Children | Knowable Word

Basic Observation Skills for Children

July 31, 2019 By Peter Krol

I commend Joe Carter for taking up the topic of OIA Bible study in his call to Christian parents to teach their children not only to read but to study the Bible.

Two key differences between reading and study are pacing and focus. When we read the Bible, we generally do so at the quickest pace our comprehension will allow. We may consume large chunks at one time, such as reading an entire book. We also look for the broad outlines of the text to know what it’s about or to determine how it fits into the larger scope of God’s Word. Bible reading precedes Bible study because it provides the broad perspective we need before we narrow in on specific passages.

He then goes to explain the basic of observation, offering a few tools:

Ask basic questions
Words, phrases, and relationships between propositions
Make lists
Contrasts and comparisons
Metaphors
Expressions of time and terms of conclusion
Connection to other parts of the Bible
Teach them to improve

This is an outstanding toolbox to draw on. My only beef would be that “connections to other parts of the Bible” almost always should wait until much later in the process. Get the main point of the passage at hand before flipping around to check out cross-references.

But that is an extremely minor variation in practice. Carter’s summary of the process is well done, motivating, and helpful for parents to take to their children.

Check it out!

Summer Bible Camp Teaching Plan in Proverbs

July 26, 2019 By Peter Krol

This week, I’m serving as chaplain at a pretty terrific Christian summer camp. We’ve got girls from grades 3 through 11 learning about the great outdoors and our Father in heaven who made it all. Last year, I served a week of boys’ camp, where I taught the same material (though with very different application!).

sinisterbluebox (2009), Creative Commons

I have found that Proverbs is a fantastic book to teach to children and teenagers. It is clear. It stimulates. It provokes thoughtful questions. It gets intensely practical. And it easily sets us up to exalt Jesus as our Wisdom from God.

In case you might find it helpful, here is my teaching plan. It covers a broad range of pertinent topics for children and youth, while also enabling me to teach some basic Bible study skills. Each day, we just open up the text, read it, and talk about it. No expensive children’s curriculum required! For further explanation of these texts, see my blog series on Proverbs.

Day 1: What is wisdom? Proverbs 1:1-7.
- The first study explains the fundamental principle that wisdom is simply a journey in the right direction. It is not a location or a state of maturity. It is all about whether you are moving from where you are in the right direction.
- I had time for a second study on Day 1, where I gave examples of wisdom (very small, but extremely wise creatures) from Proverbs 30:24-28. In this study, I clarified that the journey of wisdom is a journey away from trusting in myself—a truth hinted at in Prov 1:7 but fleshed out here. May we be like lizards, and always be found in our King’s palace!
Day 2: What is the path of wisdom? Proverbs 2:1-11, 20-22.
- The journey of wisdom doesn’t just go wherever you want it to go. This path takes us toward the Lord and away from ourselves. Climax in John 14:6: Jesus is the path we must take to get to God.
Day 3: Obstacle to wisdom #1: More stuff. Proverbs 2:12-15, 1:10-19.
- There is nothing wrong with having or acquiring stuff (money, possessions, etc.). But when we live for it, when our desire for more stuff becomes the focus of our lives, we move in the wrong direction. Wanting more stuff causes me to trust in or please myself instead of the Lord. This is folly.
- Climax: Jesus was rich, but became poor so we could become rich in him (2 Cor 8:9).
Day 4: Obstacle to wisdom #2: More pleasure. Proverbs 5:1-6, 2:16-19.
- Though I broaden the application to all pleasure (food, sports, friends, reading, etc.), I make sure also to touch down on the chief pleasure Solomon has in mind: sexual pleasure. Children need to hear about this, even at a young age! And, as with the previous day’s teaching, I clarify that pleasure in itself is not bad. What matters is whether the pleasure makes me more enamored with the Lord (wisdom) or more enamored with myself (folly).
- Climax: Jesus doesn’t use people for his own pleasure. He loved the Church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by his word (Eph 5:25-26).
Day 5: Hard work. Proverbs 6:6-11.
- Look at the ant! She is self-motivated (Prov 6:7) and seasonally productive (Prov 6:8). She can teach us the wisdom of asking ourselves some hard questions (Prov 6:9), beginning with small choices (Prov 6:10), and remembering the consequences of foolishness (Prov 6:11).
- Climax: Jesus is still working on our behalf, just as his Father is working (John 5:17).
Day 6: Steady progress. Proverbs 26:11, 4:10-19.
- Closing vision for walking in wisdom, step by step, for the rest of your life. When you leave here, please don’t be like dogs licking up your own vomit (returning to your folly). The path of wisdom is like the sunrise, shining brighter and brighter until the full day. It doesn’t matter how far you are down that path. It doesn’t matter how you compare in maturity to anyone else. It matters only that you move toward the Sunrise from on high, one step at a time.
- Climax: Luke 2:51-52. Even Jesus “increased in wisdom.” He knows what it’s like to walk this path. Our hope is not even in our ability to stay on this path, but in the one who walked this path before us and calls us to follow him on it.

