How to Teach Your Family the Bible
Steph Curry is the rage of the NBA. He’s the greatest three-point shooter of all time. He, his wife Ayesha, and their little girl Riley have become a model family for America. What a lot of people don’t know, however, is that his parents led their family in a half-hour Bible devotion every morning before school. I’m concerned about the families I see. We raised our six children with the Word of God at the center. That’s probably why all six of them are involved in the ministry.
Moses told Israel’s parents to teach it to their children when sitting in their home, going to bed, getting up, and walking outside. He even said to put it on their gates and on their doorposts. Every Jewish family was surrounded by God’s Word everywhere they looked and went.
American families, by and large, are Biblically illiterate. Even families who attend church and drop their kids off at Sunday School are surprised at how shallow their children are spiritually.
Here are five easy ways you can surround your family with Biblical truth:
1. Listen in the car—
A lot of fast-paced families have found that the You-version app’s audio feature helps them to listen on the go.
The One Year Bible reading is my favorite of all time. It has four separate passages a day from the Psalms, Proverbs, Old Testament, and New Testament. Great start to a day.
2. Read the Bible before bedtime—
From the time ours were small, we read a picture Bible every night before bedtime. Piled up in a bed, the stories came alive night after night. Questions surely followed from eager young minds.
Children don’t know the primary stories of the Bible (it is full of stories). Hearing them year after year, ours knew that Moses did not build the Ark!
3. Memorize key Scriptures—
We had three verses we quoted after every breakfast blessing. Our kids grew up knowing those verses and the powerful principles they represent.
Scripture memory is fun for kids. One of ours learned the entire chapter of Hebrews 11. They could also quote all of the books of the Bible in order…at 4 years old!
“Turn off the entertainment and call a family time. Technology is great, but ignorance is intolerable.”
4. Model “D.B.R.”—
My oldest son, Joel, has written a great book on “The Power of Daily Bible Reading.” His life was changed watching Melanie and I read our daily readings each morning. Now, he is helping to steer a new generation to love daily reading.
I have written a companion book to the One Year Bible called the “One Year Devotional.” Thousands of families now read it (or any number of other great devotionals) out loud to their family every morning.
5. Turn off the entertainment—
We are told that the average American is now spending 7.7 hours a day in front of a screen (TV, laptop, cell phone, etc.). Most families mindlessly pass each other in the kitchen totally engaged in media.
Call a family time. Read a passage and engage the family in questions, comments and real, live discussion! Technology is great, but ignorance is intolerable.
Like Nike says, “Just do it.” Put the Bible first in your family. God’s Word will change each and every life into a world changer.
Just ask Steph Curry…