Kathy Howard's Blog: Unshakeable Faith for Life, page 10

How Can I Help?

Want to know God more in the year ahead? How can I help you experience that?

The best way to deepen your relationship with God is through deepening your relationship with His Word. God has revealed Himself, His will, and His ways to us through Scripture. God wants us to know Him and the way He has provided is the Bible. Yet, according to the 2022 study, “State of the Bible,” only about 20% of Americans read the Bible more than once a week. 

If we come to know God through His Word, why don’t we read it more? According to this same study, the two biggest frustrations for people in regard to trying to read the Bible are “not enough time” and “don’t know where to start.”

I love to see God’s people regularly reading the Bible, growing in their confidence of rightly handling Scripture, and then intentionally applying its truths to their lives. I certainly don’t have all the answers, but I do have some tips and resources to help. These have been developed from study, my own experience, and years of listening to and encouraging others.

A Few Tips to Make Best Use of Your Time

While we all have the same amount of time in the day, some of us have more demands on our time than others. Some have said “yes” to too much. With some honest evaluation we can build more margin in our lives by letting go of over-commitments. 

Others of us are in a season of life in which we have little control over our own calendars. For instance, mothers of young children and caregivers often are just doing what they can to get through another day. 

Many more of us have simply allowed our time with God to fall in our priorities. Here, a fresh commitment and a plan can give us the help we need.

If time is a frustration for you, the following articles and resources can help:

8 Tips for Moving Quiet Time from “Want To” to “Get To” Only Have 15 Minutes for a Quiet Time 7 Tips to Start of Restart a Quiet Time with God 9 Tips to Help You Stay Focused during Your Quiet Time The Sacred Cow of Busyness  – Old post but still relevant!A Few Tips to Help You Get Started in Scripture

Bible reading and study can be overwhelming. Many don’t know where to start reading. Others read but don’t feel confident in understanding what they read. First, if this is you, you are not alone! Second, help is on the way!

In the following list, you’ll find resources like Bible reading plans and Bible study tips. I teach a simple Bible study method that is easy enough to use every day, so links to that is in the list below. I even lead an ongoing daily Bible reading group for women that provides structure, help, and encouragement. That’s there too. (By the way, we will be starting the book of Romans in January!)

4 R Bible Study Method for Everyday Use  – This post is also packed with additional links that will help you get the most out of your Bible reading and study time, like Bible Highlighting Tips. Video Teaching of the 4 R Bible Study Method 9 Tips to Help You Interpret the Bible Reading the Bible Together Facebook Group Free Discipleship Resources including Bible Reading Plans, Scripture Memory Tips, and More “Deep Rooted” Devotionals  – These meaty devotional books take you through one book of the Bible at a time and helps you dig in for yourself. If you are new to Bible reading/study or making a re-commitment, this is a great place to start..For Women’s Ministry Leaders

Planning for the year ahead? I’d be honored to partner with you in ministering to the women God has placed in your care. Retreats, conferences, and workshops are a great way to encourage and equip the women. My favorite event this past year was a one-day conference to help the women get into and study God’s Word! I’d be happy to chat with you about your church and your women’s needs and how I might be able to help. (See the About page for more on my education and experience or the Speaking page for ideas.)

How Can I Help?

Still have questions not addressed above? I’d love to try to help or point you to someone who can. Leave a comment or contact me privately.

How Can I Help? by Kathy Howard.

Plan for Spiritual Growth in the New Year

I have two grandsons that are 10 weeks apart in age. These cousins are constantly measuring themselves against each other to see who is taller. They both want to be the tallest one, but of course they don’t have any control over their height. 

Thankfully, spiritual growth is not like physical growth. We do have some control over our spiritual maturity. Although only the Holy Spirit can bring about spiritual transformation in our lives, He won’t do it without our obedient cooperation. 

As this year ends, it’s a good time to look at where we’ve been and evaluate our current condition. Then we can set some goals and plan for spiritual growth to take us purposefully into the new year.

Why We Should Plan for Spiritual Growth

You may think this sounds a bit too analytical to be “spiritual.” But Scripture is full of directives for us to be purposeful in our spiritual growth and discipleship. For instance, Paul told Timothy to “train” himself for godliness (1 Timothy 4:7-8). Planning and goal setting doesn’t mean God is not in it. 

Haphazard discipleship will always yield haphazard results. But purposeful discipleship, guided by God, will yield spiritual growth and deeper intimacy with God.

