SHARING FOR PARENTS:
* Reading and sharing the Bible with your kids is important. By that I mean not only reading, but also sharing your thoughts and feelings about what you read. As you read a story, ask, “What is God saying to us? What can we learn from this story?” Remember the Bible is a living book. It is God’s voice talking to us.
* Act out the story with your kids. Put yourself in the story. What did the people in the story feel like? What was the weather like – wind blowing, cold, hot? What were they hearing, seeing or tasting?
* Pray with your child and talk about ways to do what the Bible says. How can we love God and others? How can your preschooler give and share? What are some practical ways to put these things into action.
* Memorize a verse together – complete with exuberant motions.
SHARING FOR TEACHERS:
* Keep a Children’s Bible in your classroom preferably one with lots of pictures for the kids to look at on their own.
* Encourage the kids to tell about their favorite Bible story. Act out different Bible stories. Make it come alive – how did the people in the story feel? What was it like when Jesus talked to the people by the sea? What did the bread and fish taste like when Jesus fed 5000? If you were in the story, who would you be and why?
* Remember the Bible is God’s active, living Word. It is a book that speaks to us no matter our age or the circumstances we are going through. It’s more than just a book to read and enjoy. Talk about simple ways that the Bible has helped you in your life. Tell your faith stories.
Recently I blogged about reading God’s Word, the Bible, so how is sharing the Bible any different from reading it? It really isn’t much different, but I think sharing the Bible, takes it one step further. Sharing begins when we meditate on what we read, making it a part of who we are and what we do and then we share by helping others to see the good things that we have found in the Bible.
The Bible is not just a book. It is the living, breathing word of God. What that means to me is that God speaks to me personally through what He says in the Bible. It’s a conversation. He knows me intimately and as I pray and read His Word, He shows me answers to what I am praying about, encourages my heart and assures me that I am deeply loved by Him. In the pages of God’s Word, I find wisdom for every problem and every circumstance I encounter. Money problems? The Bible says a lot about money. Relationship problems? God says a lot about relationships in His Word too. Work, time, love, sharing, purpose – it’s all there. So how can we share what the Bible says with our kids?One way is to let them know how God speaks to us. Share your stories – age-appropriate of course. Talk to your kids about verses or stories that have meant something to you. Let them know which stories are your favorites and why.
Sharing the Bible may begin with reading together, but it can also be shared as we talk about stories and principles from God’s Word. EX: When you see a rainbow, talk about God’s promises and about how God took care of Noah in the midst of the worst storm ever.
Sharing the Bible is fun! It’s okay to get a little wild and crazy by acting out the stories with your kids or incorporate a game into your Bible reading. Of course, prayer is important as you read and share. Those prayers can be sparked in response to a concern that your child has, something that you have read in the Bible or something that you are thankful for. You can also ask God to help you and your child understand and apply His Word to your life.
God loves you immensely and desires to speak to you as you read and share His Word. Listen carefully because He wants you to know that He has a plan for you and your child. You are wonderfully made and you are greatly loved.
PS – You can also share by getting creative. When my daughter was a preschooler she used to wake up with night terrors and nothing seemed to soothe her – at least nothing I said. So this frustrated, concerned, sleep deprived mom prayed about what in the world I should do. God led me to a verse – Psalm 56 :3 “What time I am afraid, I will trust in you.” KJV I started singing that verse to her when she would wake up afraid and it helped. (I used the KJV version because I liked the way it sounded when we sang it.) Sharing God’s Word is simply living it out in your life by allowing it to be a part of all you do throughout the day.
PRAYER:
God,
I know your Word is important. I know that you speak to me personally through your Word. It is your voice guiding me, showing me how to love you and love others. It is your voice calling me by name and telling me that I am your child. I want the kids in my life to understand and listen for your voice through your Word too. Give me opportunities to share what you have shown me in your Word. Give me opportunities to help kids learn to listen to your voice and grow in their relationship with you. I commit my kids to you. Amen
A STORY TO SHARE WITH THE KIDS IN YOUR LIFE:
Jesus Is A Good Teacher – Matthew 5:1, 14-16, 43-45, 6:26-33
Watch the Bible Ap for Kids video, “The King & The Kingdom” on your phone. It’s a free ap.
One time a large crowd of people came to see Jesus. Jesus wanted to teach the people. He wanted them to know that God loved them. (Give yourself a hug) He wanted them to know how to live for God. So He climbed (Pretend to climb) up the side of the mountain and sat (Sit down) down to teach the people.
Can you guess what Jesus told the people that day? He said that we should love everyone. (Give yourself a hug) and that we should pray (Fold hands) for people, even when someone hurts us. It’s not easy to pray for someone who takes a toy away from you or calls you a name, but Jesus can help you. Jesus said that God loves everyone (Give yourself a hug) and gives sunshine (Make a big round sun with your arms) to everyone.
Jesus said, “Do not worry because God will take care of you just like He takes care of the birds” (Make a bird with your hands and wave hands to make it flutter)“and the flowers.” (Pretend to smell a flower) “God knows what you need and He will take care of you.”
Jesus is a good friend and a good teacher. He wants to be your friend forever and help you learn about God. He wants you to learn to love God with all your heart and love people too.
PRAYER:
Dear Jesus,
I want you to be my forever friend. Help me to listen and learn about you from God’s Word, the Bible. I want to learn to love God and love others. Thank you for loving me. Amen.
KNOW: The Bible tells me about God and Jesus.
TALK ABOUT: Learning from Jesus.
ASK: Who wants to be your forever friend? Jesus wants to be my forever friend.
AND DO: Love God and love others.
MEMORIZE: PS. 119:105 NIRV – (Hold hands open as though holding a book.)
Your Word is like a lamp – (Clap hands.)
That shows me the way. – (Walk in place.)
Take a flashlight walk with your child as you say the verse together. ASK: How is God’s Word like a lamp? What does a lamp or a flashlight do? (Helps us see in the dark so we don’t get lost or trip and fall over something. Helps us see things more clearly.) How can the God’s Word/the Bible show us the way? (Helps us know what to do. Reminds us of how much God loves us …)
FUN IDEAS FOR THIS WEEK
* Try something new with your child. Talk about learning new things. How can we learn about God?
* What are some of the things that Jesus said in our story? Ask your child what he/she thinks Jesus says in the Bible or what Jesus would do in various situations? EX: Would Jesus share his crayons at preschool? Would He always be the first in line?
* Last thought – Be creative! We share so many, many things any more – on social media and beyond. We share pictures, birthdays, thoughts, complaints and announcements. Why not make sharing God’s Word a priority?
