SOAP Journaling and Family Bible Time

S.O.A.P. Bible reading and journaling  

SOAP is a method of Bible reading and journaling: Scripture, Observation, Application,  Prayer. It can be used with any daily Bible reading plan.  

You’ll need a Bible, a journal and a pen.  

S  

for Scripture  

Open your Bible to today’s reading (according to whatever plan you are following).  Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse  that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal.    

for Observation  

What struck you and caught your attention in what you read? What do you think God  is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to  you. Paraphrase and write this scripture down in your own words.  

A  

for Application  

Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to your life right  now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or  corrections for a particular area of your life. Write how this scripture can apply to you  today.  

P  

for Prayer  

This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a  greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two way  conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out. 


How To Establish A Family Bible Time

January 12, 2022 by abbey@smalltownsoul.net

Morning or Night?

It doesn’t matter! Not one bit. I have friends that are dedicated to morning Bible times with their kids, while we personally do ours between supper and bedtime. No matter when you read, your kids are hearing, experiencing, and learning the Word of God. Want to implement it during lunch time? Go for it! Snack time? Great! Middle of the morning? Whatever works for you!

Children’s Bible or Adult Bible?

There are benefits to each, but before we discuss this, let me make this disclaimer: there’s no right or wrong here. If all you have is an adult Bible, start there. Your kids (even little ones) can learn from it. If you only own a children’s Bible, start there. You might learn something from it along with your kids. In any format, God’s Word never returns void.

Children’s Bible

Pros: Written on a child’s level. Short stories for short attention spans. Includes pictures to look at. 

Cons: May water down stories or leave parts out. Does not include all Bible stories. Does not challenge kids to learn new vocabulary.

Our favorite children’s Bible for young kids are Jesus Storybook Bible and Beginner’s Gospel Story Bible. For elementary-age kids, look into the products from Kaleidoscope to transition your children into reading full books of the Bible on their level.

Adult Bible

Pros: Many stories to choose from. Includes direct commands, teachings from Jesus, and prophecies. Gives opportunity to teach children new words and concepts they may not otherwise be exposed to.

Cons: May not keep a child’s attention. Very few, if any, visuals. Can be hard to decide where to start reading.

“My Kids Won’t Sit Still”

Anytime I speak on topics like this, I hear from moms saying things like, “Well my kid would never sit still that long” and “That just won’t work for us because of our schedule.” Those are valid concerns! That’s why you have to find what works for you. Maybe your kids need to color while they listen, or use a sensory bin. My kids don’t – they sit on a blanket or next to us on the couch – but that doesn’t mean you have to do it the same way.     Source: https://raisingjesuskids.com/family-bible-time/

Book: Adopted for Life (The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches) by Russell Moore

Are you living like an orphan or an adopted child of God? The gospel of Jesus Christ doesn’t simply reconcile us vertically to God but also reconciles us horizontally to one another. In this book Russell Moore invites you into a conversation about adoption between both God and us, and with us and children who are in need of a family. I believe more firmly now than before that adoption forms a “real” family and that our adoption in Christ means the church is a family made up of all adopted sons and daughters of God.

As Christians we should care about the things that God cares about which is people. And if Christians did not adopt, do foster-care, help single parents, or care of orphans then we would be hypocrites to be only known as being pro-life. We should be caring for human life at all stages and care for individuals as Christ would.

The mission to share the love of Jesus includes caring for those around us. Too often we think of missionaries as those off in a far away country serving the Lord, but each of us are missionaries too and even more so if we are looking out for children around us from other countries. Once you read this book you’ll never view adoption the same again and that’s why I highly recommend and encourage you to learn more through reading this book.

How to get this resource:

Book: The 5 Love Languages (The Secret to Love That Lasts) by Gary Chapman

thefivelovelanguagesbookFalling in love is easy, but staying in love – now that’s the challenge in marriage! So, how can you keep your relationship fresh and growing with all of the demands and conflicts of everyday life? In the book ‘The 5 Love Languages’, you’ll discover an approach to showing and receiving love that will help you experience deeper and richer levels of intimacy with your spouse. Also at the end of the book is a quiz you and your spouse can take to help you figure out their love language.

Marriages may be made in heaven, but they must be nurtured here on earth. The ‘5 Love Languages’ explains how people communicate love in different ways, and shares the wonderful things that happen when a husband and wife learn to speak each other’s language. Chapters are categorized by love language (Words of Affirmation, Quality Time, Gifts, Acts of Service, and Physical Touch) and each one ends with simple steps to express a specific language to your spouse and guide your marriage in the right direction. This book is a wonderful investment for your marriage and your family!

How to get this resource: