A Gift for My Children: Scripture Memorization

I am preparing a gift for my children.  One that will have immeasurable worth.  One that will serve them for the rest of their lives.  It is the gift of scripture memorization.

I have never met a Christian adult who doesn't wish they knew more of the Bible.  Did you know that most of the Bible verses or poems an adult can recite were learned by age 10?  Memorization is a natural skill for young children, and what they learn tends to stick in long-term memory.  It's as though God has given us a window of opportunity for filling our children's minds with His word.

Photo:  Vicki Ashton

Two tools have been very helpful as we focus on memorizing Bible scriptures.

1. Charlotte Mason Scripture Memory System

We spend far less time on memory work since we've started using this system, yet the time spent is far more effective.  We've made it part of our daily routine.  During breakfast, out comes the file box with memory cards.  By reviewing consistently each morning, we only spend 5 minutes per day (or less!) and see amazing results.  I simply printed out this PDF file to use as dividers for our index cards, though I'm considering adding new dividers for quarterly review for those scriptures that have been mastered.  I print out the entire Bible verse on one side of a 3x5 index card and then write the scriptural reference on the other side.  Since my son is an independent reader, he has been able to take charge of his Bible memory file box on his own. 

2. Scriptures In Song
Ever get a song stuck in your head?  As long as we are playing music for our kids, why not add a few albums of Bible scriptures set to music.  Some of our favorites are Hide 'em in Your Heart Vol. 1 by Steve Green and Seeds of Worship.  If you like the Seeds of Worship music, there are free printables for them at their website or at Bible Story Printables.  Another classic starting point for memorizing Bible verses is using the ABC Bible verses.  26 Alphabet Bible Verse Chorus Songs are a great companion to the ABC Bible Verse printables at I Can Teach My Child.  When we find an album of scriptures in song that we like, I print off cards for each scripture and add them to our Charlotte Mason Scripture Memory System.  Covenant Life Church has made free songs of Bible verses available online here so you can get started without spending a dime.  This same method can be used when memorizing entire chapters of the Bible by using resources such as those available from Thy Word Creations..


Wanting to use technology to help with the memorization of scripture?  Fighter Verses includes apps for the iPhone or Android.

What has helped your children with the memorization of scripture?  

Photo: Christianphotos.net

Breaking Down the Barriers to Family Discipleship

Here are some fast facts for you:

• 85% of Christian parents who regularly attend church believe the primary responsibility for teaching their children about the faith rests on their shoulders.  
• 10% of church-going families talk with their children about spiritual matters.  
• 5% of church-going families participate in any kind of family worship (separate from a corporate worship service).

 (Are you scratching your head at these numbers?  Doesn't add up?)  The discrepancy between these figures is staggering, and it speaks to the barriers that families face in doing spiritual training in the home.

Here are just a few of the many barriers that can prevent us from following the Biblical model of discipling our own children:

• Shifting of responsibility.  In our culture, it is very easy to shift the responsibility for the spiritual training of our children onto the church.  Yet God never intended for the church to be primarily responsible for passing the faith on to the next generation.
• Lack of know-how.  Most parents--even if they grew up in a Christian home--have not seen family discipleship modeled.  We know we need to be doing more for our children's spiritual development than just taking them to church.  But we simply don't know what more to do.  What does family discipleship look like in everyday life?
• Lack of support.  Parenting is not for the faint of heart.  When we are discouraged, we need someone to lift us up.  When we feel overwhelmed, we need emotional support.  And sometimes all we need to stay on track is someone else there telling us that we're doing the right thing. 
• Time constraints.  Need I say more?  This is a huge challenge for families today!

These are very real barriers.  I won't minimize them.  The good news is that every one of these barriers can be overcome.

This video is less than two minutes long, but it is a powerful motivator for making the spiritual training our children a priority.




