Want everyone in your home to dig into scripture? Here are some biblical journaling ideas for families to get everyone excited!

Biblical Journaling Ideas for the Whole Family

Summer is here, Mama. And before you panic about screen time and boredom and what on earth you are going to do with these kids for the next two or three months — I have something really good for you.

Biblical journaling ideas that the whole family can do together. From your toddler with a sticker obsession to your teenager who thinks everything is boring — there is something here for everyone. And the best part? It does not have to look like sitting quietly at a table with a pen and a notebook. It can be messy and creative and loud and done on a blanket in the backyard. It just has to point your family back to God’s Word.

If you did the free Rooted in Christ Scripture Writing Plan in May, think of this as the summer extension — a way to keep that momentum going and bring your whole family along for the journey.

Why Biblical Journaling?

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 tells us to impress God’s Word on our children — as we sit at home, as we walk along the road, as we go about our days. Summer is actually the perfect season for this because we have more time, more flexibility, and more opportunities to slow down and be intentional together.

Writing scripture is powerful because it makes us slow down. It takes what we have read and moves it from the page into our hearts and minds in a deeper way. And when we do that alongside our children — when they see us engaging with God’s Word and they get to engage with it themselves — something beautiful starts to happen. Faith stops being something they hear about and starts being something they live.

So let’s get into some practical, fun, actually doable biblical journaling ideas for your family this summer.

Make It Creative

For the kids who love to create, this is your golden opportunity. Pull out the watercolours, the markers, the stickers, and the big rolls of butcher paper and let them go.

Illustration journaling is one of my favourites — read a verse together and then let your kids draw what they picture when they hear it. There are no wrong answers and no artistic skill required. It is pure expression, and it is so beautiful to see how their little minds connect with scripture.

Watercolour verse pages are another wonderful option — write a verse lightly in pencil and then paint over the page with watercolours. The result is always gorgeous and it makes them want to do it again.

If you have a deck or backyard space, take it outside. Set up a painting station, spread out that butcher paper, and let them illustrate a Bible story or a verse they love. You could even pick one overarching theme for the summer — the Fruits of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23 are perfect for this — and build on it all summer long, adding new verses and illustrations as you go.

And do not underestimate the power of chalk journaling on the driveway. Write a verse in big letters and let them decorate around it. It washes away with the rain and you can start fresh with a new one. My boys would do this every single day if I let them.

For the little ones — toddlers and preschoolers — stickers are everything. You write the verse, they decorate the page. They are contributing, they are sitting with you, and they are hearing God’s Word. That is more than enough.

Make It Hands On

Biblical journaling does not have to stay at the table. Some of the best journaling moments happen when you take the Word outside and bring it to life.

Nature journaling is a beautiful way to connect scripture to the world God created. Matthew 6:26-29 talks about the birds of the air and how God cares for them — read it together, sketch some birds in your journals, and then go outside and actually look for them. Let creation become the classroom.

Scavenger hunt journaling is another favourite — write verses on cards and hide them around the yard. Kids have to find them, read them, and then illustrate or write about them in their journals. For older kids, cut the verse up word by word and let them put it back together like a puzzle before they write it out.

Recipe journaling is one I absolutely love — connecting Bible stories to simple recipes you make together in the kitchen. Think honey and Psalm 119:103, bread and John 6:35, or salt and Matthew 5:13. Write the verse and the recipe together in the journal, then make it and enjoy it. It is discipleship and dinner all at once.

(If you want a full ebook full of recipes and corresponding verses, grab “Teaching in the Kitchen.”)

Make It Personal

For older kids and teenagers, biblical journaling can go so much deeper than drawing and copying verses. This is where it becomes truly transformative.

Prayer journaling — write the verse and then write a prayer in response to it. James 5:16 reminds us that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Teaching your kids to respond to scripture through prayer is one of the most important things you can do for their faith.

Question journaling — let them write down questions the verse brings up for them. Questions they want to think on, questions they want to ask you, questions they want to bring to God. Sometimes we don’t know the answer right away and that is okay. Write it down and seek it together.

Letter journaling — write a letter to God in response to what they read. This one is especially powerful for teenagers who are processing big feelings or hard situations. Getting it out of their head and onto the page — and handing it to God in the process — brings such peace. Philippians 4:6-7 promises that when we bring everything to God in prayer, His peace will guard our hearts and minds.

For your teenagers especially, give them connected verses and challenge them to find the thread between them. Help them make the application to their own lives. Writing is such a powerful way to process — it takes everything swirling around in their minds and gets it out onto the page where they can look at it, hand it to God, and find some peace.

The Secret Ingredient

Here is the thing that makes all of these biblical journaling ideas actually work, Mama — you doing it alongside them.

When your kids see you opening your Bible, writing in your journal, engaging with God’s Word — they want to do it too. You do not have to have the perfect setup or the most beautiful supplies. You just have to show up beside them and let them see that this matters to you.

Psalm 78:4 tells us to tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord. That is exactly what you are doing when you sit down with your kids and open God’s Word together — you are passing on a faith that will anchor them for the rest of their lives.

So grab the stickers and the watercolours and the chalk. Head outside. Make a mess. Write the verses, illustrate the stories, ask the questions, say the prayers. And let this summer be the one where God’s Word becomes something your whole family loves together.

Ready to get started? Download the free 70-verse summer scripture list — broken into themes so you can pick and choose what works for your family all summer long. Download HERE!

Check out “Planting Seeds of Faith” for more springtime activity ideas that teach the Bible in a different way!