Guided Studies Level
"Andrew knows almost all the Bible stories; we’ve read them together since he was a baby. I think he’s ready for something more," Andrew’s mom commented.
"How are his writing skills?" Barb asked.
"Oh, he’s comfortable writing a few sentences or a short letter," came the reply.
"Yes, it sounds like he’s ready to move on to the Guided Studies Level," Barb affirmed.
Remember the three levels involved in teaching the Bible to toddlers through teens? Great Stories Level, Guided Studies Level, and Independent Studies Level.
When children are small, they love to hear stories. So we read them the great stories of the Bible. Once they have a good foundation in those stories and are comfortable with writing, they can move on to the Guided Studies Level. At this level they begin to learn sound Bible study methods as we, the parents, guide them through some Bible studies. In other words, we do the studies together. Once they learn how to accurately study the Bible, they can graduate from guided studies to independent studies and are prepared to study the Bible on their own for the rest of their lives.
The Guided Studies Level is a transitional level. In it the child is moving from a "feed-me" state to a "show-me-how-to-feed-myself" state. And what a blessing you will experience as you walk with her each step of the way!
A guided Bible study involves three basic steps: observe (what does it say), interpret (what does it mean), and apply (how can I live it). If you think about it, you do those three steps naturally. Imagine that you receive an e-mail from your sister, Deb, that says, "I got my airline tickets today. I should be arriving at your airport on the 5th at 1:37 PM. Can somebody pick me up? I get to stay for a week. Looking forward to seeing everybody!" First, you read the e-mail until you’re sure you’ve got the details correct (observe). Then you check your calendar and write in the information because you understand that Deb’s e-mail means that she is coming for a visit (interpret). When the day arrives, you get her bed ready and you plan your schedule around picking her up at the appointed time (apply).
You do the same three steps in Bible study: observe, interpret, and apply.
Step One: Observe (What does it say?)
The key to this step is to read the passage. Now, that key sounds obvious until you realize how many mistakes are made because people didn’t pay attention to what they read. So read the passage several times and ask the basic five W questions: Who, What, Where, When, Why, (and go ahead and throw in How). If you’re dealing with a longer passage, divide it into paragraphs to keep it in manageable chunks. Most Bibles have the paragraphs marked.
After a few studies, once you and your child get comfortable with the W questions, you can look for a few more observations like comparisons and contrasts; "if . . . then" or "since . . . therefore" statements; and word definitions. Write down all your observations so you’ll have them for Step Two.
Step Two: Interpret (What does it mean?)
Review all your observations and ask yourself, "What is the main idea of this passage?" See if you can write that main idea in one sentence. That sentence doesn’t have to contain all the details you found in Step One, but it certainly should not contradict them.
Step Three: Apply (How can I live the main idea in my life?)
Make sure your child understands the significance of James 1:22-25. Don’t just study the Bible for knowledge, live what it says. This step can be discussed gently, but don’t force the child to come up with a pithy "application to real life." Pray together and ask the Lord to remind you of this passage the next time you encounter a situation in which you should apply its principle. Then walk with your child throughout the day’s events and talk about what passages God reminds you of in various situations and how you responded to His Holy Spirit’s promptings. That’s discipleship–encouraging each other to live God’s Word in everyday events.
What an important heritage to pass on to our children! Sadly, many parents neglect this important responsibility and privilege. They think it’s the youth pastor’s job or the Sunday School teacher’s job. But Scripture says it is the parents’ job to teach God’s Word to the children. (See Deuteronomy 6:5-7.) Just think: if one generation of parents neglects to pass on this spiritual skill, their children grow up thinking they aren’t qualified to teach their own kids. They too miss out on this blessing, and all because they’ve never seen it done. Just a few short years ago parents’ teaching their children the Bible was the norm, and many great heroes of the faith grew up in that atmosphere. Let’s reclaim this wonderful privilege and make a commitment to intentionally guide our children in studying the Bible.
Q & A
Q: I don’t have a Bible degree; how can I teach my children to study the Bible?
A: God doesn’t require you to have a degree. If you have a love for God and His Word, a determination to learn His Word yourself, and a desire for your children to love and learn it, you’ve fulfilled the requirements. (See Deuteronomy 6:5-7.) If you’re wondering "How do I do this?" you’ll find help in the numerous Bible study guides and books available. But if you’re wondering "Am I qualified to do this?" yes, you are.
The main requirement is a desire and a determination to make personal Bible study a top priority in your own life. You can then pass along with enthusiasm the truths God is revealing to you and the skills you are learning. But you must make the commitment; you must determine whether studying God’s Word is more important to you than watching TV, for example.
Q: At what age should I move my child from the Great Stories Level to the Guided Studies Level?
A: There isn’t a magic age at which you should make the transition; each child is unique. Instead of focusing on age, focus on developmental skills and readiness. First, make sure the child is well grounded in the Great Stories Level and is very familiar with those Bible accounts. Second, assess the child’s reading and writing skills. The child should be able to read the passage with ease, so his concentration and energy will be devoted to thinking through the Bible study steps instead of struggling through the mechanics of sounding out words. Also make sure the child is comfortable writing short paragraphs, around two or three sentences or more. Again, you want the child’s efforts to be focused on the thought process of the study, not on each letter’s formation.
