We have recently added (or are in the process of adding) some books to our Book Nook that we believe are helpful resources.  Since the most valuable and effective children's ministry is what happens in the home, we want to equip parents with the best resources we can find.  If you haven't started a family devotional time yet, these books make it easy to start--all you need to do to get started is read!

1. The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones

This book gives a great overview of the Bible. While it is not a substitute for actually reading the Bible directly, it is an excellent resource for teaching children how the whole Bible tells us the true story of Jesus. Recommended for ages 4 and up.

2. Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing by Sally Lloyd-Jones

A companion book to The Jesus Storybook Bible, the readings in this book are very short--short enough that you could read them before dinner as a family, for example. Each reading quotes and focuses on one verse of scripture.

3. Big Picture Family Devotional edited by David Helm (Coming Soon)

This is written as a weekly family devotional. There are 50 devotionals, and they are not assigned to any specific dates--so you can start at any time, and you can do something different for Christmas and Easter. Compared to The Jesus Storybook Bible, it is a little bit more in-depth: it includes passages to read from Scripture, questions and answers to memorize, questions for reflection, and even some songs you can learn as a family. The publisher recommends this book for ages 6-10.

4. Big Truths for Young Hearts by Bruce Ware

This book is slightly more advanced than the Big Picture Family Devotional, but the readings are still relatively short (2-3 pages). Instead of working through the Bible's storyline, each reading focuses on one "big truth" that Christians believe. Each reading also includes a couple of application questions and a memory verse. This is probably best for older children--even teenagers and parents will probably learn something new!