Making Scripture Accessible
For one brief, glorious, and very unsettled year my wife and I homeschooled our children, starting when they were 8, 9, 10, and 11. Like many who launch into this adventure, we were largely unprepared, had trouble finding good curriculum, and had varying levels of cooperation from our kids. Some may enjoy days of wine and roses, but we experienced weeping and gnashing of teeth daily. That is, my wife and I did. The kids were fine.
The beautiful thing about homeschooling is that a parent need not feel boxed into a set curriculum. My wife read stories to the kids and I taught archery and snow football along with the traditional subjects. Although challenging at times, that year was a huge blessing for all of us. As their teacher for several hours each day, my daughters and I were able to bond over lessons, outdoor activities, and, most of all, Bible class.
Without question, our favorite time each day was when we read and discussed God’s word. I didn’t really know what I was doing when I started, so we just…started. Mark was our book of choice because he used a straightforward writing style and focuses on Jesus’ actions. There is a lot of tangible, concrete Gospel in this book, which is easier for kids to understand and explore.
The format was simple. We would read a passage—that is, a complete story or section—and I would give the kids some time to formulate both questions and impressions. Then, we simply shared what stood out to us from the reading. When given an appropriate time and space to work through the text, many kids will really begin to grab hold of and understand the messages conveyed in the Bible. I didn’t try to tell them what to think, but invited them to share what they thought on their own. It was evident that this method was helping them to internalize what they were studying. As a teacher, I could easily correct wrong understandings, answer any confusing points, and ask pointed questions to lead them deeper into the text.
Another wonderful aspect of this relaxed and open way of reading the Bible was that we could afford the time to get sidetracked on a particular point. Often we only read a few verses and ended up discussing a tangential detail that opened the kids up to a much wider view of the totality and coherence of Scripture.
Since our homeschool days ended, it’s been harder to fit Bible study into our schedule. I suspect the same is true of many families. Yet, don’t let lack of good materials or personal confidence issues get in the way of a simple exploration of God’s Word. Our kids aren’t looking for a theology lesson. They are craving a relational discipleship that makes the Bible come alive through loving attention. All of us can offer that.
Legacy Giving: A Bible of their own
One of the best gifts we have ever given to our children is a Bible of their own. For our eldest, we chose a Bible we believed she would enjoy. Although we chose well, after that, we allowed each child to choose a Bible that suited their own personality. These gifts usually came as a birthday gift at a certain age, but there is no right way to do this. The only requirement we made was that each Bible followed the same translation so we could more easily study together.
Questions for reflection:
1. Have you ever studied the Bible with your children? If not, what prevents you from doing so?
2. Think of your family’s weekly schedule. Could you fit 30 minutes of Bible reading in somewhere, perhaps before or after an evening meal? If you can’t, what does this indicate to you about your family priorities?