6 Simple Steps in Guiding Your Teen through Studying Scripture
Parenting
Audio By Carbonatix
3:30 AM on Monday, January 12
By Elizabeth Delaney, Parenting
1. Cater to Your Teen’s Learning Style
We hear this all the time in connection to academic studies but not so much in connection to studying the Word. In general, people tend to lean toward one of three learning styles:
- Active and hands-on approach
- Audio focus
- Visual focus
A combination of the three is the best approach if possible, but there will be one in particular that is your teen’s dominant learning style, according to Christian Parenting.
This can influence what kind of Bible will help your teen to be more engaged. Maybe something is needed that allows for sketching pictures or journaling, an audio version of the Bible, or something that has vivid illustrations.
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2. Consider Pairing Bible Reading with a Devotional
Teens don’t typically need something aimed at their specific demographic, according to The Gospel Coalition, but finding something that resonates with their personal interests can add meaningfulness to their study.
For example, if your teen has an interest in hiking, music, sports, animals, carpentry, cars, or some other area, consider providing a devotional that uses their area of interest as a springboard to provide insights into God’s Word. Not only will this make studying more meaningful, but it will also make the truths being studied more memorable.
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3. Find Ways to Challenge and Inspire Your Teen
Many teens enjoy a good challenge and something that makes them think a little. Suggest characters or books in the Bible with which they may be less familiar and have them do a character study or guide them in how a book is still relevant today.
For Example:
- Deborah, and how God moved through her to motivate Gideon - Judges chapters 4:4-14 and chapter 5.
- Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite and her bold move to help bring Israel victory – Judges chapter 4:15-24
- Song of Solomon – Sex is God’s idea, and there is a right time and context for it. However, the way a couple flirts does vary from culture to culture and generation to generation.
- Book of Ruth, Deuteronomy chapter 24:19-22, Exodus chapter 22:22-23, James chapter 1:27 – God’s mandate to the church care for widows, orphans, and the poor.
For more on what it means for the church to care for widows and orphans, click here.
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4. Suggest Setting a Specific Time to Study
Part of being consistent in studying the scripture is discipline and predictability. Often, when we weave an activity into the pattern of our week, that predictability makes it easier to remember to do it consistently. So, whatever time is going to be least likely to be interrupted and whatever location is going to assist with the best focus, that is the right time and location. Maybe there might even be a particular chair that gets designated as the study and prayer chair. Some people are morning people, and others are evening people. Encourage teens to do what works best for their schedule. If they make the choice, they will be more likely to stick with it.
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5. Lead by Example
Kids are rather keen on picking up on sincerity versus hypocrisy. Don’t be afraid to let them see you in your own studies of the Word, and even engage with them in a discussion about what God is showing you and how He’s been active in your life. Enthusiasm is contagious. Encourage them to share what God is showing them, too, but don’t force them. It’s important that they’re not studying out of guilt, according to Revive Our Hearts.
6. Pray Together
One of the best ways to strengthen any relationship is to pray together. There’s something calming and confidence-building about praying together, especially for a teen who knows they have their parents’ blessing. We can ask the Holy Spirit to impress what He teaches us on our hearts and how to apply it to our lives. In addition, we can ask Him to make it take root and grow so that we can recall it and get strengthened during life’s challenges. This is one of many great blessings that comes with knowing Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior.
Related Resource: The Empty Nester's Guide to Letting Go Prayerfully and Biblically
Letting go of our children isn’t a one-time event; it’s a lifelong process that begins the moment the umbilical cord is cut.
Catherine Segars, host of the Christian Parent, Crazy World podcast, joins us this week to discuss the delicate and often difficult transition of releasing our children into the world, biblically and prayerfully.
In our conversation, Catherine breaks down the four distinct phases of parenting—Caregiver, Cop, Coach, and Counselor—and warns of the friction that occurs when we try to parent our children from the wrong phase. Jaime unpacks a powerful insight from John 17, illustrating how Jesus modeled healthy detachment by praying for His disciples’ protection from the evil one rather than their removal from the world.
You won’t want to miss this empowering episode highlighting the spiritual authority parents hold over what they have "authored," and powerful encouragement that it is never too late to impact your child’s life through prayer—even if they are currently in a prodigal season. If this episode helps you navigate parenthood with prayer and intention, be sure to follow Praying Christian Women on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
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