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01.  Introduction

For eight summers, our family spent most Thursday evenings at neighborhood swim meets. Preparation rituals began mid-afternoon on the day of the event, with slicing fruit, making sandwiches, and preparing the cooler. Then we packed the swim bags with goggles, swim caps, highlighters, card games, and plenty of towels. Finally, we made our way to the pool, got everyone to their age group areas, and settled in for hours of watching our kids swim under the hot Georgia suburban sun. Swim meets made for long days, but we loved them.

Slowly and without even noticing it, those swim meet days formed us as a family. We discovered a lot about the sport and one another. For example, we learned a new (swim) language, how to differentiate between strokes, what will get you disqualified from a race, and how to read a “heat sheet” (the meet schedule). More importantly, we learned about our kids from watching them practice, interact with their friends, and handle the pressure of competition. Together, we celebrated wins, time drops, and county qualifiers; we also shared the disappointment of slow finishes and losses. Each Thursday shaped our little community of five.

I’m sure you have activities, traditions, and hobbies that shape your family, too. How we spend our days impacts the people we become, our families’ culture, and what we know and love. As followers of Christ, I think most of us know the importance of cultivating our children’s faith in the home. There are many ways to do that, though, and the discipleship within a family will and should look different based on the situations, ages, and needs present.

In this second guide, we will consider how Life with God for Children can be used in the home. Going beyond the basic Bible storybook, this resource guides families in experiencing God together and engaging with him as whole persons. Utilizing this resource to its full potential will require more preparation than reading a standard Bible storybook, but it is worth it. However, you may find Life with God for Children best suited to gathering once or twice a week (although I think incorporating it into your daily habit could work well for homeschooling families).

As in the first guide, I have provided two sample exercises. If you have children in more than one age group, review all the free lessons to discover which works better for your family. In addition to the resource, you need The Life with God BibleLife with God Bible, New Revised Standard Version, Richard J. Foster, ed. (New York: Harper Bibles, 2009)., and if your children are between the ages of PreK and 2nd grade, you will also need a copy of The Beginner’s BibleThe Beginner’s Bible: Timeless Children’s Stories (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006).. I also found having a dedicated journal for notes, thoughts, and family prayers helpful. Finally, be sure to read Borgo’s complete Introduction at the beginning of your curriculum download. She lists other materials you will frequently use to teach the lessons there.

As you move through the Life with God for Children resource with your family, consider how your home can become like a little church. While it should not replace the local congregation, it is a sacred space where we can and should worship, study God’s Word, pray, serve, and celebrate together. As we do that, we sometimes benefit from others who can provide examples of how to practice our faith with our kids. Lacy Finn Borgo’s curriculum, Life with God for Children, is like a guide for cultivating spiritual practices and growth by helping you engage with God and His Word as a family.

Finally, for those concerned that they are not spiritually mature enough to disciple their children, please remember that God is with you. He simply wants you to do the next right thing for your children, and He will handle the results. I love Lacy Finn Borgo’s simple and encouraging response to a new Christian who was worried about raising their child in the way of Jesus: “What a wonderful opportunity…As you learn together, you will grow together.”Faith Like a Child, Lacy Finn Borgo (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2023).

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02.  Example Lesson—Preschool and Kindergarten
Lesson 43: Anna Prays Every Day

Center Down

• By “centering down,” you help your children mark this time as special. Since you’re home, you likely won’t need to take your shoes off, but you can do other things to signal that this time is set apart. For example, if you’re incorporating the lesson into a weekly dinner, you could light a candle at the table or play quiet worship music and sit on a special blanket if you’re moving through the lesson before bedtime.
• It’s helpful to create a habit, instituting something consistent (but doable) that reminds your child that this time is different and sacred. You are slowing down and connecting with God as a family.
• Remember that you aren’t teaching as much as experiencing God together. Through this resource, you and your children will learn more about God, your heavenly Father, and your identity as His children.

 

Prayer Time

• Using Life with God for Children as a family will give you a beautiful opportunity to teach your children to pray and help them grow comfortable praying in silence and out loud with others. While this portion of Borgo’s lesson needs almost no modification, here is a suggestion on how you could mildly adjust one of her prayers for the homeLacy Finn Borgo, Life with God for Children: Preschool and Kindergarten, p. 205.:

“Start the prayer by saying, ‘Hello God. We’re so glad that you are here with us. As you already know, we are here together, and we would like to talk with you.’ Model the prayer first. Honestly talk with God about something that’s on your mind. Invite your child to share something with God, maybe something they are worried about, maybe just something they’d like to tell God. Then say, [Child’s name] wants to talk with you. Give the child a chance to talk aloud with God. Model listening to your child’s prayer; if you have other children, help them listen as well. If your child doesn’t always want to share, that’s fine. After everyone who wants to pray has prayed, say, ‘We have talked, and now we can listen to see what God has to say to us.’ Then, spend 30 seconds in silence listening. Finally, thank God for talking with you.

