GET YOUR CHILDREN INVOLVED, No. 663
GET YOUR CHILDREN INVOLVED
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart,
that I might not sin against thee”
(Psalm 119:11).
Do your children look bored or disinterested as your husband reads the Scriptures to them? Here is something that my husband often does when he’s reading the Bible at family devotions. As he’s reading the Scriptures, he’ll stop and ask the children or whoever is in our home a question. He’ll say, “Do you know what this Scripture is talking about?”
For example, Philippians 4:8. You all know this is the Scripture where it tells us the things that we should think upon. If he was reading this Scripture, he might say something like this: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are . . . Who can tell me what the first one is?” Now, they most probably don’t remember, so he’ll give them a clue. He’ll tell them the letter. “It starts with T, children. Who can guess?” The children love guessing and they’ll all put up their hands.
Of course, you don’t let them all scream out. You make sure they put up their hands and wait to be asked. “OK, Bobbie, what do you think it is?” Maybe he says, “Tenderness!”
“No, that’s not the one. Who can think of another one?”
Someone says, “Truthfulness!” “That’s right. ‘Whatsoever things are true.’ That’s the first one. Who can remember the next one? It starts with H.”
One of the children guesses, “Humble!” “That’s a good one, but it’s not the one for this verse.” Maybe someone else says, “Happy!” “Well, that’s a good one, too, but that’s not the one.” Then someone will eventually get it. “It’s honest!” “Whatsoever things are honest.”
We keep going through the Scripture, giving the first letter of the word so they can guess what it will be. As they do, the children become more familiar with the things that God wants them to think about. And they are having fun. The best way to learn is when you’re having fun—and asking questions. The New Testament records Jesus asking over 300 questions during his ministry! And there could have been loads more that weren’t recorded. And when God spoke to Job at the end of his trial, do you know how many questions He asked Job? Yes, it was 77 questions!
Let’s take another example. Maybe he’s reading in Titus 2:10-12: “For the grace of God which bringeth salvation has appeared to all men. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live . . . “Children, do you how God wants us to live? The Bible tells us three ways. The first one starts with S. Who knows what it is? Put your hand up if you think you know.”
They will all want a turn. “Does it mean sweetly?” “Oh, that’s a good answer, but no.”
“Ok, Johnny, what do you think?” “Selflessly!” “Oh, that’s another good answer, but no.”
Then someone hopefully will be able to guess. The word is “soberly.” Then you’ll have to tell them what it means, because it means more than just not getting drunk. “Soberly” in the Bible means “to understand what is right and to live with self-control.”
“The next one is R.” So they keep guessing until they get “righteously.” “The next one is G.” “Godly.” Rather than just reading them, “We should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world,” they may not ever remember the words. But when you give them a little competition to guess the words, they will remember them far more.
When they get the right word, get all the children to say it out loud together. Then when they have guessed all the words, get everyone in the family to say them all: “We should live SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, and GODLY in this present world.” This helps them to really get to know the Scriptures and to get it into their hearts.
This is only one little idea, but you will think of others too to keep your children engaged and listening. It’s very easy for our children, and even ourselves, to get into a dream as the Scriptures are being read. Keeping them attentive with questions really helps amazingly.
Be blessed by Nancy Campbell
PRAYER:
“Dear Father, thank you for Your living Word which is alive and active and will never pass away. Your Word will live on into eternity. Please help us as parents to make Your Word alive to our children so they will realize that it is no ordinary book we read to them but the Word of God which sharper than a two-edged sword. Amen.”
AFFIRMATION:
“I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation” (Psalm 119:99).
P.S. For our Family Devotions each morning and evening we often read through a book, a chapter each time. But more frequently we use THE DAILY LIGHT ON THE DAILY PATH which lists Scriptures for the morning and the evening for every day of the year. The Scriptures are on a certain theme taken from both the Old and the New Testament. We love reading this book.
This book was published about 150 years ago to help families have confidence in knowing where to read to their families. The Scriptures were compiled with great prayer and anointing and there for you for every day. All you have to do is turn to the correct date. In this new copy of this devotional, I have included a new idea at the beginning of every month to help keep your children on their toes and alert and fresh as they listen to you read the Scriptures. You will find this so helpful.
To order, go to: http://tinyurl.com/CreativeIdeasToReadBible