Discipling our children on a day-to-day basis requires absolute dedication.  This blog is about breaking down some of the barriers to making our homes the place where our children's faith is nurtured.  It's about equipping you, encouraging you, and inspiring you in this great endeavor.  Feel free to comment or send me an email telling me what would be helpful to see on Turning Our Hearts.
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Small Group Bible Studies

We all have an inner need to connect with other people.  We were created to need fellowship within a faith community.  It's no coincidence that Jesus Christ and the early church focused on small groups.  They can be a very powerful vehicle for transforming lives and forging strong relationships. 

Today I'd like to share some of my favorite resources for Bible study or group discussions.
  
When They Turn Away: Drawing Your Adult Child Back to Christ

The mission of parenting doesn’t end after your kids become adults. Visionary Family Ministries has been overwhelmed with the number of people we have met around the country who are hurting because their adult children are struggling in their faith…or who have rejected faith all together.  In these four video sessions, Dr. Rob Rienow will encourage you with biblical principles which will inspire you to reconnect with your adult child and give you practical ways to encourage faith in their hearts.


This is available as a 4-part DVD series or in the book When They Turn Away: Drawing Your Adult Child Back to Christ.  Free downloadable participant guides are on the Visionary Family Ministries website and can be printed and given to members of your group.  Want to learn more about this program?  This inspiring video is a must-see!






Visionary Parenting

God has entrusted you with children for a reason! The biblical purpose of parenting is to do all in our power to impress the hearts of our children with a love for God. The souls of our children are our most important Great Commission calling. Visionary Parenting was created to encourage and equip you for this mission.

This is available as an 8-part DVD series or on audio.  The same information is contained in the book Visionary Parenting: Capture a God-Sized Vision for Your Family. This makes it easy to choose the format that best fits your group and budget.  On the Visionary Family Ministries website, you can find descriptions for each of the 8 sessions as well as free downloadable participant guides that can be printed and given to members of your group.  Still not sure if this is the right resource to use for your group?  Listen to the first session free on the website.  Below is a promotional video by Dr. Rob Rienow, the creator of Visionary Parenting.




 
Revolutionary Parenting

If you're like most parents, you think you're doing an okay job - and you probably believe you're doing better than most. But if your goal is to raise kids with a life-impacting faith, that may not be good enough.

Determined to learn the secrets of those who've raised spiritual champions, world-renowned researcher George Barna conducted a series of surveys and thousands of personal interviews with both young adults and their parents.

In the process, he was able to uncover a number of common denominators to parenting success. Some of his findings will encourage you; others will surprise you. But be forewarned - raising a spiritual champion takes Revolutionary Parenting.

Audio CD, parent workbook, leader guide with DVD, and the book Revolutionary Parenting: Raising Your Kids to Become Spiritual Champions are available from The Barna Group website or Amazon.  Small group packages are also available.  Want to know what makes this book different from other Christian parenting materials?  Check out this interview with George Barna:







Family Time Training

Are you enjoying using Family Time Training with your own family?  Consider sharing this idea with other Christian parents.  They will appreciate learning about it also!  For suggestions about how to present the material, go to Family Time Training's self-led training page.

Photo: Microsoft Images

If you are already part of a cell group, parent group, or small group Bible study, these resources are fantastic material for stimulating thought, discussion, intentionality, and motivation.  If you are not currently part of a small group, consider inviting some friends to discuss some of these materials with you.

Family Time Training: An Effective Tool for Passing On the Faith to Your Children

Is it your desire to make your home the place where your child’s faith is planted and blossoms?  Do you want your child to know a living and dynamic God?  How can you make spiritual training the most exciting part of their week?

Through "Family Night" activities (or "Family Time Training"), parents and grandparents utilize the same teaching techniques that Jesus Christ used, creating memorable and engaging spiritual lessons.  This teaching strategy is practical for today's busy families because it requires little or no preparation time.  Though lessons are completed in only 10-20 minutes, the activities provide a springboard for spiritual conversations long after the activity has ended.  This video, by Kurt Bruner of Heritage Builders, explains how Family Night activities work:




A famous Chinese proverb states:  "Tell me and I'll forget; show me and I may remember;  involve me and I'll understand."   These activity-based lessons increase children's understanding of spiritual matters and strengthens their connection to God.  Additionally, we don't just form a theoretical analogy.  The object lessons used are made very concrete because that is the way children learn best.