I picked the topic of hard work for Day 5, only because I was particularly excited about that topic when I first put this plan together. But it could easily be replaced with wise speech, money matters, friendship, thought life, truthfulness, or any other of the myriad topics of applied wisdom from Proverbs 10-31. Or, if you have only a 5-day program (such as a weekday VBS), you could drop my Day 5, and the rest would hang together just fine.

Through frequent repetition, during teaching times, of the following Q&A, which adds a new piece each day, I’ve seen the children solidly internalize the framework.

What treasure are we hunting for this week (Prov 25:2)?
- Wisdom.
What is wisdom?
- A journey in the right direction.
What is the right direction toward?
- God.
What does it move you away from?
- Myself.
What is the path you must take for this journey?
- Jesus.
What is the first thing that will turn you away from God and back toward yourself?
- More stuff.
What is the second thing?
- More pleasure.
What is the main thing that will make you wise—it’s more important than anything you’ve ever learned, and it’s more powerful than anything you’ve ever done or had done to you?
- Taking just one step toward God by trusting Jesus. Then another step. Then another.

A Sermon Notes Sheet for Older Children

May 13, 2019 By Ryan Higginbottom

Timothy L Brock (2018), public domain

They’re growing up so fast!

If you’re a parent, you’ve heard this refrain, perhaps from an older friend in your life. And there’s a reason you hear it so often—it’s true!

As children mature, they move through learning stages and require different aids along the way. On this blog we’ve devoted many posts to teaching children how to study the Bible, and we’ve given attention to the nuances of different developmental stages. Today we’ll do the same for helping children follow along during the sermon.

A Resource for Older Children

I’ve previously shared the sermon notes sheet I use for my 8-year-old daughter. The space for both writing and drawing helps her to follow along and enjoy the sermon time.

My older daughter is 12, and today I’m sharing the sermon sheet I made for her. It bears many similarities to the earlier document but with a few strategic differences.

I’ve taken away the instructions for drawing. My 12-year-old is mature enough, for the most part, to process the sermon in writing. (Although she occasionally does include a drawing on her notes!)

I’ve also added a few items to help her follow along with the preacher and process the sermon.

In the instructions that open the area for sermon notes, I encourage my daughter to follow along with the sermon outline in the church bulletin (if one is provided). I also ask her to record the other Scripture references she hears so she can look them up and think through the relationship between different parts of the Bible.
The middle of the sermon sheet is blank, allowing for as many notes as my daughter needs. But the back of the sheet asks her to write down one or two of the most important things to take away from the sermon. I want my daughter to think about the sermon as a whole and try to summarize what the preacher said. This skill requires some maturity that I don’t expect from my younger child.
Also on the back page I point my daughter toward application. I remind her of the three spheres of application (head, heart, and hands) and I ask her to think of some applications that naturally flow from the sermon.

Fuel for Good Discussion

The last two items on this sermon notes sheet have been great discussion-starters for our family. If we are able, we will talk about my daughter’s responses to these questions over lunch or dinner on Sunday. The point here is not to grill her or put her on the spot, but her understanding of and reaction to the sermon helps each of us think about the teaching from the Bible we heard that morning. It can make for good discussions as well as good opportunities to train and disciple our children. Of course, the adults often learn much during these discussions too!

Take it and Use it!

Here is the document my 12-year-old is using. You are free to make a digital copy of your own and adjust it in any way you find helpful. (Instructions for doing this are on the third page of the file.)

