How to Encourage Action-Packed Bible Engagement

We are meant to share our faith with the kids in our ministries while equipping families in the home. One way to do that is by encouraging Bible engagement—as individuals and as families. When doing this, the first thing to remember is that kids will always mimic what they see!

If we aren’t engaging in the Word of God, then they won’t see the importance of doing it either.

In this article, we will look at how seeing, drawing, writing, praying, sharing, speaking, and asking questions about the Word of God engages, empowers, and encourages kids in their faith.

Seeing

A picture-style Bible is a great way to help kids see God’s Word. It gives space for children’s minds to be captivated by truth, and it meets visual learners right where they learn best. And not only that, for many kids this type of Bible is the first Bible they will be able to “read” on their own.

Seeing, drawing, writing, praying, sharing, speaking, and asking questions about the Word of God engages, empowers, and encourages kids in their faith.

Part of the appeal of a picture-style Bible is that it can be a new, fresh way to experience and spend time together in the Word as a family. Even if you have younger children, give them permission to go through each story as they share what they are seeing with you.

Don’t forget—this can also be a great time for older and younger children to read and engage with the Bible together.

Drawing

Seeing images doesn’t have to be the only way to engage kids’ imaginations. Encourage the children in your ministry to draw what they are seeing and reading.

Find a fun notebook or journal that they can use to draw in and give it as a gift to go with your weekly lessons! Imagine the journal filled up with images of how God is working in these kids’ lives. So awesome!

Maybe you have kids who want to redraw David and Goliath. They could even draw themselves in the story!

Help kids imagine what it might be like if Jesus was standing in the room. How do they see Him? What might He say? What would they do?

Writing

Maybe you have a child (whether in your home or ministry) who doesn’t really like to draw. Maybe they love to write or maybe they love to do both. Encourage them to write out their favorite Bible story in their own words.

For example, you could take them through the story of Jonah, then ask: How would you retell this story?

Bible engagement isn’t just about reading the Bible—it includes studying the Bible. It’s important to help kids look at real-life issues through the lens of Scripture. Doing this not only connects them to God but helps them see how Scripture is connected throughout the Bible.

Even help them learn to navigate the Bible by writing down the books of the Bible!

Praying

Teaching our kids how to pray is not only a way to engage them in the Word of God but is also a way to show them how important they are to Him.

Encourage and teach them what it means to pray for God’s will for others, as well as for themselves. Mirror what Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6.

What could it look like if your kids began leading prayer in the home?

Sharing and Speaking

Storytelling is a way many kids learn Bible stories beginning as toddlers. And, when practiced, it continues throughout their lives.

Encourage kids to share Bible stories by helping them retell the stories in ways they understand. By doing this, you are instilling truth and inviting them to discover their own adventure of a life directed by God.

Help kids’ imaginations blossom! Encourage them to speak out and share what they are learning.

You see, we have an opportunity to develop and guide the spiritual formation of our children—to create a firm foundation for a lifetime of faith.

Asking Questions

Lastly, it’s critical that we, as the guides in children’s lives, are open to them asking questions.

Our kids are curious, and they want to know they have a safe place to be heard. Use these opportunities to pour into their hearts and share the amazing truth about the Holy One—the God Who created us all.

We have an opportunity to develop and guide the spiritual formation of our children—to create a firm foundation for a lifetime of faith.

So, make sure you honor their questions by answering honestly and openly. You are allowed to have questions too—and it’s okay if you don’t have all the answers.

Introducing the New and Expanded Action Bible

The creators of The Action Bible are all about helping kids engage with Scripture. Through vivid images by Sergio Cariello, the stories of Scripture leap off every page—capturing the imaginations of kids and adults alike. And now they’ve worked to make it even better.

The Action Bible—new and expanded—now features 25 new and 23 expanded stories inside 128 additional pages filled with the same incredible art style that we’ve come to know and love.

It presents more than 230 fast-paced narratives in chronological order, making it easy for kids to understand, share, and follow God’s Word.

The historical flow is a thrilling telling of God’s redemptive story. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons that The Action Bible has been such a loved Bible for children’s ministry leaders and families alike.

In this Bible, each page sparks excitement and draws kids further into the Word of God—giving them the opportunity to know Him more personally.

So, we encourage you to check it out and download this free Action Bible Summer Fun Pack for the kids in your ministry (and home)! Here’s what’s included:

Crossword Puzzle
Word Search
Coloring Pages
Poster
Digital Story Featuring the Miracles of Jesus

It’s wonderful when we see a child reading the Bible. But when we find them engaging in it through various methods—we know that seeds are being sown and lives are being changed.