Family Bible Studies That Reach the Hearts of Kids
Looking for family Bible studies that will get to the hearts of your kids? Learn more about family Bible studies that will reach your kids’ hearts and grow your family’s faith!
As I sat on my couch, surrounded by my little and not-so-little kids, I was ready to give up on family Bible studies. My youngest just wanted to color, my oldest was bored, and the ones in between were busy poking each other! I was frustrated and discouraged. Why was this not working? How was I supposed to train up my children and teach them the Word of God when they were distracted and I was upset with them?
Maybe you’ve felt the same way about family Bible studies. You sit down with grand intentions of imparting deep spiritual insight to your kids, but then a bad attitude or vacant stare bursts your bubble. Maybe you share awesome truths for 20–30 minutes, only to have silence greet you when you ask a review question. Maybe a spilled drink cuts you short or a small child tumbling off the couch derails your train of thought. Though these difficulties aren’t impossible to overcome, they are so discouraging when we face them over and over. Why is talking about the Bible with our own kids so hard?
I’m here to tell you family Bible studies that reach the hearts of our kids are possible! But you may need to tweak your strategy as I did.
Table of Contents
Tips for Successful Family Bible Studies
Start small and
stay simple.
Family Bible studies aren’t about trying to create “high” church but rather cultivate a personal relationship with our very relational God. Start with small chunks of time and a simple goal of just learning more together. You can add on both time and content from there!
Toss out perfection
and go for progress.
Man looks on the outside, but God looks at the heart. Our effort shows a heart sensitive to God, willing to grow and learn. Strive for 1% better in your family Bible study efforts each day instead of putting things off until it feels perfect because we all know that will never happen!
Focus on corporate
discussion.
It can be frustrating to try to meet the needs of a variety of ages in a family Bible study. This mostly happens when we try to force corporate learning. Someone is either bored or left behind. Instead of focusing on corporate learning, focus on discussion. You’ll love this simple shift.
How to Find a Good Family Bible Study
If you’re looking for a family Bible study that gets to the heart of the matter, you’re in the right place! I started writing Bible studies many years ago because I knew that my kids needed a change of heart . . . one they would ONLY find in God’s Word.
To my surprise, I couldn’t find high-quality devotionals for my kids. Everything was more of a story and didn’t require my kids to even OPEN the Bible, much less read it! So, I dusted off my master’s in curriculum and started creating them myself.
Here’s what’s unique about our Bible studies:
- All studies are written on age-appropriate levels, so your kids can study in a way that they understand but also come together for rich discussion.
- Our goal is to get kids in the Word for themselves, so we only list references in our studies, requiring kids to look up the Bible verses in the translation of your choice.
- All teaching is straight from Scripture and based on a conservative, reformed theology. Our goal is NOT to tell kids what to think about the Bible, but HOW to think about the Bible.
Doing a family Bible study together will never be time wasted! One day, your kids will thank you for making the investment!
More Tips and Resources for Family Devotions
Bible Studies to Help Kids to be Anchored in Christ
God’s Story: Old Testament Family Bible Study
Are your kids learning “Bible stories,” or are they learning all of God’s Story?
The Bible is not a compilation of stories we can cherry-pick our morals from. Instead, those stories fit together into the most incredible story—God’s story!
In the God’s Story: Old Testament Bible Study, we will embark on an incredible journey through the Old Testament, discovering the faithfulness of God through the lives of His people, and our desperate need for a Savior. We’re not here to explain every detail, but instead want to teach you how to see God’s story, asking yourself as you read, “what is God doing here?”
God’s Story: New Testament Family Bible Study
Do your kids have the faith they need to stand strong?
Many kids today walk away from the faith because they never experienced Scripture personally. They know the stories of the Bible, but they don’t have a clear understanding of how they fit into God’s plan, or how it applies to them.
God’s Story: New Testament Bible Study helps kids understand the Gospel by showing how the entire Bible fits together into one big redemptive story. It gives history, context, and purpose to their faith, and most importantly, points kids to their need for a relationship with Jesus.
Rock of Salvation: The Foundation of a Christian Life
It is an incredible thing when a child accepts Christ as their Lord and Savior. But what comes next? And what if your child isn’t really sure about the decision they made?
Rock of Salvation will answer your kids’ questions about what salvation is, why we need it, and how the decision to put our faith in Jesus provides a foundation for our lives! Whether your kids are unsaved or already believers, this study will help them understand that trusting God for salvation is life-changing.
Parent Resources for Biblical Foundation:
Immeasurable Treasure: A Bible Study on God’s Character
Do your kids KNOW God or do they just know about God? Can they trust Him even when life is hard?
