Kathy Howard's Blog: Unshakeable Faith for Life, page 25

4 Guidelines to Help You Understand the Bible

The Bible has endless application for our lives, but only one meaning. Every part of Scripture means the same thing today as it did when it was written. In our desire to understand the Bible, our goal should be to discover that one original meaning. To grasp the eternal truth God gave us through the pen of man.

So, why do we struggle so often to understand the Bible? And why do so many sincere Christians understand parts differently? While there are many reasons for our individual struggles and the doctrinal differences between groups and denominations, there is one problem that affects many of us: We often read the Bible incorrectly.

4 Guidelines to Understand the Bible Correctly

We don’t have the time or space to do a deep dive into everything that hinders our proper understanding. However, we will touch on four key guidelines to aid us in our pursuit to understand the Bible correctly.

Literary Genre – The Bible is literature. The specific style of a Bible book impacts how we should understand it. The Bible includes roughly six to eight different literary genres, depending on how its broken down. We don’t have time to fully explore each type of biblical genre and discuss tips for understanding it. However, see “How Biblical Genre Impacts our Understanding” for a list, brief description, and practical tips. (Other articles you may also find helpful: “The Many Genres of Scripture”and “How Should the Different Genres Impact How We Should Interpret the Bible.”)
Context – Every book was written at a specific point in history to a particular audience with a specific purpose. This context greatly impacts how we should understand the text. (For more info on context, see “4 Things to Consider for Biblical Context.”)

Historical Context – Who was the author, recipients, date, and location for the book? What was the author’s purpose? Knowing the world events, world powers, the economy, and world religions all aid proper understanding. The culture that the author and recipients lived in also affects how we should understand the text. Tips: Consult resources like Bible dictionaries and commentaries to help.
Literary Context – Keep each verse and passage within the context of the surrounding text. It is so easy to misunderstand when we pull one verse or short passage out by itself. Philippians 4:13is a very common victim of this. Tips: When possible, read the book in an entire sitting. Look at every verse and passage with a “wide angle” lenses.


Meta–Narrative – All the individual books and stories of the Bible join together to tell us one big story: The rule, reign, and redemptive purposes of God. No individual will contradict the Big Story. Tips: Ask, where does this fit in the Big Story? What does this teach us about God’s rule, reign, and redemption?
Interpret Scripture with Scripture – There is no conflict in the Bible only incorrect or incomplete understanding on our part. Therefore, we can use other passages to help us understand a difficult or obscure one. Tip: Use a concordance to look up other passages that cover this same topic or principle.

This post is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to properly understanding God’s Word. If you want to learn more, I recommend these two helpful resources: How to Read the Bible for all its Worth by Fee and Stuart and Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin. Both books give great information but you don’t have to be a seminary student to understand them!

What other great resources have you found helpful?

4 Guidelines to Help You Understand the Bible by Kathy Howard.

How to Get the Most Out of Your Daily Devotional

I have mixed feelings about using a daily devotional as the basis for our regular time with God. Printed devotionals and daily online devotions are wonderful supplemental tools, but some of us use them as our primary – and often only – source for time with God. If we choose to use a daily devotional, there are some things we can do to get the most out of them.

What is a devotional and what is it not?

A “devotional” writing – whether print or digital – uses story, commentary, or illustration to help the reader reflect on selected Scripture from God’s Word. They can include elements like Scripture, thoughts for reflection, and prayer prompts. There is a wide-range of devotional writing with various purposes. Some devotionals focus on a specific topic and are designed to help the reader through a particular period of life (parenting, grief, marriage, etc). Some devotionals seek simply to inspire and encourage. Sadly, sometimes, these are no more than “feel good” thoughts that barely touch on Scripture. Others, like the classic “My Utmost for His Highest,” seek to guide the reader into thinking on and responding to the deep truths of God’s Word.

No matter the quality of the devotional and its purpose, it is still based on someone else’s encounter with God and His Word. It is a middleman. So why do we settle for the human intermediary when we have access to God Himself? Every Christian has the indwelling Holy Spirit that enables us to understand and apply God’s Word for ourselves. (If you need structure, check out the Bible Reading Plans on my Free Resources page.)

