Are you ready to start 2021 strong? When it comes to reading your Bible, have you been saying “Next year” for the last several years? If so, join me for Rapid Bible Read Thru 2021! For the last decade, over 200 people from around the world joined me in this life-changing adventure. This year…I’d love for YOU to be one of them!

I’m only asking for 4-6 months. That’s it. Winter and Spring.

• In less than six months you will know the Bible better than ever before.
• In less than six months you will enjoy the Bible more than you thought possible.
• In less than six months you will make new friends from around the world (and maybe in your own community).

I have taken my whole process of why to do a RBRT, how to do it, and how to host it and put it into a book. You can read reviews or buy a copy on Amazon (or get bulk discounts at my online store)

These past few months have been an incredible journey! God is speaking to me like he hasn’t in a long time. I am excited for the future like never before.”

I’m convinced this is the best way to read the Bible.”

I’m doing it for the third time. Reading in big chunks enables me to see the big picture. I recommend it to people all the time!”

It was truly an exhilarating experience to fall in love with our creator in a more intimate manner!”

The RBRT helped to encourage and motivate me to stay on even when I felt I couldn’t meet the deadline.  Reading the Bible is so exciting and it is so good to do it regularly.  And doing it together with so many other people from different corners of the world with different backgrounds, just reminded me how much our God loves us and how much I want to love Him better!”

Although reading through the whole Bible sounds daunting, it’s much simpler than you’d think.”

I did the 4-month Rapid Bible Read Thru to challenge myself to read a larger volume of Scripture, to try reading chronologically and above all to grow in my relationship with God.  It’s been way beyond my expectations and I can hardly believe that I’m almost done. A challenge worth taking!”

I’ve been a Christian nearly my entire life and have always studied the Bible, but this challenge has changed me! I feel like I understand God on a whole new level. It’s like the blinders have been lifted off my eyes and I see God with a new perspective and hear Him with a new heart.”

2 Options for 2021

The “Normal” Option

Every year I start a private Facebook group where people who are doing the RBRT can read, share, ask questions, encourage, etc. This year, I’ve done the same thing. 

However, this year we’re taking it up a notch…

The BibleLife Community Option

In April (right after the world shut down), I started the BibleLife Community. This has been a blast. People from around the country and across the ocean have read the Bible together, asked questions, learned together, prayed for each  other. 

It’s been awesome! 

Many of them want to do a Rapid Bible Read Thru. Not only that, but as you’ll see in a few paragraphs. I always encourage people to get together and discuss it. (Very few people complete an RBRT without a few partners.) 

That’s why we are utilizing the Live Thursday Q&A time to have a live, Zoom discussion every week, where we can unpack what we’ve been reading. 

BTW…During the RBRT, you will have full access to everything inside the BibleLife Community: 

• Live Monday Motivation with me every week. 
• Access to all my books. 
• Access to Relational Bible Study. (My course that’s normally $97 on its own!)
• All my videos and webinars. 
• Private Facebook community.
• Live Q&A

The BibleLife Community is normally $20/mo. But if you join as part of the RBRT (before the end of January) it’s only $10. 

Click the link below and use this coupon code – rbrt2021 – and your price will be cut in half!

Join the BibleLife Community Today!

If you HAVE done the Rapid Bible Read Thru before – here are the links to…

Join the Private Facebook Group!

Download Your FREE Chronological Reading Plan

If you HAVEN’T done the Rapid Bible Read Thru before – check out this short, video. 

The top 3 questions about the Rapid Bible Read Thru.

1. Why and How did you start doing the Rapid Bible Read Thru?

It all started in 2009 when someone who took my How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible Workshop sent me an email with a link to  this article by Ron Frost. He writes of meeting a retired missionary who had read the Bible 2-3 times a year for several decades.

Now Ron – a former professor at Multnomah University in Portland, OR – has done the same thing for close to 50 years!

We connected over email, then sat down for lunch one time when he was passing through Seattle. After ignoring the prodding for a few months, I finally did my first Rapid Bible Read Thru with five other guys to kick off 2010. I’ve now done it every year since. Life changing!

2. What is a Rapid Bible Read Thru?

There are only three parameters and they’re quite simple:

1. Read the Whole Bible in 4-6 Months. – This may sound like a lot, but it boils down to between 30-50 minutes a day. (See Question #3 for more on this.)
2. Read with a Pen in Your Hand. – You’ll want to jot down the conversations you have with God as you read. This can be in your Bible, in a journal, or using a note-taking app. My favorite is OneNote. Other people prefer Evernote. (Both are free and keep everything synced across your computer, tablet, and smartphone.)
3. Talk About It. – This is not optional! You need the accountability. (So do your buddies.) You will have more fun. You will learn and grow more than you could ever do on your own. (In case you’re interested, I did an entire podcast episode on this very topic. You can check it out here.)

• A Suggestion: Begin by setting aside 10-15 minutes longer than you “need” to in the beginning. (50-60 minutes for 4 months, 40-45 minutes for 5 months, and 35 minutes or so for 6 months.) You’ll be setting yourself up for success, and you will always be ahead. When you get sick, have a crazy busy day, or attend an all-day basketball tournament for your kids, you won’t fall behind.
• A Warning: Do NOT divide it up into 10 chapters a day! Your mindset will be all wrong. You’ll see it as “getting through” 9, 8, 7 more chapters. If you set aside an amount of TIME – rather than an amount of CONTENT – you will be more present with God in His Word.

3. What sort of time commitment will this take?

Most people think it’s going to take hours every day. (Not true.) Here’s the super-simple math: The average audio Bible is about 72 hours. 72 x 60 = 4320 (minutes). There are 120 days in January through April. Divide 4320 by 120 and the end result is 36 minutes each day. If you allow some time for jotting a few notes, getting up to grab a second cup of coffee, or simply to pause and ponder, you’re looking at somewhere between 40-55 minutes. BTW…If you’re going for 5 months, you’re looking at 29 minutes. If you’re committing to 6 months, you’re down to only 24 minutes. Totally doable!

• A Suggestion: Begin by setting aside 10-15 minutes longer than you “need” to in the beginning. (50-60 minutes for 4 months, 40-45 minutes for 5 months, and 35 minutes or so for 6 months.) You’ll be setting yourself up for success, and you will always be ahead. When you get sick, have a crazy busy day, or attend an all-day basketball tournament for your kids, you won’t fall behind.
• A Warning: Do NOT divide it up into 10 chapters a day! Your mindset will be all wrong. You’ll see it as “getting through” 9, 8, 7 more chapters. If you set aside an amount of TIME – rather than an amount of CONTENT – you will be more present with God in His Word.

Free Chronological Reading Plan

You may or may not know this, but the Bible is not written in chronological order. In general, it is, but not entirely. Some events are told a few times. Others only once. Some books cover a long amount of time. Others are a deeper dive into a shorter time period.

Reading the Bible in the order the events actually occurred is super helpful.

I have put together this short eBook outlining every chapter in the Bible chronologically. You will find a deeper overview of this process in the opening pages.

Download Your FREE Chronological Reading Plan

For me, it’s helpful to simply print the two pages with the chapter breakdowns and tuck it in my Bible. Feel free to print it, copy it…or ignore it.

Wahoo! Let’s go!

Join the BibleLife Community Today!

The post You’re Invited to Rapid Bible Read Thru 2021! (2 Options this year!) appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

The post The 2020 Thankfulness Challenge – Week 3 appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

The post The 2020 Thankfulness Challenge – Week 2 appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

I look forward to November every year. More specifically, I look forward to the 21-Day Thankfulness Challenge. 3 Weeks. 5 Minutes. 5 Categories. Are you going to join me in 2020!

Here’s the video all about the Thankfulness Challenge!

I created this for last year’s challenge. Everything – except the website address – is exactly the same. It was awesome last year, so I thought we’d do it again!

FREE Printable templates with all 21 Thankfulness Scriptures!

For the last few years, we offered printable Scripture cards! This year, I’m giving them away for free.

There are three sizes:

1. A PDF file with all 21 images as printable POSTCARDS.
2. A PDF file with all 21 images as printable BUSINESS CARDS.
3. All 21 images as printable 4″x6″ photos.

NOTE: As I have done in the past, I have included the first seven images at the bottom of this post and will include seven images each week. You can certainly save these and use them however you wish. I will also be sharing one each day on my Facebook Page. The easiest way to share them is to like my page and share them right from your news feed.

In case you’re new the 21 Day Thankfulness Challenge…

I first had the idea for the challenge a few years ago. Honestly, the idea came during a time when it was difficult to be thankful. In fact, all you have to do is look at the news to find reasons to not be thankful. That’s when I had this thought…

We should all take this thankfulness challenge not because we want to do it. We should take the challenge because we need to do it.”

When I look at much of what’s happening in my city, my country, and around the world, I don’t feel thankful. There are many, many things that are not “thankfulness-worthy.”

You know. Things like…

• Another divisive, negative election season.
• Challenging race relations.
• A global pandemic entering another surge.
• Another devastating natural disaster.
• Another shooting.
• Another piece of bad medical news.

Heavy sigh.

I want to complain. I don’t want to be thankful.

That’s why I’m doing this. That’s why I need this thankfulness challenge. Will you join me?

The challenge is simple.

Step 1: Commit to five minutes every day for the next three weeks. (In case you’re not looking at a calendar, that’ll take you to Thanksgiving morning.)

Step 2: Spend one minute being thankful in each of five categories. (More on that a few inches down.)

Step 3: Share something you are thankful for (that God brought to mind during your five minutes) on my Facebook Page in the comments below the daily Thankfulness Scripture Picture – or with a friend who is also doing the challenge. BTW…When you share on Twitter or Facebook, would you use #ThankfulnessChallenge so I can follow along? Thanks.

That’s it. Not complicated. But so necessary.

5 Types of Thankfulness for One Minute Each

Thank God for WHO He is.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!” Psalm 118:1 NLT

When was the last time you simply thanked God for who He is? For being…well…God.

Take one minute to focus on one characteristic of God. Or maybe spend a minute listing as many of God’s amazing attributes as you can.

Thank God for HOW He has been faithful.

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” Psalm 9:1 NIV

I forget so quickly. God has done so many amazing things in my life over the last four decades. My tendency is to forget the many things He has done, and focus only on what He’s not doing right now that I think He should be doing.

Ugh.

For all their flaws, the Israelites did a pretty good job of setting aside times specifically to remember. Most of the times they messed up, it was when they weren’t doing this. In fact, many of the Psalms are poems of gratitude for what God has done. (For starters, check out these Psalms: 26, 28, 56, 75, 100, 105, 106, 107, and 118.)

Thank God for WHAT He has provided.

“…always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20 NIV

A while back, I was chatting over coffee with a good friend. He and I got to talking about how we live in a “Culture of More.” We always think we need more. More stuff. Even when we know we don’t need more…we want more.

I don’t spend enough time thanking God for what I already have. Being grateful for the abundance of “stuff” (both necessary stuff and just-for-fun stuff).

Never is the “Culture of More” shouting more loudly than November and December. Spending even one minute every day being grateful for what we already have is probably a pretty good idea.

Thank God for WHOM He has put in your life.

“We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly.” I Thessalonians 1:2 NLT

My single-most favorite characteristic about the Apostle Paul is how much he tells people he is thankful for them. He doesn’t stop at telling them he’s thankful. He tells them he’s praying for them. And he tells them exactly how he’s praying for them. How cool is that?

When was the last time you took an inventory of the people you’re thankful for? Past and present. The people God has used to shape you, encourage you, challenge you, comfort you, and inspire you.

Now (and this part will take more than a minute), what would happen if you actually wrote a letter where the first line was “I thank my God every time I remember you…”?(Philippians 1:3)

Go ahead. Write at least one of those this month. I triple-dog-dare you! (Extra points if you put that movie reference in the comments below.)

Thank God for WHERE He will show up in the future.

Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:20-21 NIV

Do you ever thank God in advance for what He’s going to do? My tendency is to thank Him for what He’s done, but only ask Him to do something in the future.

If He’s not bound by time (which He isn’t)

…and He can do anything (which He can)

…and He is good (which He is)

…and He always works for what is ultimately best for us (which He does)

…then doesn’t it seem like the most right and natural thing is for us to thank Him in advance for whatever He is going to do?

This Week’s Scripture Pics

5 Minutes. 5 Categories. 3 Weeks. God is worthy (and we both need it)!

The post Join the 6th Annual 21-Day Thankfulness Challenge! appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

I recently had some of my kids’ friends ask me What is the Trinity? Is God the same as Jesus? These questions are always asked by someone who is exploring faith in Jesus. After all, they’re good questions. And confusing ones. God the Father. God the Son. God the Holy Spirit. One God? Hmmm…

Most Christians are puzzled by the Trinity, and therefore, can’t explain it very well. Let’s change that!

In all transparency, I feel like I did a pretty mediocre job of explaining the Trinity to them in a way they could grasp. (Heavy sigh.) I’ve been thinking about it a lot, doing some research to see how people smarter than I have explained the Trinity, and come to a better understanding of the Trinity – and how to explain the Trinity in simpler terms.

