Summertime for children means a lot more free time. How they spend this time is very important. They can choose to lounge around and veg out, which is fine for a limited amount of time, or they can find something that will truly engage their minds and hearts in a positive way. 

One thing that they can do is study Scripture. When it comes to reading the Bible, it isn’t always as simple as flipping to a random page and beginning reading. With 66 books in the Bible divided between the Old Testament and New Testament, there are different things to consider before you begin.

NEW TESTAMENT
For children especially, it is important to find out where they are in their walks with Christ before encouraging them to read certain books. For those who aren’t as mature in their faith, the Gospels is a great place to start. 

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are the four books in the Bible known as the Gospels, which are first-hand accounts of Jesus’s life on Earth from the perspective of four of his 
disciples. These books contain parables that Jesus taught as well as the narrative of his death and resurrection, which are two very important things in the Christian faith. 

For children who may not have a firm grasp on various elements of Christianity just yet, these books are pretty straightforward and easy to read, especially if parents are reading through the books with their children and answering any questions that arise along the way.

OLD TESTAMENT
In general, the Old Testament can seem scary and confusing to readers, especially if it is taken out of context, which a lot of people do when it comes to this part of the Bible. That does not take away from its importance, though, as the Old Testament should be read with the same respect and attention as books in the New Testament. For children who have matured a bit in their faith, Old Testament books like Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Genesis would be good reads to help them grow in their faith. 

These books have an emphasis on God’s wrath, which generally isn’t something that we like to teach anybody, nonetheless our children. In spite of this, it is crucial that Christians learn about this as opposed to a hyper focus on just God’s grace. These texts can get a bit confusing, so it is important that you are there to explain to them the context of the text and its applications to believers then and now.

No matter what, it is important to develop an eagerness to study God’s word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 states: “All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Paul emphasizes that ALL scripture is useful. We shouldn’t neglect the Old Testament simply because it intimidates us just as we shouldn’t neglect reading the New Testament for any reason. Summertime is a great time for children to kick back and relax after a hard year at school, but it is important to remember that it is also a great time to develop a summer reading plan through the Bible.