I was introduced to Christian history through a children’s picture book when my children were small. Since then, I have spent a great deal of time researching, writing about, and teaching Christian history.
There are compelling reasons for working stories about the history of our faith into your home. There are also a number of fantastic resources for incorporating Christian history into your studies.
Reasons to Teach Christian History to Your Kids
1) Teaching Christian History gives kids heroes.
Humans gravitate toward celebrities, sports stars and comic book characters. Let’s give our kids some real heroes.
Psalm 16:3 (NLT) says: “The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!”
2) Teaching Christian History gives kids peers and a family history.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” ~ Hebrews 12:1-3 (ESV)
What could be better than allowing the “cloud of witnesses” to point our kids toward Jesus?
3) Teaching Christian History gives kids a clear view of God’s sovereign hand in history.
Charles Spurgeon (the “Prince of Preachers”) once said: “Cheer up, Christian! Things are not left to chance: no blind fate rules the world. God hath purposes, and those purposes are fulfilled. God hath plans, and those plans are wise, and never can be dislocated.”
We often cannot see God’s purposes in our own lives, but we can recognize them years later in the lives of others.
Teach your teens about the story of Martin Luther with this exciting historical fiction!
When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther
4) Teaching Christian History gives kids solid examples of lives sold-out for Jesus.
One of my boys wrote a long testimony to give on the day of his baptism. He gave me permission to share the last paragraph with you. He was nine at the time: “I’m a Christian. I will follow Jesus for the rest of my life… I’ve been thinking about all the great Christians we’ve been reading about like Lillian Trasher, Mary Slessor, and Eric Liddell. I want to be like them–a God-fearing Christian who leads many lives to Christ. I will follow Jesus with my life.”
Christian History Resources
When children are young, we teach Christian history simply by reading it. For middle and high school students, check out the Cobblestone Path Church History Research Journals. You can incorporate the readings into your history, science, art, music, devotions or bedtime routine.
I thought I’d share some of my favorite series with you.
Two Great Individual Resources for Younger Kids
A Colorful Past: A Coloring Book of Church History Through the CenturiesGod’s Timeline: The Big Book of Church History
Christian History For the Youngest Children
The Little Lights series by Catherine Mackenzie are recommended for ages 4-7:
Little Lights Box Set 1Little Lights Box Set 2
Christian Book: Little Lights Biographies
The Heroes for Young Readers line by Renee Taft Meloche is a set of picture books written as rhyming biographies.
Bethany Hamilton: Riding the Waves (Heroes for Young Readers)C.S. Lewis: The Man Who Gave Us Narnia (Heroes for Young Readers)Nick Vujicic: No Limits (Heroes for Young Readers)George Washington Carver: America’s Scientist (Heroes of History for Young Readers)Louis Zamperini: Survivor and Champion (Heroes of History for Young Readers)Loren Cunningham: Making God Known (Heroes for Young Readers)George Washington: America’s Patriot (Heroes of History for Young Readers)Ida Scudder: Healing in India (Heroes for Young Readers)Brother Andrew: Taking Bibles to the World (Heroes for Young Readers)Daniel Boone: Bravery on the Frontier (Heroes of History for Young Readers)Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Little House Life (Heroes of History for Young Readers
Christian Book: Heroes for Young Readers
The Trailblazers Series by Dave and Neta Jackson are a set of engaging historical fiction that incorporate lives and facts about real people.
Trailblazers: Featuring William Tyndale and Other Christian Heroes (Trailblazer Books) (v. 3)Trailblazers: Featuring David Livingstone and Other Christian Heroes (Trailblazer Books)Trailblazers: Featuring Harriet Tubman and Other Christian Heroes (Trailblazer Books)Trailblazers: Featuring Martin Luther and Other Christian Heroes (Trailblazer Books)Trailblazers: Featuring Amy Carmichael and Other Christian Heroes (Trailblazer Books)
Christian History For Middle Grades & Middle School
The Christian Focus Trailblazers line of narrative biographies now numbers more than 60 books.