I’ve personally done this for several years now. First, I do a spiritual year-end review. I evaluate my progress – or lack of progress – and think about where I wanted to be. Then I set some goals and strategies to get there.

I’ve developed a couple of resources to help with this process. I’d love to share them with you!

Look Back and Evaluate

Before we can plot a course ahead, we need to know where we are. We can start by asking ourselves some general questions about our current spiritual health and the quality of our relationship with God and others. Questions like these:

What did I learn about God?In what ways did my faith grow?How did I purposefully cultivate my relationship with God?Was I disciplined in Bible study?Was I vitally connected to my local church?In what ways did I serve and minister to others?Do I have relationships that are strained or need to be repaired?

Use this evaluation form to help with this process:

DISCIPLESHIP EVALUATION TOOL

Set Goals for the New Year

After we get a good idea of where we are, we can purposefully plan for spiritual growth in the new year. It is not “unspiritual” to set goals and develop strategies to meet those goals. In fact, it’s being good stewards of God’s calling on our lives. 

Word of Caution: It’s easy to set unrealistic goals or to try to tackle too much in one year. We want to experience some success in our discipleship. So, check our “5 Tips for Setting Spiritual Growth Goals” for some direction.

The “Spiritual Goals Worksheet” is a great planning tool. It includes tips for goal-setting and lists many specific disciplines under broader categories like “Bible intake.”

SPIRITUAL GOALS WORKSHEET

A Glimpse at My Goal-Setting

These resources are just tools. Spiritual growth is not a science. Each year I meet some goals and fall short of others. But, the missed goals give me a good starting place for the new year.

One area where I really struggle is Scripture memory. I know it’s important for my spiritual health, but I’d always been very sporadic with the discipline because it takes time, purposeful effort, and determination. (Why bother with memorizing Scripture when we have such easy access to God’s Word? See “Why I Tackle Scripture Memory & How I Do It.”) 

A few years ago, God prompted me to memorize part of Philippians 4 to prepare for a conference where I would be teaching from that chapter. I worked hard and memorized Philippians 4:4-13 by the end of January. 

Memorizing the passages blessed me by solidifying God’s truth in my heart and mind. So, I committed to memorize the rest of Philippians by the end of that year. I did not reach that goal, but I did make progress. And through what I did memorize, God ministered to me in new ways. The truths of Philippians came alive for me like never before.

So, for the next year I recommitted to finish memorizing the book of Philippians. And I did it! What had originally been a 12-month goal turned into a 20-month goal. And that’s okay! Again, the evaluation and goal-setting are just tools to keep us moving forward.

What about you? What is the number one area in which you’d like to grow spiritually in the year ahead?

Plan for Spiritual Growth in the New Year by Kathy Howard.

5 Gift Ideas for the Bible Study Lover on Your List

The Christmas season has officially started! That means carols, decorating, and shopping. It’s a busy time, but I’d love to help! Check out the following gift ideas for that person on your list who loves to read and study the Bible.

There are a couple of great things about the following ideas. First, depending on your budget, you can give one item or bundle them for a bigger gift. Second, since these gifts are tools for spiritual encouragement and growth, they offer great benefit to the recipient.

5 Gift Ideas for the Bible Study Lover“How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth“ – This easy-to-read book, written by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, lays out the basic techniques for proper Bible study. It’s helpful for the beginner or the longtime student. I refer to this book regularly. Every Bible lover should have this book on their shelf. Journaling Bible – When I began using a single-column, wide-margined journaling Bible my Bible reading/study time took a big leap forward. Marking right in the passage and then having the space to make notes right on the page helped me engage with the text like never before. (Note: Journaling Bibles have heavier paper for less bleed through!) The one I use is the ESV Single Column Journaling Bible, large print edition. Observation/Writing Tools – I use highlighters and archival ink pens to help me mark my observations in a Bible passage. I use the Pigma Micron 05 Blue pen to underline and make notes. (Here’s a set of 6 in various colors.) I also use a variety of colors of highlighters to mark different types of things in the text. (For more on observation and highlighting, see “10 Observation Tips for Better Bible Study” and “ Bible Highlighting for More Effective Study .”)The “IVP Bible Background Commentaries” – These two volumes give historical and cultural background on every passage in the Bible. I use one or both of them almost every day. You can get the New Testament volume or the Old Testament volume . Or get them both!Deep Rooted Devotionals – Each volume of the Deep Rooted devotionals guides the reader on a deep walk through a Bible book. They help foster a daily habit of Bible study and work to equip the reader with solid Bible study techniques. There are volumes on the Gospel of Mark , the Book of Acts, and the Book of Romans . (By the way, beginning Monday, January 2nd, my women’s Bible reading group on Facebook will be studying Romans. We will use Deep Rooted Romans as an optional resource.)

