Bible Talks with Dad were another time to not only talk, but also to teach. They were just as the name suggests—times in which the kids and Dad talked about the Bible.

While Malachi Time was usually one-on-one, Bible Talks with Dad were often two or three kids at a time with Dad.

Malachi Time was often picture books or heart talks.

Family devotions and family worship were usually the entire family together studying something or reading aloud from a devotional.

Bible Talks, on the other hand, were just that—talks about the Bible.

Ray would call the kids in, open the Bible (often to the “one anothers” of Scripture), read a verse, and then he and the kids would just talk.

Not a big, elaborate program. Not a lengthy discourse. Just “how can we DO this verse?”

Simple. Doable. Talking.

The reason Bible Talks were often two or three kids at a time is because we began Bible Talks with Dad with the boys when there was a big age/learning level difference between the “olders” and the “littles.” Thus, Ray could talk to the kids at their levels.

Another benefit of Bible Talks is that they did not require any books. As a matter of fact, Bible Talks often took place on the road or all stretched out across the bed. Very informal. Read a verse (or bring a verse on a card) and talk about it. No fancy handbooks or concordances—just what do you think this verse means or how can we apply this to our lives?

Bible Talks are a good way to show kids that the Bible is relevant to our entire lives. That it is something we want to talk about, learn about, and live. That we should discuss applications in our lives all the time. Plus, it’s just another “terrific time to talk” to our kids!

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Story telling is a perfect time to talk because, well, it truly is talking!

Telling your children a story that is made up (or retelling a classic tale) is fun, and kids love it.

Telling your children a story about you, your life, your parents’ life, etc., is even better!

Story telling is truly teaching!

In one of our workshops, we talk about teaching like Jesus taught. Truly, story telling was one of his master teaching techniques—and it can be one of ours too!

All of our grown kids listening to Grandma tell stories of her early years.

Just like story time/reading stories, story telling builds those relationships, allows for lots of discussion, and gives us commonalities to build our relationships around.

Our kids love to hear the stories of how my husband and I met; their births; our salvation stories; and more. They love to reminisce via stories about our vacations and the births of the “little boys.”

We have told them stories for years and years—and now they look forward to getting home from work or calling from college or meeting us for lunch to tell us stories about their job, their school, their lives.

And it comes full circle–as our kids love to tell stories now too! Here our twenty-one year old nurse son tells stories about his experiences as a pediatric nurse to his nurse grandma!

We recently celebrated my husband’s mom’s eightieth birthday with all of our kids there (and our four kids-in-law). Before the day, Ray told his mom that he was going to have her tell the kids stories about her life. He asked her some questions to get her thinking—and then during the party, she told her stories with Ray prompting her for more information.

My husband prompting his mom as she tells stories to the kids about her early years.

Afterward, Ray’s brother asked Ray how he got so much information out of their mom for that day. The secret, of course, was the prompting, something that we have done extensively when talking to our kids.

Prompting when they are telling about their day or their event lets them know we are listening. It helps them remember details. It makes them feel that we really do want to know their story.

So tell stories to your kids when they are young—and they will tell you stories when they are teens and adults! 🙂

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