Bible Time With Bob The Builder

I try ("try" being the key word) to spend a little time every day with the kids, focused on reading, memorizing and talking about God's word. Well, today, our Bible time topic came courtesy of Bob the Builder. Bet you didn't know Bob the Builder taught Bible lessons! Well, today he did. Today, he talked about how important it is to build on a solid foundation.

Well, being the quick, resourceful (trust me, this isn't all that impressive) momma that I am, I decided to turn that into a Bible lesson. I whipped out my iPhone, looked up the reference for "foundation" in my Bible app (yes, I had to look it up, because I didn't know off the top of my head where it was at-- it's OK moms if you don't know everything!) and quickly had 1 Corinthians 3:10,11 in my hand:

Because of God's grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have-- Jesus Christ.

We read that together and had a quick little chat about what it means to build your life on Jesus Christ. Then we prayed that God would help us do that. This took all of about three and a half minutes. And it was perfect for their little 2- and 4-year-old minds to grab hold of. We might even add on to our theme tonight at dinner, maybe reading Luke 6:46-49 (yep, had to look that one up too-- it really is ok to have to look stuff up) together as a family.

Is the thought of discipling your young children overwhelming sometimes? Do you struggle to find the best way to communicate God's truths to them in a way they can understand? Is it scary trying to figure out how to teach them the vital tools for living a Spirit-filled life, throughout all the days of their lives? Are you sometimes at a loss for where to even begin?

Maybe you've searched for the perfect Bible storybook with each day's verse, story and activity or song laid out conveniently for you. Maybe you've accumulated a hefty pile of how-to books for the Christian parent on your nightstand. Maybe you've even decided that this kind of spiritual education, much like an academic one, is better left up to the "experts" and have left your child's soul in the competent hands of his Sunday school teacher.

And while picture-filled Bible activity books, parenting how-tos and church kids' ministries are wonderful tools to have tucked into your belt, they are not always necessary and, often, insufficient for the job of "teaching your child in the way (s)he should go," as Proverbs 22:6 instructs us to do.

Since our newest little bundle was born, our two older kiddos have been following me around with their baby dolls, stuffed bears and bunnies or whatever critter they have deemed "baby" for the day in tow and have been playing mommy right along side me. When I nurse Nora, their little shirts come up (both Olivia and Patrick) and baby doll and bear get a meal as well. When I change Nora's diaper, their stuffed friends get their bottoms wiped as well.

They know just how to be "mommy" and "daddy" to their little babies because they have watched us do it every day. They have listened to us talk about it. They have asked questions. And they have practiced, themselves.

And it is in this exact same way that they will learn what it means to follow Jesus, what it looks like to trust even when it hurts, what it sounds like to pray without ceasing, and what it feels like to go throughout life with their Savior by their side.

Deuteronomy 11:18 and 19 tells us,

So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine... Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.

You simply have to live out what you believe, talk about it ALL THE TIME, and your kids will soon follow suit.

So, the next time you're out walking (or watching longingly through the window of your air-conditioned house) and you see a bird perched in a tree, ask your little one, "Who made that bird? And who made you? Did you know that God made that bird and God made you for his own glory?! How do you think can you glorify God? Do you think you can glorify God by obeying mommy and daddy?"

Your child's world is full of teachable moments. Take advantage of every single one of them! Well, at least most of them. Let's be realistic. Sometimes mom just needs a break. This is when Bob the Builder comes in. But after you've had a moment to breath, mom, jump right back in there! Because sometimes, even Bob the Builder can help you teach your kids about Jesus.