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Bible Reading With Your Kids
What do you wish for your kids?
As a Christian father, to have them grow up to love Jesus and live faithfully for God would no doubt be at the top of your list. But how does that actually happen? What can you do do to advance that goal?
In this short and extremely practical guide, Jon Nielson reminds fathers that reading the Bible each day with our kids is crucial. It's regular exposure to God's word—along with your prayers and the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts—that has the power to shape your children and build a faith in them that will last.
But this book doesn't just leave you with a biblical conviction. It also shows you how to go about this kind of daily Bible reading, providing a stack of practical tips and advice, concrete examples, and warm encouragement.
By the end of this book you'll not only be convinced there is no better spiritual gift to offer your children than consistent and prayer-backed exposure to the word of God... you'll be equipped and encouraged to actually do it.
As a Christian father, to have them grow up to love Jesus and live faithfully for God would no doubt be at the top of your list. But how does that actually happen? What can you do do to advance that goal?
In this short and extremely practical guide, Jon Nielson reminds fathers that reading the Bible each day with our kids is crucial. It's regular exposure to God's word—along with your prayers and the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts—that has the power to shape your children and build a faith in them that will last.
But this book doesn't just leave you with a biblical conviction. It also shows you how to go about this kind of daily Bible reading, providing a stack of practical tips and advice, concrete examples, and warm encouragement.
By the end of this book you'll not only be convinced there is no better spiritual gift to offer your children than consistent and prayer-backed exposure to the word of God... you'll be equipped and encouraged to actually do it.
96 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2017
3 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Jon Nielson
45 books11 followersJon Nielson has worked as director of training for the Charles Simeon Trust, an organization that provides training in biblical exposition. He is currently college pastor at College Church in Wheaton, Illinois, and is author of Bible Study: A Student's Guide.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 28, 2023
An encouragement to read the Bible with your kids that is honest and not shaming. Nothing crazy here. Fairly straightforward read that felt like an older man giving practical advice to a younger dad that is struggling to practice this. I found it helpful.
December 30, 2020
This is a very good, very short booklet on how to read the Bible with your kids. It is practical, encouraging, and shows you how to do it with scripts, ideas, and helpful question suggestions. I highly recommend this as a resource to use in your church to help fathers engage with their kids and the Bible.
October 2, 2020
Short but helpful. Particularly for new dads or for dads who are new Christians, this is a good book to read and implement. He offers some good practical advice, as well as some helps for how it would actually look like to read the Bible with your kids.
November 3, 2022
Short, but packs a punch. Super encouraging and helpful read for any parent- not just dads. Wish he would have added a few more recommendations on resources with younger kids, but overall a really good book.
November 26, 2017
THAT this book like this was written is a big WIN for one star.
THAT this book assumes a high view of the Christian God and his Scriptures is another big WIN. One star. Coupled with that is the warmth and generosity of his convictions related to Scripture and the Holy Spirit’s Power.
THAT this book assumes with much hope that any dad can do this is big WIN, too. One star. The practicality spelled out in its pages make Bible Reading with your kids so doable that no dude is without excuse. Dad, you’ve got a lot packed into this small book to keep you busy for a good long while.
The downsides of this book are negligible. Nielsen could’ve given a hat tip to the place of catechesis in raising one’s kids Christianly (I assume he’d be FOR it). Also, maybe listing a couple other picture story bible suggestions. The back section could be really helpful to any beginner, but it was too long. I look forward to a forthcoming revision in a decade or so when the author and his family get through the teen and early empty nest years.
Before I read the book, I bought a handful of copies because I trust the author and those who’ve influenced him. And, I passed them out to the dads in my church.
Church leaders, keep a stack handy to give to newer Dads.
THAT this book assumes a high view of the Christian God and his Scriptures is another big WIN. One star. Coupled with that is the warmth and generosity of his convictions related to Scripture and the Holy Spirit’s Power.
THAT this book assumes with much hope that any dad can do this is big WIN, too. One star. The practicality spelled out in its pages make Bible Reading with your kids so doable that no dude is without excuse. Dad, you’ve got a lot packed into this small book to keep you busy for a good long while.
The downsides of this book are negligible. Nielsen could’ve given a hat tip to the place of catechesis in raising one’s kids Christianly (I assume he’d be FOR it). Also, maybe listing a couple other picture story bible suggestions. The back section could be really helpful to any beginner, but it was too long. I look forward to a forthcoming revision in a decade or so when the author and his family get through the teen and early empty nest years.
Before I read the book, I bought a handful of copies because I trust the author and those who’ve influenced him. And, I passed them out to the dads in my church.
Church leaders, keep a stack handy to give to newer Dads.
January 15, 2018
A good introduction to reading the Bible with your children.
For me, the best quote came at the beginning of chapter 1. Here Jon Nielson quotes RL Dabney:
The education of children for God is the mos important business done on earth...To it all politics, all war, all literature, all money-making, ought to be subordinated; and every parent especially ought to feel, every hour of the day, that, next to making [their] own calling and election sure, this is the end for which [they are] kept alive by God - this is [their] task on earth.
The 8 practical tips he gives are as follows:
1. Pick a regular time and place for Bible reading.
2. Read short chunks of Scripture.
3. Where possible, pick a literal Bible translation.
4. Stop often to explain and gauge comprehension.
5. Think of age-appropriate questions for follow-up discussion.
6. Connect each story/passage to Jesus
7. Le the Bible reading guide you to a time of prayer.
8. Be willing to do it badly.
He spends the last chapter giving some example plans and scripts from various parts of Scripture.
