Twelve Questions for Reading Genesis as a Family

Choose one passage and one question for a session. You do not have to work through the whole list in order. These prompts refer to the biblical passages; they are a companion reading list, not a claim that our retelling reproduces every verse.

Begin with what the story says

1. Genesis 1:1–2:3: What repeats as the creation account moves from one day to the next?
2. Genesis 2:4–25: What work and relationships are described in the garden?
3. Genesis 3: What changes after the people eat, and what questions are they asked?
4. Genesis 4:1–16: What choices and consequences can we identify without excusing the harm?
5. Genesis 8:6–12: How does Noah wait and look for signs that the waters are receding?
6. Genesis 12:1–9: What does Abram leave, and what does he hear about the journey ahead?
7. Genesis 15:1–6: What question does Abram ask about the promise?
8. Genesis 21:1–7: What changes in Abraham and Sarah’s family?
9. Genesis 27:1–45: What does each person know, and how does deception affect the family?
10. Genesis 37: What events turn the brothers’ conflict into harm?
11. Genesis 44:18–34: What does Judah offer to do for Benjamin?
12. Genesis 45:1–15: What happens when Joseph tells his brothers who he is?

Let children notice before explaining

Ask a child to point to the words or picture that prompted an answer. If several answers are possible, return to the passage together. “I am not sure” is a useful response when the story does not supply a detail.

Avoid making every character an example to copy. Some actions in Genesis are reported because they are part of the story, not because they are presented as good choices.

Prepare for sensitive passages

Read ahead. These selections include death, violence, deception and family conflict. Adjust the length and detail to the children present, and do not require anyone to connect the story to a private experience.

Our illustrated Genesis retelling can support shared reading through twelve story sections, but it is not a complete Bible translation. Use the biblical references when you want to check the wording or explore material beyond the retelling.