One of the problems is that most of us – myself included – are tempted to move too quickly to analogies that only help explain aspects of the Trinity. So, rather than starting there, here’s where we’re headed:

• My Starting Point for Trying to Explain the Trinity
• The Simplest – but Still Clear – Explanation for the Trinity
• 3 Helpful Videos
• The 3 Most Common “Trinity Analogies” (and their limitations)

My Starting Point for Trying to Explain the Trinity

To think we will ever fully understand the Trinity is to make the mistake of thinking God is fully understandable. God is infinite. He is beyond us. Trying to “fully understand” God is like a 2-year-old trying to “fully understand” the complexities of relationships, marriage, and parenting!

Believe it or not, the fact that God is too immense for our finite minds should be comforting, not discouraging! After all, as I have said many times (to myself as much as others!)…

If God was small enough for my brain to fully understand, He wouldn’t be big enough to save me!”

The authors of the Bible understood this. That’s why they wrote words like we find in Job 11:7-8…

Can you fathom the depths of God or discover the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens—what can you do?”

…and Isaiah 55:9…

For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Simply put: God is big. Really big.

The Simplest – but Still Clear – Explanation for the Trinity

The next time you (or I) are asked to explain the Trinity, you could start with a 1-sentence definition and then unpack that definition. That way we’re providing a simple, common language and framework for everything else we’re going to say (or any analogies we use).

The 1-Sentence Definition

The Trinity is the foundational Christian belief that God is one Being who exists in three Persons.”

Unpacking the Definition

The word Trinity means three-in-one. No, the word Trinity does not appear in the Bible. But that doesn’t mean the concept isn’t clearly taught. The early church absolutely believed – and taught – the belief in a God who was three-in-one.

The Bible is full of Scripture speaking of there being only one God (see Deuteronomy 6:4 for starters), as well as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all being God. That’s where the confusion comes from. I won’t go into all of the verses here (simply type “bible verses about the Trinity” into Google and you’ll find plenty).

Before moving on to understanding the idea of one Being existing in three Persons, I will point out that the Biblical idea of the Trinity goes all the way back to the first verse in the first chapter in the first book of the Bible. Genesis 1:1 says this:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

The Hebrew word for God is Elohim. The verb for created is bara. Elohim is the plural form of the word God. However, bara is the singular conjugation of the verb. Every time the word Elohim (plural) is used throughout the Old Testament referring to the one, true God, it is used with a singular conjugation of the verb. The idea that God is somehow three and one starts on Page 1 and never changes.

Ok…so…What about this idea of “one being who exists in three persons?”

As you’ll see explained more deeply in one of the videos below, you can think of it this way:

• Being = WHAT someone is
• Person = WHO someone is

I am a human being. I am also Keith Ferrin. I am fully human. I am also fully Keith Ferrin.

God is the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. The Father is God. Jesus (the Son) is God. The Holy Spirit is God. ONLY the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are God.

While this is – in my mind – the simplest, clearest explanation, I understand that even this breaks down when we go further and say “I am a human and I am Keith Ferrin. But Keith Ferrin is not every human being.”

This is absolutely true. That is where I go back to the “starting point” I mentioned above. There will always be some level of mystery to this, but when you talk about the being/nature/essence as “God” and the persons/expressions as “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” I think we get at least a little bit closer to beginning to comprehend something we can never fully comprehend.

3 Helpful Videos

If you go to YouTube and search on “explain the Trinity” you’ll find lots of videos. Most of them are less-than-helpful. Here are three I found to be really helpful.

How We EXPERIENCE the Trinity (My favorite of the three)

How We EXPLAIN the Trinity

How we TALK ABOUT the Trinity

The 3 Most Common “Trinity Analogies” (and their limitations)

The three most common go-to analogies for explaining the Trinity are water, an egg, and the sun. If someone already has an understanding based on the definition and explanation above, then these analogies might help them grasp aspects of the Trinity. (Again…we’re trying to grasp something that isn’t fully grasp-able.)

The Analogies

1. Water – H₂0 is still water, whether it’s a liquid, frozen, or steam.
2. Egg – A single egg is made up of the yolk, the whites, and the shell.
3. Sun – The sun is a physical object, but also gives off light and heat.

Here’s the problem (and why we shouldn’t start with these analogies): If these analogies are the only way someone thinks of the Trinity, it will lead to one of two errors.

Either…The person we’re explaining it to will think that God simply changes from one to the other at different times and under different circumstances (water). This is a limitation on God that doesn’t acknowledge that God is always the Father, always the Son, and always the Holy Spirit. The technical term – in case you’re interested – for this wrong way of thinking about God is called modalism.

Or…The person we’re explaining it to will think that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are only parts of God (egg and sun). Admittedly, the idea of three distinct persons/expressions that are each fully God is part of the mystery.

But it’s not a mystery that can – or should! – be explained away. It’s a mystery the Bible teaches. A beautiful mystery. A mystery that should cause us to marvel, and wonder, and worship!

The post A Simple Way to Explain the Trinity appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

We’ve all had this happen… You read the Bible in the morning. You get to the afternoon. You remember that you did read the Bible that morning. But you have no recollection of what you read. (Which makes it a little hard to apply it.)

I decided to record a video showing you the absolute simplest, quickest way to make sure you remember what you read and think about it throughout the day. Enjoy!

If you found this helpful, make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel so you don’t miss a video! Oh…and please share this post so others can benefit!

The post The Simplest Way to Meditate on Scripture (with Video) appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

The Book of Psalms covers it all. Joy. Sorrow. Triumph. Trial. Elation. Frustration. Praise. Lament. You name it, Psalms covers it. As I write this (in late-2020) our society is feeling all of these emotions – and a few thousand more! I’m going to spend the next month “soaking in the Psalms.” I’d like to invite you to join me.

As I was creating this plan for the BibleLife Community, I realized that I needed to make it accessible for “some days” Bible readers and “every day” Bible readers.

So I created two plans and put them on one page.

If you’d like a copy, I am happy to send it to you for free. Just click the button (or click here)

Plan 1 – For “Some Days” Readers

NOTE: This is the plan the BibleLife Community will be doing together (October, 2020). We would love to have you join us!

This plan simply breaks everything up into equal readings spread out over four weeks. Since many of the Psalms are long and others are very short, the breakdown is less divide-150-psalms-by-4 and more read-this-amount-each-week.

• Week 1 – Psalms 1-38
• Week 2 – Psalms 39-74
• Week 3 – Psalms 75-110
• Week 4 – Psalms 111-150

Three tips to make the most of this plan:

1. Read Psalm 78 and Psalm 119 on their own days. They’re both pretty long (and awesome)!
2. At the beginning of each week, look at how many pages that week’s section covers. Divide that by the number of days you plan to read. That will make each daily reading approximately the same length.
3. Plan your reading for five (or fewer) days. That way, you’ll have some built in buffer for catching up if “life happens.” If you end up not needing the buffer, you’ll be able to go back re-read some of the Psalms that were particularly meaningful, encouraging, challenging, or comforting.

Plan 2 – For “Every Day” Readers

The plan below is for a month that has 31 days. You’ll notice that Day 4 and Day 21 only have one Psalm. That’s because they’re both quite long.

If you’re adapting this plan for a month with 30 days, simply combine Days 21 and 22. That accounts for reading Psalm 78. While it is a longer Psalm, it’s not even close to being as long as Psalm 119. I would always encourage you to keep Psalm 119 on it’s own day.

1. 1,
   30, 59, 88, 117, 146
2. 2,
   31, 60, 89, 118, 147
3. 3,
   32, 61, 90, 148
4. 119
5. 4,
   33, 62, 91, 120, 149
6. 5,
   34, 63, 92, 121, 150
7. 6,
   35, 64, 93, 122
8. 7,
   36, 65, 94, 123
9. 8,
   37, 66, 95, 124
10. 9, 38, 67, 96, 125
11. 10, 39, 68, 97, 126
12. 11, 40, 69, 98, 127
13. 12, 41, 70, 99, 128
14. 13, 42, 71, 100, 129
15. 14, 43, 72, 101, 130
16. 15, 44, 73, 102, 131
17. 16, 45, 74, 103, 132
18. 17, 46, 75, 104, 133
19. 18, 47, 76, 105, 134
20. 19, 48, 77, 106, 135
21. 78
22. 20, 49, 107, 136
23. 21, 50, 79, 108, 137
24. 22, 51, 80, 109, 138
25. 23, 52, 81, 110, 139
26. 24, 53, 82, 111, 140
27. 25, 54, 83, 112, 141
28. 26, 55, 84, 113, 142
29. 27, 56, 85, 114, 143
30. 28, 57, 86, 115, 144
31. 29, 58, 87, 116, 145

Whichever plan you choose, let me know how it goes. I think you’ll love it.

Both of these plans are on this 1-page PDF. Here’s the link to grab your free plan.

The post 2 Reading Plans for Studying Psalms in 1 Month (Free Download) appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

As someone who has been blogging about Bible reading, Bible engagement, and Bible study for a long time now, I’ve seen a lot of Bibles. I like to check out Bibles for reading, for study, for journaling, and for coloring (yes, they have those). As a self-admitted “gadget guy,” I also love anything tech-related. Well…the folks at Tyndale (the publishing house behind the New Living Translation) have created a Bible that is a fantastic combination of physical and digital.

The Filament Bible is one you need to see to fully appreciate. So…I recorded a video where I show you the physical Bible and then do a step-by-step walk thru of the complementary (and free!) app.

Here’s my video walk thru…

Here are a few links…

• Here’s a link (affiliate) to the actual Filament Bible I have. (Large Print, NLT LeatherLike Thinline Reference)
• Here’s the MAIN SITE for the Filament Bible.
• Here’s where you can “experience” the Filament Bible for yourself.

Here’s a video from the creators of the Filament Bible…

Here’s another (somewhat funny) video from the creators of the Filament Bible…

Here are some pictures of what you’ll find inside the Filament Bible…

The post Have you seen the brand new Filament Bible? (Awesome) appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

If you go to YouTube and start typing searches like “Bible study” or “Bible tips” or “how to study the Bible,” you’ll end up wading through endless videos (most of which are not helpful). Today I want to share the videos that are not only the most-watched, but also ones that people contact me directly to tell me they were helpful.

Here goes (in no particular order):

Watch this one if you’re fairly NEW to Bible reading.

Watch this one if you think “word studies” are hard or boring. (They’re neither.)

Watch this one if you like to share what you read with others.

Watch this one if you like to save money and study online.

Watch this one…well…just because you need to hear it…frequently.

The post 5 of My Most-Watched YouTube Videos appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

Summer time is crazy. This summer is taking “crazy” to new levels. It could be tempting to put off Bible reading until some sort of “September Kickoff.” Don’t do it. Get in the Word and spend some time hanging out with your Heavenly Father! Today, I want to share four simple studies you can use to engage with God through His Word. Pick one and jump on in!

Study 1: The Solid Foundation Study

You may – or may not – know, but for July and August, I have been hosting an 8-Week, online Bible study I call the Solid Foundation Summer Bible Study. It has been a blast! And it’s almost half over.

However, this study is truly one where you can jump in at the halfway point and still REALLY benefit! So…I decided to open up registration again (until 11:59pm Sunday, August 2nd) and let people join for the August portion of the study (Luke, John, and Acts – for only $10.

Here’s where you can check it out and register.

BTW…During the month you’ll also have FULL ACCESS to the BibleLife Community which includes all of my books – including the brand new audiobook version of “How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible,” my entire Relational Bible Study course, other reading plans, videos, webinars, and heaps more.

Here’s what one of the current members wrote me last week…

“This Bible Life Community and Relational Bible study has transformed my life. I have fallen in love with the Word of God and have once again fallen more in love with the Lord. I am so grateful I can be part of this family of believers.”

~Sheri

Study 2: A Walk Thru Proverbs

August has 31 days. Proverbs has 31 chapters. Read one a day. (I like simple math.)

Proverbs is filled with wisdom, challenge, and encouragement. Each chapter will only take about 4-6 minutes to read. So…if you choose this one, here’s what I encourage you to do.

• Read the full chapter in the morning as your day begins.
• Identify 1-3 verses that encourage, inspire, or challenge you.
• Set a reminder on your phone to look at those verses three times throughout your day.
• Read those verses one more time (or even the whole chapter) right before going to bed.

Study 3: A Journey Thru Genesis

Genesis reads like a novel. Maybe for the month of August, you simply read Genesis rather than study it. Studying the Bible is massively important. So is reading it. Enjoying it. Soaking in the Big God Story. (It’s a really good story!)

Give this a try…

1. Decide how much TIME you can commit each day. (Don’t pick a number of chapters or it will feel like a To-Do List.) Choose 15, 20, 30, 45, or 60 minutes.
2. Open up to Genesis 1 and start reading.
3. When your timer goes off, finish the chapter and put a bookmark in it.
4. Tomorrow…repeat steps 1-3. (When you finish Genesis go ahead and start over. If you can read it 2-3 times this month, it will really stick!)

