8 Bible Verses for Kids About Character (With Questions to Ask)

Memory verses are one of the simplest ways to plant God's word in a young child's heart. Short, repeated often and tied to something that happened that day, a single verse can stay with a child for life.

Below are eight Bible verses about character for kids, each paired with the virtue it teaches and a question to ask afterward. All are from the New International Reader's Version (NIrV), which was written for younger readers, and each is the memory verse in one of the books in The Growing Heart Collection.

1. Forgiveness: Ephesians 4:32

“Be kind and tender to one another. Forgive one another, just as God forgave you because of what Christ has done.”

Ask: Who can help you when forgiving someone feels hard?

From God Grows Forgiveness in Me.

2. Honesty: Proverbs 12:19

“Truthful words last forever. But lies last for only a moment.”

Ask: Why can telling the truth feel hard sometimes?

From God Grows Honesty in Me.

3. Humility: Philippians 2:3

“Don't do anything only to get ahead. Don't do it because you are proud. Instead, be humble. Value others more than yourselves.”

Ask: Is there anybody you could cheer on this week?

From God Grows Humility in Me.

4. Gratitude: Psalm 107:1

“Give thanks to the Lord, because he is good. His faithful love continues forever.”

Ask: What are three things you can be thankful for today?

From God Grows Gratitude in Me.

5. Generosity: 2 Corinthians 9:7

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give… God loves a cheerful giver.”

Ask: Is there somebody you could be generous to this week?

From God Grows Generosity in Me.

6. Hope: Psalm 42:5

“Put your hope in God. Once again I will have reason to praise him.”

Ask: Is there something you're hoping for that we could pray about together?

From God Grows Hope in Me.

7. Courage: Joshua 1:9

“Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid… I will be with you everywhere you go.”

Ask: Who can help you feel brave when you are afraid?

From God Grows Courage in Me.

8. Kindness at Christmas: Matthew 5:16

“Let your light shine so others can see it… And they will bring glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Ask: Do you know anyone who needs a little light? Could we pray for them together?

From God Grows Light in Me.

How to help a young child learn a memory verse

• One verse a week. Say it at breakfast and again at bedtime. Repetition does the work.
• Connect it to a story. A verse sticks when a child has seen what it looks like, whether that's in a Bible story, a picture book or something that happened at school.
• Add actions. "Be strong" with flexed arms, "shine" with open hands. Movement helps little ones remember.
• Use their name. "Lily, put your hope in God." It makes the verse personal.
• Catch it in the wild. When your child shares a toy, say "God loves a cheerful giver" out loud. That's the verse coming alive.

Stories that bring each verse to life

Each of these verses closes a book in The Growing Heart Collection, a boxed set of nine hardcover Christian picture books for children aged 3 and up. Every book follows one child through an everyday moment, like a school play, a swimming lesson or a garden flattened by a storm, then tells a Bible story that speaks to it, before landing on the verse and three questions to share.

Explore The Growing Heart Collection →

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader's Version®, NIrV®.