On Sunday we kicked off a new series called At the Table, looking at the meals Jesus shares in the Gospel of Luke. These stories are packed with insights, and of the most obvious is simple but profound:
Meals around a table can be an intentional place for discipleship.
That got me thinking— how might you use your family’s meal times for discipleship?
I’m not an expert here, but my wife, Courtney, recently encouraged me to share what we’ve been trying in our home. So here’s a little glimpse into life around our table.
A Few Principles Up Front
- Every family is unique. What works for us may not fit you. Try some things, see what you learn, and make adjustments as you go.
- Think steps, not leaps. Doing something is better than doing nothing. Start small and find ways to make it better as you go.
- Don’t sell your family short. It’s easy to say, “Our kids would never do that.” Maybe that’s true. But what if you tried something that stretched you? What if you just stick with it?
- Push through the awkward. Many important spiritual things feel awkward at first.
The Edmondson Meal Time Template
Breakfast: Read, Pray, Sing
At breakfast, we commit to three things: Read, Pray, Sing. The whole thing usually takes 5-10 minutes, depending on how well the girls cooperate that particular morning.
- Read. I read a passage of Scripture from my Bible, usually from the Gospels. I don’t stop to explain as I go. It’s not a sermon… we’re just reading. Sometimes it’s one story, sometimes a whole chapter, but each day we pick up right where we left off. My goal isn’t that the girls perfectly understand or apply what we read—it’s simply that they hear God’s Word and begin storing it away. Years from now, I want Bible stories to be inside them.
- Pray. Either Courtney or I pray for the day, usually tied to what we just read. We try to weave the gospel into our prayer so the girls hear it daily. A couple quick examples:
- After the feeding of the 5,000: “Heavenly Father, thank You for the many creative ways You provide for us. Help us trust You today for whatever we need. Thank You for providing for our greatest need by sending Jesus to die and rise so we can be forgiven of our sins and brought back to You. We love You.”
- After Jesus cast out a demon: “Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to deliver us from evil. We know He is stronger than anything that might hurt us, and He proved it by rising from the dead. Help us trust Him today and be lights in the world who overcome evil with good. We love You.”
- Sing. We sing a song together. Right now it’s usually Jesus Loves Me, The B.I.B.L.E., or The Doxology. As the kids grow, I hope to add more songs and hymns.
Dinner: Pray, Highs/Lows, Scripture Memory
At dinner, we do three things: 1) Pray, 2) Highs and Lows, 3) Scripture Memory
- Pray. We start by asking who wants to pray. We believe that if you’ve learned how to talk, you are able and welcome to pray. We have never forced our kids to pray, but we have never had a problem with them volunteering. If they stop volunteering, we’ll think of a different approach.
- Highs and Lows. Everyone shares the best and hardest parts of their day. (Our three-year-old doesn’t quite grasp the difference yet, so we usually just get two “highs” 😊)
- Scripture Memory. Together we work on memorizing verses. At this stage, I’m not worried about them understanding every word. I just want them to hide God’s Word in their hearts (Psalm 119:11). My hope is that years from now, the Spirit will use those verses in ways I could never plan.
Here’s how we do it, using James 1:12 as an example:
- I repeat the verse multiple times, breaking it into short phrases: Blessed is the one who endures trials (pause), because when he has stood the test (pause), he will receive the crown of life (pause) that God has promised to those who love Him.
- Then we go around the table, each person repeating one phrase at a time:
- Nate — Blessed is the one who endures trials
- Esther — Blessed is the one who endures trials
- Courtney — Blessed is the one who endures trials
- Anna — Blessed is the one who endures trials
- Timothy — (spoken in a baby voice by one of the girls)
- After a few rounds, we add the next phrase and keep building until we can say the whole verse together.
- The next night, we practice the verse again. Within a week, we are ready to add a new verse. Each night we go over all the verses we’ve memorized together. Their little minds thrive on the repetition— it amazes me how much they can remember.
We’ve found having a simple plan for breakfast and dinner really helpful. I hope this gives you some ideas. Remember, this isn’t the way to do family discipleship—it’s just one way that happens to be working for us right now. Every family is different, and what matters most is simply finding some rhythm that helps God’s Word, prayer, and worship become a normal part of life in your home. If any of this helps you, take it and make it your own.
Let’s be intentional like Jesus At the Table!
-Pastor Nate
Appendix: Some Additional Thoughts
Scripture Memorization
I’ve compiled a list of verses that include three themes: 1) God, 2) Character, and 3) Salvation. You can download the list here.
Real Bible vs. Kids Bible
When we read Scripture at breakfast, I prefer to read from a “real Bible” rather than a “Kids Bible,” mainly because Kids Bibles often edit the story or add emphasis that isn’t in the actual text. We do use Kids Bibles with our girls at other times, and they’re helpful in their own way—but technically, unless they stick to directly quoting Scripture, they’re not God’s Word. They’re helpful summaries, but really no different than reading any Christian book. It would be like only reading a devotional in your quiet time but never actually opening the Bible itself. That’s why I want our girls to hear God’s Word as it is. I know they won’t (and can’t) understand everything—but neither can I! Still, Scripture is what the Holy Spirit has given us for growth in godliness, so I’m trusting Him to use it in ways I could never plan.
Bible Translation
There are lots of great, trustworthy Bible translations. For kids, I usually recommend the Christian Standard Bible (CSB), New Living Translation (NLT), or New International Version (NIV). At Highlands, we use the CSB, partly because we feel confident using it across all ages.
That said, sometimes we choose a different translation for memorization if it’s easier for the girls to pick up. For example, when we memorized Psalm 145:3, we used the English Standard Version (ESV):
- Psalm 145:3 (ESV): Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, his greatness is unsearchable.
- Psalm 145:3 (CSB): The LORD is great and is highly praised; his greatness is unsearchable.
In this case, the repetition of “great” is easier for memorization in the ESV. It’s a judgment call.
Prayer
I’ve been at meals where the person who “has to pray” is the person who reaches for their food first. I’m not a huge fan of that. I want our kids to believe that prayer is a normal, joyful privilege rather than a consequence. I also want them to feel confident praying out loud in public. What safer place to practice than around our own table?
Here are some ways we try to encourage that:
- Before we pray as a family, we often remind the girls: “Prayer is just talking to God. Anything you’d talk to Mom or Dad about, you can talk to Him about too.”
- We encourage them to pray about everyday things: when they’re angry, sad, afraid, or can’t sleep. Talk to God about it. Ask Him to help you.
- Courtney is especially good at praying out loud as we go through life. Whether in the car, on a walk, or at home, she brings what’s on her mind straight to the Lord. For example:
- “Girls, look at that sunset! Lord, wow—you’re such an amazing Creator!”
- (Hearing sirens) “Girls, let’s pray—Heavenly Father, please keep everyone safe. Give the firemen wisdom and courage.”
- (When someone feels anxious or sad) “Girls, let’s tell God three things we’re thankful for. We can give thanks in all circumstances.”