How to teach children to engage with God’s Word …
Here are four practical tips:
Connect.
Children have shorter attention spans than adults, and the use of technology has inadvertently trained their brains to engage in multitasking behaviours. In a digital world of sound bites and reels, it’s highly unlikely that a child will read the Bible the way you read it.
Children are also predisposed to visual and auditory learning. Sixty-five percent prefer to see pictures, and thirty percent choose to listen to stories and music. Seventy-five percent of children cannot read fluently, and about forty percent are non-readers.
We should recognize that most children do not want to read the Bible silently or aloud in an online or printed format. If they are going to connect with God’s Word, we must help them see and hear it using videos, comic strips, illustrated or audio versions of the Bible.
Engage.
Children should consistently engage with God’s Word. Ideally, it should be done daily, but not in a legalistic way. Aim to help children store God’s Word in their hearts (Psalm 119:11). The best way to do this is to inspire them by tapping into their interests (Proverbs 22:6). This takes thought and effort on your part. To get their creative juices flowing, consider doing the following:
- Doodle, draw or paint if they’re artistically motivated.
- Discuss and debate what the Scriptures say if they’re social or analytical learners.
- Act out Bible passages if they’re dramatically inclined.
- Construct scenes with blocks, toothpicks or Lego if they’re kinesthetic learners.
- Sing the Scriptures if they’re musically disposed.
- Keep a journal or make notes in the margins of Bibles if they’re literary learners.
Discuss.
Bible engagement matures through dialogue and debate. Children struggle to develop a robust biblical worldview without critical analysis and meaningful discussion. Here are some things you may want to do:
- Regularly invite children to share their encounters in the Word. How is God speaking to them? What are they learning? When children have opportunities to reflect on God’s Word, they’re more likely to retain it and respond to it.
- Create environments where children feel safe and comfortable sharing their thoughts, asking questions, and expressing doubts or concerns.
- It’s okay not to know all the answers to their questions. Tell them that because God is God, some things are a mystery.
- Be open, honest, and willing to talk through, investigate, and struggle with the difficult passages of Scripture together.
- Teach children how to share the Gospel wisely and respectfully with others and to defend why they love and live for Jesus (1 Peter 3:15).
- Use discussions to teach children how to rightly interpret the Bible.
Apply.
The Bible should intersect with our children’s daily lives. God says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). Engaging with God’s Word is to obey it. Every facet of a child’s existence should be inclined to living out God’s precepts and principles. Even though it’s a tall order, with grit and grace, it is possible.
Foster a mindset where children believe they can be “doers of the Word” with the empowering of the Holy Spirit. Help them think about ways to actively be Nike Christians, i.e., “Just do it!” Brainstorm how to use different Scriptures for practical purposes. Set goals. Figure it out as you journey together. Model how to do it. As you instruct and provide guidance, do so as an advocate rather than just telling them what to do.
Much more could be said about how to teach children to engage with God’s Word. Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Summary
To teach children to engage with God’s Word, start by helping them connect through visual and auditory tools like videos, comics, or audio Bibles, as they are more receptive to these formats than traditional reading. Encourage regular engagement by tapping into their interests, whether through art, drama, music, or discussion, in ways that make Scripture resonate with them. Foster conversations about what they learn, creating a safe space for questions and reflections to deepen their understanding. Finally, emphasize the application of God’s Word in their daily lives, guiding them to act on it with practical goals and by modelling obedience yourself.
FAQ 1. How can I help children engage with the Bible in a meaningful way?
You can help children engage with the Bible by making Scripture interactive and accessible through visuals, audio Bibles, storytelling, discussion, creative activities, and hands-on learning. Connecting God’s Word to their interests and learning styles helps children better understand and enjoy Scripture.
FAQ 2. What are effective ways to teach children to understand the Bible?
Effective ways to teach children include discussing Bible passages together, encouraging questions, using creative expression (such as drawing, acting, or singing Scripture), and helping them reflect on what they read. These approaches build understanding, curiosity, and a deeper biblical worldview.
FAQ 3. How do children apply Bible teaching to daily life?
Children apply Bible teaching by learning to live out what Scripture says in practical ways: showing kindness, obedience, forgiveness, and love in everyday situations. Parents and leaders can guide them by modelling obedience, setting simple goals, and encouraging them to be “doers of the Word” (James 1:22) with the help of the Holy Spirit.
© Scripture Union Canada
