For households
Family Bible Study
Studying the Bible together does not take a seminary degree or an hour a day. It takes a little rhythm, a few good questions, and a willingness to read and wonder together. Here is how to begin - whatever the ages around your table.
How to study the Bible as a family
Set a regular time
Consistency matters more than length. Five faithful minutes after dinner beats an ambitious hour that never happens. Pick a slot you can protect - breakfast, bedtime, or the drive to school - and let it become a habit.
Read a little, well
You do not have to cover a whole chapter. Read a few verses or one short story and let it breathe. Each study guide breaks a chapter into bite-sized sections, so you can stop at any natural pause.
Make it interactive
Read parts aloud in different voices, act out a scene, draw what you heard, or look at a painting that depicts it. Engaging more than one sense helps the story stick for every age.
Ask good, open questions
What surprised you here? What does this show us about God? What is one thing we could do this week? Open questions invite everyone - youngest to oldest - to think out loud together.
Connect it to real life
Name one concrete way the passage touches your week - a way to be patient, honest, generous, or brave. Truth lands when it has somewhere to go.
Pray together
Open and close with a short, simple prayer. Let the kids pray in their own words. It frames the time as something you do with God, not just about him.
For younger children
Little ones do best with short, vivid stories and a single, clear takeaway. Read with expression, pause to wonder out loud, and let them tell the story back to you in their own words.
The read-aloud kids’ Bible guides retell each story in gentle, age-appropriate language, with a memory verse, a few “talk about it” questions, and a small activity to try together - everything a parent needs to lead, no prep required.
Tools to build a family rhythm
Reading plans
Follow a guided plan so you always know what comes next - one short reading at a time.
Study guides
A chapter-by-chapter guide for every book, with an overview, themes, and questions to discuss.
Questions & answers
When a child asks a big question, reach for a clear, Scripture-based answer.
Read the Bible
The whole Bible, free, in eight translations - pick the words that fit your family.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start a family Bible study?
Pick a regular time, choose one short passage, read it aloud together, and ask one or two open questions. A guided reading plan removes the guesswork about what to read next, so all you have to do is show up.
How long should family Bible time be?
Short and consistent beats long and rare. Five to fifteen minutes most days is plenty, especially with younger children. The goal is a rhythm you can actually keep, not a marathon.
How do I teach the Bible to young children?
Use short, vivid stories with a single takeaway, read aloud with expression, and invite them to draw or act it out. The read-aloud kids guides retell each story in simple language with a memory verse, a few questions, and a small activity.
Which Bible should we use for family devotions?
Any translation you will actually read together works well. Many families prefer a clear modern translation for younger kids; you can switch among eight English translations as you read here and compare them anytime.
Start your family’s journey
Pick a short plan and read the first day together tonight.
Explore reading plans