Few things are more painful to parents than seeing their children suffer because of bad choices. Parents cannot always be there to help their children with the decisions they face. But they can help prepare their children to make wise decisions and avoid many of the pitfalls that come with growing up. (For more on this, see “Helping Our Children Grow.”)

One of the most important tools for preparing our children for life is the Bible. What can parents do to make family Bible study engaging, memorable, effective—and even fun?

Here are quick links to the following sections of this article:

• Why is the Bible important?
• Read to your children
• Tips for making family Bible study enjoyable
• Interactive Bible study
• Bible study games
• Best book of the Bible to start with?
• Bible characters
• Family Bible study ideas
• The opportunity to teach your children
• Encourage, Equip & Inspire
• 30 more family Bible study topics (and resources)
• 100 Old Testament stories (and where you can find them in the Bible)
• 70 New Testament stories (and where you can find them in the Bible)

Teach your children God’s ways

“A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is the grief of his mother” (Proverbs 10:1). Parents hurt when their children make bad choices; they rejoice when they do well.

Our Creator, who made us and gave us life, did not leave us without an instruction book on how to live. He included in the Holy Bible guidance for us as parents to help us with our children and our families.

If we study and use the instructions He inspired for us, we can help our children avoid many problems and take advantage of many blessings as they grow and mature.

God tells us to teach our children about His ways, and He says that in doing so we can help add years of happiness to their lives and reduce the chances of painful mistakes.

• “And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). Doing this can contribute to children honoring their parents, which brings the promise “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth” (verse 3).
• “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

As children mature, they develop their own personal standards and values through their experiences, the people they have contact with and the media they are exposed to.

As parents, we shouldn’t leave this most important process to others and the continual negative influence of television and movies.

Why is the Bible important?

Our loving Father in heaven inspired the Bible as a gift to us. The Creator communicates to us what is truly important in life. He tells us the way of life that produces blessings, as well as the wrong ways that produce problems.

Parents who teach their children the right way of life through family Bible studies are equipping them with the tools to live a more fulfilling life. The Bible shows that those who do right will be blessed:

• “Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their doings” (Isaiah 3:10).
• “You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time” (Deuteronomy 4:40).

The time and effort we spend instructing our children can mean the difference between a shortened life because of bad choices or living to “a good old age.”

We must convey to our children the importance of learning God’s way, as Solomon tried to do:

“Hear, my children, the instruction of a father, and give attention to know understanding; for I give you good doctrine: Do not forsake my law. When I was my father’s son, tender and the only one in the sight of my mother, he also taught me, and said to me: ‘Let your heart retain my words; keep my commands, and live. Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you’” (Proverbs 4:1-6).

So how can we make our family Bible study interesting, effective and age-appropriate?

Read to your children

One method of teaching small children is to read to them. Young children love to be read to. Many parents find their children bringing them books and asking to be read to. It is a wonderful teaching opportunity, so why not use some of this time to teach biblical principles?

There are a number of books that have Bible stories on a child’s level. If you choose good ones that are true to the Bible and suited for them, the stories will not only hold their interest, but help them begin to grasp the truths God provides in His Word.

In addition to Bible story books, see the nearly 50 “Bible Stories” with downloadable coloring pages on Life, Hope & Truth.

As children get older, it may become more difficult to hold their attention in your family Bible studies. There are so many distractions competing for our children’s time and attention—video games, iPods, cell phones, television shows, etc.

But there are things we can do to keep their attention and help them continue to learn.

Tips for making family Bible study enjoyable

Make this time special. While you might want to read something from the Bible every evening, you might want to reserve more time on the Sabbath. (For more on this, see our article “The Sabbath: A Blessing for Families.”)

Consider having a dessert or snack during or after your study time. Consider making time for a relevant craft, activity or game.

Have a routine, but also mix it up—don’t always do the same thing the same way.

Interactive Bible study

One of the best ways to keep children engaged is to make your family Bible study interactive. Involve the whole family in reading and discussions.One of the best ways to keep children engaged is to make your family Bible study interactive. If a topic or story is new to you, make it part of your personal Bible study first.

Involve the whole family in reading and discussions. Ask questions about what a verse or story means or what God wants us to learn from a parable or the life of a righteous man or woman.

