By Carolyn Tomlin
While watching a group of children in a Bible drill from Woodland Baptist Church in Haywood County, I was amazed at how fast they could locate the books of the Old and New Testaments as well as specific verses. Once found, they could recite from memory the reference.
However, this just didn’t happen. Their parents, grandparents, Sunday School, and missions leaders made this a priority. Learning the Bible is a lifelong process and like other important values we teach children, it should begin early.
Why should we teach children Scripture? Does it make any difference: How does knowing the Bible provide faith and Christian strength in the world in which we live?
Steve Heartsill, managing editor of Royal Ambassadors/Children in Action in Birmingham says, “Since WMU was founded in 1888, we have taught children the importance of personal Bible study. There is no way to better understand the mission of God than to learn it firsthand. When parents and missions leaders point their GAs, RAs, and CAs toward the Bible, they help them understand God’s call upon their lives in context and in a personal way.” Younger children can learn “Bible Thoughts” provided by WMU.
Carolyn Tomlin
The following ideas for teaching the Bible are only a few ways to bring the Bible to today’s children and to make it a tool for living. By finding creative and fun ways to study the Scriptures, children look forward to Bible study.
(1) Craft box. Provide each child with his or her personal art supplies.
(2) Small group Bible drill. It’s more fun if several children participate.
(3) Learn a verse each day. If a child learns seven verses a week for 52 weeks a year, that’s 365 new memory verses! How can you make this a daily learning project that will be an exciting approach to knowing the Bible?
(4) Find the hidden verse. Print verses on cardstock and hide throughout the house.
(5) Matching verses and references. Using a styrofoam board, write Bible verses on cards and pin to the left side of the board. Write references on the left. Use a ribbon and push-pins to connect the correct verse with the reference. Change often.
(6) Bible trivia. When choosing Bible characters, print cards with a description of the person on one side and the correct answer on the back. For example: This baby was hidden in a little basket and placed on the Nile River to protect him from the Philistines. What was his name? Moses
(7) Bible songs. Setting Bible stories to music helps children remember biblical truths. Sources: “Cedarmont Kids” on YouTube and Sing to the Tune, WMU publication.