NOTE: Amazon links are affiliate links.

One more opportunity for Bible Study Lovers

This may be for YOU instead of for a gift! Consider giving yourself the gift of the Titus Deep Dive ONLINE BIBLE STUDY CONFERENCE. Here’s a few highlights of this 3-day conference:

December 1-3, 2022All online. Watch from the comfort of your couch!$49 ticket gets you lifetime access to videosBible teachers take you verse-by verse through Titus (I’m honored to be one of the Deep Dive teachers!)Plus, more than a dozen breakouts to encourage and equip you!Hosted by Bible study teacher Katie Orr!Get more info on BIBLE STUDY CONFERENCE

Do you have any suggestions for the Bible study lovers on our gift list? I would love to know your go-to study help or resource!

5 Gift Ideas for the Bible Study Lover on Your List by Kathy Howard.

9 Tips to Help You Interpret the Bible

When you read Scripture are you confident that you interpret the Bible correctly? Although we will always be growing in our knowledge of God and His Word, with the right tools and approach, we can understand the meaning of Scripture. This post gives 9 practical tips to help you “rightly handle the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

The need to interpret the Bible 

Every Bible passage has just ONE MEANING. (See also “Don’t Ask What This Bible Passage Means to You.”) That’s the one God originally gave it when He inspired it to be written. The original meaning is still it’s current and only meaning. Our task as students of the Bible is to seek to understand that meaning and then apply it to our lives.

So why isn’t that meaning always crystal clear for us? Why do we need to do the work of interpreting what we read?

I can sum it up in one word: DISTANCE

Twenty-first century, western believers are separated from the original meaning of Scripture by language, time, and culture. The Bible was written in Hebrew, Greek, and a little Aramaic. And it was written thousands of years ago in a cultural and historical setting very different from ours today. All of this separates us from an immediately clear meaning of a Bible passage.

Good, solid translations help a lot but they cannot fully bridge the distance gap. That’s why good study techniques are vital. Understanding the Bible doesn’t have to be hard. It just has to be done correctly. (See also, “Why are there so Many Bible Translations?”)

Before you read

1. Set aside preconceptions– None of us come to Scripture like a clean slate. We all have previously held understandings, preconceived ideas, and biases. These can hinder or alter a correct understanding of the passage. So, before you begin to read set all these aside and ask God to help you understand His meaning. 

2. Recognize the literary genre – The Bible is comprised of different types of literature. We cannot read and understand historical narrative the same way we do poetry or wisdom literature. (For more information see “Quick Tips for Handling 8 Different Literary Genres.”)

3. Know the background – Finding facts like the author, original audience, and the author’s original purpose for writing lays the right foundation for right understanding. This doesn’t always need to take a lot of time. Check the notes of a study Bible or keep a good Bible handbook close by. (Take a look at “Talk Thru the Bible” by Wilkinson and Boa.)

 As you read

4. Observe the text – Before we can know what a passage means, we must first know what it says. Observation is the first step of inductive Bible study. (Find out more about my 4R Inductive Bible Study Method.) Recording things like facts, commands, lists, key words, and comparisons helps us determine what it says. (For more about observation see “10 Observation Tips for Better Bible Study.”)

5. Identify any figurative language – The Bible uses many literary tools like metaphors, similes, and hyperbole. For instance, Jesus said, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26 ESV). Jesus used hyperbole here to show that He alone is first in our lives.

6. Keep the passage in context – Taking a verse or passage out of its original context may be the most common mistake we make as Bible students. We should consider a passage’s literary, historical, and cultural contexts. (For more on context see “4 Tips to Help You Understand the Bible” and “How Literary Context Helps You Understand the Bible.”)

After you read

7. Use cross-references to clarify – One of the best ways to add insight or clarify a confusing passage is to look up other passages that deal with the same topic. You can find cross-references for every passage in a study Bible or a concordance. Good Bible students always interpret Scripture with Scripture!

8. Summarize, paraphrase, or outline the passage – This step will help you think through what you observed and give shape to your understanding.

9. Look for application – One reason we interpret the Bible is so we can apply its truths to our lives. Now identify things like spiritual truths, commands, and principles for godly living. God wants to use these to shape your beliefs, attitudes, and actions.

Did any of these tips surprise you? Which of them do you think will be most helpful to you? Why?

