“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Currently, I serve as the Children’s Ministry Director at our church. There is nothing I am more passionate about than supporting parents as the primary disciplers of their children. “Jesus’ clear command to his followers is to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20). God’s plan for spreading his message throughout the world is accomplished by His people. Making disciples simply means showing and teaching others about Jesus in your everyday life. This requires intentionality, humility, and grace.” (TLBP Foundations Workbook) We are called to make disciples and that includes making disciples in our own homes.

One of my favorite resources to provide for families is Family Discipleship. It is an excellent resource on how to use time, moments, and milestones to disciple your children. If you do not own a copy, you should order one right now! If you are a church leader, it is also a great book to have available if you have a resource center. One great truth from the book is a lot of the time discipleship can feel ordinary. For example, it is very normal for our children to see me loving a Bible. I love to include them in the process. They can improve fine motor skills, visual discrimination, and literacy skills, but they will also grow in biblical literacy and theology.

“The great commission to go and make disciples starts behind your front door.” Adam Griffin

There are endless ways your child can work alongside you in as you love Bibles. We have listed a few for you!

Preschoolers

• Modeling: So much of discipleship is caught, not taught. Simply work on a Loved Bible in front of your kids.
• Coloring Pages: I love to use The Loved Bible Project’s attributes worksheet. Attributes are words that tell us what someone or something is like. When we read the Bible, we learn the attributes of  God. God tells us who He is and what He is like. Every story, person, place, and event in the Bible is true and helps us learn who God is. Citizens Church created coloring sheets featuring the attributes of God.
• Placing the Insert in the Bible: After your insert is ready, your child could help place it in the Bible. You can remind them the Bible is from God and about God as you work together.

Elementary Age Children:

Younger Elementary:

• Cut Out Printables: We have created printables to go with each section of our Foundations Workbook. Have your child cut them out and even decorate the back! Include them as you look up scriptures and place inserts.
• Create a Bookmark: Have your child make a bookmark to include in your Loved Bible. He/She could design their own or simply write a list of the attributes of God.
• Match Stickers with Written Letters. Using the printables, your child can place a sticker on each letter of the attributes of God cards.

Older Elementary:

Create Attributes of God Cards: As I am working on my Loved Bible, I want to help my child learn the attributes of God. Your child could write down the one of the attributes of God from our worksheet on a notecard (including the definition) to use in your Loved Bible. Your child could also use stickers to spell out the attribute on a card.

Tip: It was really helpful to make a binder and slip all of our free resources into page protectors. Using a dry erase marker kids can work through the list at their own pace and even complete the list on their own. There are moments when I need personal time and my kids can pull out their binder and work through the list!

• Highlight the Verses: This will also help your child grow in knowledge of how to find verses in a Bible. Tip: I found using crayons or colored pencils to highlight is really helpful. I would encourage my child to read through the verse as they highlight, but reading often causes them to highlight slowly and the marker tends to bleed through the page.
  
• Write Out the “Key Truths to Remember” on Post-it Notes: These are shorter truths and usually do not create too much frustration if they mess up and have to re-write. Then they can look up the Scripture, highlight, and add the note.

Teens:

Focus on the Core Truths of the Christian Faith: A great resource to go through with your teen is the Foundations Workbook. The Foundations Workbook covers the basics of the Bible, core truths about Jesus, an overview of the gospel and how the gospel transforms everyday life – our identity, relationships, purpose, growth, etc. You and your teens can make a Loved Bible together or each make one alongside each other.

Here are some helpful resources for the Attributes of God and Family Discipleship:

The Loved Bible Project Attributes of God worksheet

The Village Church Attributes of God lessons

Attributes of God song

Character of God study

The Family Discipleship Podcast

Family Discipleship Guide from The Village Church