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“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” Proverbs 22:6, NKJV.
The verse is familiar and often quoted. As parents and those who minister to children the verse directs us in two ways. First, it indicates that we should get to know the children in our care as individuals, each with a unique personality, gifts and talents; and give encouragement and opportunities for them to develop and excise those qualities. Second, it tells us to lay a solid foundation under our children, raising them in the truth so that it becomes instilled in them forever. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6a). Nothing is more important than bringing our children to Jesus so they can know Him and how to live for Him. It cannot be emphasized enough of how vital the Bible is to their knowledge and relationship with the Jesus who loves them and said, “Let the little children come to Me” (Matthew 19:14a).
Children sing, “The B-I-B-L-E, yes, that’s the Book for me. I stand alone on the Word of God, the B-I-B-L-E!” The Bible is the truth that undergirds a child’s life…the foundation that “when he is old he will not depart from it.” For that to happen the child must get into the Word, and the Word into the child. The most effective method to do that is for us to journey with them. Below are some steps for the journey.
(1) Read the Bible and pray with your children daily. Children like to be read to at bedtime. Establishing a nightly family devotional time and one-on-one with each child cultivates intimacy and trust as well as spiritual growth. If your children are teens you may have to adjust this time to a few minutes before school, after school, at meal time or some other time between supper and lights out. The important thing is that you do it. In today’s world it will take extra effort, but, have we not made the extra effort to get them to ball practice and games, karate, music lessons, play practice, skating, movies, etc.? Surely, we can take a few minutes a day for their spiritual development.
(2) Have your children read to you. Again, the goal is to get our children into the Word as well as the Word into our children. Encourage your children to pray for each other, to ask questions, and to seek answers together. As you go to the Bible as a family to resolve issues it will teach them to trust its wisdom and authority.
(3) Allow your children to see you reading the Bible and hear you praying for them when they are not directly involved. Children need to know how important they are and how much their spiritual well-being means to you. They need to see how seriously you take your relationship with Christ. It will speak volumes to them. Many sons and daughters who wandered far from God and family have returned to tell how the memory of a parent’s prayers and faith drew them home again.
(4) Invest in a children’s or teen Bible for each of your children. That raises the question: what are the most reliable versions of the Bible for children? There are many different types and styles of children’s Bibles. There are Bibles for the very young that are actually a collection of Bible Stories; Bibles specifically translated for children; Bibles with study helps and added features to engage children; and Bibles wrapped in child-appealing covers with little or no added features. When determining the most reliable versions, a place to start is with the translation itself. Then look for children’s Bibles in that translation. Four accurate translations that are published in children’s versions are the King James (KJV), New King James (NKJV), New International Version (NIV), and the New American Standard Bible (NASB). There is also an International Children’s Bible (ICB) that is translated specifically for children. After researching translations, com-paring dozens of children’s Bibles, inquiring at Christian Book Stores about the most popular, and polling Sunday School teachers, parents, and some children themselves, it was interesting that the same versions were consistently considered to be the best.
The NIV Adventure Bible is by far the favorite. It has been the top selling children’s Bible since its publication and with good reason. It includes notes on life in Bible times, words to treasure, life application, “Did you know” emphasis, maps, dictionary-concordance, and other features to help a child to understand and apply the Word of God. There are several other NIV’s that have features that help engage the child with the Bible text and are excellent choices including, but not limited to, The Bible for Kids, The Jesus Bible, the NIV for Girls, and the NIV for Boys. For children 5-8 years old there is a NIrV Adventure Bible. The “r” is for reader. They have taken difficult adult words and substituted more understandable word equivalents for young readers. Because it retains accuracy the NIrV can be considered a translation for children.
The NKJV Explorer’s Study Bible is another favorite Bible. It includes study helps and features that engage the child with the text as well. Being a New King James, it retains the King James translation with updated pronouns, verbs, and literal word equivalents where needed.
There is no doubt that study Bibles are the most popular and offer the most encouragement for Word-child inter-action. Many include features that can be used to initiate discussions and family devotions. But as a word of caution, be aware that some children’s Bibles can be “too busy.” That is, some have so many added features that the Word of God gets obscured which certainly defeats the purpose.
Many parents and educators prefer the King James Bible. The Adventure Bible mentioned above is also printed in the KJV and is a favorite with many parents. The KJV Illustrated Study Bible for Kids is a good choice. Parents of infants and toddlers often choose The Beginner’s Bible also printed in KJV. It has 90 or so Bible stories and colorful pictures. Actually a Bible storybook, it stays true to Bible accounts without a lot of detail to better fit its intended age group.
Because there are so many Bible storybooks available, it may be helpful in making a selection to check the table of contents to see which stories are included, and read two or three stories to make sure they are accurate. Some children’s Bible storybooks add elements that are far removed from the Bible story. Accuracy counts and will save you a big headache later on trying to unravel truth from fiction. The NASB is available in a NASB for Girls and a NASB for Boys. The NASB is well-endorsed by parents who prefer the translation. The language and features are geared toward children 10 and above. As previously mentioned, the ICB was translated specifically for children. It substitutes hard to understand words with words more appropriate for a third grade reader while retaining accuracy. One version which is particularly well done is The King of Everything Holy Bible.
The focus age of children’s Bibles is normally 7-11. When a child becomes 12 parents may consider a teen Bible. A quick look around the bookstore will tell you that, as with children’s Bibles, there are many choices. Two, however, stand out as having great study features and are quite popular: the NIV Teen Study Bible and the NKJV Extreme Teen Bible.
A final word . . . this is just a small sample of the choices that are available for children today. The best way to choose a Bible for your child is to spend some time in your local Christian Book Store. Compare the translations, types, and styles available. Then, when you have made your choice, know that first and foremost, you are giving your son or daughter the Word of God - the perfect place to begin the journey to train up a child in the way he should go.
7. The B-I-B-L-E is one of several beloved children’s songs of unknown authorship.
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Helping Your Child Find a Reliable, Readable Version of the Bible |