God’s Word: Show Them Where Truth Comes From
Don’t just reference the Bible — make it your visible, active teaching tool every time.
Aside from our primary goal of leading kids to Jesus and helping them build a personal relationship with Him, a close second must be this: teaching them to love, trust, and use the Word of God.
It’s not enough to simply teach from the Bible — we need to teach kids how to use the Bible for themselves. Long after they leave our ministry, if we’ve imparted a love of God’s Word and the skills to navigate it, we will have equipped them with the greatest spiritual tool they’ll ever need.
Without this foundation, we risk spiritually handicapping them for life. It’s like the old saying: Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime. The same applies to our teaching:
If we merely teach kids a Bible lesson, we may feed them spiritually for a week. But if we teach them how to read, study, and apply the Bible on their own — we will help them feed themselves for a lifetime.
So how do we do this? Here are some practical ways to model a love for God’s Word and equip kids to engage with it:
1. Don’t just flash verses on screen — Teach Directly from a Real Bible.
Yes, putting Scripture on a screen is helpful — but don’t let it replace holding an actual Bible in
your hands. When you teach, open a real Bible in front of the kids. Let them see that this Book is your source, not just the slides on the screen.
When kids see you opening a worn, marked-up Bible, it sends a powerful message: This Book
matters. It’s loved. It’s trusted.
“A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”
— Charles Spurgeon
2. Keep Your Notes Inside Your Bible to Show That It’s Your Source.
When I teach, I often tuck my notes inside my Bible. Not just for convenience — but to visually
demonstrate that my message is coming from Scripture, not my own clever ideas. You’re subtly communicating: “Everything we’re talking about today comes straight from this Book.” That visual impression sticks.
3. Model Love, Respect, and Excitement for the Scriptures.
Your tone, body language, and handling of the Bible will say more than your words. When you hold it carefully, open it eagerly, and refer to it frequently, kids will catch your passion.
Speak of the Bible with reverence: “Let’s see what God says about this.” Celebrate moments when kids discover truth: “Isn’t that amazing? That’s right here in God’s Word!” Let them hear how the Bible has guided you: “When I faced a hard decision, this verse helped me know what to do.”
Your excitement is contagious. If you’re casual or dismissive about the Bible, so will they be. If you treasure it, they will too.
Above all, teach kids how to use the Bible.
Teach them:
- How to navigate the Bible – Old/New Testament, types of books it contains, structure of the Bible.
- How to find books and chapters, learning how Bible verse references work. Book Chapter:Verse
- How to read passages in context rather than stand-alone verses.
- How to underline key verses in their Bible for future reference.
- How to apply what they read to their lives.
- How to care for their Bible and treat it as the treasure it is!
Don’t assume they know these skills — model them. Take the time to walk through them. If the only time they see a Bible used is when you hold it on stage, they will never feel comfortable using it themselves.
Encourage them to bring their Bibles to church — and to mark them up! A marked Bible becomes a personal treasure.
Planting the Word in kids’ hearts today will grow rooted disciples tomorrow.
My Prayer for You:
Lord, thank You for the Living Word You have given us. Help us not only to teach from it but to treasure it in our hearts and hands. Let Your Word be the foundation of everything we communicate to children. Equip us to raise a generation of kids who love, trust, and live out Your Word.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
FINAL THOUGHT:
“Planting the Word today grows rooted followers.”
“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 3:16-17
