A Starting Point for Family Devotions

Kids need wisdom. Wisdom is best learned in the context of family. The source of wisdom is the Bible.

I hope parents want to have family devotions. Family devotions are a structured place where parents can fulfill the command of Deuteronmy 6. In that passage, we are reminded to have unstructured and structured times when we teach our children the Scriptures. I’m speaking here about our structured times.

The practical question arises: “How should we do family devotions?” Well there is no prescription for it. There are many ways and it doesn’t really matter what format we use. I think it’s more important to just try something and then learn and grow from there. So many people don’t know how to do something and so refuse to try. Just try. But let me suggest a starting point. It’s quite simple and seemingly mundane.

Your family devotions should revolve around reading the Bible! “From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim.3:15). There is so much to discover and get excited about in just reading the stories of the Bible to your children. (Yes, be age appropriate, use good story-telling methods, use object lessons, facilitate meaningful discussion, don’t be boring, etc. but start with just the Bible).

TIPS adapted from Larry Fowler’s book Raising a Modern Day Joseph:
-Kids don’t need to know the whole Bible. Go over the famous stories and bring out less familiar stories. Also choose the main line story of redemption from Adam to Jesus. Jesus is the focus of the whole Bible, bring that out. Spend a lot of time in the Gospels.
-Play Bible games together.
-Examine curriculum/materials for high Biblical content.
-Memorize verses (you can start with the verses your child receives from church).
-Focus on major Biblical truths such as God is Creator, sin separates from God, Jesus is God and the only way back to God.
-Develop simple applications that your child can understand and practice right away.

Get your kids into the Bible this week! It’s wisdom for life!