BTW…This is Bible reading, not Bible study. Feel free to jot down any of the people, events, chapters, themes, etc. you want to study more deeply later. For this month…enjoy the read!

Study 4: Explore the Emotions of Psalms.

The book of Psalms is filled with song lyrics and poetry. Joyful. Sorrowful. Praise. Lament. Worship. Frustration.

You name the emotion. You’ll find it in Psalms.

Psalms has 150 chapters. Most of the Psalms will take you 1-3 minutes to read. That means you can read five each day and still keep it under 15-20 minutes each day.

NOTE: Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible. All by itself, it will take you 15-20 minutes to read. Since August has 31 days, I would suggest taking either Day 1 or Day 31 and devoting it to Psalm 119. Whenever you get to the day that would normally include Psalm 119, simply read four Psalms that day.

The post 4 Bible Studies for August (or any month) appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

This week has been terrible. Blatant racism. Protests turned violent. Political division taken to new heights. Looting. Destruction. Venomous words on social media. And yes…even apathy (also extremely ugly).

This post isn’t trying to solve – or even really address – issues of race in this country. This post is about equipping you – and me – to approach those necessary, hard, important conversations with a “Bible Lens.”

Make Truth Your Foundation

There are too many emotions and experiences tied up in the conversations around racism for us not to have our starting point be this truth…

There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 3:28, CSB

We are all one. All of us. God created each person. Each man. Each woman. Each skin color. Each one loved enough to be died for. Period.

Recognize the Root Cause of Racism

Do any of us really believe for a second that we are “color blind?” That we are not tainted by the same poison of sin that has caused division since Adam and Eve?

You are impacted by sin. I am impacted by sin. Police officers, peaceful protestors, rioters, pastors, newscasters, and apathetic couch potatoes are all impacted by sin.

What then? Are we any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, as it is written:

There is no one righteous, not even one.
There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
All have turned away;
all alike have become worthless.
There is no one who does what is good,
not even one.

Romans 3:9-12, CSB (emphasis mine)

Listen First

I once heard someone say,

The Good Lord gave you two ears and one mouth. Take the hint!

I couldn’t agree more.

It is so tempting to formulate an opinion or response before fully listening. Before reading. Before thinking. Before pausing. Before listening to our brothers and sisters who are suffering. Before listening to the Holy Spirit.

This one is so important I couldn’t narrow it down to a single passage. So here you go…

A fool does not delight in understanding, but only wants to show off his opinions.”

Proverbs 18:2, CSB

…and…

The one who gives an answer before he listens – this is foolishness and disgrace for him.”

Proverbs 18:13, CSB

…and…

My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.”

James 1:19-20, CSB

Watch Your Words

That biting comment you were thinking about retaliating with? Don’t say it.

That’s nasty comment you were about to type on a post you disagree with? Don’t hit Enter.

Words matter. A lot. (And they cause way more lasting wounds than sticks and stones.)

If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself.”

James 1:26, CSB

…and…

So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how a small fire sets ablaze a large forest. And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among our members. It stains the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”

James 3:5-6, CSB

Engage Even When It’s Hard

When we love, we engage. When we love, we listen. When we love, we talk. When we love, we disagree…and stay engaged. When we love, we give of our lives, not just our words.

We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.”

1 Thessalonians 2:8, CSB (emphasis mine)

…and…

If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself.”

James 2:15-17, CSB

Watch Your Motives

We can’t change what we do until we understand why we do it. We can stop temporarily, but lasting change takes a healing of the heart.

As long as our primary motivation is our own pleasure, our own safety, our own sense of “justice,” racism will never be dealt with in a lasting way.

Change me, Lord God.

What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from your passions that wage war within you? You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

James 4:1-4, CSB

Pursue Peace

Peace is hard. It’s costly. And as with motives, lasting peace always begins on the inside, and it begins with me.

If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

Romans 12:18, CSB (emphasis mine)

Love Your Brothers and Sisters

Not hating is not the same as loving. Apathy never leads to compassion. Apathy never leads to reconciliation. Apathy never leads to healing. Apathy never leads to love.

This passage is long…but it may very well be the most important words you read today.

Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. God’s love was revealed among us[b] in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent his Son as the world’s Savior. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God. And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.

God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. In this, love is made complete with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because as he is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love. We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and yet hates his brother or sister, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother or sister whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And we have this command from him: The one who loves God must also love his brother and sister.”

1 John 4:7-21, CSB

Get God’s Future Plans Firmly In Your Mind

This one needs zero explanation from me…

After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:

Salvation belongs to our God,
who is seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb!

All the angels stood around the throne, and along with the elders and the four living creatures they fell facedown before the throne and worshiped God, saying,

Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and strength
be to our God forever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 7:9-12, CSB (emphasis mine)

Pray (Then pray again.)

Do we really think we can heal ourselves?

…pray constantly…”

1 Thessalonians 5:17, CSB

The post Bible Verses to Help Us Navigate Conversations About Racism appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the Bible? Do you ever wonder where to start? Do you ever feel like a Bible study is too complicated, long, or in-depth? Do you ever want to simply pick up the Bible, read a passage, and engage with God in a personal way?

If so…read on…

First off, if you’ve been around here for long, you know I’m a huge fan of in-depth study. After all, I created an entire course walking people through how to study the Bible. (You can check out Relational Bible Study if you’re interested.) Not only that, but I created the BibleLife Community specifically so I could walk side-by-side with people as they develop a deeper love for God through His Word.

I love deep, thorough Bible study.

But not every day. Sometimes we just want to look at one passage – not a whole book. Sometimes we want to reread what our pastor was preaching on last week. Sometimes we just want to pick up the Bible, open it up, and see what God has in store.

Yes…sometimes we need simple. This post is for those “simple” days.

The simplest way to study any Bible passage is to read it – and then ask these four questions:

What does this passage say about who God is?

This is foundational. Remember, the Bible is written for you, but it is written about God. He is both the author and the main character.

The Bible is His story. It is by Him, about Him, and reveals His nature, His character, and His truths.

Whenever you read a verse, paragraph, chapter or book, keep an eye out for what is reveals about who God is.

If your time in the Word is primarily relational – rather than informational – then it’s a good idea to grow in your knowledge and understanding of the one with whom you’re building the relationship!

What does this passage say about what God has done?

Identifying and pondering what God has done in the past will help us better understand what He is doing in the present. Look for patterns. Look for the imperfect people He interacted with (and used for His purposes and glory). Look for promises made and fulfilled. Look for grace and mercy given. Look for corrections made and lessons taught. Look for times when He spoke and times when He chose silence.

BTW…I’m not implying we will ever fully understand everything God has done or is doing. After all, we’re talking about the same God who said,

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.”
This is the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9, CSB

We can’t understand it all. That said, I have found we can receive great comfort and wisdom in seeing that the same God who has moved is still moving.

What does this passage say about who I am?

It is extremely important that you ask Question 3 before you ask Question 4. Question 3 is about your identity. If you skip this one and only ask Question 4, you will never find the freedom and joy that comes from living out your identity as a child of God.

Jesus wants you to know who are you, not just what He wants you to do. I have said many, many times (and I’ll keep saying it until I die)…

Living out our faith from a place of identity – rather than morality – changes everything. And it’s way, way better!

As you read, consider what the passage says about your identity. Not every section of Scripture has an “identity message,” but there are way more than you’d think. Did you know that the book of Ephesians alone has more than 50?!

In fact, if you’re looking for a place to start, read Ephesians for the next several days and jot down everything Paul writes about who you are in Christ. You will be forever changed!

What is my response to this passage?

Notice that I did not say, What am I supposed to do? Sometimes a passage calls you to take some new action. However, there are many other responses as well.

Sometimes the right response is to…

• Ponder a truth.
• Change a thought pattern.
• Make a decision.
• Confess a sin.
• Adjust an attitude.
• Make a commitment.
• Sing. Dance. Rejoice.
• Sit in silence and be still.

Four questions. Simple…but powerful.

I have discovered asking these questions almost always leads to a conversation with God that not only happens while I’m reading, but throughout the day. And after all, don’t the best times in the Word always lead to thinking about the Word – and the Author – long after we close our Bibles?

The post The Simplest Way to Study Any Bible Passage appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

I’m writing this in isolation. I’m guess you’re reading it in isolation. At least some form of isolation. For me, it means I’m at home with my wife and kids. All of my speaking events for the foreseeable future have been canceled. Our church and small group meet on Zoom. My own mother – whom we normally see several times a week – isn’t able to come share a meal or hug her grandchildren.

More than ever, we long for presence. Being together. Speaking face-to-face. We are grateful for the technology that helps us see and hear
each other. But it’s not the same as presence. There is a longing to be “with” each other. To share a hug. To share a meal. To simply share the same space.

That day will come. It will.

Until then, I am striving to focus on The Presence. Below are a handful of passages that remind is that God is present. He is “with” us. He is not isolated due to a virus. He is here. Right here. With me. With you.

Take some time – maybe even one passage each day – and meditate on these passages. Be reminded of The Presence of the One who is always – and always will be – present.

I’m not adding any commentary this time. You don’t need to hang out with me. You need to hang out with your Heavenly Father.

Soak in these words…His words…

Exodus 33:11-15 (CSB)

The Lord would speak with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend, then Moses would return to the camp. His assistant, the young man Joshua son of Nun, would not leave the inside of the tent.

Moses said to the Lord, “Look, you have told me, ‘Lead this people up,’ but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You said, ‘I know you by name, and you have also found favor with me.’ Now if I have indeed found favor with you, please teach me your ways, and I will know you, so that I may find favor with you. Now consider that this nation is your people.”
And he replied, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

“If your presence does not go,” Moses responded to him, “don’t make us go up from here.

Psalm 139:5-14 (CSB)

You have encircled me; you have placed your hand on me. This wondrous knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.

Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. If I live at the eastern horizon or settle at the western limits, even there your hand will lead me; your right hand will hold on to me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light around me will be night”— even the darkness is not dark to you. The night shines like the day; darkness and light are alike to you.

For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made. Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well.

John 15:1-11 (CSB)

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.

“As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

“I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.

Matthew 1:22-23 (CSB)

Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: See, the virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel, which is translated “God is with us.”

Matthew 28:16-20 (CSB)

The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted. Jesus came near and said to them, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

God is present. He is with us. And He’s not going anywhere. Amen.

The post 5 Bible Passages Reminding Us of God’s Presence appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

These are uncertain days. (How’s that for an understatement?) As I type this, there’s a livestream from the White House on in the background with the latest update on the coronavirus. Everywhere you turn, people are talking about it. Some are mildly concerned. Others are in a full-blown panic. Uncertainty almost always raises stress and anxiety. In this post, my desire is to turn our focus to God and His Word. These are passages we can focus on, discuss, and pray through as we trust a faithful God in any uncertain time.

First…the passage…

They are focused on earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly wait for a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of his glorious body, by the power that enables him to subject everything to himself. So then, my dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters, my joy and crown, in this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.

I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to agree in the Lord. Yes, I also ask you, true partner, to help these women who have contended for the gospel at my side, along with Clement and the rest of my coworkers whose names are in the book of life. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 3:19 – 4:9

This passage – especially 4:6 – is quoted all the time. But there is so much more than just telling people “Don’t worry about anything.” When we look at this verse in the context of the verses before and after, we find seven reminders that show us how we can not worry.

Reminder 1: Focus on the eternal.

In times of uncertainty, most people focus on the same things…earthly things. Temporal things. Things that surround us. Immediate things.

Are you and I focused on earthly things or eternal things? Pausing to meditate on the eternal will help us navigate the temporal. After all, we have an eternal home. We have an eternal Savior. We will have an eternal – ever-healthy – body. Reminding ourselves of that truth will help us navigate the uncertainty of today.

Reminder 2: Build up instead of blame.

It’s interesting that immediately after encouraging the Philippians (and us) to focus on the eternal, Paul turns their attention to people. Their arguments. Conflicts.

I think Paul was on to something. He knew that in the midst of uncertainty, people tend to turn on one another. After all, someone must be blamed, right?! Wrong.

What would happen if we made every effort to build each other up, rather than blame?

Speak a kind word. Compliment someone. Post something encouraging. Give to someone in need. Find someone who is hurting and pray for them. Then tell them you are praying for them.

Reminder 3: Remember God’s “nearness.”

These are my four favorite words in this passage: The Lord is near. That’s the reminder I need. In the midst of the uncertainty, the Lord is near.

He knows. He sees. He’s not surprised. And He’s bigger than the uncertainty. He is not overwhelmed or anxious.

Have you ever seen a young child who is nervous or frightened? What’s the first thing they do? They grab the leg or hand of a parent or other trusted adult. The nearness of someone they trust – who is significantly more powerful – calms their fears.

We have a God who is powerful. And He’s near. Very near.

Reminder 4: Rejoice and be thankful.