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Please don’t get me wrong. I love good devotional books. I’ve even written two and am working on two more. But let’s remember what daily devotionals are and what they are not. And when we do use them, let’s use them as tool to guide us into interacting with God and His Word and not as a substitute for the real thing. The following tips and suggestions will help us get the most out of your devotional books.

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4 Tips to Help You Get the Most out of Your Daily Devotional

Read the daily Scripture from your Bible – Many devotionals have the day’s verses printed out in the book or on the web page. But  if we open our Bible and read it there, it gives the Holy Spirit opportunity to guide us to read further, to interact more fully with the actual text. And there’s an added dimension about sitting with an open copy of God’s Word that can’t be replicated any other way.
Read the selected passage in its greater context – Unfortunately, many devotional books ask you to read just a few verses – sometimes even one! Often, we miss the big picture. And sometimes we even misunderstand what the biblical author intended because we read the verses out of context. When you read the selected passage, back up. Read at least the paragraph so you don’t mishandle God’s Word. (Read this post for more on biblical context.)
Listen to God first – Read the Scripture passage and give the Holy Spirit time to help you understand and apply God’s Word before you read the comments by the human author. The spiritual insight from someone else can be very helpful, but don’t let it get in the way of anything God wants to show you Himself.
Journal your own thoughts – Some devotionals give you space to write. If yours doesn’t, keep a notebook or bound journal with your Bible so you can record any insights, direction, and application God gives you. For help on reading and studying a passage for yourself, see “3 R Method for Simple Everyday Bible Study.”

I would love to hear your thoughts on how you use devotionals and how you work to keep them in the proper perspective.

 

How to Get the Most Out of Your Daily Devotional by Kathy Howard.

7 Biblical Truths that Help Us Understand True Faith

The world often belittles faith in Jesus. Some consider it a “crutch” for the weak. The “enlightened” think us ignorant. But they misunderstand the nature of faith. Unfortunately, sometimes Christians lack a solid, biblical understanding of true faith. Arming ourselves with the following truths can not only help us better articulate our faith, it can also strengthen our commitment to Christ.

7 Truths from Scripture about True Faith  

Faith does not abandon reason.

True biblical faith is not illogical, blind acceptance, or a flimsy hope. Instead, our faith is an “assurance,” a firm, solid confidence in the object of our faith (Hebrews 11:1). God can stand up to any scrutiny and investigation. Scientific facts abound to undergird our faith in a Creator. An abundance of historical information exists to support the biblical narrative. God has also confirmed all of His Word by miraculously demonstrating that we can trust His promises. Living a life of faith does not mean we will never have questions about God and His ways. But when we do have questions, we know we can trust the One who has all the answers.

Faith fills in the gaps.

While faith is reasonable and logical, believers still have questions. For instance, we don’t understand why God allows painful circumstances or we struggle to comprehend important truths about our incomprehensible God. Until we get to heaven – or until Jesus returns – we walk by faith in these areas. We trust God with both the understandable and the incomprehensible. Faith drives and guides our lives in every area. “… for we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7, ESV).

Faith is a gift from God.

We cannot save ourselves. We cannot work hard enough or be good enough. Only God has both the power and authority to save us. From beginning to end, our salvation is solely His work. Yes, God saves us through our faith. We are “justified” by faith (Romans 5:1). But even our faith is given to us by God. We can’t take credit for it. We can’t manufacture it (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV).

Faith will produce good works.

Faith that saves is more than mere acknowledgement of the existence of God. Even the demons believe in God’s existence and tremble at the knowledge (James 2:19). But they disobediently oppose God. Their belief does not save. Faith is not simply belief in a set of facts. Real faith trusts so much in its object of faith that it is moved to action. True faith make itself known in our lives by obedience (Romans 1:5). The New Testament author James recognized and taught that living faith is active. Saving faith, given to us by God, will always result in good works. If we persist in disobedience or our lives are void of spiritual fruit, our faith may be dead (James 2:14-17).

Faith is strengthened by trials.

God uses difficulties, trials, and persecution to test, strengthen, and grow our faith. Just as fire refines gold and silver by burning away the dross, the fires in the lives of believers burns away the impurities in our faith (1 Peter 1:6-7). Our faith can get lazy and flabby when times are easy. But, trials put are an opportunity for our faith to work – and get a workout. Just like lifting increased weight builds and strengthens our muscles, “lifting” our faith in hard times builds and strengthens our faith (James 1:2-4). So, let’s not waste these opportunities to grow our faith. When the difficulties come – and they will! – let us rely on our faith in God. (Also see, “Have you Settled for Good Enough Faith?”)

