Friday, August 1, 2008

Survival Kit

Robin picked up this Bible Study a few weeks ago for us to do as a family. She gave Hannah and Jacob each a book and got us one to share. The book is set up for us to do 1 lesson a day, Monday through Friday and for 11 weeks. Each week there is a verse to memorize which is always a great thing to add to your day! It is a very easy read and great for the kids to use as a jump start on learning to have a special time each day with their Heavenly Father.

Our plan was to do each day individually and then have a family discussion on the weekend. Robin and Hannah jumped right in and did their first week with no problem. Jacob read the first week but stated he didn't understand how to do it. Meanwhile, I was a complete slacker and did nothing. So the weekend comes and Jacob and I are not ready to discuss anything. I didn't do it and he is complaining he doesn't want to do it at all. Not the best way to start a family Bible Study!

I know I can't be mad at him or force him to do it, especially when I didn't even try. So instead, I talked with Robin and Hannah asking them if they would be willing to wait while I (The BIG slacker) can get caught up and Jacob can try to do week 1 over again. They agreed! After that, I talk with Jacob about why he didn’t want to do the Bible Study and what he was having trouble understanding. He said he had trouble answering the questions. I found he was doing it without using his Bible. I explain how the book worked and how to use his Bible to look up the verses to help answer some of the questions. He still was reluctant to do it and really didn't like the idea of doing it every day so I decided we needed some encouragement and motivation.

I suggested we should be accountability partners and hold each other accountable for doing our Bible Study every day. I explained that it meant he could come to me at any time, any day and ask me if I had done my Bible Study. As well as I could come to him and ask him if he had done his. He agreed! I have to say he has really held me to it too! He has asked me several times this week to see if I did mine yet. "Dad, did you do you Bible Study yet?" I think this is a great time for him to learn about accountability and know what it is like to be held accountable to someone, not only to me but more importantly to his Heavenly Father.

How about you? Do you have an accountability partner? Is someone holding you accountable to reading God's word? Is your family doing a Bible Study?

I would like to hear some of your family Bible Study experiences!

This weeks verse is:

Psalm 119:11 (New International Version)
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.

P.S. I also want to thank Robin and Hannah for waiting this week to allow us to catch up so we can all be on the same page!

5 comments:

Josh said...

Cool. Our family has been completely slacking. I was doing some Bible Q&A with the boys right before bed, but it slipped away as the summer progressed.

gideonmommasita said...

Encouraging words or even congratulations are very in order...I'll keep the sarcastic comments to myself...esp. since I have NO room to talk. You are awesome, I really love it when you post!

CroppinRobin said...

i was happy to wait, just glad that you and jacob are finally on board.

CroppinRobin said...

tag, you're it....see my blog if you want to play!

Melissa said...

Mike that is such an awesome way to lead by example. I'm so glad you and Jacob are doing that!