A biblical discipleship journey equipping parents to engage their children in biblical truth.
Theme Verse
“The Word of God remains forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
Objective
The Bible is a special book.
Teach
(Gather one of your child’s favorite books, a children’s Bible, and your Bible. Start by engaging your child with your child’s favorite book. Use this as an opportunity to teach the most basic parts and functions of a book.)
Say: “This is a book. Look at the book. Can you point to the book?”
(Let your child hold the book. Take the time to demonstrate how a book can open and close. Point out the pages of the book and how they feel. Point out how the book has pictures and colors. Whatever book you have chosen, point out its theme and features (examples: animals, counting, colors, etc.).)
(Transition to the children’s Bible. Restate the basic features of books (pages, colors, words, etc.). Then, introduce what makes it unique.)
Say something like, “The Bible is special. The Bible is about God.”
(Point out the people from the Bible stories (examples: Noah, David, Jesus, etc.) and the themes (Noah obeyed; David trusted; Jesus loved; etc.).
(Finish with showing the children’s Bible and adult Bible.) Say: “The Bible is the most special book of all books!”
Discussion Questions
Play
Pick some of our child’s favorite things: shirt, toy, book, food, etc. Set the favorite item among other items like it and ask, “Which is your favorite?” Make it into a game by hiding the items and searching for them. Help your child through this process and explain the ideas of “special” and “favorite.”
Say: “This toy is special because it is your favorite. You are special because there is no one else like you. The Bible is special because it is from God, and there is no other book like it.”
Sing
Live it Out
This week, commit to have a designated Bible reading time each day with your child(ren) and remind him/her the Bible is different than any other book and is special because it is from God.
Closing Prayer
God, thank You for Your special book, the Bible. You gave us the Bible to know You. Thank You, Lord!
Theme Verse
“The Word of God remains forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
Objective
Everything in the Bible is true.
Teach
Is it hard to tell the truth? What makes it so hard? What is the opposite of truth? Would you rather hear the truth or a lie? Why? The Bible talks about an eight-year-old, Josiah, who became a king. How would you like to be king or a president? Do you think you could make wise decisions and rule over a country? The Bible talks about how Josiah loved God. He wanted the people to love God.
In his 18th year of being king, Josiah gave orders to repair the temple church. While the workers were cleaning the temple and making repairs, they found a type of book, called a scroll. They gave the scroll to the priest, Hilkiah, who knew King Josiah would want to see it. So, Hilkiah sent the scroll to the king. When the king’s helper read God’s Book to him, Josiah became very upset. He even tore his clothes, which in those days was a sign that he was very sad and upset. By hearing the words written on the scroll, Josiah learned of God’s laws for His people and knew they were not following those laws. Josiah sent men to talk to Huldah, the prophetess, about what God was going to do if they did not begin following the laws. She said some very bad things would happen to them because they were not following the teaching in God’s Word; it would not happen during King Josiah’s reign because he believed God and followed the teachings in God’s Word.
King Josiah called the people together and read the scroll, which is now part of the Bible, to the people at the temple. The king said he was going to follow all of God’s teachings and laws, and the people said that they would too. They did this because they knew God’s Word is true. Our Bible verse today is Isaiah 40:8, “The Word of God remains forever.” Although the Bible scroll had been lost in the temple for many years, King Josiah knew God’s Word was true, and He knew how important it was to trust and obey it.
Discussion Questions
Play
“Button, Button, Who Has the Button?”
Items needed:
Button or Coin
Directions:
Sit in a circle or around the table. Designate one person to be “It.” Have everyone close their eyes and hold out their hand, while you walk around the circle. Drop the button in one person’s hand. Once you are back at your seat, instruct everyone to close their hands and pretend they have the button. Then tell everyone to open their eyes and look around at the other family members. All family members should pretend to either have or not have the button without showing the button. “It” will guess who has the button. If he/she is correct, he/she will be the next one to pass off the button. If he/she is wrong, allow him/her to guess one more time. If he/she is still wrong, pick someone else to be “It” and reveal the one who had the button.
Sing
Live it Out
It is not always easy to tell who has the button (the truth), but we can always trust that God’s Word is true because the Bible is complete truth. We know when we have problems or need an answer to a question, we can count on God’s Word, the Bible, to give us the right answer. His Word remains true forever.
Closing Prayer
Dear Jesus, it is hard to always tell the truth. Help me to be brave and always answer truthfully. Help me to know that Your Word is true and never changes. Please help me to read my Bible every day and believe You and trust You. Thank You! Amen.
