4 Tips for Using the Bible as an Educational Tool

What blows me away about the Bible every time that I pick up a copy and leaf through it, is how much it can help everyone in so many different facets in life. Having been raised reading the Bible at home, and now having kids of my own, I think using the Bible for educational purposes is one of the best ways to get your kids interested in the Lord as well as reading, writing, and comprehension. Here’s how I’ve used the Bible to help my kids both educationally and spiritually:

1. If your kids are young, pick stories with very linear and exciting plots.

Of course, we all know that everything written in the Bible is valuable, but some parts are more age-appropriate than others, depending on your kid’s reading level. Young kids who are just starting to learn how to read take interest more readily when reading stories like Noah’s Ark, Jonah and the whale, the Resurrection, the parables, etc. Since you know your child best, pick stories based on their interests, so reading the Bible starts as being a joy and not a chore.

2. When reading the Bible together, have them read out loud.

Taking turns reading Bible passages out loud is a great way for kids to practice diction. Learning to tell a story is critical to understand the story, and telling it out loud often serves to reinforce comprehension. What’s more, when your child runs into a tricky word that she may not understand, you can stop and look it up together, which helps to build vocabulary.

3. Discuss stories you read both in a didactic and literary sense.

When my parents used the Bible as an educational tool, we’d read a story together one evening, then the following evening during dinnertime we’d discuss the story we read. Having a one day gap between reading and discussion time enabled us to really think about what we had read and formulate how we felt about whichever story we read. Talking about stories both in terms of what it means for us spiritually, as well as just talking about the story on a literary level is a great way to improve both comprehension and cultivate spirituality.

4. Have your kids practice writing through written responses to Bible stories.

If your children are old enough to write, you can also incorporate mini-essays into Bible study as well. For example, have a set of questions about the story in mind, and give your children a week or so to write short response to these questions. Talk about their responses and correct any errors. Of course, your child may already have plenty of exposure to the Bible through church and perhaps school. However, using the Bible in a home education setting is a great way to bring your family together through Christ. Good luck!

This guest post is contributed by Angelita Williams, who writes on the topics of online courses.
She welcomes your comments at

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