9 Tips to Help You Interpret the Bible by Kathy Howard.

5 Tips for Understanding Biblical Narrative

I love to read. I read fiction and non-fiction. In fiction, I particularly like legal thrillers, biblical fiction, and historical fiction set in WW2. I also read lots of biblical commentary and theologically heavy non-fiction. I don’t handle all these types of books the same way.

For instance, I don’t use biblical fiction to shape my understanding of Scripture. When I read historical fiction, I can separate the historical facts from the fictional characters and story plots. I also understand that the commentaries I read are educated opinions on what the Scriptures say, but they are not inspired like the Bible.

The Literature Type Impacts Our Understanding

The type and form of the literature I read dictates how I should understand it. The same is true for the Bible. The Bible is literature containing multiple literary genres. Depending on how it’s broken down, God’s Word includes six to eight different genres. We cannot treat all these the same. The genre shapes how we should understand it. (See “How Biblical Genre Impacts Our Understanding” for an overview of the various biblical genres.)

Historical narrative is the most prominent form of biblical literature comprising about 40% of the Bible. It teaches us God’s truth through story. Biblical narrative includes the history books of the Old Testament, the book of Acts, and parts of the Gospels in the New Testament. (The Gospels are actually a unique blend of several literary forms – historical narratives, prose, parables, etc. For more info, see “4 Tips for Understanding the Gospels.“)

5 Tips for Understanding Biblical NarrativeLook for what the story teaches us about God’s character, nature, and ways – God is the hero of every Bible story. The human characters are secondary. They are flawed people. But God is the perfect central character of every story in Scripture. As you read, watch for what the story teaches you about God. How He relates to mankind. How He works through people to fulfill His will. How He works through the events of history to carry out His purposes.Narrative is descriptive, not prescriptive – Biblical narrative tells us what happened, not necessarily what should have happened. It tells what the characters did, not necessarily what we should do. For instance, in Judges 6, God called Gideon to deliver the Israelites from the Midianites. But Gideon was afraid and doubted God would do what He promised. So, Gideon asked God for a sign to confirm His word – not once, but twice! (See Judges 6:36-40.) He tested God and His word. God patiently confirmed His word through Gideon’s test, but that doesn’t mean we should do the same.Look for implicit meaning – Narrative often teaches indirectly. The plot of every story isn’t God’s direction for us. For instance, God told Noah to build an ark, but that doesn’t mean we should build an ark. However, through Noah’s story, we do learn that God wants us to obey Him even when His directions don’t necessarily make sense to us.Narrative should not be treated allegorically – Scripture does contain some allegory. Jesus’ parables are one example. And there are instances where another biblical writer gives allegorical meaning to historical events under the inspiration of God. For instance, in Galatians 4:22-26, Paul gives allegorical meaning to Abraham’s two sons Isaac and Ishmael. But those instances are exceptions under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We don’t have the authority to see allegory wherever we choose in Scripture.Don’t make assumptions about things God doesn’t tell us – The stories of biblical narrative don’t always give us all the information we’d like to have. But we cannot “fill in the gaps.” God has given us what He wants us to have. Sometimes we have to accept that we just don’t know.An Upcoming Chance to Study Biblical Narrative

I lead a daily Bible reading and discussion group for women on Facebook. On Friday, we will finish 10 weeks in Luke. Then we will begin the Old Testament historical book of 2 Samuel. The introduction to the book posts this Saturday, November 12th. Daily readings and discussion begin one week from today, Monday November 14th. I’d love for you to join in! The daily readings and discussion questions post at 5am central time so it’s available for whatever time works for you. Just pop in when you can during the day. Read the passage, think about the questions, read other’s comments, and comment only if you want. It is very casual, but also a very encouraging group! Here’s the link: “Reading the Bible Together.” Follow the link, request to join, and be sure to answer the three questions!

What’s your favorite story in Scripture? What does it teach you about God?

See also:

 “4 Tips to Help You Understand the Prophets” “8 Tips to Help You Understand the Epistles” “Plot in Biblical Narrative”

5 Tips for Understanding Biblical Narrative by Kathy Howard.

First Steps to Study a Bible Book

Want to study a Bible book but not sure how to begin? Before reading chapter one, verse one, doing a little investigation on the background of the book will lay the right foundation and expand your understanding. 

Start with the Background

The Bible was not written in a vacuum. It was written within a specific set of circumstances. Since the Bible has just one meaning – the one God originally gave it – the original circumstances surrounding the book can bring clarity. The context of the book impacts the way we interpret the meaning.

This is especially true for the epistles (letters) of the Bible. When I began my study of the book of Romans for a new devotional book I started with the background. I learned some important facts that laid a good foundation for my study. Some of these facts might surprise you. (For more, see “8 Things You Might Not Know about Romans.“) If you’d like to study Romans, my new 40-day devotional, “Deep Rooted: Growing through the Book of Romans,” would make a great guide! (See it now on Amazon.)

The circumstances of a Bible Book

What background facts and circumstances should we consider? Although not an exhaustive list, the following items are relevant for most Bible books.

Author – God divinely inspired every book of the Bible, but He chose to work through human tools. Every book reflects the personality and background of the author. Knowing the author illuminates certain features of the book . (See also “Who Wrote the Bible & Why Does it Matter” & “Human Authors of the Bible.”) Audience – Every Bible book is ultimately for God’s people of all time. However, each one was originally penned for a specific, more narrow audience. Some books were written to individuals, some to churches, and some to the nations of Israel or Judah. In the New Testament, some were primarily for Jews and others for Gentiles. Knowing the original audience sheds light on the text and helps us determine what content was specifically for that audience and what has application for us today. Setting – Knowing the place, time, and purpose of the book adds depth to our understanding. For instance, the apostle John wrote his Gospel so that readers would experience saving faith in Jesus (John 20:30-31). This helps us understand why he included specific events. Knowing Paul wrote the book of joy (Philippians) from prison teaches us about the nature of true joy.Historical context – Knowledge of the world’s events and powers at the time of writing is very helpful. For instance, a little information about Assyria, Babylon, and Persia expands our understanding of the fall, exile, and return of God’s people in the Old Testament. (See also “4 Things to Consider for Biblical Context.”)Cultural context – Just as today, when God inspired the Scriptures, His people lived in a specific culture with specific values and norms. When a Bible book was written, both the author and the audience had a basic understanding of this culture. It wasn’t necessary to explain this context for the original audience. But we don’t have the same perspective. Without the culture context, it’s easy to misunderstand and thus misapply God’s Word. Things like idol worship, the status of women, religious customs, commerce, and trade all shade and shape the meaning of the biblical text.Places to Find Background Information

Some of this information can be gleaned from the book itself, but there is a wealth of excellent resources to help us with the rest. Here are a few:

Study Bible – Most translations publish a study version that includes brief introductions for each book and notes on the text.Bible Dictionary – The Holman Bible Dictionary is good one!Bible Handbook- Check out Halley’s Bible Handbook Bible Commentaries – You can get single commentaries for individual Bible books or sets that cover the whole Bible. For sets, I like the Expositor’s Bible Commentaries and the NIV Application Commentaries.The IVP Bible Background Commentary – This two-volume set is one of my favorite and most helpful resources for learning about the historical and cultural background of a text. (See the New Testament volume. See the Old Testament volumes.)Online resources – Sites such as BibleGateway.com and BlueletterBible.org provide multiple resources like dictionaries and commentaries

What are your favorite resources?

First Steps to Study a Bible Book by Kathy Howard.

The Roman Road to Salvation

Are you comfortable sharing the Gospel? Some of us hesitate because we fear how others will respond. And may of us would love to share the Good News of salvation through Jesus, but really aren’t sure how to share it. One helpful “road map” for equipping ourselves to tell others about eternal salvation is the “Roman Road.” This title – a cute nod to the ancient Romans’ extensive and well-maintained system of roads –  describes a collection of verses from the book of Romans that outlines our sin problem and God’s solution.

Either memorizing or simply knowing how to find these verses is an easy way for every Christian to equip ourselves so we will always be ready to share the reason for the eternal hope we have in Christ (1 Peter 3:15). Jesus called all of us to tell others about Him, not just the preacher and the missionary. It doesn’t take a seminary degree or a weekend course or a special “calling.” All we need to share the truth is a handful of Scripture verses and a desire to see the lost come to know Jesus.

What is the “Gospel?”

Before we hit the “Roman Road,” let’s remind ourselves of the gospel message. Scripture also often calls this the Good News of Jesus because it is the best news ever! In Paul’s first letter to the believers in Corinth, he summarized the gospel in just a few verses:

Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it.  It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, NLT

That’s it! That’s the Gospel! Christ died for our sins and rose again to provide eternal salvation. Just like God said He would!

Of course the salvation message is all over the Bible. Everything in the Old Testament points to Jesus – the tabernacle, the sacrificial system, the Law, and the prophets. We could spend eternity talking about all Jesus has done for us and never reach the end of His mercy and grace.

However, when God gives us the opportunity to tell someone about Jesus, we often only have a moment, a small window of time. But a little advance preparation will not only equip us for the moment, it will also give us confidence to open our mouths and grab the God-given chance to share Jesus.

The Roman Road

In his letter to the Christians in Rome, Paul crafted a beautiful exposition of the Good News. The gospel is the heart and soul of the book of Romans. But there are a handful of verses, that when shared together, present the gospel in a concise, clear way. The “Roman Road” is a short list of verses that show our need for salvation and how Jesus fills that need. I have seen variations of this list that includes 4 to 8 verses. My list below includes 5, easy-to-memorize verses.

Romans 3:23 – Every person has sinned, has done things contrary to God’s holy perfection.Romans 6:23 – Our sin has a cost. That cost is spiritual death or eternal separation from God.Romans 5:8 – Because God loves us, He paid our sin debt Himself. Sinless, perfect Jesus died in our place.Romans 10:13 – Anyone and everyone who accepts Jesus’ gift, or “calls on His name,” will receive God’s salvation.Romans 10:9-10 – Anyone who believes and confesses that Jesus died for us and rose from the dead will be saved!

You can use the Roman Road anytime or anywhere. Here are 3 ways you can use and share:

Mark the verses in your Bible.Print this “printable” version of the verses and put in your purse or wallet.Memorize the verses so you are always prepared!Want to get Deep Rooted in Romans?

The book of Romans is so very rich! If the Roman Road whet your appetite for more from this gospel-saturated book, check out my just-released 40-day devotional “Deep Rooted: Growing through the Book of Romans.” Check it out on Amazon!

Do you feel ready to share the Good News of Jesus anytime, anywhere? If not, why not?

Here are a few other resources you may find helpful:

How to Know JesusScripture Memory TipsSalvation Basics Scripture Verses

The Roman Road to Salvation by Kathy Howard.

I’d Love to Tell You My Story with Jesus

Can I tell you about my story with Jesus? I don’t think I’ve ever shared it here on my blog. But my faith history shows how God brought me to where I am today.

From the time I was born, my parents pointed me to Jesus. They took me to church, prayed with me and for me, and had family devotions. Through my growing up years I memorized Scripture, attended Vacation Bible School, and sang in the youth choir. One Sunday morning when I was eight, I walked down the aisle during the invitation song, professed faith in Jesus, and was baptized. That day my name was written on the rolls of the church, but not in the Lamb’s book of Life. Still, I spent the next two decades trying to do all the things a good Christian should do. 

After Wayne and I married, we joined a local church and got involved. We attended faithfully, made Christian friends, and taught youth Sunday School. I went through all the motions of faith, but I did not feel connected to God. A real sense of His presence eluded me. I longed to reflect Jesus and His character, but I was powerless.

Turning Point in My Story with Jesus

I saw the things I lacked in the lives of others, particularly in one of my friends from church. One day, during a playdate with our toddlers, I bravely shared my feelings with her. “Maybe you aren’t saved,” she said kindly. Her response rocked me, but also prepared my heart for God to work. I was open to receive what God wanted to give.

Not long after that moment of honesty I joined a women’s Bible study at our church through. I had never participated in an in-depth Bible study before, just Sunday classes with no study on my own. And God did not simply allow me to dip my toes into His Word my first time out. Nope! He dumped me straight into the deep end of Scripture with the gospel-rich book of Romans!

As I began to immerse myself with His truths, I felt as though God had flipped a spiritual switch on in my soul. I “got” what I had missed for more than two decades of trying to do it myself. True salvation is knowing the Savior. It’s an intimate relationship with the Giver of Life. In that moment I stopped striving and simply surrendered to Him. My life totally given over to my Lord and King. My story with Jesus had really just begun.

I had been saturated in church and church activities for more than 25 years, but somehow, I had missed the truth. I had done all the right things – attended church, followed the rules, walked the aisle, and even gotten baptized. But none of those things saved me. However, through those years of personal striving, God faithfully continued to draw me to Jesus. Then in His timing He used the deep teaching of Romans to claim my heart. (Want to know more about a saving relationship with Jesus?)

Passion for Jesus and His Word

I not only fell in love with Jesus during that study, I also fell in love with His Word. My time in the book of Romans began a life-long journey of studying the Bible for myself, teaching it to others, and helping women learn how to study it for themselves. God’s Word is vital for every believer. I began teaching where I’d first studied – small group women’s Bible study. I taught at church and in a neighborhood group.