Through studying the attributes of God we can give our kids the precious gift of KNOWING who He is so deeply that they trust Him with everything.
This Bible study is more than just a look at the attributes of God. It gets to the heart–God’s heart–and shows the immeasurable treasure of God’s character.
Parent Resources on the Character of God:
Strong Roots: A Bible Study on God’s Love
Do you find your kids struggle with needing the approval of others? Worrying what their friends think of them and fearing rejection if they don’t measure up?
Without an understanding of God’s love, we all can feel insecure, discontent, selfish, or shaky when hard times come. It’s impossible to find real, steadfast love apart from God, and everyone has a choice to either depend on God’s love, or look for security and satisfaction somewhere else.
Strong Roots is a Bible study that defines what God’s love is, and explains how His love meets our every need, through the easy times and the hard ones. It shows how only God’s love is where we can find stability, security, and acceptance, and how every desire is fulfilled in Him.
Bible Studies to Help Kids With Relationships
Sibling Relationships Family Bible Study
Are you about at your wits’ end over the fighting, constant bickering, and all-around mean behavior your kids show toward each other?
Trust me—I’ve been there. All the best tricks and parenting books cannot solve the age-old problem of sibling rivalry. The only way to truly change it is to change the hearts of our kids through growing relationships with Jesus Christ.
This sibling love Bible study will help you equip your children to truly love their siblings and grow their faith in the process. It’s about time for some peace around your house, isn’t it?
Parent Resources for Sibling Relationships:
Obedience Family Bible Study
Are you tired of “because I said so” being your only line of defense for getting your children to obey? Do you wish they would understand the importance of obedience?
What if I told you that you can teach your kids to actually WANT to obey? YOU CAN. It’s not some far-fetched parenting dream. Building a foundation of biblical truth is the way to help your children want to obey for the right reasons.
AND this study will help you do that. Let’s start today!
Journey through Scripture and learn about people who struggled with obedience in this family Bible study that includes HOW, WHY, and WHEN we should obey. Children of all ages will be challenged to seek answers in the Bible for the number one issue in their lives: obedience.
Each day is filled with a look at someone in the Bible who had real struggles just like they do. Children will be challenged to think about the Scripture and apply it to their lives.
Parent Resources for Obedience Issues:
Navigating Friendships Family Bible Study
Life is a lot like a long journey on a ship. Some days are sunny and pleasant. Other days are rainy and dreary. And sometimes, there are days when the howling wind and crashing waves are bigger than we can handle on our own. That’s why God gave us friends!
In this four-week Bible study, discover God’s perfect plan for friendship, how to make friends, how to be a good friend, and how to pick a good friend. Friendship is a beautiful gift, and you can learn to navigate it well!
Parent Resources for Helping Kids Navigate Friendships:
Becoming a Servant Family Bible Study
Do you want to be great? We all do. Our culture says to be great, you must be important, wealthy, and popular. But the Bible says something completely different.
Jesus said if you want to be great, learn to serve others. Wait, what? Serving is the exact opposite of what we think of when it comes to greatness, yet God has a way of turning our upside-down thinking into something beautiful.
Instead of teaching our kids to seek worldly greatness, the Becoming a Servant Bible study will help us learn and experience the incredible blessing of serving others.
Move over, Cinderella—God has a better way, and it’s something to be excited about!
Parent Resources for Teaching Kids to Serve Others:
Making Peace Family Bible Study
Do you ever feel like the fighting never ends?
Every parent dreams of a peaceful home. And yet, some days it seems like there’s nothing but endless bickering and strife. Can I tell you a secret? The solution isn’t to be conflict-free. In fact, that’s impossible!
Conflict is a normal part of life because everyone has differing opinions, agendas, and even values. The real solution is to learn strategies to help us RESOLVE CONFLICT in a biblical way. This Making Peace Bible study is available in 5 age levels from pre-K through parent and is meant to be done individually and then discussed together.
Parent Resources for Teaching Kids to Serve Others:
Bible Studies to Help Kids Become More Christlike
Fruit of the Tongue Family Bible Study
Have you ever said something really awful or hurtful?
When we feel frustrated, annoyed, or treated unfairly, it’s easy to lash out with ugly words without thinking about the consequences those words might have on ourselves or those around us. But just because it’s easy and most people are guilty of doing it doesn’t mean it’s the right thing to do. The things we say matter in a HUGE way to God, and they have tremendous power over our lives and the lives of those around us.
Whether you already know you want to work harder at controlling your tongue or you haven’t quite decided on that yet, there’s a lot for you to learn in this family Bible study on taming the tongue.
