What Kids Need to Know about the Bible?

Written by Dianna Wiebe on August 15, 2024.

As parents and teachers, guiding children in their faith journey and introducing them to the Bible is a vital responsibility. But where do we start, and how do we decide what to teach at each stage? In this blog, I’ll share a tried-and-true outline that my husband and I have used successfully with our children—and many others—over the past 20 years. While it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution, it’s a flexible guide you can adapt to fit the unique needs of your family or class.

What Preschool kids need to know about the Bible?

For preschoolers (ages 4 to 5), the goal is to introduce them to the concept of God and the importance of the Bible in their lives. Here are some key topics to explore:

God: Help them grasp that there is a loving God who wants to have a personal relationship with them.
Prayer: Teach them the basics of prayer and help them recognize how God listens and responds.
Bible: Start sharing the Bible’s core stories by reading directly from its pages.

As they transition to kindergarten, these foundational concepts can be built upon, guiding them to take the next steps in their faith journey.

What Kindergarten kids need to know about the Bible?

As children move into kindergarten, they can deepen their understanding with a few additional elements:

Biblical Accounts: Continue exploring key Bible stories, reinforcing them through repetition while gradually adding more details.
Character Development: Introduce character qualities and the “fruit of the Spirit” by discussing the lives and choices of various biblical figures.

Once kindergarteners are familiar with the major Bible characters and events and feel confident in praying to the Lord, they’ll be ready to advance to the next level in their faith journey.

What grades 1-3 need to know about the Bible?

At this stage, children begin to understand the concept of time, making it a great opportunity to introduce the Bible’s chronology:

Bible Timeline: Guide them through the chronological sequence of events in the Bible, starting with Genesis.
In-Depth Studies: Gradually explore the major characters and events in greater detail.
Memorization: Encourage them to memorize full verses and key biblical facts.

Teaching the Bible timeline and important biblical details during the early elementary years will provide your students with a solid foundation to build on in the years ahead.

What grades 4 to 6 need to know about the Bible?

As kids progress into grades 4 to 6, their growing cognitive abilities allow them to tackle more complex topics:

Bible Versions: Introduce them to different Bible translations by reading stories from multiple versions to deepen their understanding.
Geography: Incorporate basic Bible geography to help them connect locations with the stories they’re learning.
Dates: Add historical dates to your lessons to place the Bible within its proper historical context.

Whether your students are well-versed in the Bible or just beginning, these activities will help build their confidence and understanding.

What Teens need to know about the Bible?

By grades 7 and 8, students are ready to start studying the Bible independently:

Bible Study Tools: Teach them inductive Bible study methods and how to use resources like concordances, Bible dictionaries, topical Bibles, and Bible atlases.
Exploring Extra-Biblical Writings: For students who are well-acquainted with the Bible, introduce them to writings outside of it, such as those by Josephus, Philo, Eusebius, Jewish oral history, and Church history.
Deeper Studies: Encourage them to explore deeper topics like apologetics (defending their faith), comparative religion (understanding other major religions), hermeneutics (interpreting the Bible), and church history.

While teaching students to study the Bible on their own, it’s essential to ensure they first have a solid understanding of the major characters and events in the Bible.

As parents, we started to focus on our teens’ strengths at this stage, tailoring their biblical training to align with their life missions. We also took them to workshops, seminars, and other events where they could learn from and be inspired by other believers. If you’re working with youth, seek out experiences that will equip them to fulfill their unique life missions.

A Teacher’s Responsibilities

As teachers and parents, our role in nurturing our children’s biblical understanding is crucial. Here are three key steps we can take:

Lead by Example: Live out a genuine Christian life, both in private and public, serving as a role model for our children.
Encourage Questions: Foster curiosity by welcoming questions and guiding children in their search for answers, helping them deepen their understanding.
Keep Learning Together: Grow alongside your students, continually expanding your knowledge of the Bible and your faith together.

This outline serves as a roadmap for guiding your students’ biblical education. Remember, every child is unique, so feel free to adapt this plan to suit their individual needs and interests. By laying a strong biblical foundation, you can help equip the next generation to live a life that is educated, empowered, and faithful to God. Thank you for joining me on this journey!g us on this journey to raise a biblically literate generation of young believers at Grapevine.