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Janelle Knutson

Homeschool-Motherhood-Christian Living

Raising Bible Readers: Tools to Help You and Your Child Study Scripture Accurately

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Problems with Common Bible Study Practices

In my early adult years, I would open my Bible, read a single verse, and ask myself, “What does this mean to me?” Over time, I came to realize that approaching Scripture this way was not only misguided, but often led to incorrect interpretation and application.

Years ago, I heard Voddie Baucham speak at a homeschool convention about family discipleship and the proper study of God’s Word. He shared an example of someone opening the Bible, reading 1 Corinthians 6:19—where our bodies are described as temples of the Holy Spirit—and then flipping to Revelation 15:8, which says the temple was filled with smoke. That person then asked, “What does this mean to me?” and concluded, “My body is a temple, the temple was filled with smoke, so it must be okay for me to continue smoking cigarettes.”

While humorous, this illustration exposes a very serious problem in the church today.

Let’s do better in our own study of the Bible and in raising Bible readers who know how to accurately handle the Word of God. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Tools for Raising Bible Readers: Understanding the Big Story

One essential skill we must teach our children is how to understand the Bible within its proper time periods and storyline. Scripture is not a collection of disconnected verses, but one unified account of God’s redemptive work unfolding across history. Helping our children recognize where a passage fits—whether in the Old or New Testament, and within the larger framework of creation, fall, redemption, and glorification—guards them from misunderstanding and misapplying God’s Word.

Knowing the Biblical timeline can be especially helpful, giving children a concrete way to see where and how different people, events, commands and promises fit into the big story of the Bible. One such timeline I’ve found particularly useful is included in Foundation Worldview’s Studying the Bible curriculum. (I highly recommend using this curriculum with your kids ages eight and up. Watch my video review of Studying the Bible.)

Here is the timeline used in Foundation Worldview’s Studying the Bible curriculum:

  • Creation
  • Fall
  • Early History
  • Patriarchs
  • Slavery\Exodus
  • Wilderness/Conquest
  • Judges
  • United Kingdom
  • Divided Kingdom
  • Exile
  • Return
  • Silence
  • Life of Jesus
  • Early Church
  • Church Age
  • Return of Jesus

Tools for Raising Bible Readers: Context

One of the most important habits we can teach our children is to read—and even memorize—Scripture in context. A familiar example of a verse often taken out of context is Philippians 4:13, which is frequently used as a sports slogan or as motivation to work harder and achieve personal goals. When isolated, it can sound as though Jesus is an unlimited power boost for success. However, when the verse is read within its surrounding passage, it becomes clear that Paul is speaking about the strength God provides to endure all circumstances—whether abundance or need, comfort or suffering. Teaching children to look at the verses before and after helps them understand what God is truly saying and protects them from misusing Scripture.

Tools to Help with Proper Context

Studying the Bible in context also requires an understanding of the history and culture in which it was written. Scripture was given to real people, in real places, at specific moments in history, and helping our children grasp that reality deepens their comprehension of God’s Word. Tools such as maps, Bible encyclopedias, commentaries, and a reliable study Bible can bring the world of the Bible to life, showing how geography, customs, and historical events shape the meaning of a passage. When children learn to use these resources wisely, they are better equipped to read Scripture thoughtfully, accurately, and with greater confidence.

Tools for Raising Bible Readers: Descriptive versus Prescriptive

A key principle in studying the Bible accurately is understanding the difference between descriptive and prescriptive passages. Descriptive passages tell us what happened in history. They record real events involving real people, but they are not instructions for us to follow. A classic example is the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. The passage describes the historical moment when God enabled David to defeat Goliath. It reveals important truths about God’s faithfulness and power but it is not teaching that every believer should expect to conquer literal giants—or face every challenge in the same way David did.