Parent Resources for Taming the Tongue:
A Content Heart Family Bible Study
Struggling to fight off the me-first, “gimme” attitude that consumes kids today?
In a world of instant gratification, upside-down priorities, and exaggerated selfies, we need something to help our kids as they strive for true contentment in their lives. What we need is a better understanding of what God’s Word says regarding this matter. This contentment Bible study can help.
A Content Heart is a 21-lesson Bible study helping kids and teens find godly contentment in a me-first world. Students will go on a journey through Scripture, learning how to practically and realistically find contentment with themselves, their circumstances, and their worldly possessions.
Parent Resources for Contentment:
Do Right Family Bible Study
Why is it so hard to do the right thing?
From interacting with siblings to resisting peer pressure, kids today are faced with all kinds of choices, and the question seems fair. It is hard to do the right thing. As parents, it’s our job to equip our kids with a foundation of biblical reasons to make right choices and the motivation to stand strong against temptation.
This study will equip your kids for the battle by giving them the tools they need to fight the good fight both today and for the rest of their lives. Start making wise choices today!
Do Right is a four-week Bible study on the subject of making wise choices in the face of temptation. We will explore people in the Bible who teach us a lot through their mistakes and dig deep into those who are excellent examples. We will put on the whole armor of God, learn who the real enemies are, and equip ourselves to make the right choices no matter what!
Parent Resources for Self-Control:
Keep Thy Heart Family Bible Study
Did you know that your heart attitude determines the path of your life?
In Proverbs 4:23, we are told to keep or guard our hearts above ALL things. That’s because everything in life flows out of our hearts: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Our hearts truly define who we are and where we will go in life.
This Bible study is all about protecting, keeping, and guarding your heart so you can grow in Christ instead of overflowing with those “ugly” things.
The study spans five weeks with five lessons a week, digging deep into the reason the heart is so important. We will learn nine crucial enemies to protect our hearts from and, finally, ponder the path of purity, priorities, and principles in our hearts.
As Christians, Jesus has given us each a new heart. This is the most wonderful blessing we can have since our hearts are wicked on their own. But we have a job to do to protect this precious treasure. Let’s get busy!
Parent Resources for Kids’ Attitudes:
Work Unto the Lord Family Bible Study
Does teaching responsibility and good work habits seem impossible?
We all want to have responsible kids, but sometimes it can be easier to do it ourselves than to fight the battles. But easy can come at a cost. When we don’t help our kids see the value of hard work, we aren’t equipping them for the life that God has for them!
In this Bible study, Work Unto the Lord, we will learn where the idea of work comes from, how God has uniquely designed us for the work He has given us, and how we can develop good work habits.
Work is NOT a dirty word (despite what others will tell you). In fact, work is a gift from God! Are you ready to learn how you can see it that way too? While we still have kids in our homes, we need to take advantage of the time we have to teach them the work ethics they will use for many years to come!
Parent Resources for Kids’ Work Issues:
Bible Studies to Help Kids Develop Spiritual Disciplines
I Have Decided Family Bible Study
But just because your child has made a profession of faith doesn’t mean they know how to walk with Jesus. Now that they’re a Christian, it’s time to learn what this really means and what it looks like in their life every day! I Have Decided is a Bible study created to help new believers understand how to live a Christian life by exercising their faith. Through studying God’s Word, your child will:
- Learn about their new identity in Christ
- Learn how they can trust God and walk with Him on their own
- Learn practical strategies for spiritual disciplines
- Be empowered by God’s strength for their Christian walk instead of relying on themselves
Packed with scripture and truth, this study is a great resource to help your new believer work out their salvation and grow in newness of life!
Parent Resources for Exercising Faith:
Developing a Quiet Time Family Bible Study
Is it THEIR faith or yours?
With 66% of young people walking away from today’s churches, we know we’ve got to be incredibly intentional about helping our children build a solid foundation of faith. Developing a daily quiet time is one giant step on this journey.
But few people ever learn HOW to have a quiet time, much less why God wants us to. (Truth: I didn’t learn until I was in my 30s!) Don’t let this happen to your child. We’ve made it super easy to help your child develop this crucial habit.
Developing a Quiet Time is a family Bible study that walks kids through the process of learning to have a daily devotional time with God. During four weeks of study, they will learn what the Bible has to say about this topic, how a daily quiet time will affect their lives, and a simple way to spend their time with God. At the end of the study, kids have guided practice as they learn to take the reins on their own. Written for ages 8 and up.
Parent Resources for Quiet Time:
In the Garden Family Bible Study
Prayer is our lifeline as Christians, and we know that’s a powerful thing. But prayer isn’t just for adults—kids need to learn how to use this precious gift from God too! Because it is an exercise of reliance, trust, and surrender to God, prayer takes humility and lots of practice.
