You may have heard this testimony before: a Christian grows up hearing isolated Bible stories. Later in life, she discovers these various accounts all fit together to proclaim one glorious gospel. She’s delighted to see God’s unfolding revelation in Scripture but wonders why she never saw this before. Parents hoping to make this testimony rare in their homes might find genealogies useful.

It was an evening like most others—our pajama-clad children gathered around and we opened our Bibles for family worship. But this night, our study ran into a Bible genealogy. Should we pass it by, or dig in? After all, if a sermon on a genealogy—preached by a trained pastor—can seem like a “root canal or a trip to the DMV,” then what chance does a mom or dad have to successfully teach these texts to kids? And how can a genealogy help our children anyway?

These were good questions, but they were followed by better ones.

What if avoiding specific sections of Scripture is itself a lesson to our kids? Do we give the impression that only certain corners of the Bible are suited for families when we limit our studies to known, or easier-to-apply passages? And what fruit—if carefully gleaned—from these biblical family trees could nourish our growing disciples?

We moved forward with our family devotion and discovered three truths.

1.Genealogies Are Inspired

Being a mom has taught me this: what I think about the Bible is revealed in how I teach it to my kids. I can give theological lectures on the infallibility, inerrancy, and worth of God’s Word—but my heart-level judgment is seen in the ordinary context of bedtime devotions. How I approach the Scriptures in these everyday settings says a great deal to my children.

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