I hear from other dads all the time:
“What are you doing to teach your kids the Bible?”
Men know they are “supposed” to be sharing Scripture with their kids. They believe it’s important. They understand that it needs some effort.
Yet many men struggle with the “how,” if not the “why.”
In the famous Hebrew biblical declaration known as the Shema, the call and command of Scripture comes directly to parents (and, given the historical context, directly to the men, who would have been the only ones to study the Torah and receive its instruction in the synagogue at that time):
“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.” (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, emphasis added)
Of course, moms are also called to this, but men who spiritually lead their homes should be instrumental in pointing their kids toward Jesus through His Word (Ephesians 6:4). The things of God should be regularly discussed, “impressed” upon our kids, and reminded of throughout our homes.
In my many years as a pastor, I became convinced that many men hold back from this, not from a lack of care but from a lack of clarity on how to make this happen.
Men who spiritually lead their homes should be instrumental in pointing their kids toward Jesus through His Word (Ephesians 6:4).
What follows are some simple tips for teaching your kids the Bible:
1. Find a routine that works.
As with any other good habit, a Bible habit must be formed. It takes intentionality, and more than that, it takes repetition before the habit becomes ingrained. I did Bible time with my kids every evening when they were young. As they got older and childhood activities began to fill the calendar, I started taking time in the morning before the day’s busyness took over.
The particulars of the routine don’t matter as long as it works for your family, is meaningful, and can be repeated consistently.
2. Find a method that connects.
When my kids were little, we read age-appropriate picture Bibles. As they matured, so did the Bible version we used. At their current Junior High age, we take turns reading our Bibles together and watching The Bible Project videos on YouTube – a great collection of cool animated teachings on Scripture that my kids love.
Typically, I keep it all very simple: we read some Scripture, and I ask, “What does this teach us about God?” We briefly discuss, and I ask them if they have any questions. If I don’t have a good answer to a question, I tell them I will get back to them the next day and then spend some time Bible searching, Googling, and/or talking with a Christian friend. I close by praying for them (as they’ve gotten older, they too take a turn praying now).
You certainly don’t have to follow this as a formula; you do need to find a way of connecting your kids to Scripture that they like and can receive.
3. Find a church family that helps.
Many men are quite happy to let the Church do all the heavy lifting when it comes to teaching their kids the Bible, but the verses above make clear that a father should be taking the lead on this one. Delegating all Bible discussion to professional pastors and volunteer leaders is to lay aside one of a father’s God-given responsibilities.
That said, a healthy support system at Church is undoubtedly a wonderful addition. Our pastors are often more knowledgeable than we are on biblical matters, and strong volunteer leaders can sometimes catch our kids’ attention in a fresh way that we couldn’t.
Connecting with a great Church is a wonderful blessing for your kids; just don’t let the Church be the entirety of their spiritual lives.
4. Find times beyond “formal” Bible time.
Time spent in the Scripture is crucial, but obviously, most of the day is spent outside formal Bible devotional time.
That said, many daily opportunities exist to discuss what the Bible teaches and apply it to real life. When your kids have had a tough day at school, are nervous about an upcoming test, or are angry because they’ve fought with a friend—moments like these are perfect “teaching moments” to connect what we are learning from the Bible with what we go through every day.
In my home, we do our “formal” Bible time in the morning. Then, I ask God to show me other moments throughout the day when I might be able to react and reinforce what we are learning to make the Bible “come alive” in my kids’ real-life circumstances.
That way, the Bible isn’t just theory—it’s a living Word that speaks to them directly in their lives.
5. Remember what’s being “caught,” not “taught.”
I can teach my kids what the Bible says about integrity all I want, but if they catch me lying, they will find it hard to take the teaching seriously.
As the old saying goes, “Much of what is learned is ‘caught,’ not ‘taught.’” Teaching is crucial, but how you live your life is also being watched closely, and your choices impart profound lessons.
That means I take seriously the commands of Scripture, and also take seriously what I model for my kids every day. Goodness knows I fall short of where I’d like to be, but that doesn’t hold me back from daily endeavoring to live my faith out loud in my words, deeds, and interactions with others.
***
When dads carve out regular time to make Scripture a priority, and find ways to connect God’s Word to their kids, and when they are in community with a healthy Bible-teaching church for support, and when they find “teaching moments” throughout the day to make the Bible real, and when they set the example of what it means to be a Christ-follower who takes Scripture seriously—then these dads are doing their jobs, obeying the Scripture, and pointing their kids in the right direction.
These dads are fulfilling their God-given call to share the Word with their children, and are faithful fathers who are doing it well.
About
