Engaging Kids Who Think The Bible is Boring
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Growing up in a Christian household, my mother used to have me journal down my daily Bible reading as an 8 year old. I had to read the Bible and write down a prayer each day–and I hated it. I dragged my feet with “reading the Bible” and some weeks I would wait until the last day to fill in journal entries for every day–all in one sitting.
For many children, listening to their parents read from illustrated Children’s Bibles is an enjoyable family activity. But once they get older and transition into full-text Bibles, there is a decline in Bible reading because many complain that it’s too boring or too difficult to understand.
Bible reading can have its challenges, for children and adults. It’s an ancient piece of writing that draws parables that are not necessarily relevant in the modern world. It is culturally and historically specific, which can be hard for today’s child to understand. For me, reading my Bible felt difficult and dry and had become a chore instead of a life-giving ritual. My mother had good intentions of keeping me accountable, but my motivation for her tactics were just to maintain my status as an obedient child and not get in trouble. As a mom, my kids are still at the age where my husband and I read to them everyday. As a child, I was lost and disengaged when reading the Bible and I don’t want to make the same mistake with my children. Because Bible reading shouldn't feel like a chore…it should be life-giving.
As Christian parents, our hope is for our children to have a relationship with the Lord and be able to grow from reading the Bible. A lot of that begins with understanding the bigger picture of the gospel message and why we have the Bible. We must hold onto God’s truth that we are not alone in this parenting journey of discipling out children. I truly believe that if we faithfully steward a love for reading the Bible with our children, God will come alongside us to help cultivate a habit and love of being in His Word.
I want my children to develop a love for reading God’s Word and genuinely want to know who God is. So how do we tackle these challenges that children face? Below are some insightful tips I’ve gathered on engaging children in reading the Bible that I plan on implementing in my own home. These tips are perfect for school aged children up to early teens. Let’s take a look!
Understanding the big picture
Two major setbacks that children (and even adults) encounter when reading the Bible is: 1) it’s too difficult, and 2) it’s unrelatable. A combination of these two can make some feel bored when reading scripture. This is why it’s important to paint the bigger picture of God’s word to children so they understand the reason we read the Bible.
Break down key elements of the Bible:
What is the Bible?
Why do we read the Bible?
What’s the purpose of the Bible?
Provide historical context!
How many adults actually understand the historical context of Ancient Jewish society and the Roman/Greek world? If you’re feeling confused as an adult, imagine how your child feels. Taking the time to learn historical context and teaching our children the same will bring a lot of clarity and understanding to God’s word. It can also open up doors of curiosity and learning about history and other cultures.
God’s Word is truth and it is living and active to this day. We use His Word to navigate our lives in modern society, even though it was written in ancient times. God shows us our purpose and His purpose in the Bible. These are big truths, but palpable for children to digest.
Find relevant ways to invite kids in
Sometimes it may feel intimidating to find the right approach with your children. They have different interests and some don’t prefer reading altogether. This is where intentionality comes in. Invite your child to enter this journey with you in learning from God’s word. Sitting down and reading may sound boring to some, so change the perspective for your child and invite them to learn from the Bible in ways that are appealing to them.
Some parents may feel out of ideas to make Bible reading more fun or creative. If you’re feeling stumped, author Katie Morgan has some tips for engaging children when it comes to reading the Bible.
1. Pick your story. The Bible is big and varied. You probably won’t read every bit of it with your kids. Don't be ashamed to choose juicy bits—the stories that are the most novel-ish. Try Ruth, Joseph, or the longer scenes in the Gospels (e.g., John 4, 9, or 11).
2. Hook them in. Modern novels always have a “hook”—one simple thing that makes the story sound attractive to potential readers. It might be unicorns, sword fights, or romance. How would you pitch a Bible story to your kids? How does it connect with them? It could be interest-based or more about something they're currently going through. 1 Samuel 13 has some great weapon-related drama, or read Nehemiah if your child likes construction projects. Or pick a psalm to comfort a child who’s worried or afraid.
3. Take the characters seriously. Sometimes, I think we decide who the heroes and villains of the Bible are too soon. These were real people, as complex as you or me. Try pausing whenever a character has to make a decision of some kind (even if that's just what to say next). What might they do? Why might they do it? This helps us to appreciate the characters as individuals with genuine choices. It brings the story to life and challenges us about our own decisions and responses. Try this with Saul in 1 Samuel 9–24.
4. Play with perspectives. Seeing what’s happening from the point of view of different characters can alter or challenge our interpretation of events. If you have multiple kids, try giving each person a character to keep their eye on as you read. What do they notice? Try this with the healing of the blind man in John 9. The characters are Jesus, the disciples, the blind man, his parents, the Pharisees, and the neighbors; the narrator has his own voice too. Each perspective adds something.
5. Enjoy settings and places. Kids love being invited into a world, whether it's Narnia or Hogwarts or the Lego universe. They can love entering into the Bible's world too. Use maps or atlases to help them imagine the scenery. Notice where two Bible stories happen in the same place. Or plot the routes a particular character takes—like Jesus’ journey ever closer to Jerusalem or Paul’s route around the Mediterranean.
6. Spot description. Bible narratives tend to use adverbs (e.g., quickly, earnestly) and adjectives (e.g., mighty, little) pretty sparingly, but they are there. Encourage kids to look out for them. Invite them to visualize what each one means, or ask why the author chose to include them. Or get children to add their own—but they have to justify their additions based on the surrounding Bible text.
7. Give a sense of history. Fantasy or superhero series can involve a whole mythology working in the background. The Old Testament has a similar function in the New Testament. This could be off-putting if you feel like you’re constantly explaining background stories. But why not make the most of following the connections? Read a Gospel and gradually make a poster with “Jesus” written in the middle and arrows pointing off to other names and stories. Or use a pin board and red strings like in a detective movie.
8. Let the words sing. The Scriptures include some truly wondrous writing. Help your children enjoy it! I once read 1 Corinthians 13 with a group of 12-year-olds. Spontaneously, they began to repeat the phrases with great drama and gravity. They saw the beauty in them. Try encouraging kids to doodle or decorate beautiful phrases, or make up tunes to fit them to.
Break it down
Seminary students study the Bible for years, breaking down different elements and studying historical and cultural contexts. Children can struggle with understanding the complexity of the Bible. We can simplify things by identifying answers to basic questions, like: Which book of the Bible should I start with? How much do I read? What is the Bible saying? How does this apply to me?
The Purposeful Mom has a Bible reading plan that outlines a schedule for children to follow that goes book by book and includes devotional questions for each time they read. There are many Bibles or devotional books out there that have follow up questions and a check for comprehension at the end of the chapter or page. Reading the Bible is not a race, but a lifelong habit we want to instill, so do what you find works for your child.
As we work on instilling the practice of reading the Word with our children, it will get easier with time. I pray that these tips will be a blessing to your family!
You Might Also Like:
Old Testament Women In The Bible Every Child Should Know
Teaching Your Kids The Power Of Prayer
sources:
https://thepurposefulmom.com/how-to-get-your-child-excited-about-reading-the-bible.html
