Reading Through the Bible
When my kids begged to read through the entire Bible in a year with me instead of sticking to our usual “highlights” plan, I was hesitant. I had read the Bible all the way through several times, and I knew what was in there. The Old Testament, in particular, recounted events and issues that I wasn’t sure how to explain to my children. But how can you say no when your children are determined to spend time in the Word with you? We began our journey through the Bible together, and I discovered the Bible as the ultimate living book.
As we began reading and discussing the Word of God together, I found history, science, and character education on every page. I found great opportunities for my children to read aloud, to study grammar and syntax, and to practice math skills. (Have you ever tried to figure out how many animals were on the ark?) And I found answers to my prayers.
Learning Through the Word
For a long time, I prayed about how to have “the talk” with my daughters. We had covered changes their bodies would go through, but as they got older, I avoided discussing more. I knew I couldn’t put it off much longer. Some incidents in the Old Testament caused them to ask questions that gave me an open door to introduce sensitive topics in ways that felt natural instead of awkward. It was also the perfect way to talk about God’s plan for our bodies and how the world has changed that beyond all recognition.
Our daily readings brought up government and economics topics, and we applied biblical principles to current events. We looked at prophecies in light of these events and managed to make some connections there too, despite not being prophecy scholars. Looking at prophecies also helped my children see Christ’s fulfillment of the prophecies concerning the Messiah’s birth, strengthening their faith in their beliefs.
Tips for Reading Through the Bible as a Family
I am thankful for the year we spent exploring the Bible together as a family, and I am looking forward to doing it again soon. If you’re considering this for your family, here are some things we did that improved our experience:
- We selected a translation that was easy-to-understand for every member of our family. You know your family best, so choose what works for you.
- We chose a reading plan. This kept us on track and organized in our reading. I’m not sure we could have reached our goal of reading the whole Bible in a year without a plan.
- We took enough time out of each day to not only complete the reading but to discuss it, find answers to questions in a Bible dictionary or commentary, use a concordance to find other verses about the topic we were interested in, and process everything we found.
- We scheduled a time. Every night after supper was our time to dig into the Word as a family. Your family might do better first thing in the morning or after lunch. Every family’s schedule is different. Choose the time that’s best for you.
- We made our daily Bible time a priority. If we hadn’t, it would have been too easy to skip it on days when we were busy or exhausted. We completed our goal because it was important to us, and we made sure it got done, even if it meant rearranging schedules on the crazy days.
If you’re looking for a literature-rich experience for your family, consider reading the whole Bible together. The Bible really is the ultimate living book, and it will provide a lifetime of learning opportunities for every member of your family!
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