The theme verse of both my preschool curriculum website and blog is Deuteronomy 6:7. It commands us to impress on our children that the Lord is God and we are to love Him with all our heart, soul, and strength. The verse goes on to say,

“Talk about [the commandments] when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

When you read this commandment, it sounds so easy. Just talk. But in between breaking up arguments, doing the dishes, and rushing from one activity to another, talking with our children about God’s Word can become a challenge.

Some believe that it is the church’s responsibility to teach their children, but let’s look at some numbers about church attendance.

Even if your family attends church for 2 hours every week, your children will only spend 1.2% of their year at church. This number proves that we cannot depend on our Sunday school teachers and youth pastors to “impress” God on our children. While church can be instrumental in helping our family focus on the Word, remember that the responsibility is ours.

Here are three resources that have been instrumental in helping our family focus on the Bible, God’s Word.

1.  Daily Devotional

Since our four kiddos were young we have daily set aside time to read from the Bible and pray. When they were little, my husband read multiple times, from cover to cover The Beginner’s Bible. This gave our children a solid foundation of the Bible stories. Then we advanced to the My First Hands-On Bible which allowed the children to hear the Bible stories in verse form. Now, for personal application we read from the Our Daily Bread of Kids: 365 Meaningful Moments with God. These Bibles and devotionals have paved the way for understanding and provided conversations for further learning.

2.  What’s in the Bible?

It is easy for Bible stories to be compartmentalized in our mind: Noah is in this file; Paul in that one; and Jesus is in that big folder over there. I am so thankful for the What’s in the Bible? DVD series and how it has helped our entire family see God’s redemptive plan woven through each Bible story. From youngest to oldest, the episodes covering Genesis to Revelation have opened our eyes to the big picture of God’s love. Plus, each DVD explains Biblical truths in child-like terms.

3.  Church

A few months ago I watched a video called “The Question No One is Asking About Our Children.”  It showed the importance of regular church attendance. At a young age consistent attendance is imperative for familiarity and continuity. As children grow it becomes important for relationships, personal application, and accountability. Church is a place for a person outside our family to come alongside our children and echo the truth we are teaching at home.

Let’s make 2017 a year that we follow God’s commandments and are intentional to talk about Him when we sit down, walk along, lie down, and when we get up.

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