Read the Bible with Children
CATHEDRAL NEWSLETTER - 15/8/2024
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash
CATHEDRAL NEWSLETTER 15/8/24
Friends in Christ, recently Karyn and I were talking with a young couple about reading the Bible to children. What was their experience when they were children? What was it like for us with our kids at different ages and stages?
Some parents read the Bible and/or pray with kids all at the breakfast or dinner table. Some did it before bed, individually with each child in their room. Some just prayed. Some were worried about being asked tricky questions by the kids! Some never had it modelled to them as children, in an era when some Christian parents didn't talk much about the faith even in the privacy of the home, because they were told it wasn't done to bring religion up in public.
At least back then, many people knew the basic Bible stories, even if they didn't always know their meaning or how they pointed to the gospel of Jesus.
Now in a post-Christian society, even many who become Christians no longer know basic Bible stories. Certainly kids in Christian Scripture classes have sometimes not even heard of Noah's ark. And they get terribly surprised when told that Jesus died in the lesson before Easter! At least, there is the immediate comfort of Jesus' resurrection to share with these surprised kids!
Here are 5 good reasons to read the Bible to your children or grandchildren (or your neices and nephews or god-children, if you have them, and the parents are willing).
1. Any reading aloud with children assists them in their general literacy and reading abilities. We need more reading with children and less screen time.
2. Reading Bible story books aloud with them, and then a child-friendly Bible translation itself, acquaints them with great literature.
3. Reading the Bible helps them discover the great stories and turning points of God's dealings with humans.
Some Bible story books we recommend (for roughly youngest to oldest ages) include the Rhyme Bible, the Big Picture Bible, the Jesus Storybook Bible, the Biggest Story Bible Storybook (with videos).
And the Bible translations we recommend for family Bible reading, or for children to read on their own, with vocab and sentence structure appropriate to young ages are the CEV and the NIRV. You can find these at Christian booksellers like Koorong (West Ryde, Penrith or online), Reformers (Stanmore or online) or the Wandering Bookseller (Katoomba or online).
4. If you don't know your own way around the adult Bible, because it was not part of your background, reading a children's Bible story book is the quickest way to learn that Noah comes before Abraham and Sarah, and they come before Jacob and Joseph, and they come before Ruth and Hannah and Samuel, and they come before King David and Goliath, and they come before Isaiah and Jonah (and his whale or large fish). And all these come before the New Testament with Jesus, and his mother Mary, and his followers like Peter and Andrew, and James and John, and Mary (there is definitely more than one!), and Paul.
5. Lastly and most importantly, the Bible itself gives ample testimony that even little children can come to believe truly in Jesus. In the chapter we have read a lot in our recent mini-series on conflict and relationships, Matthew 18, Jesus says even "little ones" can "believe in me" (v5), and we must "become like little children" to "enter the kingdom of heaven" (v3).
And I am so encouraged by what Paul reminds Timothy of: the power of a mother and a grandmother, who taught him the Scriptures from infancy!
I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also...
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. [2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14-15]
Of course, many of us never had children in our lives to read to. But all of us would also benefit from reading the Bible, humbly like little children, with our adult minds engaged!
But maybe you are worried about understanding or interpreting what you read correctly. Here is a simply system based on what I knew as the ‘Scripture Union method’.
A System for Bible Reading and Study
1. PRAY for God’s help in understanding his Word.
2. READ IT THROUGH. Read carefully through the passage and decide what it is about.
3. THINK IT OVER and look for answers to the following questions:
a) What does this passage teach about God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit), about his character and plan of salvation?
b) What does this passage teach about my Christian life? (Remember that not every biblical command, promise or example will apply directly to you.) - Is there a command, a promise, a warning for me? - Is there an example for me to follow, or an error to avoid?
c) What is the main lesson?
d) How does it apply in my life now?
4. WRITE IT DOWN.
5. (Optional) Read your study Bible or commentary notes.
6. PRAY IT IN. Pray using the thoughts you have gained from reading.
7. LIVE IT OUT
If you would like, I will give you a laminated bookmark with these 7 steps written on it as a reminder. All you need to do is to be able to pick it up from me in person after church one Sunday soon. In that case, please email the office and make your request! Beyond that, I recommend these resources:
Dig Deeper: Tools to unearth the Bible's treasure (Sach and Benyon)
How to Read the Bible Better (Richard Chin)
New Bible Commentary, or a good study Bible like NIV Study Bible or ESV Study Bible (but only refer to these when you are at step 5, or if doing more detailed study.
But for daily reading, a good regular Bible (NIV, ESV, CSB, of sufficient font size) with cross references is what you need! Use the cross references before you use your study Bible notes. All these could be sourced through the Christian booksellers I mentioned above.
And would you consider bringing your physical Bible to church?
Why? You become familiar with your own Bible layout. You can see context and cross references beyond the reading printed in the order of service. And we do not have enough church Bibles in the Cathedral pews for everyone. (Bonus: if you carry your Bible on public transport or while you get food before or after church, you may get an evangelistic opportunity from a curious person nearby!)
Warmly in Christ,
Sandy Grant
Dean of Sydney