Theme Verse
“The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
Objective
Biblical truths never change.
Teach
What do you think the oldest land animal is? Is it an elephant? An owl? Did you know there is an Aldabra giant tortoise named Jonathan, and he is 187 years old? That is an old tortoise! I have a hard time imagining something that old. Sadly, one day that tortoise will be too old and eventually die. Even Jonathan was young a long time ago, but the oldest animals were once the young ones that changed over time.
Did you know there’s something that is thousands of years old that never changes? It’s the Bible! The Bible never gets too old and never changes. The Bible is always the same. Maybe someone you know has a copy of the Bible that has been used so much that it is now beaten up and worn-out. But even with worn out pages and covers, the words inside don’t change. Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.” The Bible is different from every other book in the world because it is the only one written by God. While it was not His hand that wrote every word, He told each of the writers in the Bible what to say. This means the Bible was “inspired” by God. Since the Bible was inspired, we can trust everything it says. Everything we read in the Bible is true and unchanging. The same Bible we read when we are kids, we can read as adults, and it does not change!
Discussion Questions
Play
Set out an ice cube on a paper towel or in your hand at the beginning of your dinner. Tell your child that just like the ice cube that begins melting, everything changes as time passes—except the Bible. We can trust that the Bible will never change!
Sing
Live it Out
Throughout the week, ask your children how long they think something will last. What would happen if we left this sandwich on the counter? Will that cow live forever? Even if one copy of the Bible is destroyed, the words of the Bible can never be fully destroyed because it is God’s Word, and it lasts forever.
Closing Prayer
Thank You for giving us the Bible so that we can read Your Word. For the rest of our lives, we don’t have to worry about the Bible changing because it will always be the same. Thank You for speaking to us through the Bible. We love You, Lord. Amen.
Theme Verse
“The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
Objective
Everything in the Bible is true and will last forever.
Teach
What are some of the oldest things we have around our house? (You may need to prompt your child with ideas like books, fine dishes, or other special keepsakes.) When we look at these items, what makes them look like they are getting older? (Some ideas: worn edges, broken parts, no longer works.) Find and discuss something newer that is already showing signs of age. The items we have, whether they are new or old, quickly show signs of getting older and will eventually wear out.
The Bible, God’s Word, is different. Everything in the Bible is true and will last forever. Our copy of the Bible, the book itself, may show age, but the words of the Bible are always true and will last forever. Isaiah 40:8 says this, “The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.”
The people who wrote the Bible were led by God to write those specific words, and that makes the Bible different from all other books. People write things that can be untrue. People make declarations that are often untrue. Just think about how hard it is for the weather forecasters to tell us what the day will be like. However, God helped the writers of the Bible, so everything in the Bible would be true. Everything in the Bible is from God, is true, and will always be true!
Discussion Questions
Play
God’s Word, the Bible, has endured throughout hundreds of years and many, many generations. Some parts of the Bible are thousands of years old. Find some blooming spring flowers nearby and help your child observe how quickly they wither and fade. Then, compare that to the verse of the week, reminding your child that God’s Word will never wither or fade.
Sing
Live it Out
What are some things in the world you think may last forever (examples: rocks, mountains, oceans, trees, buildings)?
(Talk with your child about the items and the evidence of the limited lifespan of these items.) Rocks and mountains are broken up or eroded by weathering. Trees and buildings have visible signs of deterioration. Contrast that with the enduring truth of God’s Word throughout all of history. The rocks, mountains, flowers, and grass will decline, but the Bible is forever.
Closing Prayer
God, thank You for giving us the Bible to help us know You and how we should live. Help us to treasure Your Bible every day. Amen.
Theme Verse
“The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
Objective
The Bible is God’s message about Himself and His salvation plan through Jesus.
Teach
Have you ever noticed the leaves on the trees, the flowers, and the weather outside when summer becomes fall or winter becomes spring? It is amazing to see how God created nature to respond to the changing of the seasons, and what a privilege it is to experience the unique beauty that each season brings. Look outside your window and notice the grass. Depending on the current season, the grass is either a vibrant green, a dull brown, or maybe somewhere in between. During the winter months, grass withers and turns brown to conserve water and nutrients, and then, in the summer, it often grows and becomes green again!