Faith trusts in a Person, not an outcome.

We will have difficulties, disappointments, and derailments in this life. Sadly, some Christians become discouraged when life gets hard and their prayers aren’t answered in the way they’d hoped. Too often we mistakenly put our faith in a desired outcome rather than in the One who hears our prayers. When God tested Abraham’s faith and told him to sacrifice his only son, Abraham obeyed. He believed in the power and promises of God. Because Abraham trusted in God and not a specific outcome (Hebrews 11:17-19), God was glorified and Abraham’s faith was strengthened. Real faith is grounded in God – not an outcome – no matter how He chooses to work we will not be shaken. (For more info, see “10 Characteristics of Faith from the Hebrews Hall of Faith.”)

Faith protects us from the enemy’s arrows.

Satan is our enemy. He works to foster guilt, shame, and doubt in our hearts and minds. He whispers in our ear that God doesn’t exist. Or that God doesn’t care. Satan reminds us of our failures and mistakes, drudging up sin that God forgave long ago. But true faith in God, His character, and His ways is our strong shield of defense that blocks the enemy’s pointed schemes against us. Faith in the Holy One extinguishes those fiery lies from hell (Ephesians 6:16) and negates the power of Satan. Hold your shield high and do not set it aside.

Which of these truths about faith do you need to embrace today?

 

 

7 Biblical Truths that Help Us Understand True Faith by Kathy Howard.

Are Christians Rejecting the Bible?

The relationship has felt strained for some time now. Once it was close, built on trust and acceptance. But in recent years, we’ve allowed doubt to creep in. I’m not referring to a friendship or a marriage. No, I’m deeply concerned about the relationship between American Christians and the Bible. It’s on shaky ground and deteriorating fast. We don’t know God’s Word like we used to. And what we do know, we don’t necessarily buy into. Some of us don’t really believe the Bible is God’s revealed Word. Some believe the culture when it tells us the Bible is an old, intolerant, irrelevant book. And some of us are simply rejecting the Bible because we want to do our own thing our own way.

3 Symptoms We May be Rejecting the Bible

Biblical Illiteracy – The most obvious symptom of our deteriorating relationship with God’s Word is that we don’t know what it teaches. For example, according to a 2018 survey conducted by the Barna Group, 51% of American churchgoers didn’t recognize Jesus’ Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. Another example: According to a 2017 survey by the Pew Research Center, 52% of American Protestants believe salvation requires faith and good works. Sadly, this shows many of us don’t even know the most fundamental spiritual truths.
Cultural Compromise – Over the last few decades, our culture has not only accepted but now also applauds certain behavior the Bible calls ungodly. Rather than side with Scripture and take the inevitable persecution from the world, some in the church have sided with the culture, essentially calling God’s Word outdated and irrelevant. We hear it from churches, popular Bible teachers, and from the pew. “The church needs to change with the times to be relevant.” But God does not change and neither does His Word (Malachi 3:6).
Human-Centered Teaching – The Bible is a book by God and about God. The Bible reveals God’s character, purposes, and His ways. Yet somehow, we make the Bible about us. This me-centered attitude shows up in the list of best-selling “Christian” books, particularly those written for women. These popular books tell us that we “are enough,” that we are “okay just like we are.” Sounds great, but it’s not biblical. This kind of teaching starts with a human, self-centered focus rather than a God-first focus. The Bible tells us that no one is enough. That’s why Jesus came. We cannot carry out God’s purposes for us without His power. And we are not okay like we are, that’s why God works constantly to transform us into the image of Christ.

So, is rejecting the Bible justified? If the Bible is just another ancient book written by a few guys who died a really long time ago, then let’s put it in a display case in a museum. But… what if the Bible isn’t just another ancient book?

