Intentional Practices - Bible Reading

If it’s new, having conversations about spiritual things can be difficult. It can feel artificial to simply start those discussions out of the blue. Initiating a Bible study time at home can also seem a little stiff, especially if you’ve never done it before or haven’t done it in a while. But there are some things that can make it less so. 
Teachable Moments - You’ve probably heard about teachable moments, or seizing an opportunity when a subject arises naturally. Sometimes a Bible story can be applicable to a specific situation you and your child are dealing with. For example, recently my girls were fighting and worrying very much about what the other person’s responsibility was, rather than their own. It was a perfect opportunity to share Jesus’ words in Matthew 7 about the speck in your brother’s eye versus the plank in your own eye. Afterward, we were able to refer back to that lesson and give language to the situation when it came up again. There have also been times where my children have started the conversation by asking a good question that led to some important discourse. Sometimes we take advantage of these teachable moments, and other times we miss them. That’s ok! It’s part of the process of learning to parent and learning to be like Jesus. 
Jumping Off Points - Sometimes we have to “manufacture” these moments a little more. But that doesn’t necessarily mean they have to feel manufactured. Similar to the idea of finding anchors in the day to which we can attach spiritual disciplines, we can find jumping off points that allow us to naturally ask questions and get conversation flowing. This is an especially useful tactic when digesting information from a third party, like from church service or Sunday School class, a news story, a book, or a video. 
The Third Element: Bible
Discussing a Bible passage can be a jumping off point if reading passages of Scripture is already well established in your home. If it’s not, using the passage from the weekly sermon as a jumping off point can help to establish Bible study as a normal rhythm in your home.This week, Jonathan examined the story of Peter being restored from John 21:15-25. From there, you may find that your child’s appetite grows and you can nudge your family practice of Bible reading to extend beyond the sermon into stories and passages your family wants or needs to investigate further. 

Here are some age appropriate ways to revisit this passage and sermon: 

• Preschool and Younger - Young children may occasionally get lost in the sermon, so recapping with them is often helpful. The Jesus Storybook Bible or the Rhyme Bible Storybook are both great tools for doing this. Ask them about elements of the story to make sure they understand the content. Pick out one application to focus on and keep it simple.
• Elementary - The Jesus Storybook Bible might be helpful for the youngest elementary kids, but the International Children’s Bible version might be better suited for some. It is available for free on YouVersion and Bible Gateway. Other versions that might be helpful are the New International Reader’s Version and the New Living Translation. Ask them to recap the story for you or tell it in their own words. Ask them what the most interesting part of the sermon was, or what stood out to them. Do you feel like God was telling you anything during church today? For this week’s, sermon, ask them why Jesus questioned Peter three times. (Refer back to John 18:15-18 & 25-27.) What does “feed my sheep” mean? What are some ways we can “feed Jesus’ sheep?”
• ​Middle School - There are several Bible translations and versions that are easier to read for this age group, particularly the New International Reader’s Version and the New Living Translation. For more advanced readers, the English Standard Version or the New International Version are great options too. Any of these can be found on Bible Gateway or YouVersion app, so try a few different ones to find one that works best for your student. 
  • At this age, students are moving from a simple understanding of the facts and “moral of the story” to a more abstract understanding of the world around them. It’s a good idea to review the story and reread the passage together, but stretch them a little with understanding the nuances of the story. You can go beyond why Jesus asked Peter three times, to how Peter responds. As Jonathan mentioned, Peter didn’t appeal to his good works or the things that he had done, but rather to Jesus’ knowledge of his own heart. Ask your children if they feel like God knows their heart. Ask them if it changes how they think about forgiveness, knowing that Jesus, the offended party, starts the conversation with Peter. What does that say about how God loves us and how He responds to us when we sin against him?
    
• ​High School - The English Standard Version or New International Version are both very good options for this age group. If they need a slightly easier reading level, try the New Living Translation. 
  
  • ​One easy way to start the conversation is to ask what the most interesting part of the story or sermon was. Ask: Did anything surprise you or stand out to you? Jonathan mentioned that Jesus doesn’t rehash what happened with Peter, but focuses on restoring him. Is that a comforting thought? Jesus also predicts the end of Peter’s life. Ask them how they might live differently if they knew when they would die. Would they be more bold and courageous about sharing the gospel if they didn’t have to fear for their life? 
  • Developmentally, these students are moving from a self-focused world view to an others-focused worldview. As such, you can also discuss how Jesus invites Peter to participate in the reconciliation of the world. Help them define “reconciliation” (bringing things back into a right relationship with God) and point out some ways that they too can participate with God in his redeeming work on earth. Share your own thoughts on these questions when appropriate, as well as ways God spoke to you through the passage. It’s helpful for high schoolers to hear that their parents are still learning and grappling with God’s truth and have not “arrived.”