4 Family-Friendly Resources to Join in the International Day for the Unreached

Between sports practices, grocery runs, and the chaotic descent of the school year, adding the International Day for the Unreached to already overflowing schedules may feel like too much—never mind ascertaining why it matters or how to participate.

May 24th is International Day for the Unreached, a day set aside to spark awareness and prayer about unreached people groups around the world. Our families can participate in a simple, but powerful way: prayer.

WHY THE UNREACHED MATTER

"For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts" (Malachi 1:11 ESV).

God’s plan has always involved the nations knowing and worshiping him. 

In the Old Testament, the Israelites worshiped God through two ways—incense and offerings. When incense is burned it makes a good smell. Offerings are animals or grain given to God. Before Jesus came, these acts of worship could only be done in one place—the temple in Jerusalem (Deut. 12). 

But God designed a plan even before Jesus came to earth. God planned for a day when people from across the world could worship Him in every place. God didn’t want worship to be available to only one people in one city. He wanted everyone in every town, village, and city around the globe to know and praise Him. Since the coming of Jesus, worship is no longer in one place (John 4:21-24). Jesus opened the door for worship to happen all across the globe and ended the Old Testament system of sacrifices by becoming our eternal sacrifice (Heb. 10:11-14). Faith in Jesus unlocks the door to a right relationship with God, but this Good News isn't fully known in every corner of the world.

Another issue existed during the time the book of Malachi was penned. God's people weren't rightly worshiping Him. They were going through the motions. Not following the rules outlined to properly offer sacrifices to God. They failed to see His greatness and it was reflected in their lackluster worship.

The purpose of missions is for the Lord to be fully worshiped by every nation. For God to be glorified in every corner of the world. John Piper states this clearly, "Missions exists because worship doesn't." 

Malachi 1:11 grants us a glimpse into God's heart: He wants people from every nation aware of His greatness and responding to Him in genuine worship. 

In the grind of daily life, we can forget how holy, merciful, and powerful our God truly is. We can offer up half-hearted worship. We may not join in seeing God's name made great in our family, neighborhood, state, country, or across the globe because our hearts are focused on lesser things. Perhaps busyness has crowded out space for this.

If we believe God is truly the greatest, then our actions should match this belief. One way we can do this is through praying for the gospel to reach parts of the world still in darkness. We can realign our hearts to what matters to the Lord through finding pockets of time in our day or week to pray for the lost.

Throughout the world there are places where God isn't receiving the glory and praise He deserves. God desires to make His people a "light to the nations" so His "salvation may reach to the end of the earth" (Isa. 49:6). God is great and no one or nothing is better than Him.

Unreached people groups (UPGs) don't have access to hearing the gospel and aren't giving God the glory He rightly deserves. Unreached means from the time someone is born until the day one dies, this person doesn't have a chance to hear who Jesus truly is or even know a Christian.

If God cares about His name worshiped among every nation, then so should we. The International Day for the Unreached can be more than just one day, but an invitation to rightly worship our great God and join in His global plan through prayer.

4 FAMILY-FRIENDLY UPG RESOURCES

We can find ways to weave awareness and prayer into our family's day. We can find pockets of time in the rhythm of our days and week and transform them into times of prayer. Whether we're driving to school or church, taxing kids to a sports practice or lesson, talking over dinner, or walking the dog, we can redeem our minutes for eternal impact. Figure out where you have a window of time you're already together as a family and use that time to pray for the unreached together—even three to five minutes of prayer matters!

Here are four family-friendly resources to raise awareness about and foster prayer for UPGs:

1) The Great Gathering Prayer Cards for the Unreached World

Via Families created family-friendly unreached people group prayer cards, The Great Gathering Prayer Cards for the Unreached World, to guide families in praying for the unreached in five minutes or less. Each of these colorful 25 cards shares a bit about an unreached people group and how your family can pray. My kids and I use these cards on our way to school in the mornings. One of my kids reads the card, then we all take turns praying for the unreached people group of the day. If you have kids who still enjoy coloring, Via Families created a coloring book, The Great Gathering Coloring Book, that pairs with the prayer cards.

2) Wonder Letters

Each month, your family receives a letter in the mail from a fictional child from an unreached people group. Each letter includes a story, activities, and prayer prompts. The subscription rate is $10 a month. This resource is ideal for those who may want to a dive a bit deeper into learning about different UPGs, but don't have time to research themselves. Additionally, your family spends an entire month learning about and praying for a specific UPG before moving onto a new UPG.

