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Tips for
reading the Bible together at home
I will
study the way that is blameless. When shall I attain it? I
will walk with integrity of heart within my house. Ps 101:2
A weekly or monthly Family Bible Study ritual is a powerful
way for adults and children to come to know God. God is
revealed as we listen and talk together as a family in a
shared quest to engage the Bible. Together, as we read the
Bible, we affirm the mystery and meaning of our lives.
Together we experience a vision of the world as it is
intended to be. Together we find insight for tomorrow. When
we regularly study the scripture with our children, our
faith and lives are shaped together in graceful ways.
Consider using one or several of the following approaches
in your Family Bible Study ritual. Decide as a family where
and when you want to study the Bible. Consider a
comfortable room, where everyone can sit; or a special
location set aside only for your Family Bible Study. You
may find it helpful to set the time apart by lighting a
candle, singing a song or psalm, and praying. Consider
purchasing or using a “family Bible,” providing easy to
read Bibles for every family member, or encouraging family
members to bring their own Bibles.
The following approaches involve various levels of
difficulty. Review each approach to determine its
appropriateness for your family. Advance preparation,
including gathering Bibles, commentaries, paper, pencils,
glue, scissors, or other items, may be necessary for some
Bible study experiences. Those Bible study methods ideal
for families with young children are labeled with an
asterisk.(*) Most of the Bible study approaches can be
accomplished in thirty to sixty minutes.
Before you begin any of these Bible studies it is important
to recall that the biblical story is a symbolic narrative.
The goal of these approaches is not to explain a passage,
prove a point or find a moral. These approaches will assist
your family members to make meaning on varying levels, as
they are able. Our insights vary, depending on our age,
needs and experiences. God, however, can use the variety of
insights in your Family Bible Study to show both divine and
human love.
Sample Gathering Prayer:
Loving God, you have given us many gifts for which we are
thankful in our family. Bless the ties that bind our family
together. Send your soothing peace to heal the wounds we
inflict on those we love. Help us to forgive others as you
forgive us. Help us to draw strength and comfort from our
study of your holy word, and from those in our family.
Amen.
The following Bible study (#1) is suggested for “first
time” family Bible study experiences.
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Share an Experience with the Bible*
Invite family members to respond to any or all of the
following questions:
• My favorite Bible story is?
• My least favorite Bible story is?
• When I hear the Bible read I think/feel...
• When I study the Bible I think/feel...
• One question I have concerning the Bible is...
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TRIP Bible Study
Read a Bible verse or passage and then ask the following
four questions of that verse. Share your response with
others as the Spirit leads you.
• What in this pas sage am I Thankful for?
• What does it reveal that I Regret or need to confess?
• How should I Intercede or what should I pray for
• What Purpose for my day does this passage give me?
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Inductive
Bible Study
Read a Bible passage and ask the following questions:
• What does the text say? (or similar observation or
knowledge question),
• What does it mean? (or similar interpretation or
understanding question),
• What does it mean to us as a family? (or similar
application or evaluation question).
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African Bible Study
Invite the family to listen as one member reads the
selected passage. Each member is then give the opportunity
to respond to the question, “What word or phrase seems most
significant or meaningful for you, and why?” The passage is
read a second time and each member responds to the
question, “How does this passage speak to your life now,
and why?” The passage is then read for a third time and
members respond to the question, “What will you change or
do this week in response to this passage, and why?”
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Voices of the Story*
In this study, a chosen passage is read and family members
identify the biblical characters, individuals or groups.
Each family member is assigned or selects a character,
reads the story from the perspective of their character,
and then shares what they (as the character) saw, heard,
experienced, and felt.
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Short Term Memorization*
In this study, participants are given ten minutes to
memorize a selected passage. They then gather in pairs. One
partner shares the passage from memory, while the other
partner makes note of words or phrases shared correctly,
omitted or changed. The partners then exchange roles.
Small group discussion grows out of the participant’s
response to the questions: “What was the easiest part to
memorize, and why?” “What was most difficult, and why?”
“What words or phrases were changed, and why?”
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Story Then and Now
In this study, the chosen passage is explored by asking the
questions: “What is the setting?” “When is this taking
place?” “How does the story line progress?” “Who is the
audience?” “How would they understand the point of the
story?” Next, participants take the story from its biblical
setting and place it in a contemporary setting by
responding to the questions: “Who are the contemporary
people who would correspond to the biblical characters?”
‘What would be the setting?” etc.
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Encounter the Bible
Select a Bible passage and present the passage through
dramatic reading, discussion, research, drama, song, dance,
etc. Ask, “What is the question to which this text
responds?” Invite response. Then ask, “What further
questions does this question and response evoke?” Use
commentaries, concordances, dictionaries of the Bible, etc.
to research according to the questions raised. Share with
the entire group discoveries and allow for further
questions and critical reflection. Summarize the learning
and identify questions for further study.
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Walking Around in the Bible*
Select a Bible passage to study. Invite family members to
close their eyes and let their
imagination move them to places described in the passage.