While we can certainly marvel at the miracle of this process called dormancy, we cannot always depend on the grass to be its beautiful green hue. Likewise, we know despite the immense beauty flowers display, each bloom is only beautiful for a certain amount of time, and then it fades. This week’s Bible verse contrasts the ever-adapting natural world with the never-changing Word of God.
Although we will experience many kinds of change in our lives, the Word of God will never change. In fact, this verse reminds us that God’s Word remains forever! Because it is constant and true, we should depend on it, study it, and obey it no matter what season of life we are in. The Bible reveals the attributes of God, the saving work of Jesus, and the characteristics of a God-honoring life. These truths will forever be relevant—no matter what.
Discussion Questions
Play
Go to your pantry and look at the expiration dates on a few items. Which item has the longest shelf life? Which has the shortest? Discuss that while food expires, the Word of God will never expire!
Sing
Live it Out
Read the following verses and discuss what each one teaches us about the Word of God: Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 119:105; Proverbs 2:6; 2 Timothy 3:16; Psalm 19:7; Isaiah 55:11.
Closing Prayer
God, thank You for giving us the Bible to help us know You and how we should live. Help us to treasure Your Bible every day. Amen.
Theme Verse
“The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
Objective
The Bible is true, without error, and will last forever.
Teach
Out of the four seasons in the year (winter, spring, summer, and fall), which is your favorite, and why? People who love the summer are often excited about the warm weather, pool parties, and lemonade. The summer is so much fun when it arrives and so sad when it leaves. However, this is the challenge we all face each year—no matter what our favorite season is. No sunny day, shady tree, or glass of lemonade will last forever. Read Isaiah 40:8, our verse for the week: “The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever.”
What does it say about the Word of God? Seasons will forever come and go. Beauty in the grass and flowers will eventually fade away. Yet, we see a profound truth that the Word of God will never change or dissolve; it remains forever! The truths in the Scriptures are true and applicable to every person—no matter the season of life! Stress, worry, and hard moments in life will distract us from leaning into the Word of God, but Isaiah 40:8 reminds us that in the hard times, the Bible must be our source of strength and encouragement because the truth of God’s Word doesn’t change due to our circumstances or season.
Discussion Questions
Play
Today, store up the Word of God in your heart! At the dinner table, try to work together in memorizing Isaiah 40:8. See who can quote it verbatim first!
Sing
Live it Out
Remind yourself throughout your week that God’s Word never changes. As worries or concerns come during the week, talk with your family and friends about the verses you have memorized and can use to comfort yourself or others in hard times.
Closing Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank You for giving me God’s Word. It is “a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path,” and I know it will never fade (Psalms 119:105). Help me to read it more and live out the truth I see within it. I love You. Amen.
Theme Verse
“The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the word of our God remains forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
Objective
The Bible is the story of God’s work to redeem fallen creation through the saving work of Jesus, who will one day make all things new.
Teach
Spring has sprung! The dead of winter is now giving way to the growth of spring. It’s amazing how nature responds to different seasons. It’s even predictable. It’s amazing how when the temperatures start to drop, the grass dies. When the temperatures rise above 70 degrees, it comes back to life. It didn’t really die; it just went dormant.
In this week’s Scripture, we see a word picture. Isaiah gives us a picture of grass withering and flowers fading. Let’s read it together: “The grass withers, the flowers fade, but the Word of our God remains forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
Yes, seasons change. Plants die without water and in hot temperatures, but we see a profound truth: God’s Word does not wither or fade but remains constant no matter the season of life. What we read and how it applies to our lives is necessary for all the seasons of life. Stress, worry, and hard moments in life will distract us from getting in God’s Word, but the verses we read will encourage us. Even in the hard times—God’s Word must be our first source of strength and encouragement. It doesn’t change when life gets hard, and it doesn’t become truer when life is easy. The Word of God is constant no matter what.
Discussion Questions
Play
Look in your pantry. What item in it has the shortest shelf life? What has the longest shelf life? What about each item makes it have a short shelf life or a long one? What about God’s Word gives it a long shelf life?
Encourage a family discussion.
Sing
Live it Out
Find a Bible reading plan (available at bellevue.org/bible). Read today’s verses as a family at dinner time and decide right now to get in God’s Word each day. Create a routine, find a good location, and start using God’s Word as your source of strength in your day. If this is a habit you do not currently have in your life, it’s not too late to start!
Closing Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank You for giving me God’s Word. It’s is “a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path,” and I know it will never fade (Psalms 119:105). Help me to read it more and live out the truth I see within it. I love You. Amen.