Rejoice? Be thankful? Are you kidding? Nope. I’m not.

In the midst of uncertainty it is extremely easy to focus only on what is going wrong. What has happened. What we lack. What others have (that appears better).

Pause to give thanks. Pause to rejoice. I’m not saying it’s easy. I’m saying it’s necessary.

Every November I do a 21-Day Thankfulness Challenge. You can read the long version here, but this is the basic outline:

• Every day, set aside five minutes to be thankful.
• Devote one minute to each of five categories.
  • Thank God for WHO He is.
  • Thank God for HOW He has been faithful in the past.
  • Thank God for WHAT He has provided.
  • Thank God for WHOM He has put in your life.
  • Thank God for WHERE He will show up in the future.

Thankfulness and rejoicing are transformative. No matter what the uncertainty looks like, we can always find reasons to be thankful.

Reminder 5: Ask.

“Through prayer and petition…” and “…present your requests to God.” Paul is reminding the Philippians to ask. He is reminding us to ask. God is not offended by our asking. God is a good Father. He wants His children to ask.

In the midst of our asking, we must forever be mindful of the goodness of the One we’re asking from, and the perspective He has that we don’t. Yes…He is good. Yes…He sees way, way more than we see. He already knows the outcome of our uncertainty.

We might not like His answers. We might not agree with His timing. But if He is good (which He is), and if He has a grand and eternal perspective (which He does), then our asking opens the door for a peace that surpasses all understanding. And peace is one thing we all long for in the midst of uncertainty.

Reminder 6: Be careful where you dwell.

It always amazes me how tempting it is to endlessly watch the news, scroll social media, or read news articles whenever uncertainty hits. We spend hours and days listening to the same information over and over again.

It’s not a coincidence that Paul – immediately after encouraging them not to worry – shows them where they should focus.

Dwell on these things…whatever is true… honorable… just… pure… lovely… commendable… morally excellent… and praiseworthy.

I don’t know about you, but in the midst of uncertain times, my mind doesn’t naturally go toward the items on this list. My mind goes to the tragedy, the circumstances, and the unknown.

This reminder helps me self-evaluate and “take every thought captive.” (2 Cor. 10:5). As I read this verse, I ask myself, “Are my thoughts true? Are they honorable? Are they pure?”

To “experience” something can just happen. To “dwell” on something takes intentionality. In the midst of uncertainty, you and I need to be intentional about what we put into our minds and where we focus.

Reminder 7: Model others who have handled uncertainty well.

Few people experienced more uncertainty than the Apostle Paul! Traveling for months and years on end. Persecution from all sides. Multiple imprisonments (sometimes with no idea when he’d get out).

He finishes this section with these words…

Do what you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Philippians 4:9

Paul would only encourage them to imitate him if he had experienced what he wanted them to experience – the God of peace.

Do you know someone who always seems to handle adversity well? She always seems to be at peace. He somehow always remains calm. She doesn’t ignore the uncertainty, but also isn’t mastered by it. He is practical, but not paralyzed.

Give them a call. Send them a text. Grab a cup of coffee – even if you need to use Zoom, FaceTime, or Skype. Ask them how they do it. Better yet, ask them what they do in the midst of uncertainty.

My guess is you’ll find practical help and words of encouragement. Figure out what they do and how you can model what they do. Learn from each other.

Oh…and if you’re someone who handles uncertainty pretty well, look for someone who is struggling. Encourage them. Guide them. Pray for them. Uncertainty is much easier to navigate in community.

The post 7 Reminders from Philippians to Help You Find Peace in Uncertain Times appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

This was originally a post on my Facebook Page. I wanted to keep it for a while (after all, I’m feeling nostalgic) so I thought I’d post it here.

It’s been 24 years. March 3, 1996. That was the day a much younger version of myself walked out onto the stage at North Seattle Covenant Church in front of about 150 friends and family.

For the next two hours, I was alone on stage, presenting the Gospel of John for the very first time. Only I wasn’t alone…

God has been preparing the way for a very long time. Preparing my heart. Preparing my mind. Preparing those early churches who would trust their platforms and their people to a young youth pastor with no drama training who felt called to tell the greatest story ever to be told.

I could never have imagined…

I could never have imagined that God would bless me with the opportunity to present Scripture on four different continents, nine different countries, and 40 different states.

I could never have imagined that he would create opportunities for me to speak live to hundreds of thousands of people around the world.

I could never have imagined that he would put seven books in my mind and allow a few of them to be translated into four different languages.

I could never have imagined that he would equip me to write hundreds of blog posts that go out to thousands of people every week.

I could never have imagined that he would bless me so abundantly that something I thought would be a hobby would end up supporting my family.

I could never have imagined that 20 days later I would marry a woman who dreams with me and cheers me on as that dream comes to life.

I could never have imagined that God would bless us with three kids kids who are completely cool with the weirdest schedule a dad could have.

I could never have imagined…

As I walked around my neighborhood this morning pondering the last 24 years, it was only fitting that the words running through my mind were the final words from Ephesians 3…

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

The post I’m Feeling A Little Nostalgic After 24 Years appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

Today is Ash Wednesday. For some Christians, it’s just another day. But for millions of people around the world, today marks the beginning of Lent. When most people think of Lent they think of a time to “give up something” in preparation for Easter. But why? Should Christians still celebrate Lent? Is giving something up the only way to do it? Let’s dive in to answering some of those questions.

Lent: What is it and how did it begin?

Since I was little, I always knew that “Lent is the season leading up to Easter Sunday.” I also heard somewhere along the line that you should “give something up” for Lent.

Not exactly history. (I had to do a little research prepping for this post.)

Some have thought Lent was established by the apostles in the years following Christ’s death, resurrection, and ascension. Officially, nothing was mentioned about Lent until  Irenaeus of Lyons (in  Western Europe) and Tertullian (in Northern Africa) talked about it in the latter part of the 2nd Century. And here’s the kicker: Lent was only 40 hours…not 40 days!

Dionysius (from Alexandria) stretched that out to six days in the 3rd Century. It wasn’t until the Council of Nicea (A.D. 325) that the length was officially locked in at 40 days.

Now, you might be saying, Hold on! Lent starts today. It’s supposed to be 40 days. And Easter is 46 days away. Time for some math lessons!

That has to do with not counting the six Sundays. Easter is also known as Resurrection Sunday. Each Sunday during Lent is a “mini resurrection Sunday” where we celebrate the anticipation of Jesus’s resurrection. That’s also why many who fast – or “give something up” – don’t do so on Sundays during Lent.

So where did “fasting” or “giving something up” come into play? Glad you asked…

The idea is this: During the 40 days leading up to Christ’s death and resurrection, we intentionally take time to remember and experience (in a tiny way by comparison) what He sacrificed and suffered. Not only what Jesus sacrificed on the cross, but also remembering the 40 days where He fasted (and was tempted by Satan) in the desert. These 40 days were in between when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and when He began His public ministry.

Do you know where Lent started? Here’s a brief overview. #Lent
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Lent: What are the three elements of “celebrating Lent?”

While different traditions run the spectrum of how to practice Lent, it usually involves some sort of focus on one, two, or all three of these aspects:

Focus on God: This is typically an addition of some sort of “spiritual discipline.” It could be 10-15 minutes a day of prayer or silence. For others, there’s a daily reading of a devotional specifically around Lenten topics (leading up to the cross and empty tomb).

Focus on Self: This is the most common aspect. It’s about fasting or giving something up. The idea here is doing something that “costs you something.” I’ve heard everything from coffee, to dessert, to TV, to social media, to… When it comes to fasting, most people either fast (don’t eat anything) one day each week or they give up a specific category (or categories) of food. For example, I know a guy from an Eastern Orthodox background and he gives up all dairy and all meat.

Focus on Others: This is the most ignored aspect of Lent. This was originally called “almsgiving.” (The fact that a red, squiggly line showed up under the word “almsgiving” when I typed the last sentence shows how little we use the word!) The idea is taking the money – or time – we save from whatever we give up and either donating it to the poor or using the time to serve someone in need.

3 Elements of Lent: Add something. Subtract something. Serve someone.
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Lent: Should Christians celebrate it?

While I do not have a Catholic or Orthodox background, I have made observing Lent a regular practice each year. Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like more evangelicals are doing the same.

In all transparency, I have most consistently done the “giving up something” part. I have sometimes done the “add something” part. And sadly, I have not done much with the “focus on others” part. Heavy sigh.

While I am not going to list out my specific decisions here (in an attempt to keep comparisons off the table), I will share them with my wife and a couple friends. Not only do I need the accountability, but I think a sense of community in the living out of our faith is hugely important.

Bottom Line: When it comes to what Jesus accomplished through His suffering on the cross and His defeating of death through the resurrection, I think that anything I can do to be reminded on a daily basis to be grateful to Him is time well spent. Lent is a season where I choose to be intentional about it.

Christ suffered immensely and gave generously. I can at least sacrifice and give intentionally.
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The post What is Lent? (And Should Christians Celebrate It?) appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

This post was originally written a few years ago. Since it is in my Top 5 “most shared” posts of all time, I thought I’d update it and re-release it. Enjoy…

Just this morning, as Sarah (my oldest daughter) was getting ready for school, she said, “Do you remember those vanilla ice cream bars they used to sell at Costco? I think my school is now selling them in the lunchroom and I’m going to get one today!”

We can save the conversation about a school selling ice cream for another time. What got me excited was how excited she was about vanilla ice cream. She didn’t want the one dipped in chocolate. No sprinkles. No nuts.

She was excited about vanilla.

But it’s so plain. So ordinary. So…well…vanilla.

Quick Side Note: Here’s a tiny – but amazing – thing that happened. I had already planned to base this post on the verse I’m about to share. I normally block out Monday mornings to write. Due to various circumstances, I didn’t get my writing time Monday morning. As I was pondering this post, I was really struggling with how to start it. The mini-conversation with Sarah about vanilla ice cream bars happened on Tuesday morning.

Before sharing the “one verse,” here’s a quick summary of Acts 3:1-4:12…

• Peter and John heal a crippled beggar.
• Peter and John tell the crowd Jesus actually did the healing.
• The religious people don’t like all this “Jesus talk” and throw Peter and John in jail for the night.
• In the morning they ask Peter and John, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”
• Peter says, “Hmmm…I think I’m going to go with…JESUS!”

Now for one of my favorite verses in the entire Bible – Acts 4:13 (NIV):

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

I love this verse! It is encouraging, challenging, empowering, and a perspective shift – all in two sentences. Whenever I read this verse, it completely resets my approach to reading and studying the Bible.

First…the perspective too many of us have.

Do you feel like you know the Bible well enough? Or…like so many…do you find yourself frequently telling yourself, “I should read the Bible more. I should know it better. I should be more consistent.”?

I meet very few people who don’t find all these “should” statements entering too frequently into their inner conversation. How about you?

Too often, we think that knowledge will lead to boldness. We believe that once we understand the Bible more, God will be able to use us. Once we have taken a Spiritual Gifts Course, or read a few more apologetics books, then we will have enough answers to speak up for Jesus boldly.

Hogwash.

Knowledge alone will never lead to boldness.
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Second…the perspective we need to cultivate.

Do you see the words and phrases used to describe Peter and John?

“ordinary”

“no special training in the Scriptures”

Don’t quote me on this, but I think the original Greek  of the word “ordinary” might be “vanilla.” (wink)

You and I read the Bible and see Peter as a rock or pillar of the early church. We see John as “the one Jesus loved.” We see them as anything but vanilla. But that’s who they were.

Peter and John were regular, ordinary, vanilla guys.

No special training. No educational, financial, or positional clout.

And now the clincher…

Did you notice the last phrase in the verse?

…they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”

And there it is. The focus of it all. Being with Jesus.

You are not going to the Word for “special training.” The purpose isn’t to become extraordinary. After all, Jesus is in the business of using our ordinariness to display His extraordinariness. (BTW – I looked those up and they are real words!)

Jesus is in the business of using our ordinariness to display His extraordinariness.
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You are going to the Word to be with Jesus. To hang out with Him. To get to know Him. To foster the relationship you said “yes” to 40 years ago – or 40 minutes ago.

You’ve heard me say it before (and you’ll hear me say it again many times): God’s desire is for you to study the Bible relationally…not just informationally.

God’s desire is for you to study the Bible relationally…not just informationally.
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Hmmm…that vanilla ice cream bar is starting to sound pretty good…

Is your tendency to read the Bible informationally, or relationally? What is one step you can take to develop a more relational mindset?

The post 1 Verse That Will Change Your Whole Perspective On Why You Read Your Bible appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

Have you ever looked at someone else’s resume and thought, There’s no way God can use me?

Comparing yourself (which is always a bad idea by the way) will have you completely focused on his brains, her skills, his looks, her ability, his connections, her opportunity, his luck…

When you compare your flaws to someone else’s strengths – at least the ones they’ll let you see – you will always come up thinking God can’t, won’t, or shouldn’t use you. But hear this clearly, my friend…

Your flaws are not your identity. Your flaws don’t define you. God does. He looks at you and says, “Yup. Just the way I like it.”