Family Time Training is an incredibly versatile strategy to use.  You can do this with children from age 2 to age 18.  As a parent, you know your child's character weaknesses and potential stumbling blocks.  Whatever spiritual goals you have for your child-- increase their knowledge of the Bible, develop specific character traits,  gain a better understanding of the plan of salvation, understand the basic gospel message, learn about the attributes of God, etc.--you can probably find a Family Nights activity to address those goals.

Photo: Microsoft Images

The real beauty of Family Nights is that it creates a natural way to incorporate spirituality into everyday discussions.  After you have this fun common experience, it becomes very easy to refer back to it.  By doing so, you will drive home the real life application of the spiritual principle that was taught.  Family Nights are fun for all and make the goal of Deuteronomy 6 attainable for busy families today.

Looking for resources to help you get started?  Family Time Training posts a free activity every month.  Additionally, you can find activity books in their online store.   Heritage Builders also has an excellent series called the Family Nights Tool Chest.  Both organizations have lesson books for families with preschoolers through teens.  Mad About Jesus has some fantastic object lessons for teens, and the lessons can be easily adapted for use in the family setting.

If you live in the Cincinnati area and would like me to do a workshop, sharing this technique with your small group, please email me.

Please share your experiences using this teaching technique.  I would love to hear your stories!

Favorite Christian Picture Books for Children

Photo:  Microsoft Images

What could be cozier than cuddling on the couch together or snuggling under the covers at bedtime to read a book with your child?  In those sweet moments, your child’s heart is open and receptive.  Some of my fondest memories of childhood are memories of my mother reading to me.  I sincerely hope that someday my boys will reflect on the memories of our time reading together with as much tenderness.

I thought it would be fun to talk about some of our favorite picture books with Christian themes.  Please comment and share your favorites as well.

Any discussion of favorite Christian authors seems incomplete without including Max Lucado.  Many of his children’s stories are so rich that the content is very appropriate for older children as well.  (If your older child thinks that picture books are too babyish for himself, you may want to suggest that he read some of these books to a younger sibling or friend.)  Max Lucado has written so many beautiful children’s stories that it is difficult to distill our collection down to our absolute favorites.  Here are the ones I chose:

The Oak Inside the Acorn (Novel) by Max Lucado
Little Acorn sees other trees as something special.  Despite his fears and inadequacies, Little Acorn does his best and in the end finds the truth in his mother’s words: “Within you is a great oak.  Just be the tree that God made you to be.”



The Way Home: A Princess Story by Max Lucado
Here is one princess story that both my boys enjoyed!  Full of danger and adventure, it tells the tale of a princess who is lured by deceit and her intrigue about the Lowlanders.  Her father comes to rescue her, and she needs to put all her trust in him.  This is an allegorical tale that will have richer meaning for an older child but can still be enjoyed by a young child.


The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado
The little lamb in this story feels inferior to the other sheep because he walks with a limp.  He is removed from the pasture and put in a barn, which makes him very sad.  At the conclusion of the story, he realizes that his bad leg allows him to do something that none of the other sheep can—welcome baby Jesus.



Other favorite picture books for our family include:

The Squire and the Scroll: A Tale of the Rewards of a Pure Heart [With CD (Audio)] by Jenie Bishop
A boy is sent on a dangerous quest to help save his kingdom.  As a guide, he is given a scroll of ancient words to help him.  He follows the instructions on the scroll, keeping his heart pure and avoiding many perils.  This allegory is innocent enough to read to a very young child, though an older child will better understand the symbolism and deeper meaning.  The Princess and the Kiss: A Story of God's Gift of Purity [With CD (Audio)] is a parallel story written for young girls. Companion books are available: Life Lessons from the Squire and the Scroll (Revive Our Hearts) and Life Lessons from the Princess and the Kiss (Revive Our Hearts).   We enjoyed this story when my son was 5, but we are planning to make a fun study out of it again in a few years by using the companion book and these printables from the Guesthollow blog. Printables for The Princess Kiss are available from Homeschoolblogger.


