At the beginning of the summer, I knew I wanted to create a daily rhythm to help our family keep some structure in our schedule. One of the things that easily became my favorite time of the day was working through Sing the Bible.
Our routine is pretty simple. We sit down together and read the short devotional, then we play the music to practice the verse for the week. I was amazed at how quickly we all learned the verse!
Sing the Bible: 52 Bible Verses for Kids to Learn and Sing by Randall Goodgame combines scripture memory, music, conversation, prayer, and simple activities into a family devotional that is easy to actually use. It’s a wonderful family resource that requires no preparation.
Summary of Sing the Bible
Sing the Bible is built around 52 Scripture passages, giving families enough material to work through one passage each week for an entire year. Obviously, if it takes you more than a week to get through a passage, that’s fine too. Once school started for us, we have definitely slowed down on our practice. However, the songs are easy to turn on in the car so we can listen on our drives.
Each section gives you several short ways to interact with the verse together. Rather than simply asking children to memorize the words, the prompts help them really think about what those words actually mean.
You might talk about the passage, discuss the question together, complete a simple activity or think about a practical way to live out what you’ve learned. Plus, there is always a prayer to share together.
Then, you listen to the music together to help commit the words to memory.
The songs come from Randall Goodgame’s Slugs & Bugs Sing the Bible music and put Scripture to melodies that are genuinely enjoyable to listen to. A QR code makes it easy to pull up the songs, so after we talk through the day’s prompt, we listen and sing along.
The combination works beautifully because my kids aren’t only hearing Scripture. They’re talking about it, singing it, thinking about it, and beginning to recognize what it looks like in everyday life.
Age Level
I would recommend Sing the Bible primarily for:
- Preschool and early elementary children who may need a parent to guide the conversation but can easily participate in the songs and activities
- Elementary-aged children who are ready to think more deeply about what Scripture means and how it applies to their lives
- Families with multiple ages, because the questions are simple enough for younger children while still opening the door to meaningful conversations with older kids
- Homeschooling families looking for a simple Bible resource that incorporates discussion, music, Scripture memory, and hands-on learning
My own kids are still young, and we’ve been able to have surprisingly thoughtful conversations using the short prompts.
I also think the book can grow with them. A preschooler’s response to a verse may be very simple, while an older child could wrestle with the same question at a much deeper level.
Using the Book in Real Life
I really appreciate how Sing the Bible connects Scripture memory with understanding. It would be very easy to stop at memorization, which is valuable in itself, but I don’t simply want my kids to be able to repeat a verse back to me. I want them to understand what those words mean and learn how Scripture shapes the way they live.
While working on the song paired with Luke 3:11, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same,” we were met with an opportunity to put what we were learning into practice. My kids’ birthdays were approaching and we worked together to go through some of their clothes, books, and toys to donate to a local thrift store.
They weren’t eager to part with anything, which had become a growing problem the last couple of years, but as we talked through the verse and the opportunity in front of us, it made the process a little bit easier. Especially when they had items they had outgrown or just didn’t use anymore; it’s nice to be able to give those clothes and toys new life by sharing them with someone else.
I was encouraged by their response, and found that the conversation went much smoother because of what we had already been talking about by singing the song that went with it. And these songs are actually enjoyable, not just something I tolerate because they’re educational.
I’ve found myself remembering passages more easily because I can hear the songs in my head. That’s been a humbling reminder that these methods we often think of as being “for kids” can be incredibly beneficial for adults too.
What I Love Most
There are a few reasons this resource has worked well for our family. First, it’s manageable because each prompt is short, so I don’t feel like I need to carve out a huge portion of our day.
Second, the questions lead to conversation rather than a right answer. Many of the responses require open ended responses, which lead to more thoughtful discussions.
Third, music makes the verses memorable. I even find myself singing the songs well after we have listened to it together.
And finally, it encourages application. My goal isn’t to check off each week and considered ourselves done when we turn the last page. We’re practicing what Scripture has to do with generosity, kindness, worry, obedience, love, and all the other things my children are encountering in real life.
This book has become a very useful Bible resource that I am grateful we’ve been able to use together.
How We Use Sing the Bible in Our Home
I guess you can add this to the list of benefits, but you certainly don’t need an elaborate routine.
Ours usually looks something like this:
- Read the Scripture passage together.
- Work through one of the short prompts and let the kids respond.
- Sing along to the song.
- Look for opportunities during the week to bring the verse back into everyday conversation.
When something from the verse naturally comes up, we can return to words the kids already recognize. And the songs have become an easy part of our routine even if we don’t get to talk through the prompt for the day.
Is Sing the Bible Worth Adding to Your Family’s Bookshelf?
For our family, absolutely.
Sing the Bible has become one of those resources I’m grateful to have because it helps me do something I already want to be doing with my kids, which is reading Scripture and helping them hide those words in their hearts.
Most of all, I love that we’re learning together. I may open the book thinking about what I want my children to understand that day, but again and again, I find Scripture turning the question back toward me too.
It’s beautiful to consider, “How am I living this?” or “What do I need to remember?” I’m grateful for moments to wrestle through those ideas alongside my kids.
If you’re looking for more books and resources to help you build meaningful reading rhythms with your children, you can find more recommendations in my book review library.
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