4 Things to “Re-Believe” about the Bible

The Bible is literally the words of God – The all-powerful Creator God has revealed Himself to us. The Bible teaches that it is the inspired Word of God. God breathed out His Word through humans, for humans (2 Peter 1:20-21). If we believe this to be true, then we cannot accept some parts of the Bible and reject others.
The Bible is relevant today and forever – God’s Word is not bound by time, cultural, language, or geography. It speaks powerfully to today’s human condition. God’s Word guides, comforts, and strengthens. God’s Word is “true” and “founded forever” (Psalm 119:151-152).
The Bible is a living mirror for our hearts – The Holy Spirit holds up God’s Word like a mirror for our souls. He wields the Word like a sword to pierce our hearts and reveal our sinful thoughts, attitudes, and motivations (Hebrews 4:12-13). This spiritual conviction through the words of Scripture testifies to the power and truth of the Bible.
The Bible is God’s tool for refinement – Thankfully, God not only reveals our shortcomings through the Bible, He also uses His Word to grow and mature us. God lays it out beside our lives as a measuring rod to teach, correct, and equip us in preparation for His purposes (2 Timothy 3:16-17). (See also “4 Spiritual Benefits from God’s Word.”)

Renew Our Relationship with the Bible

God is not surprised by our strained relationship with His Word. God knew that we would be easily drawn away by “teachers” who say what we want to hear, that give us “permission” to indulge our sinful nature (2 Timothy 4:1-5). But rejecting the Bible is not the answer.

So, what do we do now? How can we renew our relationship with God’s Word? First, let’s acknowledge the truth about the Bible. It is God’s inspired revelation of Himself. It is unchanging and true, relevant for today and every day. Second, let’s commit to learn it and live by it – without compromise, without selectivity. And finally, let’s hold the Bible out to others as God’s unchanging Word.

How would you describe your relationship with the Bible?

Want to deepen your relationship with God’s Word in 2020? Consider attending the online conference “Enjoy God’s Word.” Get more information here!

 

Are Christians Rejecting the Bible? by Kathy Howard.

Help & Encouragement to Read Your Bible in 2020

A new year is always a great time to make a fresh commitment to read your Bible and grow in your faith. No matter how committed we are, the possibility of success is always greater if we have a plan and encouragement to keep going. That’s why I developed a new Bible reading plan for 2020 and will be using it with a group of friends. And you are invited to join us!

Details about the 2020 Bible Reading Plan

Honestly, there are no “one-size-fits-all” Bible reading plans. For instance, if you have not been reading the Bible with consistency in the past, you’ll want to start with just a few minutes a day. But if you’ve been reading your Bible almost daily for years, you may be ready to read the Bible through in a year! So this new Bible Reading Plan for 2020 may not be the best plan for you. However, I have developed this plan in a way to create as much opportunity for success as possible!

Five readings per week – this gives us two days per week to catch up if we miss a day. We all have days where we simply can’t get it done. And if you have a fabulous week and don’t miss a day, you can use the extra two days to read in the Psalms or Proverbs!
Book by book – This plan works through entire Bible books, alternating between the New Testament and the Old Testament. Reading whole books gives us a better overall understanding of these books. By the end of 2020, we will have read 17 Bible books. This layout also gives us an opportunity to jump back in when a new book begins if we’ve fallen way behind.
Increase our knowledge of God’s Word – I’ve included some of the “less read” Bible books in the plan. But don’t be apprehensive, every bit of God’s Word is helpful for growing our faith and deepening our intimacy with God!
Opportunity for accountability – I lead a Facebook group called “Reading the Bible Together.” Each day I post the daily reading and some questions to help you get the most out of your reading. I will also post introductions before we begin new books. I would love for you to join!

Get the Book by Book Bible Reading Plan PDF NOW

More about the Facebook Group Mentioned Above

The “Reading the Bible Together” Facebook group is a place of encouragement and enrichment. I post the daily readings each morning at 5:30am along with a few questions to help you get more from your reading. I will also be posting an intro to each book we begin and depending on the content of the daily reading, I may post a little commentary. We also encourage discussion! Some group members comment and some don’t – either is fine! This group is just for women to make it easier for us to share.  Join here!

More Discipleship Resources You May Find Helpful

There are lots of free tools and resources on this website to encourage you in faith journey. They include multiple Bible Reading Plans, Scripture Memory tools, prayer helps, online Bible studies, and more. Check out the Free Resources page to see them all. But you may find the following particularly helpful this time of year:

5 Tips for Setting Spiritual Growth Goals
11 Tips for Spending Quality Time with God
Bible Highlighting for More Effective Bible Study
5 Probing Questions to Help You Get the Most out of Your Bible Reading
Reading the Bible Together Facebook Group

How do you plan to be purposeful in your spiritual growth in the New Year?

