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5 Gospel Centered Scripture Memory Verses
One way to teach our children the importance of the gospel is through highlighting gospel centered verses—this may be through Scripture memory or simply studying key verses together as a family. The word gospel means “good news.” Each of the 4 gospel accounts is prefaced by the phrase “the gospel according to…” (Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John), and the accounts tell us about the good news of Jesus. Here’s a few verses focused on the good news of salvation to get you started: Defining the Gospel Message—Read 1 Corinthians 15:3–5 and pay attention to the four key verbs (died, buried, raised, appeared). Simply put, the gospel message of salvation = Christ…
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3 Ways God’s Love is Different from Human Love
If you’ve stepped into the grocery store recently, more than likely you noticed large displays of chocolate, flowers, and conversation hearts—iconic symbols of love. With Valentine’s Day approaching, I got to thinking. We set aside a special day to celebrate romantic relationships, but how often do we celebrate God’s love for us? At the very least, amidst all the celebration this month, I want my kids to realize at least three unique things about God’s love: God’s love for us is unconditional—God does not love us based on merit. We can never be good enough to earn God’s favor, nor can we ever be bad enough to diminish his love.…
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Making New Year’s Resolutions as a Family
January has long been heralded as a month of renewal and a time to set goals for the coming year. We make resolutions concerning all kinds of things. Maybe you want to get a better grasp on your finances or pay off the loan on a car. Or perhaps it’s more spiritual sounding like developing a deeper prayer life. Regardless of the goal, don’t make your resolutions a solitary event. Take some time this month (if you haven’t already) and sit down with your family to discuss goals for the coming year and the motivation behind the goals. As Christians, all goals should ultimatly honor God and draw…
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Christ-Centered Family Advent Activities
Staying focused on Christ’s birth can be a challenge throughout the holiday season. Amongst the busy schedules, shopping, and presents, the incarnation of Christ gets lost. One way to bring the message of Christ into your holiday schedule is to build traditions with your family that help you focus on the Christmas story. Take time to slow down and enjoy simple family moments. Use these cherished opportunities to have valuable spiritual conversations with your children. Many families enjoy making homemade ornaments together. It’s fun, cost effective, and a great opportunity to nurture your family’s faith. Christmas Stars — Various directions and ideas abound for making star ornaments. Here's a star pattern…
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12 Scripture Memory Verses for Toddlers
We’ve all heard the adage “Hide God’s Word in your heart.” But that’s easier said than done, right? And, when it comes to helping younger children it’s often tricky. It can’t be too long or they won’t remember the words, but not all short verses are meaningful. If you’re struggling to come up with some good verses to teach your toddlers, try starting with one or more of the options below. (The version below is The Net Bible, but use whatever version is your family’s preference.) Creation: Genesis 1:1—“In the beginning God createdthe heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:31—“God saw all that he had made – and it was very good…” Psalm 19:1—“The heavens declare the glory of God…” Salvation: Acts 16:31—“Believe…
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Helping Your Children Learn to Read the Bible on Their Own
Teaching our children to love and value the Word of God is a noble desire. But how do we do so when so many things seem to fight for their attention? The newest iPhone app, TV shows, video games, et cetera! In a world that’s so busy, how do we teach our children to quiet their hearts before the Lord? There are no fool proof methods to short circuiting the Spirit’s work in their hearts, but here are some helpful practices: 1.) Lead by Example—The number one reason I developed a consistent personal devotion time as a young child is because I saw other family members doing it. They never…
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5 Verses for Valentine’s Day
Sometimes it seems like we hear romantic love hyped up everywhere we turn—tv programs, movies, songs, and super market aisles brimming with flowers and heart shaped chocolates. And if our pocketbooks are any indication, many of us make an effort to show our love through our culture’s trademark gifts for our significant others. But I wonder, how versed our we when it comes to God’s definition of love? And how often do we take the time to read through some of the Bible’s passages on love. As Valentine’s Day approaches, I encourage you to spend some time with your family reading about God’s love for us and the love he…
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Conversation Starters with Kids
Whether you have kids, or you teach kids, or you just simply know kids, questions come in handy. If you’ve ever struggled with getting to know a child better, perhaps some of the following questions may work as great conversation starters.
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A Family Advent Activity with Mary’s Magnificat
Many of us spend part of the Advent season reflecting on Christ’s birth together as a family. But do you ever get to the point where you feel like you’re just saying the same things over and over? This year I sat down and compared Hannah and Mary’s songs of praise to God and found quite a few similarities. Mary’s song reflects her deep knowledge of the lives and words of the Old Testament saints, and in particular, Hannah’s story seemed to resonate with Mary. Over a thousand years earlier, Hannah sang a song of praise to God for blessing her barren womb, and Mary praised God for making fertile…
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Keeping Preschoolers Safe Online
Several years back, I observed a 4-year-old playing on his parents’ computer during our adult small group time. He couldn’t read yet, but he entered website addresses into the URL and surfed the net. I begin to realize we live in a generation where we need safeguards in place on the internet even for preschoolers. After having my own kids, this has become even more apparent. There are few things that capture their attention quite like computers, cell phones, or tablets. Here are a few suggested safeguards for preschoolers: Put passwords on all your electronic devices. Have separate user log-ins for your computer—Set up a separate user name and password…