What is God Like? by Beverly Lewis
A father tells his children, "Even when I'm not here, God is always with you."  As they go about their daily routine, the brother and sister remember things know about God.  This book communicates how awesome and powerful God is while also conveying His concern for the small details of our lives.


God Gave Us Love  by Lisa Tawn Bergren
The God Gave Us . . .  series is told from the perspective of Little Cub, a curious polar bear.  A particular favorite is God Gave Us Love in which Little Cub is irritated by some annoying seals.  Grampa Bear explains that we need to share God’s love with others—even those who are annoying.  It’s a very cute approach to a spiritual lesson about a situation that every child faces at one time or another.


If Jesus Came to My House (reillustrated) (HarperBlessings) by Joan Gale Thomas
A boy imagines what it would be like if the boy Jesus came to visit.  He would no longer be afraid of the shadows at night.  He would pick flowers for Jesus and share his toys with him.  Of course, he realizes that the boy Jesus cannot visit him.  But he knows that he can talk with Jesus and that Jesus is with him so there is no need to fear the shadows.  This picture book is a sweet gentle way to teach your children the meaning of the verse “What you did unto the least of these . . . you did unto Me. (Matthew 25:34-40).


Five-Minute Devotions for Children: Celebrating God's World as a Family by Pamela Kennedy
This is really a devotional rather than a picture book, but I couldn’t leave it out because has read and re-read it with so much delight.  Children seem to be naturally drawn to animals.  On each page of these books is a paragraph about a particular animal and their unique characteristics.  A second paragraph draws a parallel to a specific character trait we need to develop or to God’s own nature.  There are fun colorful illustrations, a relevant Bible verse.  The questions provided for you to ask your child are well designed to help the child see the real life application of the Biblical lesson without feeling put on the spot.  If you enjoy this book, you'll also want to read More Five Minute Devotions for Children: Celebrating God's World As A Family.


His Mighty Warrior: A Treasure Map from Your King by Sheri Rose Shepherd
This is another book that is closer to a devotional than a story book.  It’s a collection of letters from God to a young boy.  The first letter begins “My Son, I have chosen you to do something great for my kingdom.  You are not just a boy—you are the child of the King, and I am your Father in heaven.  I want you to know that I am the same God who chose King David when he was just a little boy, and I have chosen you to show the world who I am. . . .Never forget who you are or who I am, and you will become a strong and mighty warrior for me.”  The illustrations are pirate-themed, and most of the letters center around a particular character trait.  What makes the book so special is the intimacy conveyed in the letters.  Beside each letter is a Bible verse and a short prayer.  Each letter is about a paragraph—very quick bedtime reading to help your child develop a deeper connection with God.  His Little Princess: Treasured Letters from Your King (His Princess)is a parallel book written especially for girls.


What are some of your favorite Christian picture books?

Photo: Bennewitz

Object Lessons in the Bible

This is what I lightheartedly refer to as my "woefully incomplete list of object lessons on the Bible." For every one listed here, there are numerous others that are not listed. When I started looking for object lessons in the Bible, I found that the Bible was full of them--cover to cover. Matthew 13:34 states that Jesus Christ always taught the multitude by using an illustration. This teaching technique seems to be one of the primary methods that God uses to teach human beings about spiritual matters. If the Creator of our minds--who knows exactly how we learn--chooses to use this teaching tool, doesn't it make sense that using object lessons would be an effective method for teaching our children faith lessons?  For ideas about how to incorporate object lessons into a fun form of spiritual training, please read my post about Family Time Training.

