Why teach the Bible to Children?

It was Sunday morning, and a little girl sat on the pew with her family, flipping the pages of her Bible. Her straight, white-blonde hair fell forward, tickling her chin as she bent over the columns of small words with their large chapter numbers. Furrowing her brow, she leaned over to her mother and whispered, “Mommy, can you find me a verse?”

It’s been almost thirty years since I sat searching my Bible for “verses,” but that day remains fresh in my memory. I remember my frustration at Mommy’s reply that all the verses on the page were “verses.” I knew that, but what I wanted her to find me was a memory verse, something I was familiar with.

You see, I had memorized many verses in my church’s AWANA program, but hadn’t quite gotten to the point of being able to open my Bible and understand what I was reading. Scripture memory had given me the desire to learn more of God’s Word, and also a familiarity with it that helped me understand more and more as my reading ability caught up with my desire to learn.

But what is the Biblical foundation for teaching children to memorize Scripture? There are many passages I could point to, perhaps most notably Deuteronomy 6:6-7, which commands God’s people to teach His commandments (i.e. His Word) to their children, but instead, I want to share a very practical example.

If you have read much in the New Testament, you are probably familiar with Timothy. (After all, there are two books with his name on them.) In Sunday School a couple weeks ago, my attention was drawn to what we are told about his childhood. The particular passage that caught my eye was 2 Timothy 3:14-15, in which the young pastor is told,

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

What struck me was the fact that Timothy had known God’s Word “from a child.” Earlier, in 2 Timothy 1:5, we are told that Timothy’s mother and grandmother both had the same “unfeigned faith” that Timothy now exhibited. I think these two faithful ladies were instrumental in Timothy’s Bible education.

But why is it significant that Timothy knew the Scriptures from a child? I had never really considered this until recently, when my Sunday School teacher pointed out that the space of time between Paul’s visit to Lystra on his first missionary journey and his choosing of Timothy as a travel companion in Acts 16 was not very long.

How did Timothy have the spiritual maturity to handle a missionary journey, even though it is likely he had only been saved for a year or two? The answer is simple:

He knew God’s Word.

You see, God knew that Timothy would need to grow and mature in his faith quickly (he would be needed to pastor a church at Ephesus soon after the missionary journey) so in His wisdom and omniscience, God put Timothy in a family with a mother and grandmother who would teach him God’s Word.

Notice that God is able to use Scripture to lay the foundation for spiritual growth even in those yet unsaved. You and I do not know whether or not a child will choose to accept Christ as his or her Savior, but God does and often, God uses early childhood experiences in Sunday school, Bible club, or just a faithful family member’s presenting of Scripture to prepare an individual for salvation and lay the foundation for later growth.

This is one reason why it is beneficial for children to be taught to memorize and read the Bible, to hide God’s Word in their hearts so that the Holy Spirit can use it later on to draw them to God, strengthen their faith, and call them to Christlikeness.

We do not know what God has planned for each of the children He puts into our lives and sphere of influence, but if we are faithful to instill God’s Word into their hearts and minds, He has promised that it will not return void. (Isaiah 55:11) It is our job to give them the love for and knowledge of the Bible, so that the Holy Spirit has plenty to work with later on.

This isn’t just important for parents. As a single lady, God has given me opportunity to influence nieces, nephews, students, and little friends at church. I am often challenged by the thought that God can (and wants to) use each of my interactions with these little ones to lay a foundation for their further growth in the Lord. Whether it is an encouraging smile when I catch them doing something right, or an admonishment to obey their parents right away when they are called to go home, or being ready with a helpful Bible verse when they have a problem or sorrow, I have the opportunity to reenforce what they know about God and His Word.

One lady who was this kind of influence in my life was a kind, grandmotherly woman. I seldom spent any time with her, but I’ll never forget the day I mentioned in passing that I was nervous about an upcoming piano recital. She looked me in the eye and with a confidant smile said, “Don’t be afraid. Jesus will be with you.” And that was that.

It was a loving reminder which the Holy Spirit used as a rebuke of my own lack of trust. The fact that it came from someone outside my normal circle of authorities made it have a profound impact on me.

Whether God has called you to motherhood, ministry with children, or something completely different, you are still part of the family of God, and that family includes children. So who does God want to use you to help to know the Scriptures like Timothy, “from a child”?

“And be not weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9