 

 

Help & Encouragement to Read Your Bible in 2020 by Kathy Howard.

Looking Back at 2019 and Planning for 2020

The last few days I’ve been reviewing 2019 and planning for 2020. I did the same thing at the end of last year. I reviewed the progress – or lack of progress –  I had made, thought about where I wanted to be, and set some goals and strategies to get there. (If you want to set some goals for your spiritual growth see “5 Tips for Setting Spiritual Growth Goals for the New Year.”)

This evaluation and planning, which is primarily for my spiritual health and relationship with God, also includes things like work, relationships, professional development, and service. I met goals in some areas and fell short in other areas. That’s why I am at it again by planning for 2020.

Maybe this sounds a bit too analytical to you 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. The planning I undergo is both prompted and directed by God. Every step is done prayerfully. Haphazard discipleship will always yield haphazard results. But purposeful discipleship, guided by God, will yield spiritual growth and deeper intimacy with God.

Looking Back at 2019

Before we look ahead, it’s helpful to reflect on where we’ve been. Although not an exhaustive list, the following few questions will help us evaluate our current spiritual health and the quality of our relationship with God in 2019:

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?

I Fell Short of this 2019 Goal

One of the things I “recommitted” to in 2019 was SCRIPTURE MEMORY. I’ve always known it was 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.”)

Then in January 2019, 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. I was so blessed by having those truths solidified in my mind and deep in my heart, I committed to memorize the rest of Philippians by the end of 2019.

I did not reach the goal I set, but I did make great progress! In addition to the verses from chapter 4, I memorized all of chapters 1 and 2. Granted, it was an ambitious goal for someone whose Scripture memory discipline has always been hit or miss. There were times throughout the year where I kept moving forward and times when my efforts stagnated. But, God was faithful to prompt me again.

Even though I fell short of the goal, I was so encouraged by how much I memorized. God ministered to me in new ways through knowing His word by heart. And the truths of Philippians have come alive to me like never before. I plan to finish memorizing Philippians in 2020 and hopefully start on another book.

Planning for 2020

I use a couple of simple, but helpful tools each year to purposefully evaluate my discipleship and plan for the new year. First, I use the “Discipleship Evaluation” form to contemplate the quality and commitment of my relationship with and service to God. Second, I use the “Spiritual Goals Worksheet” to set goals and strategies in a wide range of areas. Looking back at my 2019 goal planning worksheet, I realize I met some goals and fell short of others. The missed goals give me a good starting place for the new year.

What about you? Are you doing any planning for 2020? I’d love to hear about how God is directing you to purposeful spiritual growth and service in the new year. As you contemplate 2020, you may find the following posts and tools helpful:

5 Tips for Setting Spiritual Growth Goals for the New Year
My 2020 Bible Reading Plan
Reading the Bible Together Facebook Group
Online Bible Study Tools
7 Tips to Start – or Restart – a Quiet Time with God
Bible Reading Plans – Why, How, and a few good ones

Find even more tools and resources on my Free Resources page.

 

Looking Back at 2019 and Planning for 2020 by Kathy Howard.

What are Your Expectations for Christmas?

Expectations for Christmas. I’ve certainly had them. Have you? Maybe you hope to give the perfect gift, decorate a beautiful tree, or cook a delicious meal for your family. Maybe you long for your whole family to be together – not just physically, but also united in heart and mind.

The difficult thing about expectations is that when things don’t turn out like we’d hoped – which often happens – we are disappointed. In fact, sometimes our unrealized expectations for Christmas keep us from enjoying the truth and beauty of Christmas.

I was thinking about Mary this morning – that young Jewish girl who gave birth to our Savior. What do you think her expectations were for her life? When we first meet Mary, she was engaged to a carpenter named Joseph. She expected to marry Joseph in a happy celebration with all her friends and family gathered around. Then Mary expected to raise a family and live their lives together as a respected couple in their community.

Instead, Mary was an unwed mother who had to endure the unmerited scorn of those friends and family members. To start her married life in scandal. And then to give birth far from home in a stable, where she then had to lay her newborn Son in an animal feeding trough.

