In the midst of juggling work, school, extracurricular activities and household responsibilities, finding time for Bible study with your family can feel like an impossible task. Yet, the benefits of all family household members coming together to explore scripture are empowering and necessary for fostering spiritual growth and reinforcing family bonds. It is our mission at Forever Written, to help you have Christ-centered homes. Studying scripture is essential for developing a Christ-centered home and does not need to be overwhelming. Here are 5 tips that will help even the busiest families to study scripture together daily.
1. Make It a Priority
Consider what you value the most in your life. Is it your relationship with God or the other things that keep you busy? Remember that anything we place above God is a violation of the first and second commandment. Therefore, we must make knowing God the top priority in our life and teach our children to do the same by studying his word. Commit to reading just one chapter a day with your family. On average, it takes 3-5 minutes to read a chapter in the Bible. You can wake up earlier and read a chapter with your family at the beginning of the day before the busy routine or right after dinner when everyone is still at the table. Choose a time that works best for you and your family. The key is not how many chapters you read but rather how consistently you are reading one each day. If you read just 1 chapter a day, from Genesis to Revelation, it will take approximately 3 years to read the entire Bible. This small commitment will help you to read through the entire Bible several times with your family.
2. Pray: Depend on the Holy Spirit for Guidance
John 14:26 says “ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things…”
Another hindrance to why average Christians do not take the time to study God’s word is because they feel like they do not have expert knowledge of scripture. According to the verse John 14:26, and other verses like it (1 John 2:27, John 16:13), the Spirit can be your tutor and you do not need to go to a Bible college or Seminary (nothing wrong if you do, if it’s a good one), to be a Bible scholar or understand scripture. Before you dive into your chapter reading make it a habit to always pray before starting. You can pray for the Holy Ghost to open your understanding and “teach you all things” or you can pray Psalms 25:5 “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.”
3) Engage Your Family by Asking Questions
As you read through a chapter, think about 2 questions from that chapter to ask the listeners. For example, if you are reading Genesis chapter 1, two questions you can ask are, who created heaven and earth, or what day did God create man? Depending on the age and difficulty of the questions, the listeners will have to search through the chapter to find the answer. This family routine will encourage the listeners to search scripture and follow along with the reader so that they can answer the questions correctly.
4) Memorize a Verse Each Week as a Family
Each week choose a verse for your family to memorize throughout the week. Also, when presenting the verse of the week to your family, be sure to explain what the verse means and how it applies to them. As they constantly memorize and internalize the meaning of the verse throughout the week, the verse will become so ingrained in their minds that it will become part of their thinking process and behavior.
5) Sing The Scriptures
Singing scripture is also another powerful way to study and internalize scripture. Songs are repeated several times and the more frequently you sing a passage the more you become familiar with and connected to it. Also, singing requires concentration and will help you to meditate on the meanings of the words which can lead to a deeper understanding of scripture. Overall, singing Bible verses will make the study of scripture less of a chore and more enjoyable. Not only does singing make you feel better, it will also motivate you and your family to spend more time with scripture.
Creating a Christ-centered home is a powerful antidote to many of today’s societal challenges, and it starts with making scripture study a consistent and meaningful part of your family routine. Embrace these tips and witness the transformative impact of daily Bible study on your family’s faith and unity.