Then when we lived in Canada, God began bringing adults who had never been in church or studied the Bible before to our church. After teaching these seekers for a while with curriculum I had found, God led me to write my own curriculum for this group that would better meet their needs. So, I did! That was the first study I wrote. (In case you’re interested, that study is called “God’s Truth Revealed: Biblical Foundations for the Christian Faith.” You can find out more about it on my website or see it on Amazon.)

And because I love Romans… 

Yes, Romans holds a significant place in my personal faith journey. But Romans packs a powerful spiritual punch for every believer and anyone seeking Christ for the first time. 

From start to finish, Romans is a beautiful exposition of the gospel of Jesus. Mankind is fallen, separated from God by our sin. But God graciously provides redemption and reconciliation through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Those who are “in Christ” can live victorious, godly lives today through the indwelling Spirit who provides both power and divine guidance for our daily lives. 

It’s almost here! My new devotional through Romans is coming this week! “Deep Rooted: Growing through the Book of Romans” is the 3rd in the Deep Rooted devotional series. These meaty daily devotionals help you get it, delight in, and apply the Scripture. Formatted around the 4 R Bible Study Method, they will help you learn how to interact with Scripture, not just read it. 

I’d love to hear about how God has used a particular Bible passage or Bible book in your life! Share about it in the comments so we can chat!

I’d Love to Tell You My Story with Jesus by Kathy Howard.

Are you Experiencing the Full Power of the Gospel?

I recently spent several months studying the book of Romans. One incredible truth that hit me over and over is that the gospel isn’t just effective for our moment of salvation. The power of the gospel provides believers with everything we need to live victorious, productive lives for Jesus every day until we see Him face-to-face. Unfortunately, many of us don’t live spiritually powerful lives.

My husband and I love to cheer on the Houston Astros. A few weeks ago, the Astros were in our area playing the Texas Rangers so we bought tickets last minute. We thought they were a little pricey, but they were really good seats. We arrived at the stadium with plenty of time before the game to get some dinner. Since it was a Tuesday, it was dollar dog night. So we bought hot dogs and a huge basket of very garlicky garlic fries. The fries were pretty good, but the hot dogs tasted like you’d expect a $1 hot dog to taste. But that was dinner so we ate it. All of it.

When we asked a stadium employee for directions to our seats she said “Oh, you have VIP tickets. That gives you access to the Lexus Club. You have to take the elevator to get there and to your seats.”

We had settled for less

We had to show our VIP tickets to get on the elevator. Then we showed them again to enter the Lexus Club where they also put a pretty little blue paper bracelet on our wrists. The friendly lady at the club door told us that bracelet meant we could eat and drink all we wanted inside the club for the entire game.

The multiple food stations offered a huge variety of tempting delicacies. Nacho bar. Pizza bar. Shrimp, prime rib, jalapeño poppers. Assorted appetizers, meats, and veggies. A dessert buffet with cobblers, cookies, brownies, pies, and cakes. AND, in case those sweets weren’t enough, you could visit the ice cream bar. After selecting vanilla or chocolate soft serve you could top it off with fruit, candies, nuts, and whipped cream.

And to think we almost missed out on that bounty! Yes, initially we settle for less. We squandered some of our time and bellies on cheap fare. But we still indulge in some of the benefits of the Lexus Club. And I hit the ice cream bar during the 6th inning!

The power of the Gospel for your everyday life

Sadly, Christians sometimes live this way. We settle for far less than God wants to give us. We don’t access His power. We struggle with the same sins over and over. We battle fear, anxiety, and discouragement. We live in our own weakness instead of the strength of the Spirit.

In the book of Romans, Paul not only gave a beautiful exposition of our glorious salvation, he also described how we can live victorious lives today through the power of the gospel. Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross broke the power of sin and death. We have been set free from the power of sin and death. The Holy Spirit dwells within believers. The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us (Romans 8:11)! Through Him, we have the power to say “no” to sin and “yes” to righteousness. Praise God, we are “more than conquerers through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

The good news of Jesus not only guarantees our eternal salvation, it gives us purpose, joy, and encouragement for our daily lives. Jesus wants to live His life through us to carry out His kingdom agenda. If we submit to His leadership our lives will have eternal significance.

This is just a sampling of the incredible truths that pack the book of Romans. I can’t wait for my new devotional, “Deep Rooted: Growing through the Book of Romans” to be released next month! But I need help getting the word out.