Bible study games

Make Bible study into a game. For example, as your children’s Bible knowledge grows, you can find or create Bible trivia questions or play Bible charades. Or try a game of “Catch Me If You Can,” which involves one family member beginning to read from the Bible, while everyone else tries to figure out where he or she is reading from.

Family Bible study can be fun, challenging and still engage our children in the Word of God.

How can I approach Bible study with my children?

There are several approaches one can take to family Bible study. Where do you begin?

Here are some ideas:

Best book of the Bible to start with?

One idea is to begin where it all begins. The title of the first book of the Bible, Genesis, comes from a Greek word meaning origins or beginnings. By reading through Genesis, the family can discuss how everything that exists began through the creative act of God. He made us. He made all of the things that make life enjoyable for us, and He made us for a purpose.

The story flow of Genesis leads right into Exodus, with more foundational stories and lessons. Scroll down to see the list of Old Testament stories and New Testament stories and where you can find them in the Bible.

There is no one right place to start, but some other good books to begin with for following the story flow of the Bible include Joshua (which leads into Judges), 1 Samuel (followed by 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings), Matthew (expanded by the perspectives in Mark, Luke and John) and Acts.

So one approach to Bible study is to just begin reading the Scriptures together, whether in Genesis or 1 Samuel or Matthew or Acts—stopping often to discuss individual verses.

Bible characters

Another approach is to read stories of some of the great men and women of the Bible. There are the stories of Joseph, David and Esther—young people who became great because they loved God and His laws. You can read about the faithfulness of Noah, Abraham and Moses, or the wisdom of Abigail and Solomon.

There are also stories of those who failed because they rejected God’s laws. Others failed because they allowed lust or greed to destroy them. These bad examples can also have clear and easy lessons to relate to our children.

Family Bible study ideas

There is no end to the ideas the Bible addresses that can be of interest and help to your family. Here are just a few:

Many people can name at least some of the 10 Commandments, but can you and your family name them all? More importantly, can we explain what they mean? Powerful lessons can be learned by discussing what the world would be like if everyone obeyed even one of the commandments (for example, “You shall not steal”).

The book of Proverbs is a great book to study with our children and teens. It is one of several books of wisdom literature in the Bible. It was primarily written to help teens and young adults learn how to live life wisely. There are more than a dozen different topics that can be researched and discussed, including:

• How to acquire wisdom and understanding.
• Seeking counsel in decision making.
• Sex and morality.
• Alcohol (drugs).
• Wise handling of our finances.
• The control of our emotions.

The Gospels contain many parables. Jesus Christ used them to teach lessons of life and faith, and we can use those parables to teach our children as well—digging out the meanings He intended. Then we can discuss how to apply the lesson in our own lives.

Scroll down to see the list “30 more family Bible study topics” along with Life, Hope & Truth articles that will provide background and scriptures.

The opportunity to teach your children

God has given parents—both fathers and mothers—the wonderful responsibility to teach their children about Him and His way of life.

Solomon wrote, “My son, hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother” (Proverbs 1:8). This shows the value of the contribution of both father and mother in teaching the children.

It is important to make the family Bible studies age-appropriate. Think of the challenges that each of your children might face in their stages of life, such as choosing friends, being responsible and controlling their emotions. As our children move into their later teen years, there might be questions about repentance, baptism, relationships and, in time, choosing their future mate.

Family Bible studies may provide an avenue for them to ask you about, and for you to help them with, these important questions.

What a great opportunity parents have to teach and share biblical instruction and their own personal experiences with their children to prepare them for a successful future!

For more information and ideas about Bible study, see “How to Study the Bible” and related articles.

Encourage, Equip & Inspire

You can find resources for just about everything discussed in this article in our “Encourage, Equip & Inspire” website. Parents will find studies to inspire them and to use with their children. Sections include:

• The Christian Family.
• The Word of God.
• Shepherding the Heart.
• People of the Bible.
• Memorizing Scripture.
• Additional Resources. This includes dozens of crafts and activities designed for preschoolers through middle schoolers.