In the Garden is our Bible study that tackles the subject of prayer. With 25 simple, Scripture-packed lessons, this study will teach your kids the importance of having a consistent prayer life and help them practice biblical prayer so they can confidently come before the throne of their heavenly Father with their requests—whether big or small.
Parent Resources for Helping Kids Develop Prayer Time:
Bible Studies to Help Kids Dealing with Heavy Feelings
Making Lemonade: A Bible Study on Trusting God Through Life’s Struggles
If God is good and in control, how could He let this happen to me? Unfortunately, this is a question all of us will face at one point in our lives, and kids are no exception. They experience the same hard and difficult things adults do, but they don’t have the strong biblical foundation needed to truly deal with them.
Making Lemonade is our Bible study designed to help kids trust God through the struggles of life. Whether it’s illness, the loss of a loved one, or a big life change, this study will show your kids how to trust God, and show them that truth will triumph over emotion every time! We can’t shield our kids from every hardship in life, but we can give them the tools to work through them.
Parent Resources for Helping Kids Learn to Trust God During Struggles:
Fear Not: A Bible Study on Quieting Fear and Anxiety with God’s Truth
We all deal with fear—fear of the unknown, of the darkness, of being alone, or even fear of failure in what we’ve worked so hard for. Whether it’s the fear that turns our stomachs, steals our sleep, or paralyzes us so we can’t function, fighting this battle is never easy. Your biggest fear may be for your kids as you see them struggle with fear and anxiety themselves. We don’t want fear to control our kids, yet we don’t know how to help them overcome the same kinds of worries and fears we struggle with ourselves.
Just as with every other struggle we face, fear and anxiety can only be overcome through the power of our God. Fear Not is a 4-week Bible study on fear and anxiety that will show your kids how God’s truth quiets these enemies. As your kids work through this study, they will see how they can have victory in Christ despite the attacks of fear. When they are armed with God’s truth and strength, fear has no control over them!
Parent Resources for Helping Kids Struggling with Fear:
Don’t Blow Up: A Bible Study Seeking God’s Way Instead of Anger
No matter how much culture might imply that it’s cool, anger is always wrong when it causes us to sin. It’s not cool, and it’s not something that is out of our control. Don’t Blow Up is designed to teach kids the truth about anger. By looking at Scripture, we talk about how anger affects us and how we can grow in our ability to handle it God’s way.
Whether your child “blows up” or retreats into quiet anger, this anger Bible study is the perfect tool to help them grow in godliness and fight anger God’s way!
Parent Resources for Helping Kids Struggling with Anger:
Letting Go: A Bible Study on Choosing Forgiveness over Bitterness
When something bad happens, does your kid cling to anger or behave like a totally different person? If bitterness is something your kid is struggling with, we have a Bible study on forgiveness to help!
Letting Go is written specifically for kids and teens who have been through difficult times or circumstances. This forgiveness Bible study focuses on forgiving because of the character of God, rather than giving “helpful tips” on how to manage emotions. If your child is dealing with hurt and bitterness, grab your copy of Letting Go, and help cultivate hope and redemption in their lives!
Parent Resources for Helping Kids Struggling with Bitterness:
Abounding in Hope: A Bible Study on How to Resist Hopelessness and Despair
Is your child struggling with hopelessness or depression? Then you probably know that the answer isn’t just to “cheer up” and paste a smile on. Your child or teen needs to take their feelings to the Bible and see what God has to say about them. Abounding in Hope is a study that doesn’t hide the ugly truth of despair. It attacks it with the truth of God’s Word, emphasizing that there is hope found in Jesus, and through Him, we can overcome despair.
This Bible study isn’t meant to replace professional help your child may need in dealing with depression. Instead, its intention is to show how to submit our emotions and feelings to God’s truth!
Parent Resources for Helping Kids Dealing with Depression:
Bible Studies for Christian Celebrations
Uncovering Mercies at the Manger Family Bible Study
Christmas is a time for celebration, but do you know WHY? Come search out the “why” behind Christmas joy and hope in our Christmas Bible study that uncovers the mercies of God leading up to and at the manger.
In this study, you will get a front-row seat as the BEST story ever is unfolded one precious truth at a time. Search out the mystery of the gospel and understand how each piece of Jesus’ story fits together to show God’s breathtaking and merciful plan.
This 25-day Bible study is a beautiful and purposeful way to lead up to Christmas day. As you work through each lesson, marvel at the goodness of God in sending His Son to be the perfect gift to this lost and hurting world.
