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My husband, who doesn’t often read this blog, sometimes mocks me for writing about faith and discipleship in young families.
“Ha! You’re telling people how not to do it, right?”
And he’s absolutely spot-on: he and I really don’t have it sorted when it comes to our children’s discipleship. Yes, we’ve had nine years to get our act together, but still we struggle to know how to lead them in faith, make time for any kind of spiritual conversation, and help them understand the Bible.
And he a vicar, of all things.
Finding a way to help our oldest two (Mister, 9, and Missy, 7) engage regularly with the Bible is a particularly tricky area. Bedtime seems to be the natural time for us to do this, as mornings are too rushed. But because they still share a room, we need a Bible reading guide for kids which they’ll both be able to access.
When I was a kid I used a well-known children’s Bible reading magazine. I completed it daily, first with my Mum and later independently, and enjoyed the cartoons and puzzles.
It was always my intention that my own kids would follow suit. Yet, although Mister enjoyed the look of these notes, actually getting round to doing them was another matter. Not all kids like wordsearches and code-breaking – and even fewer like these things last thing at night.
My ears perked up, therefore, when I heard of a new Bible reading guide for kids that I hadn’t seen before. Exploring the Bible by David Murray is a 365-day plan for 6-12 year olds which leads them right through God’s word from Genesis to Revelation. Check out this video trailer here (if only for the author’s beautiful Scots voice).
Here’s what I love about this book:
It doesn’t take you through every single verse (or even every book) of the Bible, but it DOES give a pretty thorough summary
Other children’s Bible reading guides focus on the more narrative sections of the Bible, but this one includes Song of Solomon and Ezra, Nehemiah and 2 Peter, so our kids are learning how to study the books of poetry and prophecy, as well as some of the New Testament letters.
Each week has a theme
This helps the guide to hang together well. You’re not reading disparate ideas on consecutive days, but are spending Monday-Saturday deepening your understanding of one idea.
For example, week one is themed ‘Beginnings’, and each day has a title like “The beginning of animals”, “The beginning of marriage”, “The beginning of the Sabbath” etc – all ‘beginnings’ which are found in Genesis 1.
Sundays have no set reading, but offer space to record what has been learnt at church
This is a really smart idea. I struggle with how to connect the various Bible teachings our kids get from various sources, so I absolutely love the space this book gives to recording things such as: Bible passage and theme of the Sunday sermon/kids programme, as well as the main points.
It brings their Sunday curriculum into their daily devotional time, giving them a second chance to reflect upon what’s been taught, and can open up a great discussion between them and us.
Each day has a short Bible passage and one simple question
The danger of a Bible reading guide for kids is that it ends up with an overly moralistic application.
I totally get this. It can be really hard to know how to apply the multi-faceted layers of God’s word to children. They often find a black-and-white approach a lot easier.
But actually, kids think about things pretty deeply, if you give them a chance. Having one daily question – even a closed one – encourages them to really absorb what they’re reading. It can often initiate further discussion.
For example, the question on the day entitled “The beginning of the Sabbath” was simply: ‘What did God do on the seventh day?’ The short answer of ‘rest’ was followed by a little discussion between me and my children about what rest means. (Poor things probably got a diatribe from me, as I’d just written about rest!)
Each week has space to add prayer requests
I’m not a good pray-er. And, as such, I’m not great at knowing how to encourage my kids into persistent prayer. (Although Window on the World has been an excellent prayer resource for our whole family.)
But having a space to write down what is on my kids’ hearts means two things. Firstly I get to know what is worrying them or what is important to them. Secondly, we pray for these things Every.Single.Night because they’re written down so we can’t forget!
The design is beautiful
There’s a very cool ‘vintage-travel’ theme, illustrating us going on a journey through God’s word. The illustrations are fresh and contemporary, and I love the whole look and feel of the book.
It’s really quite simple
While the book has been (IMHO) expertly thought-out, it’s also been kept very simple. Family life is so busy, that who wants Yet Another Thing To Fit In? Each daily reading and question is short and easy to follow. There’s no extra faffing about.