Read or listen to a recording of the passage. Invite all
family members to open their eyes and share the feelings
they have at the moment. Encourage family members to
briefly tell the story of their “walk” in the Bible by
inviting them to respond to the following questions:
• How did you feel in the situation?
• What were you trying to accomplish?
• What did you actually do?
• Who was involved with you?
You may wish to have another member record on paper or
newsprint the feelings, intentions, and observations shared
Next, invite the same family member to tell how they
believe God was involved in this experience. The following
questions m ay help with that sharing:
• What was God doing?
• Were you aware of God’s presence?
• Could you visualize God’s presence?
• What did it seem God wanted from you or for you?
Finally, allow any family member who desires to share how
their “walk” was similar or different.
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Sharing Method*
Read the chosen Bible passage aloud using different voices
for different characters. One person can read the narrative
lines. Use a contemporary Bible translation if possible.
Discuss the thoughts, feelings and sensations evoked by the
passage. Discuss the following question: “What does this
passage say to you about relating to others?” If helpful,
use a commentary or other reference book to become familiar
with the background of the passage. Invite family members
to discuss situations in their life similar to the Bible
story. Ask, “What changes could be made to improve your
relationship with some one with whom you struggle to get
along?” Discuss as a
family any insights gained from this passage.
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Family Bible Study*
Select a Bible story to read out loud. Invite family
members to pay close attention to what in the story stands
out for them. Have the Bible passage read, or listen to a
record or video presentation of the story. If helpful,
suggest family members write down what words, people and
images most impressed them. Next, determine what God may be
saying to your family in this passage. Ask, “How is this
story the story of our life as a family? Where are their
connections to our life together” Encourage family members
to share personal examples of when they faced this or
similar situations. Ask, “What does this passage say to
those situations?” Explore as a family ways you can live
more fully in the future because of this encounter with the
Bible story.
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Paraphrasing*
Select a short passage of Scripture to study. Take a sheet
of paper and divide it into two sections by drawing a line
from top to bottom. Head one column “Paraphrase” and the
other “Application,” Working as a family, read the passage
in the following sequence:
• identify key persons, places or things (nouns)
• identify key action words (verbs)
• identify other significant words
Working from the list you created, paraphrase the passage
in common, everyday language. Once the paraphrase is
complete, apply your “translated” passage to your family’s
life and situation. Consider the following questions to
help with application:
• Where do you see this working in your life or the life
of our family?
• What new possibility is here?
• What would might happen if we took these words
seriously?
• What person or situation do these words suggest we look
at differently?
As family members respond, encourage asking each other
questions.
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Head,
Heart and Hand
Choose a Bible passage to study. Invite family members to
listen to the passage as it is read. Encourage the use of a
theological dictionary, concordance, or other biblical
resources to read about the meaning of the passage, why it
was written and the context in which it was written.
Ask individuals to share what they find with the entire
family. Invite family members to listen as the passage as
it is re-read and pick out the heart of the passage. Ask
individuals to share with others in the family. Invite
family members to listen as the passage is read for a third
time and quietly reflect on what God is saying to through
this passage. Ask them to select an action they will do
this week as a result of studying this passage. Encourage
everyone to share their action with the entire family.
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Depth Method
Choose a Bible passage to study. Invite family members to
share their responses to the following questions:
• What does this say to our world?
• What does this say to our country?
• What does this say to our community?
• What does this say to our congregation?
• What does this say to our family?
• What does this say to me?
Encourage family members to accept all contributions to the
discussion.
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Discover and Create*
Select a Bib le passage. Invite the family to listen t o
the passage as it is read twice. Encourage family members
to reflect on the passage by:
• identifying the images that came to them as they were
listening
• identifying the feelings they had as they listened to the
passage
Ask family members to make a visual expression that
summarizes their images and feelings.
Provide paper, pencils, crayons, construction paper,
scissors, glue, tape, and magic markers.
After the visual expressions are finished invite each
family member to talk about what they created and what it
means to them.
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Eight Questions
Select and read out loud a Bible passage to study. As a
family work through the following questions in order. Refer
to Bible commentaries and other resources as helpful.
• Where and when does this story take place and from whose
viewpoint is it described?
• Who are the main characters in the passage?
• What are the difficult words or phrases in the passage?
• What historical situation lies behind the passage?
• What are the main ideas of the passage?
• What do you think the passage meant for those who first
heard it?
• What does the passage s ay to people today?
• What do you hear God saying to our family through this
passage?
Provide opportunity for every family member to share their
responses to the “eight questions.”
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Four-Step Method
Choose a short Bible passage or story to study.
Individually compose your own “translation” of the passage.
Relate your translation to your life by responding to the
following questions:
• Where do I see this working in my life?
• What new possibility is there here for me?
• What would I be concerned about if I took these words
seriously?
• What would I view differently than I do now?
Gather as family and take turns reading translations. Try
to arrive at a consensus about the meaning of the passage
by focusing on the possibilities for your family now.
Sample Scattering or Sending Prayer
Thank you Jesus for this time together as a family. Thank
you for the opportunity to hear your word, listen to one
another and share our own thoughts. Bless us as we leave
from this special study. Send us more boldly to run the
race set before us. We go now in Christ’s name. Amen.
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