30 more family Bible study topics (and resources)

1. Proof of God (see the many different aspects of this under “Is There a God?”)
2. Is the Bible true? (“How Do We Know the Bible Is True?”)
3. Prayer (“How to Talk to God”)
4. 10 Commandments (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5; “10 Commandments for Kids”)
5. Obedience—to parents, to rules and laws, but especially to God (“Obeying Authority” Bible Study Starter)
6. Fruit of the Spirit (“The Fruit of the Spirit”)
7. Holidays or God’s holy days (“Plan of Salvation: How God’s Festivals Reveal His Plan” and “Holy Days vs. Holidays”)
8. Wisdom (“How to Be Wise”)
9. Honesty (“God Cannot Lie. Why Do People Lie?”)
10. Kindness (“Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness”)
11. Contentment (“How to Raise Contented Kids”)
12. Helping others (“A Heart of Service”)
13. Self-control (“Fruit of the Spirit: Self-Control”)
14. Compassion (“How to Be a Good Neighbor”)
15. Perseverance (“Never Give Up: Helping Your Child Build Perseverance”)
16. Courage (“3 Lessons in Courage From the Apostles,” “Be Strong and of Good Courage” and “The Courage to Run”)
17. Responsibility (“The Importance of Taking Responsibility”)
18. Diligence (“Diligence in the Bible”)
19. Thankfulness (“A Thanksgiving Blog in June?”)
20. Being a good friend (“How to Make Friends”)
21. Humility (“Humility: Why It Matters”)
22. Patience (“Patience Is a Virtue That Can Build Relationships”)
23. Apologizing and forgiving (“Learning to Say ‘Sorry’” and “How to Forgive”)
24. Using money wisely (“Six Biblical Personal Finance Principles”)
25. Generosity (“Generosity in the Bible”)
26. Being a peacemaker (“Blessed Are the Peacemakers”)
27. Bullying (“Bullying: What Can You Do to Help Your Child?” and “Could Our Kids Become Bullies?”)
28. Dealing with adversity and tragedy (“Four Keys to Raising Resilient Kids” and “Helping Kids Deal With Tragic Events”)
29. Anger (“What Does the Bible Say About Anger?”)
30. Sexual morality (“Seventh Commandment: You Shall Not Commit Adultery”)

