Watch the video above and talk about it with a group or mentor. Learn more.
As a parent it is your responsibility to help your kids to know God and understand how to pursue him. One of the greatest ways to do this is by starting a family devotional with your kids. Here are some tips on how to do that.
Use Kid-Friendly Bibles
Your kids aren’t going to understand the language used in adult Bibles, so get them a kid-friendly Bible. This is one of the simplest ways to start a devotional with your kids. Read a story from their Bible, talk about it for a minute, and finish by praying with your kids. This will help them gain an understanding of what’s in the Bible and how it relates to their lives.
Use PursueGOD.org’s Free Resources
Go through a series at pursueGOD.org and pursueGODkids.org. This is another way to help your kids to apply God’s truth to their lives. Watch the video as a family, talk, and make sure your kids understand the video. Go over the memory verse and then ask question that will help your kids apply the lesson to their lives.
It Won’t Always Be Easy, but It’s Necessary
In ancient Israel, God commanded the Israelites to train up their children to know and honor him.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7 And you must love the lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.
Proverbs 22:6 Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
This isn’t always going to be easy. There will be times when your kids are fighting or just don’t want to participate. This can make family devotional time seem like a chore, but it is amazing watching your kids begin their own pursuit of God as they learn the about God themselves. Don’t give up!
- Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- Read Proverbs 22:6. Why are family devotionals important? Explain.
- What is a difficult part of starting a family devotion with little kids in particular?
- What role should parents play in the spiritual development of their children? Explain.
- What other tips do you have for a parent who is trying to start their own family devotional?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
