Dad, the Old Testament can feel intimidating.
You open the Bible intending to teach your kids, and before long you are dealing with wars, judgment, sacrifice, strange customs, and questions you did not expect. It can be tempting to skip the difficult parts and move to a story that feels easier.
But our kids need more than a collection of safe Bible stories. They need to see the larger story of what God is doing, why we need salvation, and how Scripture points us to Christ.
My conversation with Old Testament scholar Chad Bird gave me a simple framework that can help. You do not need a seminary degree to use it. You need a willingness to read, learn, and talk with your children.
Your kids learn what matters by watching you
Chad explained that children learn through imitation. They notice what we do consistently, and our habits tell them what is important.
If your children regularly see you open the Bible, talk about a story, and pray with them, they learn something before they understand every word. They learn, “This matters to my dad. This is what our family does.”
I have seen this in my own home. There have been nights when I was rushing through bedtime, gave everyone hugs and kisses, and started to leave. Then one of my kids reminded me, “But are we going to pray?” The pattern had already taught them to expect it.
You do not have to make family devotions impressive. Consistency is already teaching.
Do not reduce every Bible story to good behavior
One common mistake is turning every Old Testament story into a lesson about behaving better.
Be brave like David. Obey like Noah. Work hard like Nehemiah. Those applications may contain something useful, but they are not the whole story. If the main message our children hear is, “Be good so God will be happy with you,” we can teach them to focus on their performance instead of God’s saving work.
Morality matters. Our children should learn wisdom, obedience, courage, and faithfulness. But good behavior does not put us in right relationship with God. We need Christ.
That is why these three questions are so helpful.
1. Where does this story fit in God’s larger story?
Before you pull out a lesson for your child, locate the story.
What has God already done? What promise has He made? What problem are His people facing? What happens next?
Take David and Goliath. This is more than a small boy facing a big bully. Israel is surrounded by enemies. Goliath stands against the people of God and defies God Himself. David has been anointed, but he is not yet king. He steps forward when experienced warriors will not.
The larger setting keeps us from making the story only about finding the courage to face our personal giants. It helps our children see God’s faithfulness to His people.
You do not need to explain the entire Old Testament timeline every night. Give your child one or two sentences of context. Help them understand where they are in the story.
2. How does this story show our need for salvation?
In the story of David and Goliath, no one in Israel wants to fight Goliath. The people are threatened by an enemy they cannot overcome on their own.
That changes the question we ask our kids. Instead of only asking, “How can you be more like David?” we can also ask, “Why did Israel need someone to rescue them?”
That question moves the focus from self improvement to rescue. It helps our children recognize that the deepest problem in Scripture is not a lack of confidence. It is sin, evil, separation from God, and our inability to save ourselves.
Old Testament stories reveal people who fail, fear, rebel, suffer, and need help. That is not a problem we need to edit out. It is part of the truth our children need. We are not teaching them that Bible characters earned God’s love by being better. We are showing them people who needed God’s grace, just as we do.
3. How does this story point us to Christ?
Chad described Old Testament patterns as something like a movie trailer. They give us a preview of the greater rescue that comes through Christ.
David is an anointed man from Bethlehem who defeats an enemy no one else can face. His victory benefits people who did not win the battle themselves. That does not make David identical to Jesus, but it gives us a pattern that points forward.
Jesus, the Son of David, comes to defeat sin and death for us. We receive the benefit of a victory we could never accomplish by ourselves.
This question helps your kids see that Jesus does not suddenly appear in a disconnected second half of the Bible. The whole story moves toward Him.
After reading, you can ask something as simple as, “What does this story show us about why we need Jesus?” You may be surprised by what your child notices.
Tell difficult stories honestly and wisely
The Old Testament contains violence and other material that requires judgment from parents. You do not need to linger on graphic details, and some passages may need to wait until your child is older.
Your child’s age and maturity matter. There is not one script that fits every family.
At the same time, we should not make an ugly story sound harmless. Tell enough for your child to understand what happened, then bring the story back to the larger biblical picture. If one detail captures all their attention, answer the question calmly and redirect them to the main point.
You can also say, “I do not know. Let me study that and come back to you.” Your child does not need you to have every answer immediately. They need to see that their questions are welcome and that Scripture is worth understanding.
A simple way to begin tonight
Choose one Old Testament story your children already know. Read it together, then ask:
- Where does this fit in God’s larger story?
- How does it show that people need God’s rescue?
- How does it point us toward Jesus?
Do not pressure yourself to produce a perfect lesson. Read. Ask. Listen. Learn together. Your willingness to open the Bible with your children is already showing them that God’s Word belongs in the ordinary rhythm of your home.
For more help, listen to the full conversation, How To Talk To Your Kids About The Old Testament with Chad Bird. You can also read Discipleship Through Communication for practical ways to make faith part of your conversations.
One action to take today
Read one Old Testament story with your child tonight. Ask the three questions above, and let the conversation continue even if you do not have every answer.
Build a steadier rhythm of faith at home: Get Following Our Father for 30 Scripture centered devotionals and practical action steps for dads.