1. Make a plan of when and where you will meet.

Schedule it like an appointment on your calendar. Spending time with the Lord, especially with others, doesn't just happen. But when we make time with the Lord our top priority, He will take care of fitting in the rest. (Learn more.) PRM E-Team Members get a Family Resolution to fill out together when you decide on a meeting time and place.

2. Commit together to making that time a priority.

Remember, forming a new habit takes 18 to 254 days (66 days average). There will be days you don't feel like it. There will be days when unexpected things come up. There will also be days when people are sick. Decide now to make spending time in God's Word a priority. Under what circumstances will you reschedule or skip a day? Remember that skipping days makes it harder to restart again. Expect that after a break, and don't let it discourage you.

3. Let go of ideas of perfection.

Family Bible study usually does not happen with everyone sitting quietly and reverently while Scripture is read and discussed. You will quickly be disappointed and discouraged if that's what you expect. More often, kids move around and make noise. Family members (including you) may be distracted or upset about something. It's OK not to be "perfect." Start your time with a prayer to settle everyone's hearts and bring a bit more focus. Let kids (and adults) move, play with something, or draw. They will still be listening (if they're in the same room and not talking). Take breaks if issues that cannot wait (like fighting) come up. If necessary, cut it short. Remember that a little bit is better than nothing. Remember that everyone is learning a new skill: studying the Bible together. It's OK if the learning curve has its ups and downs.

4. Don't give up when it's hard.

I can pretty much guarantee you that at some point over the next several weeks, you will be tempted to quit. How do I know? First, I understand that "life happens." As we discussed in Tip 1, things come up that make life more challenging than usual. Second, I know there is a spiritual battle happening (Eph. 6:10-20 and many other verses). Satan does not want you and your family to dedicate your lives and your time to Christ, so he'll do whatever he can to discourage and stop you. Don't let him! Remember James 4:7, "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Remember also that you are not alone. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith" (Hebrews 12:1-2a).

5. If you or your family are new to Bible study, start with the basics.

Who wrote the Bible? What is the Bible about? How do you find a Bible reference? This video answers these questions and more.

Each day has a suggested opening prayer focus for the same four topics:

• Praise and thanksgiving
• Repent and confess
• Ask for yourself and others
• Yield and surrender

Keep it simple for younger children. Allow family members to take turns leading the prayer once you have the pattern down.

Don't be afraid to pray for "silly kids' stuff" or "impossible" things. God may answer those "silly" or "impossible" prayers to build your child's faith (and yours). Lk. 12:6-7; 17:5-6; Phil 4:6-7; Matt 7:7-8

Read Day has three goals:

• Practice finding things in a physical Bible.
• Read or listen to this week's text.
• Make notes to remember what you read (and any questions to be answered later in the week).

Longer passages may have a shorter reading option. Occasionally, there may be something different for families with younger children to read.

Kids do not need to know how to read before they can do this. I suggest writing words or drawing pictures as you listen together, but that doesn't work for everyone. Other options include making shapes in clay, using chenille sticks (pipe cleaners) to create shapes, silently acting out what you hear, or even playing with a ball.

Remember, kids hear more than you think. They may seem disinterested and disengaged, but they can still listen to you if they're not making noise. You may be surprised if you ask them questions.

Day 3: Meditate

Meditate Day has three goals:

• Think about the passage.
• Ask questions.
• Connect it back to Jesus and the Gospel. (Hints provided when needed.)

If you have extra time, optional supplemental links are available on this day. They include videos and blogs that relate to this week's passage.

There are several "think about it" questions on this day. If you have younger children or are short on time, ask them what the passage is about, and if they have any questions, review the text as necessary.

It's OK if you can't answer all their questions. Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know." Something happens when people (especially kids) ask us questions. We feel like we have to have an answer for everything. Part of that pressure comes from kids thinking you know everything because you know more than they do in many areas. Avoid falling into the trap of putting that pressure on yourself.

Part of growing up is discovering that it's impossible to know absolutely everything. Teach kids early on what to do when they come across something they don't know. Model it for them. The first step (that not everyone learns) is admitting you don't know.

Answer something like this: "That's a great question! I don't know the answer, but I do  know that..." Sometimes, you won't have anything to add to "I don't know." That's fine, too. When that happens, ask the kids a question: "Where do you think we can find the answer to your question?" Then, search with them (teaching them to evaluate what they read on the internet).

Feel free to email me if you still need help, and I'll do my best to help.

Context Day has two goals:

• Remember and share what God's been teaching you through this series.
• Review the context of the book we're studying this week. This includes the Bible book introduction and overview.

How you do these things is up to you. I provide a suggested guide, but it's up to you if you want to use it.

If you or your family are new to Bible study, start with Bible basics on Day 1. (Who wrote the Bible? What is the Bible about? How do you find a Bible reference? And more.) You can do the Bible book introduction video next week.

If you have younger children, don't expect to watch the Bible book introduction video together. Focus on one or two of the review questions provided and just talk about it. You can also sing the Bible History Song.

If you go to church on Wednesday nights or have an extra busy day, at least sing the Bible History Song together. The link to the Bible book introduction will be provided again on Day 4.

Study Day has one goal: the teaching video.

Most videos are 15-20 minutes, though some go a couple of minutes over. Older videos are much shorter. In those emails, there will be an extra paragraph of reflection and an opportunity to reread the text together.

If you have younger children, you might do the memory verse (day 5), do a related game or craft, act out the Bible passage, or draw a picture together.

Apply Day has three goals:

• Consider how to practice what God's been teaching you this week.
• Pray with me.
• Learn this week's memory verse.

Scripture can be applied in many different ways. In fact, the Holy Spirit may use the same passage to convict people in different ways. Still, the general framework we provide looks at different options. It's based on the driving analogies in the "How to Study the Bible" guide.

• Stop Light
  • Does this passage describe a change you need to make?
  • Sin is anything you think, say, do, or don't do that displeases God or goes against what God says to do. Do you have a sin to confess? (Do you need to tell on yourself to God and tell Him you're truly sorry?)
  • Do you have an attitude you need to change?
• Caution Light
  • Does this passage have a warning?
  • Does it give instructions you should follow?
  • Does it change how you view God?
• Green Light
  • Does this passage give you a command (marching orders) to obey?
  • Does it give an example for you to follow?
  • Does it lead you to worship the one true God?

For younger children, simply ask if this passage tells us to "Stop, Watch, or Go." It will take practice for kids to understand those three things, but you can help them learn by modeling and talking about it.

Pray Day has one goal: Spend some time praying together.

We will pray for the same things each week. You will get access to some cards with pictures that you can print and use if you like.

Feel free to add your own requests.

For younger children, print off the cards and cut them up. Let kids pick one card to pray for each week.

Church Day has two goals: Pray together and discuss what you learned at church.

These questions are the same every week:

• What did you learn from Scripture today?
• How do you think this changes how we live for Jesus?
• What is one thing you can do to apply what God taught you today?

For younger children, start by asking only the first question. As they get older, you can add the second. When that becomes easy, add the third.