Our primary responsibility as Christian parents is to point our children toward the gospel and help them recognize and understand God’s incredible love. Sure, it’s important to also provide them with food, shelter, education, and all the other things that parents are supposed to do. However, if we truly believe that God is the center of our lives, then He should also be at the center of our parenting.
When our focus, as a family, is on God, then we can face any challenge or obstacle that might try to come against our family. One of the best ways that we are able to keep our focus on God is through memorizing and meditating on His Word.
When we fill our minds and our thoughts on God’s promises, His faithfulness, and His character it builds up our faith and drives out thoughts that don’t line up with who He is.
By teaching our children Bible verses to study, memorize, and meditate on we are equipping them to trust in God and to remember Him all throughout their daily lives and circumstances. This list of 21 Bible verses for children covers a wide variety of topics and situations that will help our children understand the gospel, God’s love, and recognize His faithfulness in their daily lives.
Each family is unique, so I don’t intend to prescribe a certain way to use these verses. Some families might choose to select a verse each week to discuss and memorize. Other families might need to spread things out to a verse each month. And still, other families might be more inclined to print these verses out on notecards to display or hang throughout the house as daily reminders to keep everyone focused on God.
Consider what will work best for you and your family during this particular season of your lives. Try some things out and pay attention to what works and what doesn’t. There is no right or wrong way here. The point is simply to read, speak, discuss, and remember these verses to help guide your family through your daily lives.
I’ve listed all the verses in the New Living Translation because that is my favorite and seems to be one of the best for kids to understand, but feel free to use whatever Bible translation you prefer.
Bible Verses to Teach Your Children
John 3:16-17
For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.
Romans 3:23-24
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
Galatians 5:22-23
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:13
For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.
Joshua 1:8-9
Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command – be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
Matthew 22:37-39
Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
Ephesians 4:32
Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
1 John 4:4
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
1 Peter 5:7
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
Luke 6:31
Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
Ephesians 4:29
Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.
Deuteronomy 11:18-21
“So commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these words of mine. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, so that as long as the sky remains above the earth, you and your children may flourish in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors.”
Ephesians 2:8-9
God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
Romans 8:28
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 8:38-39
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Colossians 3:23
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.
Matthew 25:40
“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’
Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Today’s Action Step
I know that in my family if I suddenly announced that we were going to start studying and memorizing Bible verses there may be anarchy and tantrums. No kid wants to sit around studying and memorizing more stuff after all the work they already do at school all day.
Instead, use these verses as conversation starters. Select a verse that you feel would apply to your family season right now, something that would be impactful and beneficial for everyone to learn about. Then find a time, maybe around the dinner or breakfast table to bring it up. Talk about the verse, read it, ask your kids to share what it means to them, share a little about what the verse means to you, and maybe share the background behind the verse in the Scriptures. Then over the coming days (or weeks) bring up the verse at various times to remind everyone of what you talked about.
Try to make it fun and interesting. This doesn’t mean you have to play an obnoxious game or break out the old school felt storyboard. The goal is to get your kids to engage with the scriptures, to talk and ask questions, and figure out how it applies to their everyday lives. Use this as a time to connect with your kids, to get to know them better, to listen to them, to share your heart and this special time together.
Additional Resources
Armed With Truth – they offer temporary Bible verse tattoos. These are awesome for adults and kids to meditate on Bible verses all throughout their day. Use my referral code to get $5 off your order.
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