As parents, there are so many things vying for our time and attention. But one of the most important things we can do to train up our children in the way they should go is to foster a love for God’s Word in them. Here are 5 easy ways to get your kids excited about Scripture.
Play Scripture Set to Music
Most kids love music, so Bible verses set to music are a great way to make Scripture engaging and interactive. There are countless resources out there that put God’s Word to music, but some of our favorites include:
- Steve Green’s Bible songs (found on YouTube)
- Scripture Lullabies (found on Spotify, Pandora, YouTube, etc.)
- Bible Adventure series (found on YouTube or the YouVersion Bible app)
Playing Bible verse songs or Scripture memory music in the background throughout your day can help both you and your kids fall in love with the Bible. Additionally, music is catchy and memorable, so your child might even unintentionally memorize a verse or two!
Use Coloring Pages
If your child enjoys coloring, try using it as a tool to help them see how beautiful God’s Word is. You can print free coloring pages like these from Scripture Melodies, and as you color, read the verse and talk about what it means. The more your child interacts with the Word of God, the more they will grow in their love for it, and the more God can use it in their life.
Quote Scripture Regularly
It’s easy to underestimate just how much power the Bible can have in our children’s lives. But God’s Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12), so it should be one of the primary tools we use to encourage, exhort, and teach our children.
Using Bible verses to speak into what your child is going through is a great way to do this. For example, if they’ve been having nightmares, praying Scripture over them can help them process and let go of fear. If they’ve been unkind, disobedient, or disrespectful, you can use Scripture to show them how their choices oppose God’s character and guide them in repentance.
Make it Personal
Teaching younger children Bible verses and stories typically takes little to no effort because they are naturally curious and want to know everything you know. But it can be more difficult to get older children to memorize Scripture or read the Bible daily, so you may have to get creative. It’s important to make the process personal for them and encourage them to invest time in Bible reading and prayer independently.
One way to do this is by picking out some temporary verse tattoos to help you memorize Scripture together. You could also give them a special Bible and journal for their personal time with the Lord. This allows them to take ownership of the Word of God and explore it for themselves instead of forcing it on them.
Demonstrate Your Own Love for God’s Word
If your kids don’t see you engaging with Scripture or if church and devotions seem like boxes you check, you may notice that attitude starting to rub off on them. But, the opposite is also true: if your kids see you’re excited about devotions or eager to spend time with the Lord each day, your excitement can be contagious and may spark a hunger in them for God’s Word.
So don’t hide your love for the Word; instead, model this for your kids. Have your devotions in a common area like the living room or at the dining room table. Play an audio Bible while you do the dishes or fold the laundry. You may not be able to concentrate as well as you could in a quiet room all by yourself with a cup of coffee, but you never know how God will use your example of spending time with His Word in your child’s heart.