Want to help launch Deep Rooted Romans?

Want to find out more? Check out this blog post to find out about the launch team’s expectations, benefits, and all the fun you’ll have! Or, if you’re ready to apply to the team, here’s a link to the application. I’d love for you to be a part of the team, but there are only a few spots left!!

Are you Experiencing the Full Power of the Gospel? by Kathy Howard.

Join the Romans Book Launch Team? 🤚🏼

I love writing books that help people study the Bible and encourage them in their faith. There’s just one problem. I can’t get it out into the world without help. It takes a village – or rather, it takes a book launch team. Will you consider applying to be part of the book launch team for my new meaty devotional book “Deep Rooted: Growing through the Book of Romans?”

The deadline to apply is October 4th. The launch team activities kick off on Monday, October 10 and run for just 4 weeks. The time commitment is at most a few minutes a day. Most team activities take less than 5 minutes. And many days we won’t ask you for anything!

5 Reasons to Join the Romans Book Launch Team Today

So, what’s in it for you? Why would you want to commit to being part of an online group for 4 weeks?

To encourage others in their faith – This book guides the reader through the beautiful, spiritually-rich Bible book of Romans and equips them to do solid Bible study along the way. So, when you tell others about this book, you are are sharing a resource that will build their faith. To have fun – Karen, my incredible book launch team leader, makes this so much fun! She gives challenges, throws out pop-up prizes, and creates opportunities for the team members get to know one another. Lots of perks and giveaways – Each week, those who’ve completed the weekly launch task will be entered to win a $20 Amazon gift card! And at the end of the 4-week launch period a $50 Amazon card will be drawn from those who completed all four tasks. PLUS, the pop-up prizes! PLUS, a few little thank you gifts from me to the active team members. A PDF of the book – Each team member will receive a PDF of “Deep Rooted: Growing through the Book of Romans.” We hope that many of the team members will also purchase a copy to keep or share with a friend because not only will your purchases help the book get seen on Amazon, there’s also nothing like having a printed version of the devotional book to write in!It’s my birthday – Seriously, today is my birthday. Consider applying to the launch team as a gift to me! That means you don’t have to send me flowers or chocolate or coffee – although I’d never turn down any of those things!Launch Team Application

What are the Launch Team Expectations?

Yes, it’s fun and you get stuff. BUT, you may be wondering what would be expected of you as a launch team member. What will we ask YOU to do? There are three basic

Join the DEEP ROOTED ROMANS Facebook group – Since this is where all the launch activities will happen, this is required. (You will receive a link to the group after you fill out the application.) I know that not everyone is on Facebook, but we have to do it all somewhere. However, even if you aren’t on Facebook, you can still help promote the book by sharing emails I send out with others, buying the book on Amazon and reviewing it, or just telling someone else! Word of mouth is the best advertising. Share promotional graphics on social media – Karen will provide everything you need to share, including clear instructions! We’d love for team members to share 1 to 2 times a week (or more!) on Facebook and any other social media platform where you are active. I will be sharing some of my own graphics on Facebook and Instagram. I’d love for you to share those when you can!Post book reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, etc. – The launch team leader will walk you through this. Reviews are so important for the success of a book.Purchase the book on Amazon if possible – I know this is a big ask and isn’t realistic for many. But either way, your help with the launch is so valuable!More about “Deep Rooted: Growing through the Book of Romans”

This book is the third to be released in the Deep Rooted devotional series. Each devotional is formatted around the simple 4 R Bible study method. (The two previous volumes are on Mark and Acts.) These books help readers get in, delight in, and apply God’s Word. Here’s more on the upcoming Romans volume:

Recapture the wonder of the gospel…

Maybe you’ve forgotten the abundant riches of God’s grace. The gospel isn’t just a statement of faith. It is more than hope for eternity. The gospel of Jesus is the power of God for your life today. Recapture the awe of your life in Christ with this 40-day pilgrimage through the book of Romans. In this volume of Deep Rooted you will:

Gain a fresh awareness of God’s lavish, saving graceSit and soak in the deep truths of the gospelFind practical help for living a victorious, Spirit-empowered lifeDevelop a burden for the spiritually lostCultivate a gospel-soaked faith

Finally! A devotional with meat on its bones!

Reading to Apply to the Romans Book Launch Team? Click the button below!LAUNCH TEAM APPLICATION

Have you ever been part of a launch team before? If so, what was your experience like?

Join the Romans Book Launch Team? 🤚🏼 by Kathy Howard.