The document is landscape oriented and is designed to be printed two-sided and folded in half. (You will likely have to choose “two-sided printing” and then “flip on short edge/side” when printing, though your computer may label these options differently.)

We hope this sermon notes sheet is helpful for you and your children as you carry on the task of reading and studying the Bible.

A Sermon Notes Sheet for Young Children

March 4, 2019 By Ryan Higginbottom

Nils Stahl (2019), public domain

Christian parents have a great privilege and a weighty responsibility. We must teach and show our children how to trust and follow Jesus. What an important calling! (And what a reminder of our need for God’s grace!)

Whether we do so well or poorly, we’re always discipling our children. This happens around the table, in the park, and on the way to school. And it certainly happens at the weekly corporate worship service.

How should we worship God? Why do we sing, or give, or celebrate communion, or pray? Why do we listen to someone talk for thirty minutes? These are natural questions for children to bring to their parents.

The Sermon as Discipleship

The sermon is probably the hardest part of a Christian worship service for young children. And because of this, the sermon is a big source of tension in families and stress for parents.

Here’s an encouragement to parents: Hang in there! Keep going! Your kids will grow and mature, despite all evidence to the contrary. And the approach you take to the sermon—even from a young age—really matters.

I’ve written before about how to help your children listen to the sermon. In that article I focused on what to do before, during, and after the sermon. In this post, I’ll provide a practical tool to use during the sermon.

As Children Age

If a church offers a nursery and parents decide that is the best option for their young children, that is great! Nursery workers at a church offer a vital and life-giving ministry. The rest of this article will address children who stay in the worship service.

As children move past board books and snacks to puzzles or drawing, parents can tie the activities into the sermon. Every little pointer can train children to listen and pay attention.

After a few more years, parents can encourage a mixture of coloring and note-taking. A thoughtful preacher or children’s ministry director might even provide activity sheets for children that incorporate the sermon’s Bible text.

When children are able to write on their own and listen for longer stretches of time, parents can teach them to take notes during the sermon. A note-taking sheet provides an activity while also training children to listen and record important truths.

The Goal

As a father, I try to instruct my children in age-appropriate ways. Understanding their limitations is crucial, because demanding too much is a recipe for frustration all around.

I’m not expecting my children to understand the sermon completely. I don’t require adult-level processing of the information they hear. I’m not as concerned about the present as I am the future.

I want to develop good habits in my children. I hope they come to the sermon with eagerness and expectation. I pray they will give attention to the Bible and honor God as they attend corporate worship.

If my children hear and remember enough of the sermon that we can discuss it later, that is a victory. Even small snippets of truth can be great fodder for conversation.

Finally, I want my children to learn the practices of mind and body needed to worship God during the sermon. I want them to discern what is true to the Bible and to respond with joy and obedience. These are all learned behaviors that I’m praying my parenting efforts encourage.

For You and Your Children

Here is the document I created for my seven-year-old daughter. We have been using it weekly for several months. Since she cannot process the sermon quickly enough to take copious notes, her sermon sheet has space for both notes and drawings. For her, this mixture is great; she’s been engaged through the whole sermon since we started using these.

But I designed this document to be helpful for you. You can make a digital copy and edit it for your own situation. Create more space for drawing or note-taking, or add an element I omitted. Talk to your children and make adjustments as needed.

A few final notes about the document itself.

The sermon sheet is written in landscape orientation (11 inches wide by 8.5 inches tall). It should be printed out two-sided and folded in half. This makes it easy to tuck into a Bible on the way to and from church.
When printing, you may have to choose “two-sided printing” on your computer and then the option “flip on short edge/side.” (Each printer is slightly different.)

Use It!

Consider this document a starting place; nothing is one-size-fits-all. But I hope this worksheet will encourage parents, grandparents, children’s ministry directors, and pastors to pray and help the young ones in their churches learn how to be attentive during the sermon.