God’s Plans were Bigger than Mary’s Expectations

Not exactly what she had expected. But God had different plans for Mary. She would conceive a child by the Holy Spirit and give birth to the Son of God. Then a few decades later she would endure the overwhelming grief of watching her son die a brutal, criminal’s death. No, God’s path for Mary would not be easy. But it would be worth it. For this unexpected son would be our Savior and our King!

But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.  You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:30-33, NIV

Talk about a change of plans. But I love Mary’s example for us. When the angel Gabriel told her of God’s plans, Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:37).

Joseph also struggled with unmet expectations. But the angel also Gabriel helped him see God’s bigger picture:

 “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21, NIV

God’s plans for us are often different from what we expect. And praise God they are! His plans are always infinitely better. Even if we don’t understand what He’s doing at the time. So, this Christmas – and every day – let’s hold our plans loosely and give God room to do what only He can do.

What are a few of your expectations for Christmas?

Other Christmas themed posts you might like:

“How Well Do You Know the Real Christmas Story?”
“Four Christmas Gifts from Jesus to You”
“The Real Meaning of Christmas”

What are Your Expectations for Christmas? by Kathy Howard.

6 Ways to Impact Kids with the Real Meaning of Christmas

A few years ago, while speaking at a ladies’ Christmas event, something significant happened. As I began to read portions of the Christmas story from my Bible, I discovered I did not need it.

The words flowed from memory – KJV style. “Being great with child… They were sore afraid.”

Here’s the truly amazing part: I’ve never worked to memorize those sections of Scripture. The passages were embedded in my heart simply because my father read them to our family every Christmas Eve. My dad desired to keep our hearts and minds on the real meaning of Christmas. And God honored his commitment to impress God’s truth on his children (Deuteronomy 6:4-7).

We can all have the same kind of positive spiritual influence on the children in our lives. Whether a parent, grandparent, aunt, babysitter, or Sunday School teacher, we can point them to Christ in Christmas with purposeful intent. Even in the midst of the commercialization of the season, we can help them understand the real meaning of Christmas.

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6 Ways to Help Your Kids Focus on the True Meaning of Christmas

Although you can probably come up with a longer list, here are 6 ways you can help impact the children in your life with the truth of Christmas. We used them all with our own children!

Tell the story of the 1st Christmas – And not just once! Let’s use various ways to share it with them again and again. For instance, do daily Advent devotionals with your family. (These are offered free from BillyGraham.org.) For younger children, use a childproof nativity to tell the story and then leave it out for them to play with. And don’t forget the most basic way – read the biblical account to your family.
Give to someone in need – It is so easy to get caught up in the “getting” of Christmas. But the season is the perfect opportunity to teach our children the joy of helping others. When our children were young we involved them in filling shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. Now we do this with our grandchildren. We’ve also given in multiple ways including World Vision gifts, Angel Tree, and more.
Sing the faith songs of Christmas – Most of our kids know Jingle Bells and Frosty the Snowman, but do they know Silent Night and Away in a Manger? The “religious” Christmas songs tell the real story! Play these great songs of faith while baking cookies, driving to school, or making the trip to Grandma’s house. Carol on your street or in a local nursing home.
Tell someone about baby Jesus – I used to have one of those “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” pins. And I wore it too. But I don’t remember anyone ever asking me about it. We must look for purposeful opportunities to tell others about the reason for the season!
Christmas Eve Service – Taking the time to attend church on Christmas Eve sends an important message to our children. “Jesus takes priority.” “Christmas is about Him.” Plus, the time in worship and fellowship helps put our focus where it belongs.
Birthday Cake for Jesus – We began this tradition when our children were little. They always looked forward to helping make the cake, singing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus, and of course, eating it!

I would love to hear how you help your children focus on the real meaning of Christmas. Please share your ideas and traditions with us in the comments!

6 Ways to Impact Kids with the Real Meaning of Christmas by Kathy Howard.

7 Characteristics of an Effective Bible Study Leader

The success of any Bible study or small group program depends heavily on the Bible study leader. Maybe you lead a group. Maybe you’re responsible for finding and training leaders. I’ve done it all – and sometimes all at the same time! Because a group leader will influence the group members, let’s do everything we can to be as effective as possible.

Over the years, I’ve noticed some common attributes among leaders who make a positive spiritual impact on their group members. Although not an exhaustive list, these characteristics are ones all leaders can work to incorporate into their small group ministry.