Use our new Christmas Countdown Cards along with this study as a visible and exciting reminder of what God did by sending Jesus to be born in a manger!
Adoration at the Manger: A Christmas Hymn Study
We sing the same Christmas carols every year, but when was the last time you stopped to consider their deep, spiritual meaning? In Adoration at the Manger, we show how Christmas carols were written to tell the story of Jesus coming to earth as our Savior. This is the real reason we celebrate this joyous holiday. By looking at both God’s word and classic Christmas hymns, this Christmas Bible study explains the true meaning of Christmas in a meaningful, memorable way!
Celebrate Jesus together as a family this Christmas season with our beautifully crafted Christmas hymn study, and refocus your holiday on what really matters!
Use our new Adoration at the Manger Ornaments along with this study as a beautiful reminder of why we celebrate this joyous holiday!
Through practical tools & Bible-based resources, Kim Sorgius is dedicated to helping your family GROW in faith so you can be Not Consumed by life’s struggles. Author of popular kid’s devotional Bible studies and practical homeschooling tools, Kim has a master’s degree in education and curriculum design coupled with over 2 decades of experience working with kids and teens. Above all, her most treasured job is mother and homeschool teacher of four amazing kiddos.
We loved the Content Heart Bible study and look forward to doing My Brother’s Keeper this summer!
My name is Benjamin Ortiz and I’m a Christian I want to start a bible study at home with friends and family and need study materials to start can you help us here is my address: Benjamin Ortiz 8205 n.w.61st. Apt.B317 Tamarac Fl. 33321 thank you.
Hi Benjamin,
So glad you are wanting to start a study with friends! You can find all of our studies on our store site, store.notconsumed.com
Please email us at joy@notconsumed.com if you have any questions!
Suzanne@NotConsumed
Hi! SO I found your website today searching for a good family bible study with our 12 year old son. He has a bit of a learning disabilty. He doesn’t comprehend well and we want him to really understand the bible. Do you have anything to recommend. Having scripture is the most important for us as well and not just stories. But we want to be able to reach him and have him really understand God’s word. Thank you!
Hi Tonya,
There are different levels of our Bible studies available on our store site. You could look over the sample pages to see what level would work best for your son and do the study as a family. We recommend starting with the Obey study. 🙂
https://store.notconsumed.com/
Suzanne@NotConsumed
Hello God bless you!!
I have four children’s 3 boys an one girl
They are 11,8,7,and 6 ?
I would like to start a bible study with them!!
But I need help decide what to start first?
Thanks ??
Hi Yessenia,
We recommend starting with the Obey study as it lays the foundation of obedience. 🙂
Suzanne@NotConsumed
Do you have to buy them individually, or is there a way you can get the whole set?
If so, does it come with a suggested order of study? My husband and I have gone to almost every church in our town (there are literally dozens of them) and we have not been able to find one that feels right for us. The only one we enjoyed going to had no programs for children at all, so if you had children, then you couldn’t go to Sunday school because there wasn’t anywhere to take your children. All the rest felt more like going to a concert than going to church, and one even had a timer in the back of the sanctuary to count down how long the sermon was…
So we have decided to do church at home, and this study set looks like it would be a good place to start with our eleven and eight year old boys.
Kasey, We recommend starting with the Obey study. Our Bible Study Club packs include all the studies needed for each level of student guide (primary, junior, youth, and parent guides). In your case, you would need youth and junior level club packs as well as a parent one if desired. Same for individual studies if you chose to go that route.
Hi there! I have a 4 year old daughter and a 6 year old son. Which bible study would you suggest we start with? Thanks in advance!
I have a 11 year old, 24 year old and a 26 year old. We just started doing weekly bible studies but it is so hard to find a lesson for the age range. Any suggestions?
Hi Jani! Our Bible studies are offered in several age ranges. We have had some families with older adult children like you mentioned, and sometimes they choose the youth level, while others choose the parent level. Either way, the levels are designed to work together, covering the same content at different depths depending on age. 🙂 -Annie, NCM Team
I wonder where you recommend we start? Which one? 19, 17, 12, 4. The oldest is not interested but I’m using gas money to entice him. He was not raised in church as I got sober and saved almost 6 years ago. I am making 20 minute mandatory Wednesday Bible study after supper participation necessary to get your weekly gas money! Right wrong?? I don’t know but I’m just desperate to get him involved in the conversation and interest peaked a bit. Which study would
You recommend starting with?
Hi Holly! We recommend starting with the “OBEY” study as this lays the foundation of obedience which is so important in doing any other study of God’s Word. After that, you could just choose to study any topic that seems the best for your current needs. 🙂 -Annie, NCM Team