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Preparing Children to Read the Bible

February 20, 2019 By Peter Krol

Though I haven’t yet read Joe Carter’s new book, The Life and Faith Field Guide for Parents, I’m intrigued by this excerpt published at the Gospel Coalition. Here is a taste:

Some missionaries spend years or even decades learning how to teach literacy to unreached people. Why? Primarily, to give those people the tools they need to read the Word of God for themselves. As Christian parents—missionaries to our own children—we want our kids to know how to read so they too can one day read the Bible for themselves. This mindset about teaching can lead to long-lasting benefits for your children. Instead of viewing the literacy process as the means to reach the goal of reading, think of it instead as the means by which your child reaches the goal of reading the Bible.
This may appear to be a trivial distinction. After all, children who learn to read will likely be able to read the Bible. While that is true, a profound shift occurs when we teach reading for the primary goal of reading Scripture. Whatever stage your child is at in literacy education—whether they’re an infant learning words for the first time or a high-school student learning vocabulary terms for the SAT—consider this to be your objective: to shape their reading so they can better read the [Bible].

Check it out!

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A Simple 3-Step Bible Reading Plan for Children

January 30, 2019 By Peter Krol

My children have really enjoyed making use of audio Bibles to develop a habit of daily Bible reading—even long past their preschool years. A few of them enjoy writing down some reflections, but most prefer to simply draw while listening. We have found that their listening comprehension is excellent.

But since every child and family is different, I believe there are many options for teaching children to love God through his word. Joe Carter has another idea that may work better for you or your kids. He proposes 3 simple steps:

Make a chart listing every chapter of the Bible.
Assign them to read a chapter each day, with each day of the week focusing on a different part of the Bible.
Have them cross off the chapter they read that day to see their progress.

Perhaps this could work for your family. Carter helpfully reminds us that flexibility is the most important principle: It’s okay if they miss a day. The most important thing is that we foster an environment where Bible reading is a habitual part of everyday life.

To develop a biblical worldview, we need to saturate our minds in Scripture. This requires repeatedly reading and engaging with the Bible throughout our lifetime. The earlier we begin reading the Bible the more time we have for God’s Word to seep into the marrow of our souls. That’s why helping a child to develop the habit of Bible reading is one of the greatest gifts we can give them.

Check it out!

OIA Bible Study is Not Just for Adults

November 14, 2018 By Peter Krol

You might like to know we’re not the only ones who promote OIA Bible study. And we’re not the only ones who believe this method works not only for adults but also for children. Over at the Gospel Coalition, Shawna Duvall winsomely explains that “Inductive Bible Study is Not Just for Adults.” While I have a minor quibble with her use of the term “inductive,” she explains briefly and compellingly how to teach the OIA method to children.

And she gets this just right:

We’re a resource-rich generation with a trove of family-focused, theologically sound materials. But while such supplemental materials are valuable, many parents and caregivers still feel inadequate when it comes to simply opening the pages of Scripture with their children.

With our own kids, my husband and I have utilized a simple Bible study tool: observing, interpreting, and applying the text. This inductive method is already widely trusted and familiar in the church today. In our family, it provides a framework basic enough for our younger kids to grasp and yet is able to grow with them, even into adulthood.

I particularly appreciate the hand motions Duvall describes to help children remember the purpose of each step.

Check it out!

Update on Family Bible Reading

August 10, 2018 By Peter Krol

I wrote last year about my commitment to my daughter to read her the entire Bible before her 18th birthday. This promise morphed into a weekly family Bible-reading extravaganza, where we spend 45 to 60 minutes simply reading the Scripture and letting the children ask any questions they have. I’m now writing with an update.

Jan Rowley, Creative Commons

We’ve been working on this for a little over 3 years, so it’s become part of our ingrained family routine.
45 to 60 minutes may sound like a long time, but it goes quickly when the children get to play during the reading (my original post describes how we do it).
We don’t actually do it every week. If anyone is traveling, we skip it. But I would estimate that we miss only 1 or 2 weeks each quarter.
Going through the Bible in canonical order, we’re now in the middle of Jeremiah.
All the names in 1 Chronicles 1-9 were rough, and the kids were the least engaged for that section. But I spread those chapters over 2 sittings so it wasn’t too painful for them all at once. And they’re able to bear the occasional “boring” section when they get to play with whatever they want. They’re not required to just sit and listen.
Proverbs 10-29 was also rough. When the topic changes every verse, it’s hard to listen to a lengthy reading!
Surprises:
- They loved the Psalms. Even though there are many of them, most of them are short. And the children really followed along with the mood of each poem.
- They also loved Job. The drama engaged them, as the characters took turns making their speeches.
- My sons loved Isaiah, though they’re not sure why. One of them could explain his love only by saying, “It was really interesting.” Jeremiah has not been as interesting for them.
- While I’m sure none of the children would choose Bible reading time over, say, going to the local pool, I get almost no complaints from them about doing it. The only exception is when we’re in a dry spot (usually a list of names): After 30 minutes, I might start getting questions about how much longer we’ll be reading.
- Almost every week, though, most of the children are sad when I stop. They keep asking for “another chapter!”
- It doesn’t take nearly as long to read the Bible out loud as I thought it would. I’m surprised that we’re in Jeremiah already. At this pace, we’ll finish long before my daughter’s 18th birthday. We might even get through the Bible twice.
I’m now using the CSB Reader’s Bible. I love the CSB translation, and the children follow it well. And a reader’s Bible gives me “permission” to keep reading and reading and reading, without any distracting verse numbers, chapter numbers, or section headings telling me that I should stop.

