| One of the things that this unique time has revealed is the value of discipleship happening within our homes. While the church can be a great help in the work to train up kids to know and love Jesus, the home is often where the most effective training happens. This is why we not only value ministering to kids with age-appropriate material, but also equipping parents to disciple their kids at home. To that end, and because most of us have more time at home right now, I wanted to provide some resource recommendations for at-home discipleship, or what is commonly called family worship. Before getting to the resources, let me just say a few things about format and expectations. There is no one format that will work for every family. What works best for each family will depend, in part, on kids’ ages and temperaments, family schedules, sleep schedules, etc. So don’t feel pressure to do just what another family does. That being said, it is helpful to hear what works (and doesn’t) for other families, if only just to get ideas. So for example, we went through a period where we did some of the questions from New City Catechism with our boys before bed. Currently, we do a Saturday morning family devotional time where we read a Bible passage, sing a worship song (we pull one up on Youtube), and pray. It lasts about 10 minutes, and it’s really just Anlee and I singing. But there is value in putting these truths in our kids’ heads (especially in song form) even before they can really grasp them. I have heard from some of you about doing a daily time of prayer, or leading discussions about God as situations arise, or a couple’s devotional time before the kids get up. Again, you know your family and what will and won’t work. But I encourage you to find some regular rhythm that works. It doesn’t have to be long. It can be very simple. You don’t need to know all the answers. The important thing is that what you are tacitly communicating: That God is real, that he can be known, and that he deserves to occupy a central part of our lives. With that, here are some resources that I recommend. Part of the difficulty with this is simply finding a good resource that works for your family. When you find one, it makes it so much easier. Jesus Storybook Bible: This is the Bible that we have in our Rootlets classes and we used with our former curriculum. Good News for Little Hearts series: This is a series of illustrated children’s books that apply the truth of God to various emotions and situations children (and adults) deal with. Good for ages 3+. The Ology: This book explains theology in language (and pictures) that kids can understand. Good for ages 5+. The Bible Project Videos: This is a great collection of animated Bible teachings. Some give an overview of a book of the Bible, others cover a certain theme or topic. Everyone will enjoy watching them, but some of the language will be a bit above younger kids. Sophie and the Heidleberg Cat: This is the story I read a few Sunday’s ago during the service. It is the clearest and most engaging presentation of the gospel that I’ve found for kids. Highly recommend. Good for all ages. New City Catechism: This is a set of 52 questions and answers about God, the Bible, salvation, etc. You can get it in book form, as a free app, or as a devotional. The answers include both a shorter, kid version, and a longer, adult version. |