7 Characteristics of an Effective Bible Study Leader

We are students – Leaders don’t have to know everything about the Bible, but we do need to be constantly learning. Do your best to study the lesson’s passage and don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”
We are disciples – Our students need leaders they can follow. Like Paul, I want to be able to say: “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). It’s easy to get lazy in our own discipleship, but we can be proactive by enlisting a mentor or accountability partner who will pray for us and ask us the hard questions. Let’s set a godly example for our groups in prayer, spiritual growth, holiness, and commitment to the body of Christ.
We are transparent – Share honestly from your own life and spiritual journey. A “perfect” leader discourages the group members. A leader who talks about her own struggles with life and faith connects with the women and encourages them to open up too! (See Paul’s example in 2 Corinthians 1:8-11.)
We are passionate – Passion for God’s Word and work is contagious. Don’t be afraid to show some excitement over what God is teaching you and about what He has been doing around you. Your spark will start a fire!
We are jealous – Paul had the attitude of a mother bear when it came to his spiritual children (2 Corinthians 11:2-6). As leaders and teachers of God’s Word, let’s diligently protect their hearts and minds against false teaching. Don’t’ be afraid to stand firm for the truth.
We are investors – Each student has individual needs. Good leaders take time to know the students and their needs. Connect with them outside of class. Encourage them with calls, emails, and Facebook messages. Pray for them and let them know you’re praying for them.
We are reproducers – Effective leaders are always looking for and developing new leaders. Your women’s ministry, small group program, or ministry can have strong leadership now and in the future through purposeful leadership development. See “The 5 M Plan of Leadership Development” for more information.

Which of these characteristics do you struggle with most? Which characteristic have you seen make a positive difference in a group?

7 Characteristics of an Effective Bible Study Leader by Kathy Howard.

I Need Your Story of Spiritual Legacy for New Book

I am working on a new devotional book about spiritual legacy with Tyndale Publishers. The book is tentatively titled “Heirloom: Living and Leaving a Legacy of Faith.” Inspiring stories of past faith will inspire us to live our faith today in ways that will impact our families tomorrow.

I need your faith stories.

Why Spiritual Legacy is Important

Our faith today has been shaped by the stories of great biblical heroes like Abraham, Rahab, Ruth, and Paul. We have been encouraged by other great faith leaders through history like John Newton, Elizabeth Elliot, and Billy Graham. And more personally, our faith has been shaped by our parents, grandparents, and other ancestors who lived for God.

Scripture reveals the great value of knowing our family history, specifically our faith roots. Genealogy lists get lots of ink in the Bible. The well-known Hebrews “Hall of Faith” shows us how knowing the faith story of those who’ve come before us can strengthen and encourage our own faith walk. The Bible also calls us to join the ranks of these heroes of the faith. To pass our faith to our children, and to teach them about God and His ways. (See Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Ephesians 6:4, & 2 Timothy 3:14-15)

The 52 Heirloom devotions will weave stories of faith and family history with Scripture, beautiful artwork, and ancestry research tips and techniques. Each devotional reading will also offer practical spiritual insight to help us live out and leave a legacy of faith for her family.

Will You Help Me?

Do you have a family faith story you could share with me? Perhaps a parent, grandparent, aunt or distant cousin lived out their faith in ways that significantly impacted you. Or, maybe an ancestor who lived and died before you were even born left a legacy of faith that ran through your family to you. You may even have a story from your own life that shows how your faith is impacting your family. “A Legacy Prayer from My Great-Great-Grandmother” is a sample from my own life.

Interested in helping? You don’t have to worry about fully writing the story. I’ll do that so all the devotions in the book will have the same feel, the same voice, and similar length. I just need you to tell me the foundation of your story. You will get to review the written version and give your approval. (Note: If your story is chosen for inclusion in the book you will receive a copy of “Heirloom.” There is no monetary compensation or attribution for the stories. This is not a compilation. I am simply looking for real-life illustrations for the devotions.)

Ready to share? Click through to this form and fill out the details. If your story is chosen for inclusion in the book, I will contact you for more details. Thank you for your willingness to help!

Share Your Story

Who in your life has had the greatest impact on your faith?

I Need Your Story of Spiritual Legacy for New Book by Kathy Howard.