Preparing a Free Bible Study for Kids and Teens to Boost Confidence

Watching children suffer is one of the hardest things to endure as a parent. My kids are healthy and happy, so I am not talking about physical suffering (though my heart goes out to those families who sincerely lean on the Lord in the most trying times.) What I am referring to is the day-to-day suffering that comes with hard knocks at school, or private issues they just can't seem to work through and don't share. But as an involved parent, we notice when our kids are down or their self esteem is suffering. And, we begin to brainstorm ways to help all of those things we cannot seem to help - the outside forces of the world.

Last year we moved and it was very hard on both of my middle school children. It was probably normal in retrospect, because adjusting just takes time. But, it was painful to watch. It was then that I got the idea to do a night time Bible Study with my kids before they went to bed. Of course, there are many Bible Studies out there for kids and web sites, but I began to think about lessons I learned at work, where I was a Corporate Trainer of adults. And, one of the key lessons was that participants value the lesson more when they feel like they are choosing to learn, as opposed to "have to." That is when I got the idea to create a Bible Study of my own for my kids.

My kids look forward to the Bible Study, as stereotypical they seem. They ask about it and talk about it in the day, sometimes. I think there were a few key things that helped them embrace studying the Bible that really helped: Choosing their own study topic, adding history or geography and making it current (tying it to things learned in school or things that interest them), and creating questions that help them apply what is learned to exactly what is going on in their life. All of these things help kids feel the peace the Bible brings anyone that reads it. It also demonstrates to your children the most valuable lesson of all, to learn to lean on the Lord for rest.

Let Kids Choose the Topic
By allowing kids to make a choice, they are creating their own investment, or "buy in." Ultimately, the lesson each night is something they select, not something you are forcing upon them. So, the first key lesson is to present your children with several topics and let them select what they want to study. Once a topic is established, aim to cover that in a week or two at most. Then, move on to the next topic they selected.

In our home, I listed 5 Biblical Characters and what I knew about them. I tried to make them sound interesting to kids today. Such as "John the Baptist: Total Rebel. He didn't care what anyone thought, and people thought he was wild. The authorities hated him but he was God's chosen man." Or "Job: Job suffered more than anyone in the Bible. And when we suffer, we need God so much. But the coolest thing about Job is that he believed beyond doubt in something he could not see. Do you have friends, or know people who don't really believe in God, just because they cannot see him? Have you ever suffered and felt like no one understands? Let's learn about this guy and what happened to him. His life was a train wreck - but he believed in God...and you will not believe how the story ends."

I printed these names and descriptions on paper and our first lesson was easy. I asked them to put a 1 by the character that interested them most and a 5 by the least (and rank the others in between 2 - 4.) We keep our lessons really short so I don't lose their interest or make them dread the time. Once we established what they cared about most, I said, "Okay...tomorrow, we will start to learn about John. Thanks for participating...and I can't wait. You won't believe what happens to him." And I found them saying stuff like, "Give us one clue." They were excited. And the next night, I reminded them, this was their choice and they chose wisely. It made a difference and they paid attention with energy because they chose the topic.

We chose people, but you could do the same thing with a topic. You could give them topics like; sex, best friends, serving, etc. I suggest not offering too many choices to start. 5 was a good number for us. Whatever you choose to do remember that making the Bible sound cool is really important because you want them to want to study it with you.

Make it Current
Preparing a Bible Study for kids can be as interesting for you as it is for them, as you dive deeper to understand what you are sharing. In the musical, "The King and I," there is a line that says, "...as a teacher I am taught." I have never found this truer than when studying God's word. One way we can bring this to kids is through history and geography (which are two areas I am always taught in...trying to learn them myself - or refresh my memory.) History and Geography can really hold a child's interest as they are trying to understand how the Bible is real and relevant.

When we studied John the Baptist, one scripture talked about his camel hair clothing. So, I got a sport coat of my husbands made of camel hair and let them feel it. Any time you can help them apply, see or touch what the Bible says, it makes it real. That whole lesson actually turned into a study of camels. So, we took a detour, but it made them feel closer to John and that made it real. That is something I love about making your own study, the ability to step off the path and do things you know will interest your kids.

Another example: We ran across a scripture that said John lived on locust and honey. Gross. As I prepared, I studied online resources like Biblegateway.com, which offers historical references and commentaries or Wiki online, which is great at offering history and facts you may not know. I learned a ton about locust and honey and what that meant and I prepared a snack that may have been common in those days. Food is always a win!

Also, the Bible is very specific about regions and places. This is a great way to bring to life what kids are learning in school. For example, print a map and ask, "Where is Iraq? You know we have soldiers there. Now, this is where John lived in relation to where our soldiers are fighting." Anytime you can make the Bible tie to other learning, they are connecting how real it is and that adds validity to the study and can help strengthen their growing faith.

Application
One of the things people studying the Bible may struggle with the most is bringing the lesson home. In other words, "How does this apply to me today? How does this help me?" The Bible leaves a lot to interpretation and it is not always clear at first glance how totally applicable things are - especially to kids. This is one of the greatest opportunities we have as parents, and often one of the most rewarding. To see the Word become real to your child is a blessing and a treasure that will never leave their heart, or mind. It will offer them peace and hope today, and all the days of their lives.

We do this through questions. I always create a worksheet to go with the study on my computer. I don't make a big, complicated deal of it, just a few simple "fill in the blanks" as I read. Or, I will stop reading after a couple scriptures and say, "take a second to answer questions 1 - 3." This keeps the lesson interactive which is critical to keeping kids on task. Very few are audio learners, most are visual or kinesthetic (touch) learners. The simple act of holding a piece of paper and a pencil will engage them.

Also, questions can allow them to think about what the Bible said and consider for themselves how it applies. For example, when we studied Job, the first few scriptures described how Job "had it all." He had a great life. A questions I composed for my kids was, "When you are 50, what are 3 things you know you want to have...things that the world will look at and say this guy has it all" This simple question allowed them to consider that Job was just a guy...just like them.

Creating a Bible study for your kids has so many benefits for you and for them. But the best ways to keep it interesting and something they want to do are to create "buy in" by letting them choose the topic, make it relevant by tying it to everyday facts and keep it interactive through life application questions. Not only is it free and rewarding, but your children will learn to enjoy studying the Bible, which will give them a lifetime plumb line of confidence that will endure.