The short answer
Start with one complete, manageable Bible passage and one quiet moment you can repeat. Read or tell the story, explain the words your child needs, and talk about its meaning before asking a question. Your child can answer aloud, write a few words, or draw. You do not need to begin with a test of what they already know.
What to do first
- Choose one complete episode rather than a verse separated from its setting.
- Read the passage yourself before choosing the explanation or activity.
- Let a child ask, wonder, or say they are unsure.
- Finish while the conversation still has room to continue another day.
Perhaps you have a children's Bible on the shelf, but opening it together never quite makes it into the evening. Or your child asks a question and you worry that you should already know the answer. You can begin with a small, honest conversation. A parent who reads carefully and welcomes questions gives a child somewhere to start.
Choose a story you can finish together
Pick an episode with a beginning, a change, and an ending. Read it first so you know who is there, where they are, and which details matter. A picture Bible or retelling can help, but keep the Scripture reference nearby so you can check what the passage actually says.
For a first session, Luke 19:1–10 offers a short encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus. Read through Jesus's final words rather than stopping at the tree or turning the whole story into a lesson about behaving well.[1]
Give unfamiliar words a little room
Before reading, explain that a tax collector collected money owed to the government. In this passage Zacchaeus is a chief tax collector, and the crowd objects when Jesus goes to his home. Let the story show the tension without inventing a reason for every person's response.
Pause if a word is getting in the way. You can say, “Let's find out what that means,” and look it up together. You do not need to turn every unfamiliar name into a separate lecture.
Try this first conversation
Read Luke 19:1–10 together. In your own words, explain that Jesus welcomes Zacchaeus and that the encounter includes changes in how Zacchaeus says he will use his money. Keep his promise conditional where the passage does: he says what he will do if he has cheated someone. Read what Jesus says about salvation and seeking the lost as part of the same encounter.
Then choose one question. For a younger child, try, “What did Zacchaeus do so he could see Jesus?” For an older child, try, “What changes does Zacchaeus say he will make?” Go back to the passage together if a detail is unclear. These questions help you hear what your child noticed; they do not tell you what your child believes.
If your child wants to draw, they could show one event from the passage and tell you about it. A simple drawing with a clear explanation is enough. Keep imagined details, such as a character's unreported thoughts, open for discussion.
Make the next session easy to begin
Choose an existing moment: after a snack, before an evening game, or while everyone is still at the breakfast table. A short session that your family can manage is a sensible starting point. Ten minutes is an example, not a target every child must meet.
Leave the Bible or next passage where you will find it. At the next session, you might ask what your child remembers and then read again. If the first plan keeps colliding with tiredness or homework, change the moment rather than treating the missed session as a failure of character.
Choose support that fits your child
Some children need an adult to read. Others like to take a paragraph, use an accessible edition, or follow pictures while they listen. An older child can explore a question in more depth without becoming responsible for teaching a younger sibling.
When choosing an app, preview the actual lesson and its Scripture references. Look for clear age editions, room to answer, and parent tools that show what was completed. First Followers offers illustrated Bible lessons and parent-visible responses for iPhone and iPad families. A family subscription is required; screen-time rewards are optional.
Sources and evidence notes
We link to the original paper or issuing organization and state important limits rather than treating every association as proof of cause.
- Luke 19:1–10 — Jesus and ZacchaeusWorld English Bible Classic, Public-domain translation. The source for the worked story example. The suggested home routine and questions are editorial teaching choices.
This guide was created by the First Followers team. It offers general parenting and product-design ideas, not medical, mental-health, pastoral, or professional advice.