100 Old Testament stories (and where you can find them in the Bible)

1. Creation (Genesis 1-2)
2. Adam and Eve sin (Genesis 3)
3. Cain and Abel (Genesis 4)
4. Noah and the Flood (Genesis 6-9)
5. Tower of Babel (Genesis 11)
6. Righteous Job suffers (Job 1-2, 42)
7. Abram and Sarai obey God (Genesis 12)
8. Abram is a peacemaker (Genesis 13)
9. Abram rescues Lot (Genesis 14)
10. Abram and Melchizedek (Genesis 14)
11. God promises Abram a son (Genesis 15)
12. Abram and Sarai become Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 17)
13. Abraham, Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18-19)
14. Isaac is born (Genesis 21)
15. Abraham is tested (Genesis 22)
16. A bride for Isaac (Genesis 24)
17. Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25)
18. Isaac and Abimelech (Genesis 26)
19. Isaac blesses Jacob instead of Esau (Genesis 27)
20. Jacob leaves home (Genesis 28)
21. Jacob gets married and has children (Genesis 29-30)
22. Jacob leaves Laban (Genesis 31)
23. Jacob becomes Israel (Genesis 32)
24. Joseph and his brothers (Genesis 37)
25. Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 39-40)
26. Joseph saves Egypt and his family (Genesis 41-45)
27. Israel blesses Joseph’s sons (Genesis 48)
28. Israelites become slaves in Egypt (Exodus 1)
29. Moses is born (Exodus 2)
30. Moses flees to Midian (Exodus 2)
31. Moses and the burning bush (Exodus 3)
32. God sends Moses back to Egypt (Exodus 4)
33. Miracles and plagues (Exodus 7-11)
34. The first Passover and Exodus from Egypt (Exodus 12-13)
35. Israelites cross the Red Sea (Exodus 14)
36. Manna and the Sabbath (Exodus 16)
37. Water from the rock (Exodus 17)
38. God gives 10 Commandments (Exodus 19-20)
39. Aaron makes a golden calf (Exodus 32)
40. Building the tabernacle (Exodus 35-36)
41. Nadab and Abihu sin (Leviticus 10)
42. Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses (Numbers 12)
43. Spies sent into Canaan (Numbers 13-14; Deuteronomy 1)
44. Rebellion against Moses and Aaron (Numbers 16-17)
45. Moses strikes the rock (Numbers 20)
46. Balaam and a talking donkey (Numbers 22-24)
47. Joshua to be new leader of Israel (Deuteronomy 31)
48. Moses dies on Mount Nebo (Deuteronomy 34)
49. Joshua to “be strong and of good courage” (Joshua 1)
50. Rahab hides the spies (Joshua 2)
51. Israel crosses the Jordan (Joshua 3)
52. The fall of Jericho (Joshua 6)
53. Ai and the sin of Achan (Joshua 7-8)
54. Treaty with the Gibeonites (Joshua 9)
55. Joshua’s long day (Joshua 10)
56. Joshua’s farewell address (Joshua 23-24)
57. Deborah and Barak (Judges 4-5)
58. Gideon and the Midianites (Judges 6-8)
59. Stories about Samson (Judges 13-16)
60. Ruth and Boaz (great-grandparents of King David) (book of Ruth)
61. Hannah prays for a child (1 Samuel 1)
62. Samuel and Eli the high priest (1 Samuel 2-3)
63. The Philistines take the ark of God (1 Samuel 4-7)
64. Israel demands a king (1 Samuel 8-10)
65. God rejects King Saul (1 Samuel 15)
66. David anointed king (1 Samuel 16)
67. David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17)
68. Saul’s jealousy of David (1 Samuel 18-19)
69. Jonathan and David (1 Samuel 20)
70. David flees, Saul pursues (1 Samuel 21-24)
71. David and the wife of Nabal (1 Samuel 25)
72. David spares Saul a second time (1 Samuel 26)
73. David escapes to the Philistines (1 Samuel 27)
74. Saul consults a medium (1 Samuel 28)
75. Philistines reject David and his men (1 Samuel 29)
76. David and his men pursue the Amalekites (1 Samuel 30)
77. Saul and his sons die (1 Samuel 31; 2 Samuel 1)
78. Stories of King David (2 Samuel 1-24; 1 Chronicles 11-29))
79. Stories of King Solomon (1 Kings 1-11; 2 Chronicles 1-9)
80. The kingdom is divided (1 Kings 12; 2 Chronicles 10-11)
81. Stories about the early kings of Israel and Judah (1 Kings 12-16; 2 Chronicles 12-16)
82. Stories during the time of Elijah (1 Kings 17-22; 2 Kings 1-2)
83. Stories during the time of Elisha (2 Kings 2-13)
84. Stories about later kings of Israel and Judah (2 Kings 14-25; 2 Chronicles 17-36)
85. Jonah is sent to Nineveh (Jonah 1-4)
86. Nation of Israel taken captive by Assyria (2 Kings 17)
87. Isaiah called to be a prophet (Isaiah 6)
88. Nation of Judah taken captive by Babylon (2 Kings 24-25; 2 Chronicles 36)
89. The prophet Jeremiah and the foolish leaders of Judah (Jeremiah 40-45)
90. Ezekiel and a vision of dry bones (Ezekiel 37)
91. Daniel and his friends obey God in captivity (Daniel 1)
92. Daniel explains Nebuchadnezzar’s dream (Daniel 2)
93. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego and the fiery furnace (Daniel 3)
94. Nebuchadnezzar taught a lesson in humility (Daniel 4)
95. Daniel and the writing on the wall (Daniel 5)
96. Daniel in the lions’ den (Daniel 6)
97. Jews return under Zerubbabel (Ezra 1-6)
98. Esther saves her people (Esther 1-10)
99. Jews return under Ezra (Ezra 7-10)
100. Jews return under Nehemiah (Nehemiah 1-6)