 

Connect and Focus Verse

• Take a few moments to review what you’ve recently learned together. If you have a homeschool room, post the timeline and refer to it often. If not, you can create a timeline on a piece of paper that stays with your family Bible storybook. Then, read the Focus Verse aloud.

 

Listen and Learn

• These sections work in almost any environment just as they are. You will read this week’s story from The Beginner’s Bible.

 

Snack

• If and how you incorporate food into your worship time will depend on how and when you utilize Life with God for Children. If you homeschool, consider incorporating this time of worship before your morning or afternoon snack. Discussing the lesson while you eat allows you to naturally talk about God and what He is teaching each of you. Children are sometimes more likely to share while doing something else (such as enjoying a snack) or at night before bed.
• If you include Life with God for Children at mealtime, you could incorporate a special weekly dessert instead of the “snack.”

 

Do

• While you may be tempted to skip this section, I recommend making it a part of your devotional rhythm. “Do” will help the children grow in spiritual disciplines like solitude, silence, and meditating on God’s Word.
• Most lessons, including this one – “Anna Prays Every Day” – incorporate items you already have at home, such as books, puzzles, blocks, dress-up clothes, and craft supplies. Perhaps you could create a special place in your room where you keep the items you regularly use. Frequently visiting the library is a great way to keep your book choices interesting!

 

Sing

Many young children love to sing, and Lacy Finn Borgo does a fantastic job choosing classic children’s songs you can enjoy together. If you aren’t familiar with the recommended weekly song, you can find most of the ones she mentions on YouTube or streaming services like Spotify. However, don’t be afraid to deviate from the author’s suggestion and find a balance between learning new songs and allowing your children to return to their favorites.

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03.  Example Lesson—Third and Fourth Grade
Lesson 43: Anna Lived with GodLacy Finn Borgo, Life with God for Children: Third and Fourth Grade, p. 215-218.

Background Notes for Teachers

• Read pp.103-104, “Anna: Becoming God’s Dwelling Place,” in The Life with God Bible. You could incorporate this into your personal devotional reading.

 

Center Down

• By “centering down,” you help your child mark this time as special. Since you’re home, you likely won’t need to take your shoes off, but you can do something that signals that this time is set apart. For example, if you’re incorporating the lesson into a weekly dinner, you could light a candle at the table or play quiet worship music and sit together in your child’s room if you’re moving through the lesson before bedtime.
• It’s helpful to create a habit, instituting something consistent (but doable) that reminds your child that this time is different and sacred. You are slowing down and connecting with God as a family.
• Remember that you aren’t teaching as much as experiencing God together. Through this resource, you and your children will learn more about God, your heavenly Father, and your identity as His children.

Prayer Time

• Using Life with God for Children as a family will give you a beautiful opportunity to teach your children to pray and help them grow comfortable praying in silence and out loud with others.
• Regularly model simple prayer for your children. Honestly talk with God about something that’s on your mind. Then, invite your child to share something with God, maybe something they are worried about, perhaps just something they’d like to tell God. Listen to your child’s prayer; if you have other children, help them listen as well. If your child doesn’t want to share, that’s fine. After everyone has been given a chance to pray aloud, say, ‘We have talked, and now we can listen to see what God has to say to us.’ Then, spend 30 seconds in silence listening. Finally, thank God for talking with you.

 

Connect and Focus Verse

• Take a few moments to review what you’ve learned together. Have your child take the initiative here. Encourage them to briefly retell stories you read over the past few months.
• If you have a homeschool room, post the timeline and refer to it often. If not, you can create a timeline on a piece of paper that stays with your family Bible. Then, read the Focus Verse aloud.
• Scripture memorization is just as formative for adults as it is for children. Consider choosing the Focus Verse or the Alternate Memory Verse and memorizing it as a family.

 

Listen and Learn

• These sections work just as they are in almost any environment. You and your child can take turns reading this week’s passage from the Life with God Bible. Engage your child by interspersing the questions as recommended.

 

Do and Extension

• While you may be tempted to skip this section, I recommend making it a part of your devotional rhythm. “Do” will help the children grow in spiritual disciplines like prayer, solitude, silence, and meditating on God’s Word.
• Be flexible with the “Do” and “Extension” portions of the lessons. Choose an activity that supports your child’s interests and that you will enjoy doing and preparing for as well! However, you do not need to purchase lots of supplies or create lots of work for yourself. For example, you could simply print the provided template on p. 218 and complete the activity as suggested. Or, you could adapt this lesson’s “Do” by writing your child’s answers in your family journal (see the Introduction) and then writing the memory verse on adhesive notes. Finally, you and your child could walk around your home, placing the notes as constant reminders to pray and talk with God throughout the day.

 

Sing

• Singing together as a family is an incredible practice to begin when your children are young. You can have your child help select the worship songs as a fantastic way for them to begin owning their faith and learning to serve others in the body of Christ.