Parents, Read the Bible With Your Children: They Need to Know Who God Is

The foundation we give our children is more important than simply teaching them how to behave.

Our children need to know Who God is.

As parents, we have the opportunity to introduce our children to God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit—not by creating our own picture of who we think God should be, but by opening the Bible and allowing God’s Word to reveal Him.

Proverbs 1:7 reminds us:

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Knowledge begins with knowing the Lord.

That means reading the Bible with our children isn't simply another activity we add to bedtime. It is an opportunity to help them begin learning about their Creator, His character, His love, His holiness, His promises, and His plan.

And as they learn about Jesus, they are learning about God the Son.

Jesus said in John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit would teach His followers and remind them of what He had said.

This matters because we don't want our children growing up knowing only Bible stories.

But to know that....  

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. - 2 Timothy 3:15-17

We want them to understand that the Bible introduces them to The Living God.

Noah isn't just a story about an ark.

David isn't just a story about a giant.

Daniel isn't just a story about lions.

And Jesus isn't simply a character in a children's Bible.

These accounts point us toward God.

Our children need to hear God's Word, ask questions, learn who Jesus is, and grow in understanding that the Holy Spirit is God who teaches and reminds us of the truth Jesus gave us.

Parents don't have to know every answer.

We can say:

“Let's open the Bible and learn together.”

That may become one of the most important things we ever say to our children.