We’ve not been using this resource long, and yet we’ve found that already our kids are starting to engage with God’s word for themselves, thinking about what it means for their lives. We’ve found it easy to adopt this habit every night – which, I assure you, has NOT been something we’ve found easy before.
If you’re wanting to help your child into a daily Bible reading guide for kids, this is an awesome book!
For more ideas, check out my post 10 Best Family Devotions.
Lee-Anne Bell says
My eldest turns 6 in a week and I have been looking for a good devotional for her to ‘graduate’ to. This could be it!
Clare Webster says
Looks great!
Helen Warry says
Count me in please ?
Katey says
Sounds like a great gift! It’s always good to know about resources like this. Thanks!
Kathryn says
Looks really interesting…. we’re definitely at the end of the appropriateness of our current irregularly used notes so this would be perfect to explore. X
Alice says
This looks like a great devotional. Very keen to get it for mine for Christmas!
Susie says
This looks brilliant! We would love a copy in our home! ?
Xanthe says
If a busy writer mum with four children can find a devotional that works for her kids daily there is hope for the rest of us! Sounds very interesting- thanks for continuing to highlight great resources. (And yes please count me in for the competition!). X
Sophie says
To my shame, my children have been badgering ME to start a Bible reading plan. This post has been a timely kick up the bum!!
Hannah Churcher says
This looks great for our busy family! X
Fiona says
this looks just the thing for my thoughtful 7 year old… may even work on my boisterous 9 year old…
Vicki Smith says
This sounds like the perfect resource for my 8 and 6 yr olds!
The Real Person!
Author desertmum1 acts as a real person and passed all tests against spambots. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.
Thanks Vicki! Can’t find you on my mailing list though…do you have a different name on there?
Sophie says
My children have been asking ME to start something like this. Thank you for the heads up!
Izzy says
Looks great and it’s always good to have a tried and tested… count me in! X
Vicki Smith says
This sounds just what we need for my 8 and 6 yr olds!
Hayley says
Would love this book as Christmas gift for resident 8yo!
Hayley says
Would love to win this, thank you!
Catherine Awadzi says
Looks great. X x
The Real Person!
Author desertmum1 acts as a real person and passed all tests against spambots. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.
Thanks Catherine! Can’t find you on my mailing list though…do you have a different name on there?
Hannah Michael says
Looks like a great present for my goddaughter. Thank you x
Nicola says
Looks great Lucy. Have you found a Bible that your two biggies really relate to too?
The Real Person!
Author desertmum1 acts as a real person and passed all tests against spambots. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.
Thanks Nicola. Yes we use this one which has nice easy language to understand but also is a full, unabridged version. Kind of like the Good News Bible was for kids (like me) in the 80s! https://www.eden.co.uk/international-childrens-bible/?site_id=162595&adtype=pla_with_promotion&device=m&product_id=2354&gclid=Cj0KCQiAoJrfBRC0ARIsANqkS_5bNLw0KARR9dERud01IZA7K-eKz22t2m34AhjJNJkofTzOjyJEuRMaAopJEALw_wcB
The Real Person!
Author desertmum1 acts as a real person and passed all tests against spambots. Anti-Spam by CleanTalk.
Try https://www.eden.co.uk/international-childrens-bible/?site_id=162595&adtype=pla_with_promotion&device=m&product_id=2354&gclid=Cj0KCQiAoJrfBRC0ARIsANqkS_5bNLw0KARR9dERud01IZA7K-eKz22t2m34AhjJNJkofTzOjyJEuRMaAopJEALw_wcB
Rachel Bradley says
Looks like a very interesting and helpful book 🙂 I’m not a big reader really but this book looks fascinating 🙂
Jenny says
This sounds great for my nearly 7 year old who has just recently really taken an interest in reading the full version of the Bible.
Johanna says
This sounds great, I may buy this for one of my God-children for Christmas! Thanks 🙂
Kanako says
Looks great! Please count me in too!
Sally says
Sounds like a great book for kids and parents as well!
Sarah Keery says
Sounds like a fantastic family-friendly resource.