Jonathan Edwards: America’s Genius (Trailblazers)Paul Brand: The Shoes That Love Made (Trailblazers)John Knox: The Sharpened Sword (Trailblazer)John Calvin: After Darkness Light (Trailblazers)Mary Slessor: Servant to the Slave (Trailblazers)Charles Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers (Trailblazers)Corrie Ten Boom: Watchmakers Daughter (Trailblazers)David Brainerd: A Love for the Lost (Trailblazers)Hudson Taylor: An Adventure Begins (Trailblazers)Martin Luther: Reformation Fire (Trailblazers)Adoniram Judson: Danger on the Streets (Trailblazers)Isobel Kuhn: Lights in Lisuland (Trailblazers)Fanny Crosby (Trailblazer)C.S Lewis: The Story Teller (Trailblazers)Helen Roseveare: On His Majesty’s Service (Trailblazers)Gladys Aylward: No Mountain Too High (Trailblazers)Lilias Trotter: Daring in the Desert (Trailblazers)Michael Faraday: Spiritual Dynamo (Trailblazers)George Whitefield: The Voice that Woke the World (Trailblazers)Robert Moffat: Africa’s Brave Heart (Trailblazer)Martyn Lloyd Jones: From Wales to Westminster (Trailblazers)Billy Graham: Just Get Up Out Of Your Seat (Trailblazers)Robert Murray McCheyne: Life is an Adventure (Trailblazers)John Welch: The Man Who Couldn’t Be Stopped (Trailblazers)Ulrich Zwingli: Shepherd Warrior (Trailblazers)Augustine: The Truth Seeker (Trailblazer)John Bunyan: Journey of a Pilgrim (Trailblazers)Bill Bright: Dare to be Different (Trailblazers)John Newton: A Slave Set Free (Trailblazers)Amy Carmichael: Rescuer by Night (Trailblazers)Eric Liddell: Finish the Race (Trailblazers)Joni Eareckson Tada: Swimming Against The Tide (Trailblazers)John G Paton: South Sea Island Rescue (Trailblazers)George Muller: The Children’s Champion (Trailblazers)Richard Wurmbrand: A Voice in the Dark (Trailblazers)Patricia St John: The Story Behind the Stories (Trailblazers)William Wilberforce: The Freedom Fighter (Trailblazers)
Christian Book: CF4K Trailblazers
We love this set. The History Lives set by Brandon and Mindy Withrow has stories in chronological order.
History Lives Box Set: Chronicles of the Church
Christian Book: History Lives: Chronicles of the Church
We also use Geoff and Janet Benge’s series:
Christian Heroes Books 1-5 Gift Set (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)Christian Heroes Books 6-10 Gift Set (Christian Heroes: Then & Now) (Displays and Gift Sets)Christian Heroes Books 11-15 Gift Set (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)Christian Heroes Books 16-20 Gift Set (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)Christian Heroes Books 21-25 Gift Set (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)Christian Heroes Books 26-30 Gift Set (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)Christian Heroes Books 31-35 Gift Set (Christian Heroes: Then & Now)
Christian Book: Christian Heroes by Geoff and Janet Benge
Simonetta Carr has a beautiful line of unusual subjects in a picture-book-for-older kids series.
Irenaeus (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)Marie Durand – Christian Biographies for Young ReadersAugustine of Hippo (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)Athanasius (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)John Newton (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)Martin Luther – Christian Biographies for Young ReadersJohn Calvin (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)John Knox (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)Jonathan Edwards (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)Lady Jane Grey (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)John Owen (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)Peter Martyr Vermigli (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)Anselm of Canterbury (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)Julia Gonzaga (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)Athanasius (Christian Biographies for Young Readers) by Simonetta Carr (2011-09-01)
Christian Book: Christian Biographies for Young Readers
Have fun teaching your kids about the heroes of the faith!
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Ren says
March 21, 2014 at 9:17 amOHHHHH, GREAT POST- completely agree! and thank you for sharing the resources as well!!
Catie says
March 21, 2014 at 10:55 amThank you, thank you for this great list of resources!!! I’ve pinned it for future reference. 🙂
Dawn says
March 21, 2014 at 11:37 amIt is so important to teach the scope of history through a timeline and draw the individuals together so we can give our kids a solid foundation to draw from. I love history and learning and teaching that to others, too. Thanks for sharing the curriculum ideas and your insight. 🙂
Blessings,
Dawn
Jennifer at Purposeful Nutrition and The Entwife's Journal says
March 22, 2014 at 3:46 amWe love the Trailblazer books. My middle daughter has probably read all of the ones we have (35 of them or so) about 5 times each.
I also really like the Carr picture books alot. The YWAM biographies are pretty good as well.
History is our favorite subject around here.
Gina says
September 14, 2017 at 3:49 amThank you for such a great list!