I hope this encourages you. You don’t need a perfect plan, a perfect curriculum, or a perfect set of family devotions. And you don’t need to do it the same way I have done it. But be encouraged: You can simply read the Bible to your kids!

Is All of God’s Word for All of God’s People All of the Time?

March 19, 2018 By Ryan Higginbottom

Jill Wellington (2008), public domain

While recently listening to Ezekiel 16, I was amazed at the language in the Bible. It’s scandalous! The words “whore,” “whoring,” and “prostitute” appear a combined 21 times in this one chapter.

I thought immediately of my inquisitive children. What would they ask if they were listening? Should I allow them to read or listen to Ezekiel?

Reading the Bible With Children

God has given parents the privilege of teaching their children the Bible. At times this will look like formal instruction, but much more often it will look like conversation. Around the table, in the car, while washing the dishes—God intends for us to talk about him with our children during the normal routines of life (see Deut 6:1–9).

In the Old Testament, the words of God were part of family and cultural life. Scripture was proclaimed at the three annual Jewish feasts (see Deuteronomy 16 and Leviticus 23) and it was expected that children would ask their parents about their religious practices and history (Exodus 12:24–27).

Yes, there are some topics in the Bible that may seem heady or unseemly. But parents can create a loving atmosphere in which families can discuss any matter. When children can ask their parents questions without shame or embarrassment, they are less likely to seek out immature, inaccurate, or ungodly answers from their peers.

All the Bible

Some portions of the Bible are more relevant for us at certain times. Whether we need encouragement, rebuke, instruction, or hope, we can always find what we need in God’s word.

But we are to give our attention to all of God’s word without censorship. Paul calls this the “whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). We can have confidence that God knows what he’s doing, and he’s set the same Scriptures before us whether we’re four or ninety-four.

So when you read the Bible with your family, don’t skip over any chapters. Read through books consecutively. Encourage your children to listen and ask questions. Plant those trees, give them water and sunlight, and prepare to see them grow.

Prepare Yourself

When talking to children about difficult parts of the Bible, we need to pay attention to the Bible’s tone. The authors of Scripture show great care and restraint when discussing delicate and private matters.

We should show this same restraint. Providing too many details or focusing too much on these topics can end up being provocative. We must handle sensitive material with wisdom and maturity.

In addition to communicating what is true, our goal is to shape our children’s hearts. We must make beautiful what the Bible says is beautiful, and we must show as ugly those things the Bible says are ugly.

An Example: Prostitution

To return to the beginning, how should we talk about prostitution with our children?

To discuss prostitution, we must discuss marriage. In particular, we must discuss the sexual relationship within marriage. The Bible describes this relationship within marriage as beautiful and glorious. Yet pursuing this relationship outside of marriage is dangerous and sinful.

So, how do we answer a child’s question about a prostitute? A prostitute is a person who will pretend to be married to you if you pay them money. Married people hug each other and kiss and touch each other in private places. This is wonderful and glorious when people do this with their wife or husband. But it is terrible and sinful when people do this outside of a marriage.

Many thanks to Peter Krol for his correspondence and help in putting this article together.

How to Help Your Children Read the Bible

February 21, 2018 By Peter Krol

Professor David Murray has great passion and exceptional skill at helping people build lifelong Bible-reading discipline into their children. In an article at Desiring God, he gives 8 tips to help your children read the Bible.