One of the most rewarding parts of homeschooling is getting to see your children grow in their faith. Parents can encourage their children through regular times of prayer and Bible study. Not only does this benefit students individually, but the family as a whole. If you’re new to teaching bible studies, I suggest starting with a simple topic. The Fruit of the Spirit is a concept that the entire family can benefit from and enjoy. Here are some helpful tips to help you teach a Fruit of the Spirit Bible study.
1. What Are the 12 Fruits of the Spirit?
The fruit of the Spirit are character qualities that you can expect to find within each believer. There are many references to fruit in the Bible, with a general overview being that good trees (or people) bear good fruit. You can find these spiritual fruits in Galatians 5:22-23. Most Christians know the fruit of the Spirit to include: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. However, the Catholic Church has included three additional fruits of the Spirit: long-suffering, modesty, and chastity. Use whatever version you‘re comfortable with!
2. Learn About Each Fruit Individually
While these character traits work together to create the whole Christian, each one has specific benefits. For example, patience can help us wait for the good things God has for us, while self-control can help us lead successful lives. I recommend extending your study time to devote whole sessions to each Fruit of the Spirit. Many parents like illustrating their lessons by including real Fruit. Bananas can represent patience, and grapes can represent love. Fruit will never look the same!
3. Use Positive Affirmation
As you teach each Fruit of the Spirit lesson, be sure to encourage each child as they show positive changes in their lives. This can be as simple as privately telling the child they did a great job or giving a piece of candy to each child who was an example of love that day. Alternatively, you can go around the table and have each child positively affirm each other. Positive affirmation always leads to better behavior, and it gives your family a real-life example of what you’ve learned.
A fruit of the Spirit Bible study is also a great way to help your students memorize Scripture. LightSail has made this easy with customized Bookmarks and Quotations that your child can refer to. These ready-made tools also include assessment questions that will help you gauge your child’s comprehension of the lesson.
Posted on 10.Oct.21 in Faith-based
