Joshua’s House

It’s so easy to quickly read though the Bible without ever realizing that God is actually talking to us.  Here are three questions to help you dig a little bit deeper to find the true gems of God’s word.  One of the great things about these questions is that you can use them no matter where you are reading in the Bible.   Answer all three questions on a sheet of paper.

What can I learn about God?
What can I learn about me?
What should I do about it?

Modifications

Want something easier for younger children?

After reading with your child discuss some of the answers to the questions with them.  Doing this will help them learn to detect the answers to these questions naturally when they begin reading for themselves.  For example after reading about the widow who gave at the temple you might say:

Even when we don’t have much to give, God appreciates our small gifts when they are given with our whole heart.  He loves us and is happy when we serve Him (answer to question one). Sometimes it’s hard for me to give with a willing heart.  Do you ever have a hard time giving with a willing heart (answer to question two)?  Why don’t we pray and ask Jesus to help us serve Him with a willing heart.  We can check in on each other this week to see how God is helping us (question 3).

Don’t forget to end with prayer.

As you’ve read the Bible throughout the years, I’m sure you’ve noticed that different people often react differently to the same situation.

Turn your paper upside down and draw a big “T” on it. (This will make two columns on the top part of the page, and one column on the bottom.) Draw a box at the top of the two columns on the top half of the page. Draw yourself in one of the boxes and one of the people you read about this week the other.  Below each picture box write how the person responded to his/her situation and how you would respond differently to the same circumstances. At the bottom of the page, where there is just one column, write the ways you would respond the same.

Are there any lessons you can learn?

Modifications

Want something easier for younger children?

Draw lines on a piece of paper to separate it into four quadrants.  Let your child draw one thing a character from the story did in each box.  For example, if you just read about Daniel in the Lions Den, they may draw Daniel praying in his room, Daniel being thrown in the lion’s den, Daniel praying in the lion’s den, and Daniel coming out of the lion’s den alive.  For each picture they draw, have your child draw a happy face for the ways she would like to act and a frowning face for the ways she wants Jesus to help her not to act.

Sometimes when we read the Bible, we come across passages that seem totally relevant to us.  Maybe a Bible character is going through circumstances similar to ours, or maybe there is a Psalm that seems to say just what we are feeling.  If you come across a Bible passage like that, you can pray it as your own prayer.  As you read over the verses again, repeat them to God and add things that apply to you specifically.

Modifications

Want something easier for younger children?

Praying in relation to things happening in the Bible can be a difficult concept for young children to grasp.  One way to start them on this journey is to pray with them every time after reading the Bible.  For example, if you are reading about creation you might have a prayer like this with your little one:

“Dear Jesus, thank you for creating the earth.  Thank you for the trees and the birds and the food you gave us to eat like yummy strawberries.  Help us to take good care of the things you made, just like you asked us to.”

Then, give your little one a chance to thank Jesus about some of her favorite things from creation or to ask God questions about some of the things He made.

Want something harder for older children?

Psalms are simply records of some of the prayers of David and other men of God.  One of the great things about taking the time to craft a Pslam is that it requires you to slow down and really think about what your writing.  Challange your child to write a psalm about lessons he’s learning as he studies the Bible.

Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to be someone from the Bible.  I think of people like Peter, Timothy, Joseph, Esther and many more.

Find or make some stationary and pretend you are a person from the passages you read this week.  Write a letter to a friend or family member.  Tell the recipient what is happening.  What have you seen? What have you heard?  What do you think of it all?  Don’t leave out any details.

If you are reading one of the New Testament epistles, you can write a letter back to Paul (or the author of the letter).  What do you think of what you are being told?  What questions do you have?

Modifications

Want something easier for younger children?

You may want to help your child write a letter to the character from the story.  What questions does your child want to ask?  To make things really fun, you could write up your own response, and send it in the mail to the child as if it’s from the character.