70 New Testament stories (and where you can find them in the Bible)

1. The birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1)
2. The birth and childhood of Jesus (Matthew 1; Luke 2)
3. John the Baptist prepares the way (Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:1-20; John 1:19-28)
4. Jesus is baptized (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22; John 1:29-34)
5. Jesus is tempted (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13)
6. Jesus turns water into wine (John 2:1-11)
7. Jesus cleanses the temple (John 2:13-22)
8. Becoming fishers of men (Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:1-11)
9. Jesus heals a paralyzed man (Matthew 9:1-8; Mark 2:1-12; Luke 5:17-26)
10. Jesus heals a man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-15)
11. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-14; Luke 6:1-11)
12. Jesus prays all night and chooses 12 disciples (Mark 3:13-19; Luke 6:12-16)
13. Jesus preaches the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7)
14. Jesus heals centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10)
15. Jesus raises widow’s son from dead (Luke 7:11-17)
16. Jesus teaches in parables (Matthew 13; Mark 4)
17. Jesus raises girl and heals woman (Mark 5:21-43)
18. Jesus sends out disciples (Matthew 10)
19.  Jesus miraculously feeds thousands (Matthew 14:13-21; 15:32-39; Mark 6:30-44; 8:1-9; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14)
20. Jesus walks on water (Matthew 14:22-33; Mark 6:45-52; John 6:15-21)
21. Jesus is transfigured (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:27-36)
22. Jesus and Peter pay their taxes (Matthew 17:24-27)
23. Jesus’ tells parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
24. Mary and Martha welcome Jesus (Luke 10:38-42)
25. Jesus tells parables about a lost sheep, coin and son (Luke 15)
26. Jesus resurrects Lazarus (John 11)
27. Jesus blesses children (Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17)
28. Jesus heals blind Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43)
29. Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:1-9; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-40; John 12:12-19)
30. A widow gives a lot (Mark 12:41-44; Luke 21:1-4)
31. Jesus tells parables of 10 virgins, talents and the sheep and goats (Matthew 25)
32. Mary anoints Jesus (Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; John 12:2-8)
33. Jesus’ last Passover, betrayal and arrest (Matthew 26:17-75; Mark 14:12-72; Luke 22:7-71; John 13-18)
34. Jesus is crucified (Matthew 27; Mark 15; Luke 23; John 19)
35. Jesus is resurrected (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20)
36. Jesus promises Holy Spirit before ascending to heaven (Acts 1:1-11)
37. Judas’ replacement chosen (Acts 1:12-26)
38. Pentecost and the beginning of the Church (Acts 2)
39. Peter and John heal a lame man and preach to people (Acts 3)
40. Peter and John arrested (Acts 4)
41. Ananias and Sapphira lie to God (Acts 5:1-11)
42. Stephen is martyred (Acts 6:8-15; 7:1-60)
43. Saul is converted (Acts 8:1-3; 9:1-30)
44. Peter heals Aeneas and resurrects Dorcas (Acts 9:32-43)
45. God calls Cornelius (Acts 10)
46. Barnabas and Saul (Acts 11:19-30)
47. Peter freed from prison (Acts 12)
48. Saul becomes Paul and preaches (Acts 13)
49. Paul is stoned (Acts 14)
50. Christians have conference in Jerusalem (Acts 15)
51. Paul baptizes Lydia and Philippian jailer (Acts 16)
52. Paul preaches in Thessalonica, Berea and Athens (Acts 17)
53. Paul preaches in Ephesus (Acts 19)
54. Eutychus falls from a window (Acts 20:6-12)
55. Paul journeys to Jerusalem (Acts 20:13–21:14)
56. Paul is arrested in Jerusalem (Acts 21:15–23:10)
57. Paul’s experiences as a prisoner (Acts 23:11–24:27)
58. Paul appeals to Caesar and journeys to Rome (Acts 25-28)
59. Heroes of faith (Hebrews 11)
60. John given a vision (Revelation 1)
61. Messages to seven churches (Revelation 2-3)
62. John sees the throne room of heaven (Revelation 4)
63. The two witnesses (Revelation 11)
64. The woman, the child and the dragon (Revelation 12)
65. The scarlet woman and the scarlet beast (Revelation 17)
66. The fall of Babylon the great (Revelation 18)
67. Jesus Christ returns (Revelation 19)
68. The Millennium and the judgments of God (Revelation 20)
69. New heaven, new earth, New Jerusalem (Revelation 21)
70. Jesus is coming quickly! (Revelation 22)

About the Author

Bruce Gore

Bruce Gore served as a pastor for more than 50 years in the Church of God. He grew up in the South on a farm and met his wife to be at college in Pasadena, California. Bruce and Phyllis were married for more than 50 years before her death in 2019. They had four children and 14 grandchildren.

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