A while back, a pastor I know shared a list that starts to put all this in perspective a bit. I have added a few myself.

If God can use these people He can certainly use you and me.

After all…

1. Noah was a drunk
2. Abraham was too old
3. Isaac was a daydreamer
4. Jacob was a liar
5. Leah was ugly
6. Joseph was abused
7. Moses had a stuttering problem
8. Gideon was afraid
9. Samson had long hair and was a womanizer
10. Rahab was a prostitute
11. Jeremiah was too young
12. David was an adulterer (not to mention a murderer)
13. Elijah was suicidal
14. Isaiah preached naked
15. Jonah ran from God
16. Naomi was a widow
17. Job went bankrupt
18. John the Baptist ate bugs
19. Andrew lived in the shadow of his big brother
20. Peter denied Christ
21. All the disciples fell asleep while praying (and ran away when Jesus really needed them.)
22. Martha worried about everything
23. The Samaritan woman was divorced (more than once)
24. Mary Magdalene was demon-possessed
25. Zaccheus was too small
26. Timothy had an ulcer
27. Paul was a Christian-killer
28. Oh…and Lazarus was dead

Hmmm…I think God can use you…and me…and him…and her…

The post 28 Proofs That God Can Use You appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

STOP!!!!

This is the RBRT for last year! 

Go to the 2021 RBRT

Are you ready? Did you do it with me last year? Have you been saying “Next year” for the last several years? If so, join me for Rapid Bible Read Thru 2020! For the last several years, over 200 people from around the world joined me in this life-changing adventure. This year…I’d love for YOU to be one of them!

I’m only asking for 4-6 months. That’s it. Winter and Spring.

• In less than six months you will know the Bible better than ever before.
• In less than six months you will enjoy the Bible more than you thought possible.
• In less than six months you will make new friends from around the world (and maybe in your own community).

I have taken my whole process of why to do a RBRT, how to do it, and how to host it and put it into a book. You can read reviews or buy a copy on Amazon (or get bulk discounts at my online store)

You don’t have to take my word for it. Here are a few responses from some of the folks who have joined me in years past…

These past few months have been an incredible journey! God is speaking to me like he hasn’t in a long time. I am excited for the future like never before.”

I’m convinced this is the best way to read the Bible.”

I’m doing it for the third time. Reading in big chunks enables me to see the big picture. I recommend it to people all the time!”

It was truly an exhilarating experience to fall in love with our creator in a more intimate manner!”

The RBRT helped to encourage and motivate me to stay on even when I felt I couldn’t meet the deadline.  Reading the Bible is so exciting and it is so good to do it regularly.  And doing it together with so many other people from different corners of the world with different backgrounds, just reminded me how much our God loves us and how much I want to love Him better!”

Although reading through the whole Bible sounds daunting, it’s much simpler than you’d think.”

I did the 4-month Rapid Bible Read Thru to challenge myself to read a larger volume of Scripture, to try reading chronologically and above all to grow in my relationship with God.  It’s been way beyond my expectations and I can hardly believe that I’m almost done. A challenge worth taking!”

I’ve been a Christian nearly my entire life and have always studied the Bible, but this challenge has changed me! I feel like I understand God on a whole new level. It’s like the blinders have been lifted off my eyes and I see God with a new perspective and hear Him with a new heart.”

If you HAVE done the Rapid Bible Read Thru before – here are the links to…

Join the Private Facebook Group!

Download Your FREE Chronological Reading Plan

If you HAVEN’T done the Rapid Bible Read Thru before – check out this short, video. (I made it last year, but other than the fact that this is the 11th annual instead of the 10th, everything still applies!)

Are you in? Here are the links you need…

Join the Private Facebook Group

Download Your Chronological Reading Plan

The top 3 questions about the Rapid Bible Read Thru (and more info about some of the links).

1. Why and How did you start doing the Rapid Bible Read Thru?

It all started in 2009 when someone who took my How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible Workshop sent me an email with a link to  this article by Ron Frost. He writes of meeting a retired missionary who had read the Bible 2-3 times a year for several decades.

Now Ron – a former professor at Multnomah University in Portland, OR – has done the same thing for close to 50 years!

We connected over email, then sat down for lunch one time when he was passing through Seattle. After ignoring the prodding for a few months, I finally did my first Rapid Bible Read Thru with five other guys to kick off 2010. I’ve now done it every year since. Life changing!

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I’m doing a Rapid Bible Read Thru with @KeithFerrin. Want to join me? www.keithferrin.com/brt2020
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2. What is a Rapid Bible Read Thru?

There are only three parameters and they’re quite simple:

1. Read the Whole Bible in 4-6 Months. – This may sound like a lot, but it boils down to between 30-50 minutes a day. (See Question #3 for more on this.)
2. Read with a Pen in Your Hand. – You’ll want to jot down the conversations you have with God as you read. This can be in your Bible, in a journal, or using a note-taking app. My favorite is OneNote. Other people prefer Evernote. (Both are free and keep everything synced across your computer, tablet, and smartphone.)
3. Talk About It. – This is not optional! You need the accountability. (So do your buddies.) You will have more fun. You will learn and grow more than you could ever do on your own. (In case you’re interested, I did an entire podcast episode on this very topic. You can check it out here.)

3. What sort of time commitment will this take?

Most people think it’s going to take hours every day. (Not true.) Here’s the super-simple math: The average audio Bible is about 72 hours. 72 x 60 = 4320 (minutes). There are 120 days in January through April. Divide 4320 by 120 and the end result is 36 minutes each day. If you allow some time for jotting a few notes, getting up to grab a second cup of coffee, or simply to pause and ponder, you’re looking at somewhere between 40-55 minutes. BTW…If you’re going for 5 months, you’re looking at 29 minutes. If you’re committing to 6 months, you’re down to only 24 minutes. Totally doable!

• A Suggestion: Begin by setting aside 10-15 minutes longer than you “need” to in the beginning. (50-60 minutes for 4 months, 40-45 minutes for 5 months, and 35 minutes or so for 6 months.) You’ll be setting yourself up for success, and you will always be ahead. When you get sick, have a crazy busy day, or attend an all-day basketball tournament for your kids, you won’t fall behind.
• A Warning: Do NOT divide it up into 10 chapters a day! Your mindset will be all wrong. You’ll see it as “getting through” 9, 8, 7 more chapters. If you set aside an amount of TIME – rather than an amount of CONTENT – you will be more present with God in His Word.

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I’m doing a Rapid Bible Read Thru with @KeithFerrin. Want to join me? www.keithferrin.com/brt2020
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Free Chronological Reading Plan

You may or may not know this, but the Bible is not written in chronological order. In general, it is, but not entirely. Some events are told a few times. Others only once. Some books cover a long amount of time. Others are a deeper dive into a shorter time period.

Reading the Bible in the order the events actually occurred is super helpful.

I have put together this short eBook outlining every chapter in the Bible chronologically. You will find a deeper overview of this process in the opening pages.

Download Your FREE Chronological Reading Plan

For me, it’s helpful to simply print the two pages with the chapter breakdowns and tuck it in my Bible. Feel free to print it, copy it…or ignore it.

Wahoo! Let’s go!

The post You’re Invited to Rapid Bible Read Thru 2020! appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

Lots of people make New Year’s Resolutions…or goals…or plans-of-attack…or fresh starts. Whatever you call it, for Christians at least, “Bible reading” is typically somewhere on the list. Is time in God’s Word on your list? Do you have a plan? (Hint: You need one!)

My desire is to help you start well…so you can sustain a vibrant time with God all year long (ahem…and longer). That’s why I’m hosting a FREE webinar. There are three live options, so pick the one that works for you.

These are some of the questions I’ll answer…

1. Is it really possible to enjoy the Bible?
2. How do I keep my mind from wandering?
3. Why can’t I remember what I read (and how do I fix that)?
4. What is my routine for the entire year? (Hint: I don’t do the same thing every month.)
5. What translation do you recommend?
6. What if I have tried year after year and NEVER been consistent? (This is a biggie!)

Are you in?

Could your Bible reading use a transformation in 2020? This FREE webinar is just what you need.
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If at all possible…ATTEND LIVE AND IN-PERSON(so you can get your questions answered right away). That said…I want you to be able to see the webinar even if you’re not available for one of the live sessions.

There WILL be a recorded replay (for 72 hours). The replay link will be sent automatically to everyone who registers – whether you attend live or not. That way, you can still watch it …or you can watch it again if you didn’t catch everything the first time.

By the way, once you register you’ll be able to submit your specific question right from the “You’re Registered” page.

Can I ask one small 30-second favor? Will you help me spread the word over the next few days? Click one of the links at the top (or bottom) of this post to share it on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Thanks! I can’t wait to see you next week and help YOU transform your Bible reading!

The post Transform Your Bible Reading in 2020 (Free Webinar!) appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

The post The 2019 Thankfulness Challenge – Week 3 appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

The post The 2019 Thankfulness Challenge – Week 2 appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

I look forward to November every year. More specifically, I look forward to the 21-Day Thankfulness Challenge. 21 days. 5 Minutes. 5 Categories. Are you going to join me this year!

FREE Printable templates with all 21 Thankfulness Scriptures!

For the last couple years, we offered printable Scripture cards! People told us they liked them…so we decided to do it again (and give them away for free).

There are three sizes:

1. A PDF file with all 21 images as printable POSTCARDS.
2. A PDF file with all 21 images as printable BUSINESS CARDS.
3. All 21 images as printable 4″x6″ photos.

NOTE: As I have done in the past, I have included the first seven images at the bottom of this post and will include seven images each week. You can certainly save these and use them however you wish. I will also be sharing one each day on my Facebook Page. The easiest way to share them is to like my page and share them right from your news feed.

In case you’re new the 21 Day Thankfulness Challenge…

I first had the idea for the challenge a few years ago. Honestly, the idea came during a time when it was difficult to be thankful. In fact, all you have to do is look at the news to find reasons to not be thankful. That’s when I had this thought…

We should all take this thankfulness challenge not because we want to do it. We should take the challenge because we need to do it.”

When I look at much of what’s happening in my city, my country, and around the world, I don’t feel thankful. There are many, many things that are not “thankfulness-worthy.”

You know. Things like…

• Another divisive, negative election season.
• Another devastating natural disaster.
• Another shooting.
• Another piece of bad medical news.

Heavy sigh.

I want to complain. I don’t want to be thankful.

That’s why I’m doing this. That’s why I need this thankfulness challenge. Will you join me?

The challenge is simple.

Step 1: Commit to five minutes every day for the next three weeks. (In case you’re not looking at a calendar, that’ll take you to Thanksgiving morning.)

Step 2: Spend one minute being thankful in each of five categories. (More on that a few inches down.)

Step 3: Share something you are thankful for (that God brought to mind during your five minutes) on my Facebook Page in the comments below the daily Thankfulness Scripture Picture – or with a friend who is also doing the challenge. BTW…When you share on Twitter or Facebook, would you use #ThankfulnessChallenge so I can follow along? Thanks.

That’s it. Not complicated. But so necessary.

5 Types of Thankfulness for One Minute Each

Thank God for WHO He is.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!” Psalm 118:1 NLT

When was the last time you simply thanked God for who He is? For being…well…God.

Take one minute to focus on one characteristic of God. Or maybe spend a minute listing as many of God’s amazing attributes as you can.

Thank God for HOW He has been faithful.

“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.” Psalm 9:1 NIV

I forget so quickly. God has done so many amazing things in my life over the last four decades. My tendency is to forget the many things He has done, and focus only on what He’s not doing right now that I think He should be doing.

Ugh.

For all their flaws, the Israelites did a pretty good job of setting aside times specifically to remember. Most of the times they messed up, it was when they weren’t doing this. In fact, many of the Psalms are poems of gratitude for what God has done. (For starters, check out these Psalms: 26, 28, 56, 75, 100, 105, 106, 107, and 118.)

Thank God for WHAT He has provided.

“…always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:20 NIV

A while back, I was chatting over coffee with a good friend. He and I got to talking about how we live in a “Culture of More.” We always think we need more. More stuff. Even when we know we don’t need more…we want more.

I don’t spend enough time thanking God for what I already have. Being grateful for the abundance of “stuff” (both necessary stuff and just-for-fun stuff).

Never is the “Culture of More” shouting more loudly than November and December. Spending even one minute every day being grateful for what we already have is probably a pretty good idea.

Thank God for WHOM He has put in your life.

“We always thank God for all of you and pray for you constantly.” I Thessalonians 1:2 NLT

My single-most favorite characteristic about the Apostle Paul is how much he tells people he is thankful for them. He doesn’t stop at telling them he’s thankful. He tells them he’s praying for them. And he tells them exactly how he’s praying for them. How cool is that?

When was the last time you took an inventory of the people you’re thankful for? Past and present. The people God has used to shape you, encourage you, challenge you, comfort you, and inspire you.