3) Kid's UPG Cards

Author, artist, and former missionary Sarah Nunnally created these 26 beautiful digital UPG cards for younger kids. You can download the PDF for FREE to guide your family in praying for the unreached. (Plus, she provides other lovely FREE resources to foster prayer for the world.) Sarah Nunnally wrote three mission-minded picture books for young readers (ages 4-8) that would pair well with learning about and praying for the unreached with little ones.

4) The Dreamer (To the Ends) by Jenny Marcelene (🠜that's me!)

Magic Tree House meets God's heart for the nations in this delightful book for young readers. In The Dreamer, Jason and Fred must fulfill a strange mission to deliver a holy book to a dreamer in Afghanistan. If only the brothers knew who. Can they lose the mysterious person following them and figure out who needs the book before time runs out? 

I'm the author of this series (published by Calla Press) and was inspired to write it after spending six years in conservative Muslim cultures. To the Ends is a missions chapter book series for children ages 6-10 and crafted to introduce young readers to people they may never meet in person, but can pray for the gospel to reach. Spark prayer for the nations in your family through this faith-based adventure. (The Menders based in Sri Lanka will be released October 1, 2026.)

The Dreamer includes discussion questions, a family-friendly prayer guide, and a glossary of terms. Additionally, if you swing by my blog, I offer a FREE digital 4-Day Family Guide, Ticket to Afghanistan, to dive deeper into Afghan culture along with other FREE resources to extend the learning and prayer beyond the story. 

Our God isn't just for the United States, but for every country and people group across the earth. Let's show our kids how great God is through praying for UPGs around the world to know and worship Him. 

Step into God's global plan and weave prayer for UPGs into the fabric of family life starting today. 

EXPLORE: VESAK

Photo by Wisnu Widjojo on Unsplash

Vesak (VAY-sahk) is the biggest Buddhist holiday of the year, often celebrated around the first full moon of May. Vesak is as important a holiday for Buddhists as Christmas is for Christians.

Learn more about Vesak, including prayer prompts and a kid-friendly activity in my article from Via Families.

God's Great Big Global Church

Brief overview:

Travel around the world to 10 countries and learn what life and church looks like there.

Recommended age range: 4-8 years old

Strengths:

• Introduces a kid from each culture as a guide
• Learn about 10 different countries 
• Beautiful illustrations to engage little ones
• Catch a glimpse of how church looks different and similar in other cultures

Additional Notes:

• At the end of each country tour, a Bible verse about worship is included along with a few questions to discuss with your kids.
• On pg. 15, the book states Cambodia is 97% Buddhist. According to Joshua Project, Cambodia is around 24% Buddhist and 58% Ethnic Religions. It's possible they're blending the two together because of the overlap in how people practice their religion. Buddhism (and Hinduism) tend to blend into ethnic religions well, especially as these religions stemmed from ethnic religions.
• On pg. 37 the book mentions how the church in Brazil baptizes babies.
• Free, digital downloads, including a printable passport book, story summary worksheet, make your own stop worksheets, printable map, printable country greeting illustrations. Visit: https://www.thegoodbook.com/global-church-free-downloads
• Free, digital guide to transform book into a missions event or Vacation Bible School. Visit: https://www.thegoodbook.com/global-church-free-downloads

Chapter Books vs. Middle Grade Books: What's the Difference?

I used to think middle grade books were for middle schoolers. I was surprised to learn that wasn't the case.🙃

An overlap exists between chapter books and middle grade books, but readers should have different expectations based upon which one they're reading. This will help you know what you're getting into before checking it out or adding it to your shopping cart. 🛒

✨Chapter books are written for kids ages 6-10. The reading level varies, but is often 2nd-4th grade. These books are usually under 100 pages and typically have at least one black and white illustration per chapter.

📖 Middle grade books are written for kids ages 8-12. The reading level also varies, but tends to settle in the 4th-6th grade range. These books are usually under 300 pages. Illustrations aren't a given, but sometimes can be sprinkled in.

✨Chapter books are written to be read aloud or given to young readers. They tend to be quick paced, have shorter sentences, focus more on lighthearted stories, and contain simple character arcs.

📖 Middle grade books are written to be read alone by a young reader, but are still fun as a read aloud. They tend to have more plot complexity, tackle deeper themes, and contain full character arcs.

✨Examples of chapter books: The Magic Treehouse, Ranger in Time, The Secret Explorers, Ballpark Mysteries, The Secret of the Hidden Scrolls, Imagination Station, and To the Ends.

📖 Examples of middle grade books: The Tree Street Kids, The Wingfeather Saga, Mr. Lemoncello's Library, How to Train Your Dragon, The Penderwicks, and The Treasure Hunters (but this series has loads of illustrations!).

I've shared a general overview of chapter books and middle grade books here, but there are always exceptions.

Early chapter books and upper middle grade books are different, smaller categories within the chapter books and middle grade books categories.

Now go forth and read! (And hopefully you're a touch more prepared to know which category of book is the right fit for your reading needs and what the author was shooting for when he/she wrote it.) 🤓

Chandra's Magic Light

Brief overview:

In the remote mountains of Nepal, electricity, running water, and access to healthcare are difficult to find. When Chandra's and Deena's little brother gets sick from the smoke of their family's indoor lantern, they learn about a lantern that won't make anyone sick—a solar lantern. This solar lamp costs more money than their family has so the girls launch a plan to earn money to buy it.

Recommended age range: 5-8 years old

Strengths:

• Sweet story to pull young readers into the life of village kids in Nepal and show the love of siblings to care for another.
• Beautiful illustrations to engage little ones.
• A simple ways to introduce kids to Nepali culture.

Additional Notes:

• The story references two Hindu gods that the girls pray to, a moon god and a sun god. These pages could be skipped (in the middle and at the end) without missing the heart of the story. Or could be a point of discussion about how Hindus don't know Jesus is the one true God. 
• Wordy for a picture book. Many picture books are between 500-1,000 words. This one is close to 1,400 words.
• The back of the book provides some basic information about Nepal.
• The book includes an activity to make a pizza box solar oven.
• Could be a tool for a unit study on Nepal since it provides a glimpse into village life.

Heart of a Samurai

Brief overview:

The year is 1841. A sea storm strands a Japanese fisherboy named Manjiro and his friends on an island. The group can't return home because of the country's rule that once you leave, you can't come back. Manjiro starts a new life on board a whaling ship, learns more about cultures he once feared, and wonders if one can ever become a samurai.

Recommended age range: 8-12 years old

Strengths:

• Based off the life of Manjiro Nakahama, a Japanese teenager shipwrecked in 1841.
• Includes Manjiro's actual pencil drawings throughout the book.
• An interesting look into how different cultures perceive one another and the importance of overcoming our suspicions to engage on a deeper level.
• A glimpse into life during that time period (1840s/1850s).

Additional Notes:

• With a slower moving pace, reading it aloud can be a good option.
• Not written as a fast-paced adventure, but fine as a historical biography.
• Story covers Manjiro's entire life and can skip over chunks of time making it harder to track.

'Linsanity' and Staying the Course

My boys and I recently watched the documentary about basketball player, Jeremy Lin, and it reminded me of how often God's way looks nothing like ours.

Jeremy Lin is a Christian whose unlikely path led to playing in the NBA, but he faced racism (as an Asian playing high level basketball) and a host of ups and downs.

But I loved Lin's motto (especially for my basketball-loving kids ): God first, family second, basketball third. This documentary sparked a reminder that trust in God and hard work are essential.

As my oldest is on the cusp of the teenage years, I appreciated a story that showcased the importance of humility, hard work, and rooted devotion to honoring Christ with basketball rather than listening to voices of the world (which were quite loud).

Although this documentary was about basketball, the message of Lin's story is applicable for any believer following the Lord in this world. Sometimes our path will feel confusing, difficult, and uncertain.

Before Lin's breakout stretch, he was one game away from his NBA career ending. He had no clue he could step out onto the court and accomplish what he did on such a high level. He had the tools and talent to play well, but didn't know things would fall into place like they did. Later he commented how it didn't feel like he was playing, but something "supernatural." Faithfulness and reliance upon the Lord to do something beyond ourselves comes when we may least expect it. 

I've felt this in my own writing journey. Sometimes it feels like all the doors are closing and I've wondered if this was the end of the line. But then God opened the door for such unlikely opportunities there was no other explanation but the Lord.

I can look back and see how all those years of investing into my craft and the variety of experiences He provided led to being ready for the next step the Lord had. I'm not where I thought I would be, but I'm so grateful to be where the Lord wants me to be.

Trusting God isn't for the faint of heart. Trusting God doesn't mean the path is smooth or we can always track with what He's doing. But a firmly rooted faith in the Lord and doing everything to please Him, not others is essential. 

Faithfulness to Jesus is always worth it. Stay the course, friends. Stay the course.

When the Rain Comes

Brief overview:

Malini must protect an ox carrying her village's rice seedlings from a heavy rain storm.

Recommended age range: 4-8 years old

Strengths:

• Charming illustrations 
• Pulls little ones into the life of a Sri Lankan girl
  
• A way to engage young readers with another culture

Additional Notes:

• Includes a brief overview of Sri Lanka at the back of the book

Every Nation: Seeing God Around the World

Brief overview:

Little ones catch a vision for God's greatness in different countries.

Recommended age range: 3-8 years old

Strengths:

• Beautiful illustrations 
• Invites little ones to catch glimpses of God's greatness in different countries
• Can spark prayer for kids around the world to know Jesus
• Visits the following countries: Japan, Somalia, Nepal, Thailand, Norway, Egypt, Costa Rica, Afghanistan, Chad, Oman, Sudan, Mongolia, USA, and Australia

Additional Notes:

• This picture book is a part of a 3-book series

Land of Giants

Brief overview:

Shem wants his father, Noah, to train him to become a warrior. But Noah is too busy building the ark so Shem takes matters into his own hands and strikes a deal with someone from the Cobras, a tough gang in the city, to teach him. As giants attack and the dragon's power over their city looms, will Shem obtain the skills to become a warrior and protect his family?

Recommended age range: 8-12 years old

Strengths:

• Well-written adventure to keep readers engaged
• Well-crafted characters readers can track with
• Provides a new way to interact with the story of Noah and step into that time in biblical history in an exciting way
• Weaves biblical truths into the storyline

Additional Notes:

• Christine created a fiction story during the time when Noah is building the ark 
• Written from a Young Earth Creationist View
• Author created a devotional that pairs with the middle grade book
• This is the second book in the Dragon Slayer Bible Story series

Aru Shah and the End of Time

Brief overview:

Twelve-year-old Aru Shah wants nothing more than to fit in at school, but sometimes she lets her imagination take things too far. When some peers show up and confront Aru's lie, she lights a lamp she wasn't supposed to and now she must save the world before time ends.

Recommended age range: 11 + (with adult or intentional conversations)

Strengths:

• A likeable, flawed main character with a character arc fitting for a 12-year-old
• Similar to the stories Rick Riordan writes, unpacking mythology through storytelling 
• Explores the world of Hindu mythology in an adventurous way
• Sprinkles in humor 

Notes for Parents:

• This story is told from a Hindu worldview. Young readers will hear about reincarnation. In this story, Aru and her sister are reincarnations of past warriors. This can be a springboard to unpack what Hindus believe about life after death and how this differs from what the Bible teaches.
• Demons are a part of this story, but depicted according to a Hindu perspective. The bad guy, the Sleeper, is a demon, but he didn't used to be. This can be used as a touchpoint for unpacking what the Bible teaches on demons.
• Aru lies to try to fit in and thinks that's all she can do well. But as the story unfolds, Aru realizes she has a good imagination and that's the real gift. This could be a useful conversation about why honesty matters.
• Lots of gods and goddesses referenced in this book.
• Aru and her sister battle some scary people along the way who want to hurt or kill them. 
• Aru starts at not thinking all the myths are true but through her journey realizes they are, thus affirming the validity of the Hindu worldview.
• pg. 86 - "Who should I cut first?"
• pg. 155 - reference to Mini's brother being gay, but hiding it
• pg. 165 - "a very good daydream" with winky face beside it
• pg. 301 - "A dozen or so demons with blood-spattered jaws"
• pg. 305 - "someone's head (literally) flew past her"
• pg. 308 - "Blood and spit flew over the walls."

Final Thoughts

This book provided insight into the world of Hinduism through storytelling. The Hindu religion can be difficult to track with from a Western point of view. This story places readers into a fictionalized understanding of Hindu mythology and pulls the curtain open to better understanding this worldview. Unlike Rick Riordan's writings, this book highlights religion more strongly (in this series that's Hinduism) than perhaps other books pulling from mythology. 

Shooting Kabul

Brief overview:

Relocating to California from Afghanistan hasn't been easy for sixth grader, Fadi, and his family. But winning a photography contest could give Fadi a chance to find his missing little sister.

Recommended age range: 8-12 years old

Strengths:

• Lovable characters who you root for 
• Well-written multi-cultural story 
• Navigates harder topics well for this age
• Introduces young readers to Afghan culture in a personable way
• Photography a part of the storyline
• Shows a loving, supportive family walking through difficult times
• Grants young readers a chance to understand the life of a refugee in an engaging way

Notes for Parents:

• [Spoiler alert] Some bullying takes place in the book (but it's not the primary focus). At one point, Fadi fights back and gets suspended from school for three days along with the two bullies. Later on, Fadi and some other boys who were bullied confront the bullies. Rather than cross the line of using physicality, the group opts to toss the bullies into the lake.
• [Spoiler Alert] In one scene, Fadi's guilt and stress about his missing sister triggers him in a toy store. His missing sister owned a well-loved Barbie and when he sees some in the store, he tries to destroy them. This isn't a long scene and the character is kind, but this scene shows his guilt and stress about the situation.
• [Spoiler Alert]: Fadi tries to runaway to the airport by hiding in the trunk of his dad's taxi car to find his missing sister. He's unsuccessful and gets in trouble for this foolish move. 
• This book takes place around the time of 9/11. This isn't the focus of the book, but it is mentioned and provides a backdrop to the some of the difficulties Fadi faces.
• [Spoiler alert] It's unclear if Fadi ever shares with his family that he feels responsible for his sister getting lost, but he does confide in his photography teacher.
• Uses "drunken turkey" and "p*ssed" once. 

I, Doko: The Tale of a Basket

Brief overview:

A Nepali folktale about valuing the elderly told from the perspective of a basket, doko.

Recommended age range: 8-12 years old

Strengths:

• Beautiful illustrations 
• Story adapted from a traditional Nepalese folktale
• Multi-generational families depicted to show the course of our lives and how roles shift over time
• A way to introduce Nepali culture to young readers
• Emphasizes the value of every human life isn't measured by age

Additional Notes:

• Deals with a heavier topic: our responsibility to care for our aging loved ones
• Seems less suited for the typical picture book audience, but could be useful for families interested in learning about other cultures or for older elementary kids doing a country unit study on Nepal.
• This is a bit more in line with traditional fairytales and touches on its lesson in a heavy hitting sort of way. In this story, the following topics are mentioned: drought, the death of a loved one, injury, a mistake leading to a fire, quarreling, considering sending an elderly loved one somewhere else to provide better care, the child providing the key lesson of the story. I would recommend parents reading this first to determine if this style suites their family.
• Could pair this with a biblical story about how God creates each person in His image and our responsibility to care for others

Lent Resources

                                                                    Photo by Sixteen Miles Out on Unsplash

Preparing our hearts to celebrate the resurrection of Christ starts during Lent. I love this quieter season of reflection. This year Lent starts February 18th. 

Here are some resources to consider utilizing:

FAMILY 

Journey to Jesus: A Scripture Adventure to Discover the Savior (Tweens) - An interactive study for tweens to reflect on the importance of salvation and grace.

A Jesus Easter: Explore God's Amazing Rescue Plan - Prepare your family's heart to celebrate Easter in this family-friendly devotional.

The Friend Who Forgives Family Bible Devotional: 15 Days Exploring the Story of Peter - Devotions based off the picture book that pair well for the Lent season.

Walking with Jesus: A Lent Family Devotional - Reflect as a family on the life of Jesus and the importance of His sacrifice.

Mission Accomplished: A Two-Week Family Easter Devotional - In 10 minutes a day, spend time as a family reflecting on Jesus' rescue mission to mankind.

Uncovering the Mercies of the Cross Bible Study - Help kids understand the importance of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection in this 20-day Easter study.

Awaken: A 21-Day Easter Devotional for Kids & Family - Learn more about Christ through the eyes of four witnesses who interacted with Jesus through daily devotions, activities, and discussion questions.

ADULT

What Depth of Love: Devotions on the Cross and Resurrection - Spend 40 days reflecting on the death and resurrection of Christ based off Charles Spurgeon sermons.

Clinging to the Cross: How Lent Points Us to Lasting Hope in Christ - Spend Lent reflecting on the hope found only in Christ.

Return to Me: A Holy Week Devotional (FREE) - Spend eight days before Easter, called Holy Week, reflecting on the concept of biblical repentance.

Contemplating the Cross: A 40 Day Pilgrimage of Prayer - Spend time meditating and reflecting on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This is my favorite Lent devotion!

Lent and Missions: A 40-Day Devotional - Spend time reflecting on the costliness of salvation and long for those who haven't yet heard about Jesus to hear the Good News. This would be a good resource for missions committees, small groups, staff teams, and elders who want to cultivate a shared vision on God's heart for the nations.

Look to Jesus Lent Reflection Set - Spend 40 days preparing your heart to celebrate the day Jesus rose from the dead. Each card includes Scripture, a brief devotion, a reflection question, and Ruth Chou Simons' beautiful artwork.

Be sure to check out my 2024 Lent Resource blog post for even more resources for Lent and Easter which includes specific tools for preschoolers and elementary-aged kids.

Please note: I haven't used all these resources personally, but shared them because they look like promising tools. 

A Wish in the Dark

Brief overview:

Pong is an orphan raised inside the walls of a prison in a land of magical lights. When Pong escapes, he realizes fairness doesn't exist in the world beyond the prison either. The daughter of the prison warden, Nok, has one mission: return Pong to jail. Join Pong and Nok as the crossing of their paths changes the course of their lives.

Recommended age range: 8-12 years old

Strengths:

• Thai-inspired world weaves cultural elements into a world of fantasy
• Great characters you want to track with
• Fast-paced read
• Explores the theme of the importance of doing our part to push back the darkness in the world

Additional Notes:

• Written as a modern twist on Les Misérables for young readers
• Touches on themes of poverty 
• Author portrays characters as capable of having good hearts on their own and able to push back darkness apart from Christ. But could foster a good conversation about the importance of believers being light in a dark world in whatever ways the Lord leads.

Study God’s Word Without a Devotion (Week 4)

Lean into Lectio Divina

Lectio Divina (divine reading) is an ancient tradition to help us slow down when reading the Bible and reflect on a passage of Scripture in meaningful ways. This practice tunes our hearts to the presence of the Lord.

I've done this on my own or as a small group. This practice is a sweet way to quiet the busyness and listen to the voice of the Lord.

Here's the process:

Before diving into this reflective time with God, take a moment to close your eyes, take a deep breath and slowly exhale, and ask the Lord to remove any distractions so you can meet with Him. Grab your Bible, a pen, and a journal.

1) Read a passage of Scripture slowly (read aloud if possible). Repeat. Wait quietly for a minute or two. Write down a phrase or word that stands out from your reflection. The focus is on who God is and how He operates. Keep it short and sweet.

2) Read the passage again without rushing (read aloud if possible). Wait in silence for two or three minutes. Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal a key message from this passage to you. The focus is on how God relates to you and the world. Write down what you think you heard during your time of reflection.

3) Read the passage again at an unhurried pace (read aloud if possible). Then ask the Lord what He wants you to see, understand, or do today. The focus is on how God leads you to respond to His Word. Write down what you think you hear.

4) Based on what you heard during your time, spend time in prayer with the Lord. This could be a prayer of praise or asking for help to walk in His ways.

Thank you for joining me as we unpacked four different methods to study Scripture on your own. I hope you gleaned some useful tools to help you dive more deeply into the Bible and cultivate closeness with the Lord.

You can study the Bible without devotions and these different methods are the building blocks for doing so well. Different seasons may call for different tools. At times you may find yourself in a season when a devotion is a good tool. That's great! Just remember the goal is to connect deeply with the Lord and to delight in His Word.

May your love for Jesus and His Word continue to grow.

Study God’s Word Without a Devotion (Week 3)

Jump into Journal Questions

I've used this method overseas with non-Americans, in my own personal studies, and with my kids. Don't underestimate the power of this simple technique. You're engaging with Scripture as you read and reflect. 

Grab a blank notebook, a pen, and Bible. 

Write the following five questions at the front of the notebook:

1) What's going on in the text?

2) What does the text mean?

3) What does this teach me about who God is?

4) How should I respond?

5) How should I pray about/think/remember what I’ve read today?

Now select a passage of Scripture to read (I suggest starting with Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John to get used to this method) and start answering those questions!

This method is also great when you're traveling, find yourself in a busy season, or in between your own Bible studies. 

Study God’s Word Without a Devotion (Week 2)

Step into SPECKA

SPECKA is an interactive Bible study method used around the world to dive into the Word and gets everyone involved in processing and talking about a Bible passage. 

SPECKA is an acronym that makes it easy to remember this study technique. I’ve used this method with adults in a small group setting, during personal Bible study time, and even with my kids!

SPECKA is a great tool to put in our Bible study tool belt as it gives us a tangible way to think through Scripture and provides a specific framework to glean some biblical truth from a given passage.

STEPPING INTO SPECKA

First, read a short passage from the Bible. (The Gospels or the book of Acts are great starting places to learn the ropes for this method.) Then work through each letter of SPECKA and write down your answers in a journal.

Here’s what SPECKA means:

S stands for sin. We see if there’s a sin to confess or that created a problem in the text.

P stands for promise. We look for any promises God made.

E stands for example. We think through what the people in the passage did and whether or not it’s an example to follow or not follow.

Even after pinpointing a specific action, the key is to think through the underlying principle. For example, when Jesus calls Levi to follow him, he does (Mark 2:14). But the underlying principle is something about who Jesus is compels Levi to give up everything to follow him.

C stands for command. We determine if God gave any commands in the text.

K stands for knowledge. Based upon what we read (or heard), what do we learn about God, ourselves, or the world?

A stands for application. We think through what we read from the Bible today and how this should impact the way we think, pray, speak, act, or view God.

Remember we don’t want to force an application, but think through the bigger picture of the text. For example, if we read a passage about how the religious leaders doubted Jesus was the Son of God while the tax collectors didn’t (Mark 2:13–17), the application could be to ask: Who is Jesus? And what is my response to him?

Sometimes a passage won’t have every letter! That’s totally fine! But this method teaches us to look for different elements in a passage and process through what is communicated on the pages of Scripture. Other times, some letters may have multiple answers. The text you're studying will determine which letters will have answers and if some letters have more than one answer.

Thinking through the text is like treasure hunting for truth. We don’t force anything as we read Scripture, but there’s value in looking at a passage from different angles. Utilizing this tool can help you unpack a section of the Bible and uncover biblical truth along the way.

Next week we'll unpack another Bible study method to add to your toolbelt.

Study God’s Word Without a Devotion (Week 1)

Dive into In-depth Bible Study

“Why didn’t anyone teach me how to study the Bible for myself sooner?” one woman from a Bible study group asked me. Two other ladies nodded their heads in agreement.

Recently I finished leading an in-depth Bible study with a small group of women. We didn’t trudge through a Bible study or work through a devotion written by someone else.

Instead, we followed simple steps to dive into the riches of Scripture ourselves and ensure we were rightly handling the Word of God. And the results were beautiful.

While utilizing Bible studies or devotions can be great tools, we don’t want to depend upon them as our only source of spiritual nourishment. We want to directly engage with Scripture and hear the voice of our beloved Savior from studying the Bible for ourselves. Without someone else leading us through God’s Word.

When we lean into the messy, but meaningful work of studying the Bible we position ourselves to experience Scripture—and Jesus—in powerful ways. But sometimes, like the women in my recent Bible study group, we aren’t always trained how to do so well.

STEPPING INTO THE GAP OF BIBLE STUDY

Fifty-seven percent of those who attend Protestant churches acknowledge it’s difficult to understand the Bible when they read it. This means over half of churchgoers find it challenging to take what they read during their own devotional time and connect it to biblical truths.

The Bible is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and the last thing we want to believe is that we need to purchase yet another devotion to meaningfully connect with the Lord. While devotions can be a quality resource on our faith journeys, we want to acquire the skills to tap directly into the riches of the Bible so we can hear God speak to us through His written Word.

Here’s the good news: We can learn how to study the Bible. We can uncover deep, biblical truth by trusting the same Holy Spirit who speaks to those who write Bible studies and devotions and teaches on a Sunday morning, can also speak to you and me.

We don’t need a seminary degree to know and treasure God’s Word. (Although, that’s a lovely skill set to possess and pour into our churches!)

We should be careful to not take the Bible out of context, but with the right framework and tools we can glean biblical truths from Scripture.

ONE WAY TO STUDY SCRIPTURE WELL

While there are a variety of methods and tools to study the Bible well, one I return to again and again is called inductive Bible study. This technique allows us to observe a passage, interpret Scripture, and reach an application based on what we’ve studied—and we can do it if we’re willing to put in the hard work.

Let’s unpack what this process looks like:

1) Read through the chosen book of the Bible to study. This provides an overview of the book and allows us to observe key themes by reading it as a whole before diving into smaller chunks. If we don’t feel like we have the capacity to read the entire book, then skim it. Jot down key points and overall impressions.

2) Next, we want to understand the context. Determine the type of literature the book is (narrative, letter, wisdom, etc.), who the author is, who is the target audience, when this book is written, what’s happening during this time, and why the book was written. This information can often be found in study Bibles or from free online resources (see section “additional resources to consider” below).

3) Divide the book by chapters and/or sections based on what seems to fit together. Give each section a short title. (If you don’t enjoy this, lean into how your Bible divides sections and try to combine sections together that seem to fit.) Then consider what a key theme of the book might be and write that down. Jot down any assumptions (or things you feel you already “know”) about this book and ask the Lord to help you rely on the Holy Spirit as you study.

Now it’s time to dive into smaller sections of Scripture to study more in-depth. For each passage you decide to tackle (from a few verses to a couple of chapters), repeat the following steps:

4) Read the passage, then note repeated words, things contrasted or that are similar. What are the connections between paragraphs? Consider the meaning of these connections and write it down. (Sometimes reading the passage in a couple of different translations can be useful.)

5) What is the main truth of this passage? Distill it into one clear sentence.

6) Consider how to respond to this passage in light of your study. Is there a truth to find joy in? Or something to obey? A promise to hold on to? Take time to praise the Lord and ask for this truth to be walked out in your daily life.

(If you have time, jot down notes from a trusted commentary, podcast, article, or sermon on the passage you’re studying. What did this additional perspective add to your own studies?)

Once you’ve reached the end of the book, it’s time for the final step.

7) Take time to consider how the different truths you discovered link together. What’s the key theme of the book? Write it in one sentence. Does this match how you viewed the book at the beginning of your study? Write a prayer of praise for what God has revealed from your time studying this book of the Bible.

Putting these steps into practice can provide a guide for our personal devotion time. When I was studying through the book of Mark, we divided the book into six sections so we studied a few chapters each week. Before starting the focused passage studies, I worked through steps 1–3 to provide context and a foundation for the Bible study during the first week. I didn’t complete all the steps at once, but worked through steps 4–6 on the designated section of Scripture throughout the week.

Like any new skill, we can continue to grow and deepen our Bible study skills. We can keep growing, diving deeper, and adding new elements leveraging the inductive Bible study method, but this overview of the method is a great starting place for learning how to study the Bible well.

We don’t have to rush through these steps or become bogged down in them either. We want to move at a pace that allows us to reflect and process the passage of Scripture. We won’t catch everything—and that’s the beauty of the Bible. We can return again and again and the Holy Spirit can reveal something that’s always been there, but we missed before. But each time we embark on personal Bible study, we can think deeply about sections of Scripture and walk away with solid biblical truths.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO CONSIDER

Here are some free resources that can come alongside your personal Bible study (consider just looking into one during your next time in the Word):

The Gospel Coalition Bible Commentary - This provides lots of resources to study deeper such as online commentaries, podcasts, recommended resources, courses, etc. There's a wealth of useful tools at your fingertips to help go deeper.

NET Bible - If you're curious about translation of a text and word meanings, this is a useful online tool. It can provide a glimpse into some detailed explanations behind a text.

Study Light - Bible study tools (commentaries, encyclopedias, concordances, bible dictionaries), language tools, historical writings, and resources to study more deeply.

Blue Letter Bible - Audio and video commentaries, Bible references, topical indexes, theological resources (step 5 on the sheet), courses, language resources to study well.

Bible Gateway - Multiple translations at your fingertips.

Bible Project - Great short videos, guides, and podcasts to assist in studying the Bible.

The direct study of God’s Word can transform us and lead to lasting spiritual impact. As we cultivate the skills and invest the time to study the Bible, may our love for Jesus and His Word increase.

We can study the Bible. And we can start today.

Stay tuned as I share three more methods to study the Bible.

*Adapted from InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA

Study God’s Word Without a Devotion (Intro)

No devotion. No Bible Study. Just you, the Lord, and solid Bible study methods.

Imagine waking up every morning, ready to dive into Scripture and engage directly with God’s Word.

Over the next four weeks, I’ll share a different, but simple Bible study method to help you study Scripture on your own.

Cultivate the skills to study the Bible well.

I have a background in biblical languages and training in how to study the Bible using different methods. I’m not an expert, but someone who believes everyone can study the Bible for themselves with simple tools.

Learn some quality methods you can use again and again.

Some of the Bible study methods I’ll share are used around the world. You can study the Bible and rightly handle God’s Word.

Grow in treasuring Jesus and the Word.

My goal is to make studying the Bible attainable. 

Curious about the four methods I’ll share? Let me give you an overview of what we’ll unpack in the coming four weeks:

1) In-depth Bible Study: I’ll walk through seven steps to help you dive deeply into Bible study on your own. You’ll learn to observe, interpret, and discover applications based off the text you studied.

2) SPECKA: SPECKA is an interactive Bible study method that is used around the world to dive into the Word and get everyone involved in talking about a Bible passage. SPECKA is an acronym that makes it easy to remember this study technique.

3) Journal Questions: Utilizing five simple questions, you’ll be equipped to unpack a passage of Scripture.

4) Lectio Divina: Learn an ancient tradition of Scripture reading and contemplation that slows us down and helps us reflect on a passage of Scripture in meaningful ways.

Ready to grow your Bible study skills in the coming month? Get equipped to study the Bible and have more tools to do so well.

Starting January 1st, I’ll post how to do one of these methods here on my blog. 

Simple. Free.

Let’s do this!