Why I stopped reading “The Jesus Storybook Bible” to my kids

I love the Jesus Storybook Bible. When we first got it, I really appreciated how every story was tied back to Christ. Occasionally, I found myself surprised at how the author connected a story to Jesus, coming at it from an angle I hadn’t considered before. For the last couple of years, the Jesus Storybook Bible served as our advent readings in the month leading up to Christmas. My kids had their favorite stories and requested them over and over. It is a great addition to anyone’s children’s library.

But – I started having a problem. The Jesus Storybook Bible encouraged me to interact with those stories as stories, instead of truths. I found myself embellishing them the same way I would “Bedtime for Bear” or “The Three little pigs.” I found myself either not taking the stories seriously enough, or taking them too seriously and feeling silly and ridiculous that I actually believed any of those events really happened. More than once, I would read a story and struggle to finish it as that little voice in my head ran a parallel conversation: “Do you really think Jonah got swallowed by a fish? I’m pretty sure it’s been proven that Noah’s Ark didn’t really exist… Can I honestly tell my kids that I believe Moses parted the Red Sea…?”

The simple presentations in the Jesus Storybook Bible seemed to prey upon my pre-existing fears and doubts about my faith. And when my boys spoke up in their sweet little voices, eager for truth, “Mama, is all of this real?” it didn’t feel right to hold up this cartoon-styled, brightly colored book and lay my hand upon its cover and say, “yes, child, this is all true.”

I don’t remember now what inspired me to do it, but one day I picked up the worn NJKV study Bible I’d had all through high school and stuck it in the basket where I keep our daily readings. Since I was studying the book of Matthew on my own, I started there with my kids.

And the difference in reading REAL scripture with my kids has been astounding. Both for me and for them. I feel like I’m giving them a real insight into what is in the Bible. Of course, there are some parts I skim or skip over because I’m just not ready to go there yet (like Jesus casting out demons), but for the most part, I read everything to them. Kind of funny, but my middle son’s favorite part so far is the geneology of Jesus in Matthew 1. He’ll ask me, “Mama, read that part where it says, the father of and the father of and the father of…”

In Matthew, there are a lot of references to Isaiah and his prophecies. I’ve been able to hold up my Bible and show them how even waaaayyyy back hundred of years before, people were talking about what it would be like when Jesus came. They are starting to get it now – the Bible as a whole story – at least, as much as they can. They have a visual and actual reference point for understanding that people in the Old Testament believed Jesus would come. And, when they ask if I believe that all of this is true, I can put my hand on that cover and say “yes. I believe that what this Bible says is true.”

My kids are 7, 5, and 3. They are not geniuses, nor bible prodigies. They do not understand the “virgin birth” nor do we discuss the depths of theology. They are just as likely to say, “Mama, Jesus must have had stinky feet!” as they are to say, “Jesus was nice.” I only read a handful of verses at a time. I try to summarize them in a way that they can understand: “See, the religious leaders were really mad at Jesus. Did you hear how they tried to trick him! {read that part again} Jesus was saying that the way they had been living wasn’t the way that would really please God…”

Once, we had an incidentally awesome conversation about the law and grace, in kid terms. I found myself explaining that God had given rules to his people but He knew they couldn’t be perfect at following the rules – He wanted the rules to help them have hearts that would love Him. I went on to explain that mom and dad have rules too, but the point is not to be perfect at obeying the rules but to teach the kids how to love and respect each other. For my oldest, it seemed a light-bulb went on. He asked some careful questions and was trying really hard to understand that concept that God wants our hearts, not for us to just be really obedient. We talked about how the Pharisees were really good on the outside, but their hearts were mean towards God. Then we talked about how Jesus seemed to break the rules, but His entire life was devoted to pleasing God.

In a really lame parenting moment, I realized that maybe I hadn’t ever explained to our kids that we don’t want them to obey just for the sake of obeying; that obedience itself is NOT the end goal, but a heart that is loving and kind and compassionate is.

When I first tossed aside the Jesus Storybook Bible, I thought that reading from the actual Bible might be a little over my kids’ heads. And it’s a LOT over their heads, but I am regularly amazed at their ability to understand what’s going on. My summaries help, of course, but I feel like they are really beginning to KNOW who Jesus is, in a way that the Jesus Storybook Bible simply could not convey.

Plus, reading scripture like this has refreshed my own faith and provided some answers and insights for myself that I don’t think I would have internalized had I not been reading out loud.

If you have fallen into the habit or practice of using a story Bible or some other children’s book to introduce your faith to your kids, I encourage you to pick up your actual Bible and start reading from there.

Some tips:

1. Start with Jesus. After all, He is the author and finisher of our faith.
2. Keep it short. Pick one parable, a few verses, a to-the-point verse.
3. Summarize. After you read your section, explain the verse/story in a way your kids can understand. Feel free to say that it’s a hard verse to understand!
4. Don’t ask too many questions if your kids are little. The point is for them to hear it, not necessarily to fully grasp it. If they are older, pick one point to discuss, but don’t turn it into a lecture. Let your goal be to encourage curiosity and interest in scripture, leave them wanting to know more.
5. Keep it simple simple simple and keep your expectations low. In high school, I babysat a 5 year old little boy. I asked him if his family ever went to church. He thought for a moment then replied, confused, “Is that like Costco?” Inevitably, at some point, your child’s answer to every question will be “Jesus” or “God” even though the answer might actually BE “Costco.” Don’t expect them to remember anything, care about much, or listen too intently. But, over time, they will start to see patterns – Jesus is kind; Jesus died for us; Jesus loves me; Jesus wants me to be good and kind to others; a long time ago, people predicted what Jesus would be like….
6. Don’t be discouraged if YOU have a hard time understanding what the verses are saying. You can always skip over a portion if you aren’t sure what it means. You can always reference a study Bible or google the verses and see what other scholars have to say about it. Some of the things Jesus says are really confusing. But, keep on reading and determine, for yourself, to become more Bible literate.
7. Keep the big picture perspective. Our main goals should be to point our kids towards Christ and teach them that the Bible is largely how we know about Him. When we make it a priority to read and discuss scripture with our kids, they will naturally come to understand that the Bible is a reliable, solid resource and reference for the truth.
8. Remember that reading is not enough. I am guilty of quoting Jesus one minute and then yelling at my kids the next in a very un-Christlike way. Our lives speak louder than our words. I can read the Bible all day long, but if I’m not practicing and showing grace and compassion and forgiveness with them every day, my words will fall on deaf ears.

My husband is an atheist. I am trying to gently share my faith with our boys in a way that does not undermine or disrespect him. Some days, it is really hard to be the spiritual leader in our home. When I read from the actual Bible, I feel like I’m getting more bang for my buck, so to speak. I have limited opportunity in which to share Jesus with my kids and why spend that time reading an abridged version of the gospel when I could be reading them the real thing? God has promised that His Word will not return void, and I am clinging to that hope.

Do you read the Bible to your kids? Are you the spiritual leader in your home?