To See God at Work

Today in my Greek study these words hit me with full force:

"You have to crawl before walking."

The author was talking about the tedious study of grammar, but it applies to how I'm teaching my kids to know God. Before we can trust someone, we have to know them. We have to know they're trustworthy. But how do you reinforce this with adolescents and teenagers who question everything they've previously been taught?

I think the answer lies in the basics. I'm teaching them in the same way I learned to trust him when I was a new believer 15 years ago - through the practice of prayer.

For over a year, I sat in my first life group and listened to people pray and then thank him for the answers - whether good or bad. Before I could read the Bible for more than a minute or two, I learned by hearing and writing the prayers and praises of others.

In my home, I use a simple prayer board like this...

When we hear a prayer need, we write it down on old scrapbooking scraps and then write the answered prayer on the backs when the time comes. I keep the answered prayers in a box so we can look back and be amazed at what God has done.

I'd love to hear how you teach your kids to know him better!