Now (and this part will take more than a minute), what would happen if you actually wrote a letter where the first line was “I thank my God every time I remember you…”?(Philippians 1:3)

Go ahead. Write at least one of those this month. I triple-dog-dare you! (Extra points if you put that movie reference in the comments below.)

Thank God for WHERE He will show up in the future.

Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:20-21 NIV

Do you ever thank God in advance for what He’s going to do? My tendency is to thank Him for what He’s done, but only ask Him to do something in the future.

If He’s not bound by time (which He isn’t)

…and He can do anything (which He can)

…and He is good (which He is)

…and He always works for what is ultimately best for us (which He does)

…then doesn’t it seem like the most right and natural thing is for us to thank Him in advance for whatever He is going to do?

This Week’s Scripture Pics

5 Minutes. 5 Categories. 3 Weeks. God is worthy (and we both need it)!

The post Join the 5th Annual 21-Day Thankfulness Challenge! appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

We’ve spent the last three weeks looking at WHY you would want to internalize the Bible, HOW to internalize large portions, and what NOT to do when you internalize. Today is our last stop on the internalizing journey. Lists and details. How do we memorize them? I have three techniques that will make this much more doable than you think.

Technique 1: Look for Patterns

Your brain loves patterns. Associations. Repetitions. Look for them!

I have seen times when words right after each other start with the same letter. Other times, the items in a list happen to be in alphabetical order (or reverse-alphabetical). I have even found a few times where consecutive items on a list rhyme.

Whatever the pattern…pause and take notice. Making a mental note of it will help you remember it.

Technique 2: Form “chunks” of 2 or 3

For this one – and the next – I’m going to use Philippians 4:8 as our example…

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

(Phil 4:8, NIV, emphasis mine)

When I was first internalizing Philippians, I had the hardest time remembering all eight of the highlighted items in the verse above. Sometimes I would leave out one or two. Other times, I would get them out of order.

Finally, I tried a technique called “chunking.” Chunking is when you put details into “chunks” of two or three items. I won’t go into all the reasons, but you don’t want your chunk to be more than three items.

So…I reframed the way I looked at Philippians 4:8 so that true-noble-right was one chunk. Pure-lovely-admirable was a second chunk. Excellent-praiseworthy was the third chunk.

The result was I was now trying to internalize only three items instead of eight. It was shocking how fast – and lasting – the difference was!

Technique 3: Turn the first letter of each item into a sentence.

Read this sentence out loud three times.

The New Royal Prince Loves An Excellent Princess.”

Now close your eyes and see if you can say it again. Did you get it? (Yup. I thought so.)

As I mentioned earlier, when you try to memorize anything, your brain loves patterns. Each of the words in the above sentence starts with the same letter of one of the items in the list you find in Philippians 4:8.

• The = True
• New = Noble
• Royal = Right
• Prince = Pure
• Loves = Lovely
• An = Admirable
• Excellent = Excellent (See how tricky I got with that one?!)
• Princess = Praiseworthy

If you read Philippians 4:8 10-20 times and then say the “prince and princess” sentence 2-5 times, you’ll create a “trigger” that will help you memorize all eight items…and keep them in order!

Write your own sentence based on the wording of your favorite translation.

For example, I have recently started internalizing using the Christian Standard Bible®. (You can find out about my five favorite translations right here.) In the CSB, Philippians 4:8 reads like this…

Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable ​— ​if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy ​— ​dwell on these things.”

Philippians 4:8 (CSB)

Obviously, the previous sentence wouldn’t work for internalizing the CSB. But this would…

The Hesitant Joker Performed Last, Confusing Most Every Person.”

Notice how the sentence has nothing to do with the topic. This is actually on purpose. While our brains love patterns as we memorize, what they don’t love is things that are “slightly off” from one another.

If you try to get close to the meaning, your brain will overlap the two – creating confusion. If you have something completely unrelated, your brain will focus on the pattern (which is exactly what you want).

Patterns, chunks, and sentences. Oh my! Which one are you going to try first?

The post 3 Techniques for Memorizing Lists in the Bible appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

In the last two weeks, I have taken time to lay out the benefits of internalizing the Bible and the general “how-to” guidelines for internalizing verses, whole chapters, and whole books. Several years ago, when I wrote Falling in Love with God’s Word, I included an entire chapter on what not to do when internalizing. Rather than paraphrase it, I thought I’d just give you the whole chapter (so you can avoid the mistakes I made when I first started internalizing).

NOTE: The rest of this post originally appeared in the chapter “Is There Anything I Shouldn’t Do When I Am Internalizing Scripture?” in my book Falling in Love with God’s Word.

I have spent most of this book encouraging you to incorporate various practices that will integrate Scripture Internalization into your study of the Bible. There are, however three “don’ts” of Scripture Internalization.

Don’t forget the message.

Sometimes it is easy to become so focused on getting the words in the right order, that we forget the point of the passage.

Always remember: The goal is to know the Word, not just the words.”

It is vitally important to work at keeping the message fresh.

One way to accomplish this is to keep the emotion in the passage as you internalize. Continue to read out loud, and see and hear the characters speaking and interacting. It is very easy to bear down on the words and allow them to become void of emotion. Avoid this at all costs!

The more alive the Living Word is to you, the easier it will be to remember the words.

Another tool for keeping the message fresh is to make sure that every week or so you take a break from the detail-oriented nature of Scripture Internalization (and Finish Work for that matter) and spend a day going back to Foundational Reading. Taking a day away from the process of internalization to simply enjoy the story or letter makes it much easier to internalize when you come back to it the following day.

Don’t worry about chapter/verse breakdowns until after you know the words.

First of all, you need to decide if knowing the chapter and verse references is important to you. I have decided that knowing the chapter where I can find a verse is important, but knowing all the specific verse references is less important. If someone wants to know where to find the story of “Jesus Feeding 5000 People” or “The Death and Resurrection of Lazarus,” I want to be able to point them to John 6 and John 11. I find it less crucial to say, “John 6:1-15 and John 11:1-44.”

I do know several people however who find it extremely important to know the verses as well as the chapters. You simply need to decide how specific you want to get. Whichever you choose, the most important thing is to internalize in the correct order:

Overall message…
Then individual stories/thoughts…
Then paragraphs…
Then verses.

If you follow this pattern – which is built into this entire Bible study process – you will find that knowing the chapters simply comes with moving through Foundation, Framing, and Finish Work. Learning the verse references will need to be an extra step you add on if you deem that to be important.

Don’t try to internalize something you do not know.

Now, this might seem obvious if you are weaving Scripture Internalization into your study of an entire book. However, there may be times when you want to learn an individual verse or paragraph that has special meaning for you. My encouragement at times like these is to make sure you spend some time familiarizing yourself with the surrounding context.

Let’s say you want to learn II Peter 1:3-4:

HIS DIVINE POWER HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR LIFE AND GODLINESS THROUGH OUR KNOWLEDGE OF HIM WHO CALLED US BY HIS OWN GLORY AND GOODNESS. THROUGH THESE HE HAS GIVEN US HIS VERY GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES, SO THAT THROUGH THEM YOU MAY PARTICIPATE IN THE DIVINE NATURE AND ESCAPE THE CORRUPTION IN THE WORLD CAUSED BY EVIL DESIRES.”

Before learning these verses, it will be extremely helpful for you to take even a few days and apply the Foundational Reading techniques to II Peter. As you become a bit more familiar with the letter, you will find that even these two verses hold greater meaning for you because you know the context in which they were written.

Who knows? You might even find yourself making II Peter the next book you choose to study and internalize!

The post 3 Mistakes to Avoid When Internalizing the Bible appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

Think of something you’ve “memorized” without really trying. Movie lines? Song lyrics? Recipes? Now, let me ask you – How did you do it? Maybe a more telling question is – How did you not do it? You did not memorize a movie line without watching the movie first. You did not memorize a line in a song without first listening to the song. You did not memorize a recipe one ingredient at a time.

Whether we’re talking about lines from a movie, lyrics to a song, or ingredients and steps to a recipe – you didn’t start with memorizing. You started with internalizing. You started with knowing it, understanding it, even loving it! When you apply the same mindset and approach to the Bible you – yes, YOU! – will be able to remember way more verses, chapters, and whole books than you ever thought possible.

DISCLAIMER: This one blog post isn’t meant to be a book. It’s a blog post. I have written entire books on my approach to reading, enjoying, studying, and internalizing the Bible. After reading this post, if you’re interested in more, I would recommend starting with this book, then move on to this book. And if you’re a video person, I’ve put the entire method together into a series called Relational Bible Study. You can check that out here.

Today we’re going to look at the five guidelines that will help you internalize and memorize one Bible verse…or one hundred! These are the same guidelines I have used to internalize more than ten entire books of the Bible over the last 25 years.

If you stuggle to memorize the Bible, read this post!
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Guideline 1: Learn the Story First.

This was one of the first pieces of advice I received from Bruce Kuhn – the very first person I had ever seen “present” an entire book of the Bible from memory. I was so moved by his performance, I took him to lunch the next day. Of course, I asked him How in the world do you memorize that much of the Bible?!

He simply said this,

Memorize the story first. Then use the words on the page to tell the story.”

The way I have frequently put it is this,

Read the passage over and over until you can say it in your own words. Once you can say it in your own words, learning the words on the page is nowhere near as difficult.”

Our brains learn a story at a time, not a word (or verse) at a time. Think of it this way…the Gospel of John has 879 verses. Memorizing 879 verses is brutally hard. Internalizing 35-40 stories is way easier!

Guideline 2: Repeat to Remember. Remember to Repeat.

Have you heard this phrase before?

Repetitio mater studiorum est.”

What? You don’t speak Latin? Hmmm…maybe you’ve heard her English counterpart…

Repetition is the mother of all learning.”

The beauty of repetition is that repetition works. What we repeat, we remember. In John Medina’s fantastic book – Brain Rules – his chapters on short-term memory and long-term memory each have a subtitle. Add them together and you have this guideline: Repeat to remember. Remember to repeat.

Here’s the bullet-point version:

• If you want to learn something  you need to repeat it.
• When you repeat it, it will start to stick.
• The more you repeat it the stronger the memory will become.
• The more you repeat it with emotion and visualization the more it will become part of your longer term memory.
• The more consistent you are with the timing and spacing intervals of your repetition, the more the memory will be cemented into your mind.

People ask me if I still have to review the books I have internalized. The simple answer is…Yes. The slightly longer answer is…Yes, and that’s awesome. After all, my goal is not to get to the point where I don’t have to read or meditate on the Bible. The more I internalize, the more I enjoy returning to God’s Word again and again.

You can remember Guidelines 1 and 2 by reading – and rereading – this phrase:

Our brains learn in the context of story by the process of repetition.
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Guideline 3: Use a Physical Bible.

Our brains love associations. We remember where we were when certain events happened. We remember what significant people were wearing or what we were doing when we met them.

When it comes to internalizing the Bible, the visual association of using a physical Bible can’t be overstated. The powerful impact of reading large portions of the Bible in a physical Bible will drastically speed up the process of internalization, as well as getting it to “stick” longer.

Simply Put: John 5 will always start on the same page in the same part of the same column in a physical Bible. John 5 will move up, down, or across your screen if you use a digital Bible or app.

If you want to internalize the Bible more quickly – and remember it long-term – use a physical Bible.

Guideline 4: Speak Up!

We remember a little bit of what we see. We remember a little more of what we hear. We remember much more of what we see and hear at the same time. This is true, even if what you hear is the sound of your own voice.

Reading what you want to internalize out loud will be one more way your brain will make connections and establish memories. This can be a combination of a few different “out loud” formats.

One: When you’re internalizing, read out loud (with emotion).

Two: Occasionally, read your physical Bible while listening to an audio Bible of the same translation. (NOTE: If you’re internalizing the Christian Standard Bible – my go-to translation – you can check out my audio Bible at www.StorytellerBible.com. Otherwise, there are lots of good audio Bibles in almost every translation built into the YouVersion Bible app.)

Three: When you’re driving, instead of cranking the stereo, put on an audio Bible. You can buy CDs or stream from an app. There are simple versions, dramatic versions, free versions, and paid versions. Mix it up to keep it interesting. If you apply Guideline 2 (repeat), you’ll find yourself talking along after a while.

Quick Story: I once returned to speak at a church a year after I had spoken the first time. A man came up extremely excited and said, “Last time you were here, I bought your CDs. My commute is 30 minutes. The book of Romans is just under an hour. I would listen to half on the way to work and half on the way home. After a couple months I was talking along with you. I can’t believe I know the entire book of Romans!”

Guideline 5: Review at Different Speeds (for Different Reasons).

At the end of Guideline 2, I mentioned the need to repeat. I wanted to specifically call out how to repeat – or review – what you’re internalizing. I review what I’m internalizing at three different speeds. Each speed has a different purpose.

Fast…for Fluidity

When I have something down pretty well, I will practice at a very fast speed. Reviewing a passage of Scripture really fast will help the words simply flow out. It will show you whether you have it down or not. You will quickly be able to identify the parts that need more concentrated work, because you will have to slow down or pause. Fast review will also enable the other two speeds – Medium and Slow.

