Teaching our children the Bible is one of the greatest privileges we have as parents. But it can feel a little overwhelming. Where do we start? Do they even understand what I’m teaching them? Will they even remember what they’ve learned? Will it make a difference? Those are just a few of the many questions that I have wrestled with over the years. As a parent of a child who just turned 18 years old and graduated from high school (how am I that old?!), I can tell you that the time you spend pouring into them today —no matter how old your child is—will impact them for the future. Because this is so important to me, I love sharing unique and valuable resources to help. I invited my friends from Focus on the Family to share a new devo with you that just happens to be from one of my all-time favorite Bible teachers, Ray Vander Laan!
Getting the whole family to enjoy the same book can be tough. This can be extra hard when trying to instill some biblical truth during a family devotional time. Without a screen to watch it can feel like a victory to just get everyone in the same room. The stories in the Bible are plenty exciting, but 8-12-year old’s sometimes need to see it to believe it.
That’s why Focus on the Family just published Living in the Master’s Plan. It’s a book of thirty family devotions, each beautifully illustrated recreating what it looked like as the stories unfolded. No cartoons or Norwegian-looking Jesus’ here. Instead, art that makes you feel like your hands are still sore from pulling fishing nets as the spray from the Galilee mists your hair. It’s a journey into Scripture that everyone in the family will connect with.
Every devotion unpacks an important story complemented with illustrations that bring it to life. There is a “Let’s Talk About It” conversation starter for each Devo and plenty of “Did You Know?” factoids that kids love. Biblical Historian and author Ray Vander Laan is best known for partnering with Focus on the Family to create That the World May Know, a video series where Ray teaches Biblical history on location in the middle east. Ray loves revealing the context of stories to illuminate God’s timeless truth.
It’s not often a quarterback in the NFL has opinions about a family devotional. But here’s what Kirk Cousins, current quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings had to say-
“As an NFL quarterback, I know a lot about being dirty and sweaty. But years ago, when I was privileged to have Ray Vander Laan as my high school Bible teacher, he shared a beautiful thought that has stuck with me to this day. He reminded me that the disciples often walked so closely with Jesus that the dust from His sandals would kick up on their feet. He used this is an analogy to challenge me to be so close to the Messiah that I would be covered in his presence. I’ve never forgotten that lesson. As you share these devotions with your children and family, I pray that you sense the closeness of Jesus in new and profound ways.”
Experience the Bible in historical context with your whole family. Thirty illustrated devotions that span thousands of years, from Jericho to the Resurrection, to the Crusades, Ray brings to life stories that will entertain, inspire, and apply to your life.
If you’d like to grab a copy of this brand new resource you can go to Focus on the Family or Amazon.
I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to share this new devotional with you today! I have been to numerous retreats and sat under the teaching of Ray Vander Laan only to be blown away by his Biblical insights. He truly makes the Scriptures come alive! Every time I walk away from Ray’s teaching more in awe of God and how the His Word. I know your family will too.
XO, Ruth
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post in partnership with Tyndale and Focus on the Family. All opinions are 100% my own.
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