Prescriptive passages, on the other hand, tell us what we are to do. Much like a doctor’s prescription gives specific instructions for medication—what to take, how much, and how often— prescriptive passages contain commands, instructions, or teachings meant to guide obedience. However, even with prescriptive passages, careful readers must ask important questions: Who was this command given to? Was it directed to a specific individual, the nation of Israel, or believers today? Understanding the original audience helps us discern whether a command is for us today. Teaching children to make this distinction protects them from misapplying Scripture and helps them grow into thoughtful, faithful students of God’s Word.

Tools for Raising Bible Readers: Genres

Another essential tool for faithful Bible study is reading Scripture with an understanding of its different genres. Just as we would read a history textbook differently than a book of poetry, the Bible’s various genres require different approaches. Narrative, poetry, wisdom literature, prophecy, Gospels, and epistles each communicate truth in distinct ways. Helping our children recognize these differences teaches them to read carefully, respect the author’s intent, and better understand what God is communicating through each passage.

Raising Bible Readers: Observation, Interpretation, and Application

We’ve looked at several tools that help us study the Bible accurately. Now it’s time to put those tools to use by walking through three essential steps of Bible study: observation, interpretation, and application. Teaching our children this simple framework equips them to read Scripture carefully and confidently.

Observation

Observation asks the question, What does the text say? This step focuses on noticing what is actually there before jumping to meaning or application. Who wrote the passage, and who was it written to? Are there repeated words or phrases that point to the main idea? What are the key verbs, and what tense are they written in? Does the passage include a list, or does it compare or contrast two things? Observation can be especially engaging for kids. They can become Bible “investigators,” carefully examining the text and pointing out what they see.

Interpretation

Interpretation asks, What does the text mean? Here we seek to understand the author’s intended meaning for the original audience. Accurate interpretation comes from considering the historical background, studying the original Greek or Hebrew words when appropriate, and recognizing the literary genre of the passage. Tools such as a good study Bible, commentaries, and a Bible concordance can be very helpful in this process. For young children, new believers, or those new to Bible study, interpretation can begin with two simple questions: What does this passage teach me about God? and What does this passage teach me about mankind?

Application

Application asks, How should this change my life? Application must always flow from correct interpretation. While the truth found in a passage does not change, that truth may be applied differently depending on a person’s situation. For example, James 1:19–20 says, “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” The core truths of this passage are the same for everyone: be a good listener, don’t speak impulsively, and resist sinful anger.

However, the application may look different for each individual. A child may realize their anger toward a sibling is sinful and respond by asking God for forgiveness and seeking reconciliation. A parent may be convicted of not listening well to their teen and need to ask forgiveness and commit to becoming a more patient listener. The truth remains the same, but the application is shaped by the person’s circumstances.

For young children, new believers, or those new to Bible study, application can be guided by one simple question: In light of what this passage teaches me about God and about mankind, how should I respond? Often, the answer will fall into one of these categories: praising God for who He is, thanking Him for what He has done, acknowledging and repenting of sin, or asking for His help to obey a command.

Raising Bible Readers Who Can Stand Firm in Our Culture

After teaching our children how to study the Bible, we must also teach them how to apply it faithfully to their everyday lives. Beyond application, they need to understand why the Bible is trustworthy, how to defend what they believe, and how to think critically and biblically when they encounter competing worldviews. In a culture that increasingly challenges truth, raising Bible readers who can stand firm on God’s Word is essential.

At first glance, this responsibility can feel overwhelming for parents. Yet it is a calling we cannot neglect or delegate. While churches, children and youth ministries, and even Christian schools can support us, God has entrusted parents with the primary role of discipling their children. One of the reasons I am so passionate about homeschooling is that it provides both the time and the opportunities to teach these vital skills—helping our children not only know the Bible, but live it faithfully in a world that often pushes against it.

Resources for Raising Bible Readers

Below is a list of resources designed to help you and your children study and apply the Bible accurately.

Books and Curriculum
Online Bible Studies
Tools to Assist in Bible Study

Struggling to Make Time for Bible Study?

Are you struggling to make time for Bible study? If so, listen to episode 16 of the Homeschool Mom Podcast where I share five hindrances to daily Bible reading and how to overcome them.

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