Medium…for the Message

When you review at a medium speed, you will be able to ponder the overall message, feel, and flow of the passage. You will make connections between verses that are separated by other verses (or even a few paragraphs). You will be reinforcing your memory as well as feeling more and more like you’re in a conversation with the Author. (That’s fun. Really fun.)

Slow…for Specifics

This does not have to be done sitting in a chair with your eyes closed. (Although that’s fantastic if you can!) However, sometimes I will take the time spent walking to get my daughter from school, a short car ride, or the few minutes I’m in the shower to slowly review a passage I am internalizing. I will ponder – and pray through – each sentence, phrase, or word. I will give myself permission to pause. To listen. To be still. To notice. To simply be present with God as I slowly meditate on His Word.

All three speeds will reinforce your internalization. They will also contribute to your relationship with God. And if you’ve known me very long, you know I believe God meant for His Word to be read and studied relationally…not informationally.

In the next two blog posts we will look at what not to do as well as specific help for lists and details. For now, grab your physical Bible and read a big chunk of it. Out loud. Then do it again. (wink)

The post How to Internalize – Not Just Memorize! – Large Portions of the Bible appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

This post is Part 1 of a 4-part series on internalization. In case you don’t know what I mean by “internalization,” I use that word instead of “memorization,” because the goal should be to know the Word, not just the words. (wink) Today we’re going to look at the benefits of internalization. After all, there’s no point in jumping into the “how” until you’re convinced of the “why.”

I recently read through the Bible Savvy series by Pastor James Nicodem. One section of one of the four books lays out a few benefits of internalizing. While I’ve been talking about these for a long time, he has put them much more clearly and simply than I have, so here you go…

Internalization Makes the Bible Portable.

When I think of internalization, my mind always goes back to the first chapter of Joshua. Here’s the scene: The Israelites have spent four decades wandering through the desert. Moses has died and the leadership mantle has been passed to Joshua. The people are on the edge of the Jordan river. They are about to cross over and finally – finally! – settle in the Promised Land. First stop – Jericho!

You can think of Joshua 1 as the pre-game pep talk. Check it out…

After the death of Moses the Lord’s servant, the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’s assistant: “Moses my servant is dead. Now you and all the people prepare to cross over the Jordan to the land I am giving the Israelites. I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised Moses. Your territory will be from the wilderness and Lebanon to the great river, the Euphrates River—all the land of the Hittites—and west to the Mediterranean Sea. No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or abandon you.”

“Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance. (…) For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. Haven’t I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:1-9, CSB, emphasis mine)

Ra. Ra. Raaaaa! Now that’s a pep talk!!

I have a confession. I left out two verses. They go right where the “…” is in the second paragraph. Here they are…

Above all, be strong and very courageous to observe carefully the whole instruction my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. (Joshua 1:7-8, CSB, emphasis mine)

Now let me ask you something. Is it even possible to carefully observe everything written in something you don’t know? Ouch.

How can we carefully observe what is written in the Bible if we don’t know it?
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If we don’t internalize the Bible, how will we meditate on it all day long? How will we carefully observe what is written in it?

I don’t know about you, but during my Bible reading is not the most difficult time for me to live out what I’m reading. It’s later in the day, when I’m out in the world, dealing with people! That’s when I need God’s Word on my mind.

I need it to be portable. Internalization is the only way I know how to do that.

Internalization Makes the Bible Preventive.

It’s always a good idea to stop sin before it starts. Check out these verses:

But each person is tempted when he is drawn away and enticed by his own evil desire. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is fully grown, it gives birth to death.” (James 1:14-15, CSB)

How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping your word.” (Psalm 119:9, CSB)

I have treasured your word in my heart so that I may not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11, CSB)

Internalizing God’s Word helps us stop sin before it starts. Or at least before it grows! When we internalize passages of Scripture, the Holy Spirit can bring them to our minds whenever He wants to.

When you are unsure of what to do next, it’s helpful to be reminded of this truth from James 1: Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.

Or when your mind is drifting toward temptation, you might need this reminder from Philippians 4: Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy—dwell on these things. 

Or when you feel beaten down or alone, these words from Psalm 56 could flood your mind: This I know: God is for me.

Internalization Makes the Bible Productive.

Early on in my “internalization journey” a friend of mine encouraged me to internalize II Timothy. I am forever grateful. The last few verses of chapter three frequently come to mind…

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:14-17, CSB, emphasis mine)

As I came to these verses in my studying, I felt God ask me this question: Ok Keith, are you wise for salvation or are you happy being a dumb Christian?

Yikes!

My heart’s desire is to be wise for salvation. To be productive. To bear fruit. To be equipped, and to put my “equipped-ness” into action. The more our minds and hearts are soaking in God’s Word, the more productive we will be in our efforts to live a life that glorifies Him by serving all His children.

• Internalization Makes the Bible Portable.
• Internalization Makes the Bible Preventive.
• Internalization Makes the Bible Productive.

My hope and prayer is that you’ve been convinced of the benefits of internalizing the Bible. In the next few posts, we’ll move from benefits to how-to.

The post 3 Benefits of Internalizing the Bible appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

“What is the best Bible for my child?” I can’t tell you how many times I get this question every year. Today I’m going to answer it for you…no matter how old your child is.

To make sure this list is thorough and up-to-date, I asked two groups of experts before I wrote a single sentence. First…I asked two Facebook groups filled with people who work, volunteer, and serve in Family Ministry. Second…I emailed the publishers of the four most popular translations – NIV (Zondervan/Harper Collins), ESV (Crossway), NLT (Tyndale), and CSB (LifeWay/B&H). (NOTE: This post won’t go into which translation I prefer. If you’re interested in my favorite translations, you’ll want to check out this post.)

So…This is going to be a looooong post. To make it a little easier to navigate, here’s what you’ll find:

• A clickable Table of Contents right below this paragraph. Find the age of your child – or children – and you’ll find a list of Bibles to check out.
• The first listings in each age group are the recommendations I received directly from the publishers.
• All of the recommendations from Family Ministry professionals and volunteers are in alphabetical order for each age group.
• Every Bible is linked to it’s Amazon page so you can read deeper descriptions and reviews.

Table of Contents

• The Best Bibles for Preschoolers (Ages 0-6)
• The Best Bible for Early Elementary Kids (Ages 7-10)
• The Best Bible for Tweens
• The Best Bible for Teenagers

The Best Bibles for Preschoolers (Ages 0-6)

Publisher Recommendations

• CSB Easy for Me Bible for Early Readers
• CSB Great and Small Bible: A Keepsake Bible for Babies
• ESV Holy Bible for Kids
• NIV Tiny Testament Bible: New Testament
• NLT My Story Bible
• NLT Family-Time Bible in Pictures

Family Ministry Recommendations

• The Beginner’s Bible
• The Big Picture Interactive Bible Storybook: Connecting Christ Throughout God’s Story
• The Candle Bible for Toddlers
• The Candle Bible for Kids
• Day-By-Day Begin to Read Bible
• The Jesus Storybook Bible – The link will take you to the version with the book and CD. You can get it without the CD, but the narrator is so good, I highly recommend it for listening in the car.
• The Preschooler’s Bible
• The Story for Children: A Storybook Bible
• The Story for Little Ones: Discover the Bible in Pictures
• Treasury of Bible Stories

The post The Best Bible For Your Child (The Complete Age-Leveled Guide for 2019-20) appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

Over the last couple weeks, I have given you two different challenges. We started off with The 5-Minute Pay Attention Challenge. Last week was The One-Week Daily Reading Challenge. Today we’re going to finish off “Challenge Month” with The Daily Verse Challenge.

This one might be the simplest of all.

Here are the ultra-complicated parameters (wink, wink):

1. Pick seven verses from one book or on one topic. (More on that a few inches down the post.)
2. Pick one of those verses per day.
3. Focus on it several times per day.

I told you it was complicated.

Some ideas for what verses to focus on.

Ideally, I think it would be fantastic if you chose seven verses from the reading you did last week (if you took The Daily Reading Challenge). Otherwise, here are three other ideas for you:

• Slowly read a short book of the Bible. Write down the verses that stand out to you. Whittle that list down to seven. (Or turn this into a 14-day challenge.)
• Use seven of the verses from this post: 13 Verses You Probably Missed Last Time You Read Philippians
• Go to this page on Bible Study Tools and pick one of the topics. There are lots to choose from.

Some ideas to help you focus on your daily verse.

You don’t need to do all of these. But you’re an over-achiever, so go ahead!

• Set a timer to read it first thing in the morning, twice during the day, and last thing before you go to bed.
• As a natural reminder, read the verse each time you eat a meal.
• Write the daily verse on a notecard and tape it to your mirror (or dashboard, or fridge, or computer monitor).
• Internalize the verse by reading it out loud for five minutes straight in the morning…and then say it several times throughout your day.
• Read it as a family…or couple…or with a friend.
• Give your seven verses to a friend or family member and ask them to text it to you randomly a couple times during the day.

What verses are you going to pick?

The post The Daily Verse Challenge appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

Most people struggle with reading the Bible consistently. If you already have a regular, life-giving time in the Word each day, feel free to check out one of the other posts on this blog. (Or better yet, forward this post to someone who could benefit!) However, if you’re like 90% of the Christians I meet who struggle with this, keep reading.

Any habit starts with small steps and small wins. Our brains are wired to experience something positive, then do it again. The more times we succeed, the more we’ll try. The more we try, the more we’ll add on to the positive experiences and grow. Small positive “wins” lead to consistent positive habits.

Any habit starts with small steps and small wins. Positive wins lead to consistent habits.
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This week’s challenge is intentionally small. My goal is to give you something you can do, so it will be something you will do. When you succeed, my hope is you will repeat the challenge next week. Once you succeed for two weeks…well…you get the idea…

The Daily Reading Challenge

1. Look at your calendar and pick a specific time every day where you can block out 15-30 minutes. Picking the same time every day will be huge in making this successful for you.
2. Read the Bible (and nothing else) for 15-30 minutes. I’ll give you a few ideas of what to read below.
3. Tell someone you’re doing it. There’s something powerful about saying it out loud. Better yet…have someone join you!

The Daily Reading Options

Option 1: Pick a Gospel (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John). Start at the beginning and set a timer for 15-30 minutes. (This is helpful so you don’t keep looking at the clock.) When the timer goes off, finish the chapter you’re in and put a bookmark in it. Pick up where you left off the next day. When you finish the gospel, move on to the next gospel OR start over and reread the one you just finished.

Option 2: Soak in Ephesians. Ephesians 1-3 is 100% about identity. There’s nothing to “do.” Paul is simply reminding the Ephesians (and us) who they are, who God is, and what God has done for them. Ephesians 4-6 is all about what our lives should look like if we believe who we are. The whole book will take about 20 minutes to read – if you’re reading out loud at a normal rate of speed. If you’re only committing to 15 minutes, then focus your entire week on reading the first three chapters.

Option 3: A Different Letter Every Day. Take a different epistle (a fancy-schmancy word for “letter”) and read one each day. Here are the ones I recommend: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Peter, 2 Timothy, and 1 John.

Option 4: The Early Christians. This is basically the same as Option 1, but you’re going to entirely focus on the book of Acts. This comes right after the Gospel of John. It was written by Luke and walks through what happens in the lives of early Christians for the first 2-3 decades after Jesus’s earthly ministry.

Option 5: How It All Began. This one is for those of you willing to commit to either a bit more time during the seven days or you’re committing from the start to go for two weeks. This option is the same as Options 1 and 4, but you’ll focus on Genesis (the first book of the Bible). Reading out loud at a normal rate of speed, Genesis will take about four hours. So…you’ll either need to commit to a couple weeks or set your timer for 35-40 minutes instead of 15-30.

The Daily Reading Process

I recently ran across an extremely simple way of reading the Bible. I wish I could remember where I saw it so I could give the person credit. (If you know, please put it in the comments.) These three questions will help you process what you’re reading. You can simply ponder the answers, journal about them, or even use them to guide your discussion if you’re doing the challenge with someone else.

Question 1: What is the message for THEIR time? What context can you get about the original author or audience from what you’re reading? You might have a study Bible that could give you insight. Most study Bibles have an introduction before each book. Take five minutes before you start each book to get a feel for the background.

Question 2: What is the message for ALL time? Are there some timeless principles, truths, promises, guidelines, instructions, etc. that apply across time and across populations?

Question 3: What is the message for MY time? What is one nugget you will take with you each day? Does God have something you need to know? Or apply? Or share? Or believe? Does He have a promise or a word of comfort or encouragement?

Keep it simple. Remember: The goal is to make a small commitment and then succeed. If you haven’t been reading regularly and you commit to reading for 30 minutes, journaling for another 30, and praying for 30 – good luck making it past Day 2! But if you commit to 15-30 minutes total for the next seven days – and you write it in your calendar – you will succeed.

