Three Things Your Kids Should Know about the Bible
Christian parents understand the importance of the Bible for their children. We buy them Bibles or at least Bible-like books from early on in their lives. We read them bedtime stories about Noah and the ark, David and Goliath, and many other Bible stories. As they grow, our desire is that they will begin to see the Bible as not just a book, but the Book that will guide them throughout their lives.
When I think about what the Bible says about itself, one of the passages that pops into my head is 2 Timothy 3:16-17. In this passage, Paul writes about the Scripture and gives an amazing description of what it is.
Here’s what the passage says in the English Standard Version, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
This passage tells us three things about God’s Word that our kids need to know and understand. Let’s look at them.
1. The Bible is inspired by God: The first part of this passage tells us that All Scripture is God-breathed. Some versions translate it “inspired by God.” God’s very breath gave us the Bible. Our kids need to understand that the Bible comes directly from Him. It is not something that was made up by man. As soon as we understand that Scripture is directly from God, it becomes something that can be treasured and read over and over again. It becomes something that we want to know more because it brings us closer to the very person of God.
2. The Bible will transform them into who they ought to be. The passage we are looking at says, “and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” The Bible will teach us how to be righteous while pointing out what we do wrong. It will train us to be the people we are to be and to act in the ways we ought to act. Our children, if they understand this about the Bible, will read it in a new way, seeing its purpose in their lives to make them into who they ought to be.
3. The Bible will equip them to do what they are supposed to do. The final verse in 2 Timothy 3 tells us that the Bible does those things “so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The Bible equips God’s people to do the good works that He has ordained for them to do (see Ephesians 2:10). If Christian children understand that the Bible is the equipping tool that God uses to make us ready to do what we are supposed to do, then they will have a greater understanding of the importance of reading, studying, and understanding the wonderful gift that Scripture is for God’s people.
Not too long ago, I drove past a Christian bookstore with my son. The name of the store was “The Book store.” The owners of that business were sure to let everyone know that their store was not just some other bookstore. It was a store about things of “The Book.” We need our children to understand that the Bible is more than just “a book”. As we teach our children and remind them of these three things, they will understand that the Bible is “The book,” not just “A book.”
