Know God Better: Bible Reading for FamiliesSample

Have you ever started watching a movie but kept thinking about the previews instead?

The movie starts playing, but you're like, "Wait—what are we watching again?"

I do that with the Bible all the time!

Sometimes I bring the "previews" of my own life—stress, relationship problems, chores I need to do—to my Bible reading. Or I get so interested in the Bible characters that I completely forget who the story is really about.

This is one of the easiest ways to miss what God wants to show you.

Yesterday we talked about how Bible characters were real individuals who really met God. But that doesn't mean the people are the most important part of the story.

When I read Bible stories, I used to focus on the humans—what they did right, what they did wrong—and I completely missed seeing that God is the main character of His own story.

When we miss seeing God there, we're missing the whole point.

Let's look at the story of Peter walking on water. Usually, we talk about how Peter had enough faith to step out of the boat, but then got scared and started to sink when he looked at the waves. We hear things like "be brave like Peter" or "keep your eyes on Jesus, not your problems."

Those are good lessons, but when I make Peter the star of the story, I miss seeing what Jesus was doing.

Try looking at this story differently. What was Jesus doing?

• Jesus went off by Himself to pray (He makes time to talk with God)
• Jesus walked on water (He has power over nature)
• Jesus told the disciples "Don't be afraid" (He comforts people)
• Jesus invited Peter to come to Him (He includes us in miracles)
• Jesus immediately grabbed Peter when he started sinking (He rescues us)

This works with every Bible story. God is always the main character.

When we understand that these were people AND see God's central role in their stories, Scripture comes alive to us.

In David and Goliath, instead of just focusing on how brave David was, look at how God used someone small to do something big.

In Esther, beyond admiring her courage, notice how God was working behind the scenes the whole time.

Every story points to Jesus. Every Bible passage shows something about who He is, what He's like, and how He cares for His people.

When you read the Bible, try asking:

• What does this show me about what God is like?
• How is Jesus showing up in this story?
• What is God doing that only He could do?
• How does this connect to God's big story of love and rescue?

As you read today, look for how God shows up as the main character of the story. Ask Him to show you something different about Him than what you’d noticed before.

Kid Connection: Try This

"Let's play a game called Spot God next time we read a Bible story. Instead of just talking about what the people did, we'll look for where God shows up and what He does. It's like a treasure hunt for God in the Bible!"

Ready to feel more connected to God? Your time in the Bible can get even BETTER. I’ll see you tomorrow!