For me, the best quote came at the beginning of chapter 1. Here Jon Nielson quotes RL Dabney:
The education of children for God is the mos important business done on earth...To it all politics, all war, all literature, all money-making, ought to be subordinated; and every parent especially ought to feel, every hour of the day, that, next to making [their] own calling and election sure, this is the end for which [they are] kept alive by God - this is [their] task on earth.
The 8 practical tips he gives are as follows:
1. Pick a regular time and place for Bible reading.
2. Read short chunks of Scripture.
3. Where possible, pick a literal Bible translation.
4. Stop often to explain and gauge comprehension.
5. Think of age-appropriate questions for follow-up discussion.
6. Connect each story/passage to Jesus
7. Le the Bible reading guide you to a time of prayer.
8. Be willing to do it badly.
He spends the last chapter giving some example plans and scripts from various parts of Scripture.
March 29, 2018
An EXCELLENT primer for anybody who wants to begin to be equipped to study the Bible with kids.
Nielson begins with the convictions that undergird the motivation and necessity for Christian Dad's to read the Bible with their kids. After that he gives tips about what and how to begin. Finally, he provides some detailed examples to paint a vivid picture of how to begin.
I'm thankful for how simple and practical this book is, and how accomplishable it makes this important practice seem. In addition this work is incredibly accessible to anyone at only 96 pages, leaving Dads without excuse. As someone involved in overseeing childrens' ministry in my church I was greatly encouraged by this book and spurred on to help our kids engage with God's living, authoritative, and powerful Word.
Nielson begins with the convictions that undergird the motivation and necessity for Christian Dad's to read the Bible with their kids. After that he gives tips about what and how to begin. Finally, he provides some detailed examples to paint a vivid picture of how to begin.
I'm thankful for how simple and practical this book is, and how accomplishable it makes this important practice seem. In addition this work is incredibly accessible to anyone at only 96 pages, leaving Dads without excuse. As someone involved in overseeing childrens' ministry in my church I was greatly encouraged by this book and spurred on to help our kids engage with God's living, authoritative, and powerful Word.
August 11, 2017
A very convicting and helpful guide for fathers to begin to work on their most crucial task- teaching their children about Jesus and explaining the Gospel. It begins with a great emphasis on the power of the Word of God to change hearts and minds. "If you really believe these things, then your only conclusion must be that there is no better spiritual gift to offer your children than steady and consistent and prayer-backed exposure to this word of God. As Christian fathers, we must do this. And we must do it well." (pg. 21). Nielson then shows concrete ways to put this into practice. I was encouraged and challenged by it, and highly recommend it to any Christian dad!
October 3, 2017
Four stars is a bit misleading, but I'm thinking of a broader audience than myself. Not because I've arrived and others haven't, but because I was taught these things early and not all were (meaning my lack of commitment to Bible reading with my kids is more worthy of chastisement).
If we use the subtitle: "A simple guide for every father," then it's spot on. Nothing groundbreaking, but a good guide to those getting started and there are helpful tips for sure. Worth handing off to a father you know who wants to get started, but needs a "push." And for what it's worth, I didn't just need a gentle push, I needed a good kick in the pants.
If we use the subtitle: "A simple guide for every father," then it's spot on. Nothing groundbreaking, but a good guide to those getting started and there are helpful tips for sure. Worth handing off to a father you know who wants to get started, but needs a "push." And for what it's worth, I didn't just need a gentle push, I needed a good kick in the pants.
June 5, 2021
The author begins with two compelling chapters on why fathers should read the bible with their kids, and the remaining content is focused on imparting practical ways to read the bible with children including a selection of gospel/christ-centred scripts for fathers to use for different literal bible passages. Although I’m not a father, or even a husband, I found this book to be helpful and it reminds me to constantly think about how the audience may perceive my delivery, and I should therefore adjust my delivery accordingly whilst maintaining the goal of pointing them back to Christ and the gospel.
October 16, 2019
Short but had the intense effect of getting me back into Bible reading with my kids. I wish it had more in the way of a plan to follow, especially with young kids. But I’ve started using Long Story Short by Marty Machowski for that.
May 11, 2018
I love the premise of this book, I quite like the book. It's really very short.
February 5, 2019
A good, practical encouragement to parents to help them in reading the Bible as a family. The sample conversations were a little tedious, but the book as a whole is helpful.
February 13, 2019
I don't think I'd read the ESV with a 27 year old let alone my 7 year old - but a great book setting an appropriately high bar but giving manageable expectations also for all Bible-loving Dads.
December 1, 2022
Very good
April 23, 2023
Great book, quick read. Practical. Helpful. Every parent should read!
January 9, 2025
Short and practical.
March 23, 2019
Simple and practical! A great resource for parents to develop an essential Bible reading and understanding habit with their children.
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December 31, 2017For the life of me I cannot remember where I saw this book recommended but I am glad I did. While there is nothing revolutionary in this book, it is a helpful book for parents, especially for those with children 12 and under. Nielson's premise is that many Christian fathers have not been completely convinced that reading the Bible with their children must be done and that many that do simply do not know how to do read the Bible with their children.
Nielson begins by giving theological and practical reasons why fathers should read the Bible with their children. Then he goes on to give practical tips for accomplishing Bible reading, demonstrating that dads do not need a seminary degree to faithfully read and teach their kids the Bible. Finally, Nielson gives some sample reading plans that parents can use.
I would recommend this book for anyone who has children under the age of 12 and that they put into practice the tips found inside.
Nielson begins by giving theological and practical reasons why fathers should read the Bible with their children. Then he goes on to give practical tips for accomplishing Bible reading, demonstrating that dads do not need a seminary degree to faithfully read and teach their kids the Bible. Finally, Nielson gives some sample reading plans that parents can use.
I would recommend this book for anyone who has children under the age of 12 and that they put into practice the tips found inside.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews