My Favorite Things
Why should Oprah have the corner market?
The Christmas season is upon us! Because we know Jesus is the true gift of this season, I thought I’d share my favorite resources to encourage your studying of God’s Word in the coming year. After all, growing our relationship with God doesn’t just happen. So let’s make doing the work more fun!
(Note: None of the companies or products listed here are paying me to promote them! I truly just love using this stuff!)
My Favorite Bible Study Gifts (for yourself or those you love!)
The Daily Grace Co. A website full of pretty (and gift-able) resources!
Why I love them: The best part of this company are their Bible Study Tools. They produce a beautiful handbook series that includes big picture overviews, maps, theology, and themes. They offer lovely journals and devotionals, Scripture memory card sets, and even hymns for those more musically inclined. Right now I’m working through their Advent book, which is a wonderful, deep study into Christ’s fulfillment of the roles Prophet, Priest, King, and Messiah.
Bonus: They regularly have great sales!
The James Method: A website specifically for verse-mappers!
Why I love them: My friend Carroll Ann introduced me to this. This website is dedicated to the verse-mapping technique of Bible Study. Verse-mapping is taking a single verse of Scripture and digging deep, pulling out definitions, looking up original languages, and playing with cross-references. It’s truly a rewarding experience! Check out their website to purchase a verse-mapping journal and/or thematic plans available. They also offer Scripture memory and pray mapping resources, too.
Every Moment Holy: Liturgies for every day life.
Why I love them: Okay, I admit it, I’m obsessed. Since volume one was released in 2017, I’ve been talking about this. Liturgies are prayers designed for corporate worship, often using the call-and-response technique. If you grew up in a more formal church setting, you likely used liturgies during the Sunday service. In 2017, Doug McKelvey published a book of liturgies capturing the ordinary moments of life. From changing a baby diaper, preparing a meal, or mourning the loss of a pet, these prayers cover every aspect of living and dying. Volume three was just recently released. I can’t say enough about how these books have encouraged my prayer life, reminding me that there is no moment that isn’t holy when following Jesus. (They also have an app, if you’re one of those crazy people who don’t like bringing books wherever you go).
The Rabbit Room: Resources for art, life, and community.
Why I love them: I started following the Rabbit Room in 2009 after my seminary professor introduced me to the music of Andrew Peterson. Andrew had a vision for cultivating a community of artists who love Jesus. The Rabbit Room celebrates writers, visual/musical artists, and those who love them. They’ve grown in the past 15 years to include a publishing company and a theater group. My home library includes everything they have ever published. While they don’t produce material for Bible Study, everything they sent out into the world reminds me of why we work to know the Lord. Our Savior makes Himself known in story, pictures, and songs. Check them out!
My Favorite FREE resources!
The Bible Project: I cannot say enough about the work of the Bible Project. Yes, they are famous for their nifty videos, which explain nearly every book in the Bible and many Biblical themes in an easy-to-understand and entertaining way. But there is more! I listened to their overview of the Torah podcast in 2022. It took the entire year to walk through Genesis to Deuteronomy, and I can safely say I grew more spiritually that year than any other. Recently, I have worked through many of their online classes through their app! Tim Mackie is a Hebrew scholar who provides incredible historical insight and language knowledge to the Old Testament. And it’s all free!!
BEMA: BEMA Discipleship is a podcast that walks through the entire text of Scripture, providing historical context, especially from the Jewish perspective. Marty Solomon challenges our common Western views we unwittingly bring to our reading of Scripture and helps us read the Bible as it was written.
Help Me Teach the Bible: This is a podcast hosted by Nancy Guthrie, and it’s been an invaluable resource to me before every Bible Study I teach. Nancy interviews various scholars specializing in each book of Scripture, walking through the questions you might have as you approach teaching. I’ve learned how to pull out major themes and outline books of the Bible. I’ve also heard experts talk about the trickle sections of difficult passages and what to do if you feel stuck. Even if you aren’t planning to teach formally, this is a great tool as you learnt to share with others what you’re learning.
Step Bible: A BibleWe’ve played with this resource before, and I use it nearly every day. This website (or app) allows you to click on nearly any word in the Bible, see the original language of the word, its definition, and where else it appears in Scripture. It works as a great concordance if you’re trying to study a particular appearance of a word. They are other resources, too, including a Harmony of the Gospels Chart, New Testament Letter Structure, Places in the Bible, and more. I’m still exploring and finding more and more every day!
Enduring Word: This app is a Bible commentary by David Guzik. The best part of this resources is they way he has complied commentary from several trusted sources all in one place. You can read commentary from Spurgeon, Trapp, Barclay, Morgan, and more. The commentary covers line-by-line of the entire Bible.
Blue Letter Bible: This app has many similar features are the ones above, but I do enjoy looking at two different translations, side-by-side with one another.
Logos: This app has dozens of free resources, including multiple Bible dictionaries, A Concise Dictionary of Words in the Greek Testament and the Hebrew Bible, and even books like The Confessions of St. Augustine.
Bible Gateway: Okay, really, though. I know this isn’t the fanciest of resources on this list. But I probably use this one the most. Type in whatever passage you want to study, in any translation you choose, select copy and paste, drop it into a Word document, adjust the spacing, and print it out. Viola! Instant Bible Study. Nothing beats a clean sheet of paper, God’s Word, and some colored pencils!
I know I’m leaving something out! Do you have a favorite resource as you study God’s Word? Share in the comments below!
GREAT LIST!
Wonderful resources, Lindsay!