Getting started
Make room for a
little time together.
Choose a passage, gather whoever is home, and read it aloud. You can begin with one question and a short prayer.
Choose your first reading.
These passages offer three different starting points. Pick one that fits the conversation you want to have; they don’t need to be read in order.
- Mark 10:13–16 Jesus welcomes children A short scene to read together. Notice who tries to turn the children away and how Jesus responds. Read together
- Psalm 23:1–6 God's care in uncertain times Explore the picture of a shepherd and talk about what it means to be cared for, even when life is hard. Read together
- Luke 10:25–37 Loving our neighbor Follow the people in the story, then consider what it would mean to stop and help someone yourself. Read together
A simple way to read together
Allow about fifteen minutes, with room to finish sooner or keep talking. Before gathering everyone, skim the passage and devotion so you know what’s coming.
- Read the Bible passage. The full text is included in each devotion. Take turns if people want to read. Pause over an unfamiliar word and look at the sentence around it before moving on.
- Read the commentary aloud. Use it to help you think about the passage. Keep the Bible text in view, and return to it if an explanation raises a question.
- Choose a question. Give everyone time to think before opening the suggested answer. Ask, “What in the passage made you think that?” The suggested answer is a guide; your family may express the same idea in different words.
- Pray about what you read. Use the closing prayer or your own words. Name something to thank God for or ask for help with. No one needs to pray aloud before they are comfortable.
If one question leads to a worthwhile conversation, stay with it. You don’t have to finish every section for the time to be worthwhile.
Give each age a way in
With younger children
Start with something they can notice: who is there, what happens, or what someone says. In the reading about Jesus welcoming children, ask, “What did Jesus do when the children came?” Let a child point to the words, retell the scene, or draw it while listening.
With older children and teenagers
Invite a question they would like to ask, even if it is awkward. Try, “Which part is hard to understand or believe?” Leave time for an answer before giving yours. When you talk about application, let them suggest a situation from their own life rather than choosing one for them.
When ages are mixed
Begin with a question everyone can enter, then go deeper. A younger child might name who helped in a story; an older child might explain why helping was costly. Take turns so the quickest answer doesn’t end the conversation for everyone else.
When a passage is difficult
Some passages describe violence, abuse, death, or other subjects that need care. Read ahead and use the book introduction to understand what you are approaching. Choose another reading if this is not the right moment for your children, and return when you can give the subject the attention it needs.
It is fine to say, “I don’t know. Let’s look into that.” Read the surrounding verses, check any source the devotion names, or ask a trusted pastor or teacher. When Christians interpret a passage differently, explain your understanding without pretending every question is settled.
The commentary and suggested answers can contain mistakes. Scripture is what you are studying together. If an explanation seems wrong, check it against the passage; you can send a correction. The preparation notes explain how AI is used and how the writing is reviewed.
Make it easy to come back
Choose a time connected to something you already do, such as finishing a meal. If the evening is unsettled, read a few verses and pray briefly. If you miss a day, pick up where you left off.
Use the next-reading link at the bottom of a devotion to continue through a book. Bookmark the page if you want to return to it: the site does not save your place. Today’s reading changes with the date and may be a different passage from the one you reached.