Source: Christianphotos.net

Lev 16 and Heb 8-9 sacrifices and the shedding of blood 

Lev 23:42 dwelling in booths  

Josh 4 stones in remembrance 

II Sam 22:2; Ps 18:2; Is 26:4 God is a stronghold (rock, fortress)  

Ps. 69:1-2 trials compared to turbulent water  

Ps 119:103 Scriptures likened to honey 

Prov 6:6-8, 30:24-25 ant colony represents diligence 

Pr 11:22; Mat 7:6* Someone who cannot appreciate spiritual matters is compared to a pig 

Is 64:8; Jer 18:6 God’s people as clay 

Jer 5:14 God’s Word compared to fire 

Jer 13:1-11 linen girdle 

Jer 19:1, 10-11 shattered honey jars depict destruction of Judah

Jer 27:2-11 bonds and yokes 

Ezek 4:1-3; Ezek 5 illustrations on tile, shaving of head 

Ezek 24:3-14 meat boiling in pot 

Hos 1:2-9 Hosea’s marriage to a prostitute 

Mat 3:10, 7:16-20; Gal 5:22 fruit likened to spiritual maturity 

Mt 5:13* Christians are salt of the earth 

Mat 7:3*; Lk 6:41* Board illustrates blindness to your faults 

Mat 7:24-27* practicing faith like strong foundation 

Mat 9:35-38*; Lk 10:2* People ready to convert referred to as harvest 

Mat 10: 29, 31* God’s care for sparrow teaches about His care for us 

Photo:  © Leloft1911

Mat 13:19-23* 31-32* Truth compared to seeds 

Mat 17:20* faith like a mustard seed
Mat 25:32-33*; I Pet 5:2 Christians described as flocks of sheep
Lk 13:34* God’s protection like a hen gathering chicks 

John 1;29, 36 Jesus is the Lamb of God 

John 3:8* wind as example of Holy Spirit 

John 4:14* water refers to life 

John 8:12* Jesus is the light 

John 13:14-15* foot washing 

I Cor 5:6 Sin described as leaven 

I Cor 11: 24-26* broken bread and wine as a symbol of Christ’s sacrifice 

Heb 4:12 God’s word like a sword 

Heb 6:8 worthless faith compared to thorns 

I Pet 5:8-9 Satan depicted as lion 

*direct quote from Jesus Christ

-List compiled from The Heart of Wisdom Teaching Approach by Robin Sampson, Larry Fowler's writings, and personal Bible study

Review: The Power of Teachable Moments

When I first picked up The Power of Teachable Moments by Jim Weidmann and Marianne Hering, I anticipated a quick browse would confirm that it really had nothing to offer me.  What a surprise when I was fully engrossed before the end of the first page!  I laughed aloud as one of the authors, candidly described the chaos in her household that followed having twins.  Mrs. Hering felt very out of touch with her daughter during those critical teenage years, and that is what motivated her be purposeful in her use of “teachable moments.”

Teachable moments is an incredibly versatile strategy because it can be used with children of any age.  Requiring no lesson plans, manuals, special knowledge, or preparation time, it is easy to implement and is suitable for families with busy schedules because it just takes a few minutes.  Although the book’s target audience is parents, this strategy would work beautifully for grandparents or anyone else who has a special relationship with a child.

Source: www.christianphotos.net

What is a “teachable moment”?  Many of us think of a crisis when we hear that phrase.  The authors define it as a moment when something occurs that affords an opportunity to impart a spiritual truth.  To be successful, a teachable moment requires three components:  a satisfactory relationship with the child, the catalyst (which may occur spontaneously or be parent-orchestrated), and Biblical truth.  Examples of catalysts may be watching a movie together, a question posed by the child, seeing a spider, or making a wrong turn while driving. 

This book opened my eyes to everyday occurrences that can be meaningful opportunities for spiritual training.  Filled with stories from real parents and children who share successful and unsuccessful teachable moments, the book was unexpectedly entertaining.  As I read, I felt as though someone was coming alongside me and mentoring me in how to spontaneously teach my child about God and His ways. 

At the end of the book, the authors have included “101 Common Opportunities for Uncommon Teaching.”  These opportunities include noticing a butterfly, seeing a military uniform, being stuck in traffic, relying on a flashlight during a power outage or camping trip, celebrating a birthday, enjoying watching a baby, feelings of inadequacy, or observing your child share or make a personal sacrifice.  The 101 Common Opportunities, as well as examples throughout the text, leave the reader well equipped for creating their own teachable moments. 

-Reprinted from Faith Networks newsletter in 2011