As parents, we’re called to be the primary spiritual influence in the lives of their children. That means we should help them know and understand the Bible so they can know, love, and understand God and His Son, Jesus. 

The Bible doesn’t just tell us what to think; it shapes the way and manner in which we think. When we, as families, spend consistent time together reading God’s Word then our minds begin to be formed by the Bible. This helps the family think through all the issues that come at them in the culture today. 

But the bigger reason to be reading the Bible together is one of simple obedience. I believe God has called us to shepherd the hearts and minds of our children so they can have a clear picture of the grace and love of their Creator and want to follow Him with their lives. One of the main ways we do that is by reading the Bible together.

Even though we know all of these things to be true, so many parents feel overwhelmed and exhausted at the thought of discipling their children. I’ve been there. Where do we begin with such an important responsibility?

I’m excited to share a new book I’ve been working on called The Whole Story for the Whole Family: A Year of Jesus-Centered Family Devotions that I pray is a helpful resource in your home as you seek to disciple your family.

Reading the Bible in our own home

We first started reading the Bible together when our kids were 6, 3, and less than a year old. We had to establish a new routine in the morning in order to do it then – lunches had to be made the night before, all homework done, and everybody had to be ready for school and work at the same time. But establishing that routine early has really served us well in multiple ways.

It took our family a long time to actually start having a daily devotion time together. But having done so pretty consistently for the last 10 years, it has played a major role in shaping who we are. As we have done this, we developed our own rhythm and I decided that perhaps other families might benefit from that same kind of rhythm. So I wrote the book in a pattern that fits what we have done.

As the kids have gotten older, we have steadily moved to a place in which they are now not just participants, but actually take turns leading the devotion to our family. I sincerely hope that having them not just listen but lead helps them gain the confidence that they can read the Bible for themselves, and that they can do this same thing for others in the church and their own families.

Seeing Jesus at the center of every story

I hope families have a better understanding of how the Bible fits together, and how everything really points to Jesus. But I also hope that parents have a renewed sense of calling and confidence that they can actually play a significant role in the spiritual lives of their children. It’s important to remember that the daily devotion time is not the end game; it’s a launching pad. The time we spend together each morning ought to be the groundwork that lets us have many, many more conversations about life, feelings, and everything else, but those conversations are framed by the thinking around God’s Word.

At the same time, I wanted to write something that would help parents teach their kids the main storyline of the Bible with Jesus as the central character. Hopefully, the book will help families see how the Bible fits together, but do so in a really approachable way.

I wrote the book for parents like me, who had the desire to spiritually lead their families, but just had trouble getting started. So I wanted to make sure that the book was really simple, really easy to use, and that the pattern in it was realistically achievable for a family who is willing to commit to it.

The book is really just a tool. Hopefully, though, it’s a really approachable and achievable tool. I think parents can let themselves off the hook a little bit here and understand that the win, at first, is not having a revival break out over eggs and toast every morning. The win is consistency because reading the Bible is a bit like cooking with a crock pot. We can’t “microwave” spiritual growth and understanding into our kids. They need to sit in it; soak it in. And we, as parents, trust that over time the Lord will actually change their hearts.

Seeing Jesus at the center of every story

The Whole Story for the Whole Family is available for preorder now, and if you redeem your receipt by April 4, we’ll send you the first week of devotions to start reading early! You’ll also be entered to win a family devotional kit, including a new CSB Bible for each member of your immediate family, select devotional activity supplies, and a collection of my previous books.

Learn more and redeem your preorder receipt today at wholestorywholefamily.com.