Then do it again next week. Then next week. Then next week…

The post The One-Week Daily Reading Challenge appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

I have a confession. Anytime I have more than 30 seconds of “down-time” for my brain, I am tempted to fill the time with either music or glancing at my phone. It feels unnatural to simply look around…or think…or pray…or…do nothing.

How about you?

When you’re in line at the store, or walking to the mailbox, or sitting at a stoplight, or two minutes early for a meeting, do you immediately grab your phone?

Here’s a harder question: Is it possible to hear from God if we never stop to listen?

Could it be that you and I have filled every tiny space with noise – audible and visual – and made it impossible to hear that “still, small voice?” Do we really expect God to shout?

I want that to change. I need it to change. I need to declutter my brain in 5-minute chunks.

To that end, here is my challenge (and I’m inviting you to join me):

• Pick one day in the next week.
• Pay attention to when you have down-time for less than 5-minutes. (Standing in line, short drives, emptying the dishwasher, walking between meetings, etc.)
• Don’t fill the time. (No phone. No radio. No email.)
• Pay attention.

That’s it. Pay attention. Notice people.

I’ve been doing this more and more over the last few months. It’s been life-giving. I have seen more and listened more.

A Quick Warning: It will feel weird. Really weird. You’ll feel like you should check to see if you got a text. You should scroll through social media. You should send that quick email. You’ll feel like you should be doing something…anything.

If you feel the need to do something, here are a few ideas:

• Notice something in your surroundings you can be thankful for.
• Pray for the people around you.
• Pray for your kids, spouse, or friends.
• Meditate on a single Bible verse or truth.
• Dream about what you want to accomplish in the next day, week, month or year.
• Ask God what He would like you to work on.
• Pray about a hard relationship.
• Thank God for any easy relationship.
• Think about a memory where you laughed hard.
• Be still.

I am not saying you should never check email, send a text, or even scroll through social media. What I am saying is that we shouldn’t fill every spare moment.

We need silence.

We need stillness.

We need to listen.

We need space.

We need to think.

We need to stand in awe.

We need be thankful.

One of my favorite quotes – I believe it’s by the poet Elizabeth Barrett Browning – goes like this:

God cannot pour His blessings into hands already full.”

Allow me the leeway to modify it for the context of this post:

God cannot speak to minds never listening.”

One day. No added noise to our 5-minute windows of downtime.

What do you say? Are you in?

The post The 5-Minute Pay Attention Challenge appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

It’s finally finished. The entire New Testament of the Storyteller Bible has been recorded and is available for you to stream.

Over the last few weeks, I have taken a survey to see if people would even WANT a physical copy of the Storyteller Bible. Many of you said, “Yes!” Of the people who said, “Yes,” most of you preferred to have the files on a USB stick (as MP3s) rather than a set of CDs. So…here’s what I’m doing…

I’m starting with the USB stick…at a huge discount for the next two weeks! (More on the CD option in a minute). 

Here’s what’s on the USB stick:

• 28 Books of the Bible (I threw in Jonah just for fun!)
• Over 17 hours of audio!
• Each WHOLE BOOK as a single MP3. (28 files)
• Each CHAPTER as a single MP3 (264 files)
• Each book as an iTunes AUDIOBOOK file (28 .m4b files)
• Each book as an Android AUDIOBOOK file (28 .m4a files)

When I asked how much people would be willing to pay, the prices were all over the map. A majority of those surveyed fell into the $40-75 range. So…I decided to price it at the lowest end – $40.

However, just because I can (wink), anyone who pre-orders them before I have them reproduced can get the USB stick with all of the MP3 files and audiobook files for $30!

That’s 25% off! (And…if you order more than one set, I’ll take off another 20%. )

This will all happen AUTOMATICALLY (no coupon needed) by ordering through this link.

All of the reproduction and shipping will take place the week of July 15-19. So…the price will stay at $30 through midnight on July 14th. You can still use the same link to order after that date, but the price will be back at the normal $40. (You can always get 20% off by ordering more than one.)

What about the CD set?

As you might imagine, there is a lot more that goes into creating a CD set. Look at a CD and you’ll see that artwork has to be designed for the cover, the back cover, and the CD itself. A project this large will take up multiple CDs, so packaging is another factor.

I have already reached out to a friend who produces a lot of CDs to see what the cost would be for a “short run” (fewer than 100 sets). The use of physical CDs continues to decline, so I don’t want to go with a traditional duplicator who requires a 1000-unit minimum! Depending on what I hear back, I will be reaching out to see who is interested in pre-ordering.

And finally…

What if I don’t want the CD set or the USB stick?

You can always stream the Storyteller Bible for free at www.StorytellerBible.com.

The post The Storyteller Bible™ is Finished! appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

I know, I know. Everyone seems to have a graduation post these days. However, after attending a high school graduation for my nephew, a middle school “moving up” ceremony for my son, and hearing about a gazillion other graduations, I’m saddened by how little mention of faith, prayer, the Bible, or even “God” in general there is. So…I thought I’d do an all-Bible-all-the-time post.

Here you go. I’ve put them all in “picture form” so you can easily save, print, share, or copy/paste them to your graduate of choice!

The post 19 Bible Verses for Graduates in 2019 appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

Summertime is especially hard when it comes to consistency in Bible reading. Kids are out of school. Vacations are taken. Churches typically don’t have any “structured” Bible studies. Small groups frequently take a break. So…what options are there for a Bible study that fits into a summer schedule and can be completed in eight weeks?

Here are five options I specifically designed to be completed in eight weeks.

NOTE: I have created an eBook with these 5 Bible studies. I’d like to give you one.

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Option #1: Hang Out with One Short Book

Since I wrote an entire book about this concept, you might guess I’m a huge fan of this idea. It is also a perfect plan for summertime. Most books of the Bible can be read – in their entirety – in less than 30 minutes.

Here’s the plan:

• Choose a short book (some good possibilities: Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, II Timothy, James, I Peter, or I John).
• Weeks 1-4 – Read the whole book every day. Same translation. Out loud. Once a week…read in a different translation. (Here are my 5 favorites.)
• After two weeks, write a one-paragraph summary. Review it at the end of weeks three and four.
• Week 5 – Write a 2-4 sentence summary of each chapter. One chapter every other day. Read the whole book on the days in between.
• Weeks 6-7 – Break the book into 10-14 “day-sized” chunks. Slowly read and pray through these, asking God for insight and application. Jot down what you see.
• Week 8 – Read the whole book every day.

Have you checked out these 5 Bible Studies from @KeithFerrin designed for summertime?
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Option #2: Survey Several Short Books

This is somewhat similar to the first one, except you’re simply getting a high-level overview of several books.

Here’s the plan:

• Choose eight short books.
  • In the New Testament alone you can pick from Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon, James, I & II Peter, I, II & III John, and Jude.
  • In the Old Testament, a lot of the prophets are short. However, for this study, I would go with Ruth, Esther, or Jonah. (See Plan #3 if you want to focus on the prophets.)
• Read one, every day for a week.
• Jot a one-paragraph summary.
• Do the second book during Week 2.

Eight books…eight weeks. By the way, this is a fantastic one to do with a few friends! Grab coffee or lunch once a week and discuss the big themes – and the details that stood out – as you’ve each read the same book each day for a week.

Struggle with Bible reading in the summer? Here are 5 simple, short options! #BibleStudy #Summer
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Option #3: Survey the “Minor Prophets”

The last 12 books of the Old Testament are largely ignored. (Except Jonah. But most of us ignore the last 25% of his story.) These guys have a lot to say. And nine of the 12 are really short.

Here’s the plan:

• Take eight of the nine (or lengthen this option to nine weeks)
• Read one each week, using the same format I outlined in Option#2.

NOTE: It is super helpful to get a bit of context when reading the prophets. When was this written? What was going on the in the world? What was happening with Israel? If you have a study Bible, most likely you’ll find a summary at the beginning of the book. If you don’t, I highly recommend the short summaries you’ll find at BibleHub.com. Where to find it on the site isn’t super-intuitive (ugh), so here’s the shortcut for you.

• Step 1: Copy/Paste this URL: http://biblehub.com/summary/hosea/1.htm
• Step 2: You can use the arrows on the page to scroll through each book (“1” in the picture below), use the drop-down menu to select the book you want (“2” in the picture below), or you can “double-click” the name of the book in the URL (“3” in the picture below) and replace it with whatever book you want. Don’t change anything else.

Check out these 5 Bible studies from @KeithFerrin DESIGNED for summertime.
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Option #4: Soaking in the Psalms

Eight weeks. 150 Psalms. Reading 3-4 each day will leave some “wiggle room” for the days when you come across a long one (Can you say “Psalm 119?”) or simply find one you want to hang out in for the day.

Remember: The Psalms are mostly poetry and song lyrics. I often say this…

The Psalms are meant to be experienced and prayed more than studied and analyzed.
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Option #5: The “Modified” New Disciple Challenge

In the last tip from my book How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible, I lay out a 4-Month New Disciple Challenge. Even cutting the time-frame in half is very enjoyable and extremely beneficial.

Here’s the plan:

1. Focus only on Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Acts (first five books of the New Testament)
2. Read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John each for a week.
3. In between each one, read Acts for a week.

What if you could grasp the life of Jesus and the early church in only 8 weeks? Here’s the plan!…
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In case you’re wondering, to read through each of these five books once in a week is about 15-20 minutes a day. Matthew and Acts might be five minutes more.

Here is a more detailed post about the New Disciples Challenge (or you can watch the video below).

Which option are you going to choose? If you’re doing something else, share your plan below!

The post 5 Bible Studies Designed for Summertime appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

Three Bible reading plans cover probably 90% of people who regularly read the Bible. None of them are “bad.” All three can be way better by applying the 10-minute rule. I explain in today’s video.

I think it’s kind of funny that I talk about a 10-minute rule in a video that’s only five minutes long.

Want more video tips like this?

You’ll find this video – and heaps more – on my YouTube Channel. Make sure you don’t miss a new video by clicking this Subscribe button…

The post The 3 Most Popular Bible Reading Plans (and How to Improve Them ALL with the 10-Minute Rule) appeared first on KeithFerrin.com.

Yesterday was my 50th birthday. Thankfully, my lower back is still intact! I spent the morning simply thinking, praying, pondering, and jotting down some of the “life lessons” I have learned over these five decades. Some are about faith. Some about family. Some about communication. Some are deeper. Some are silly. All are mine.

1. God doesn’t expect me to do everything. He expects me to do the next, right thing.
2. A conversation is very different – and better – when there are no smartphones in the room.
3. There will never be a good time to be generous. So be generous all the time.
4. God knows I’m a mess. Even so, He still loves me.
5. My wife makes the best chocolate chip cookies on the planet. No contest.
6. Most people would rather complain than listen. I strive to not be “most people.”
7. It takes way more faith to believe that nothing became something, then evolved to eventually become humans, than to believe that an all-knowing, all-powerful, all-loving Creator designed us exactly how He wanted us.
8. Ice cream tastes best after 8pm.
9. The fear of public speaking diminishes every time you mess up in front of an audience and realize they don’t mind.
10. It is important to remember that social media is a billboard, not a diary.

50 Lessons from my first 50 years on this planet.
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11. In your teens and early 20’s you know what you want in a spouse. After that, you also know what you don’t want. This is equally important.
12. In the midst of hard times, What can I learn? is always a better question than Why is this happening to me?
13. Sitting in silence is not a waste of time. It’s a necessity.
14. Dinner as a family is difficult to pull off. It also frequently leads to fantastic conversations and uproarious laughter.
15. A man who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. (Ok. I stole that one from Proverbs 18:22.) I found a really good one.
16. A father can have more than one favorite child. I have three.
17. Losing 10 pounds is pretty easy. Losing 20 is really hard.
18. God doesn’t just love me. He likes me. (This is huge.)
19. Replacing the word “things” with a different plural noun will always improve communication.
20. Doing CPR is nothing like you see in the movies. (I wish I hadn’t learned this one.)

50 Lessons from my first 50 years on this planet.
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21. Having your house filled with your kids’ friends is the best reason to own a house.
22. Character is never forged in the fires of comfort.
23. If we spent more energy serving our neighbor instead of fighting for our rights, the world would be a better place.
24. This I know: God is for me. These seven words from Psalm 56 change everything.
25. Studying the Bible relationally (to hang out with God) instead of informationally (to learn about God) is way better.
26. Invest in vacations. They are the birthplace of nearly infinite memories and conversations.
27. Going on a mission trip as a family is transformational.
28. Speaking even a few words to someone in their native language means a lot to them.
29. Coffee and ice cream are proof that God is good and loves us very much.
30. Identity beats morality every time.

50 Lessons from my first 50 years on this planet.
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31. Few things can bring me to a point of violence. Trying to harm my child is one of them.
32. The spiritual, physical, emotional, mental, and financial are intertwined…and God cares about them all.
33. I will be as conservative as the Bible demands and as liberal as the Bible allows.
34. If you think of a way to compliment someone, say it to them. People don’t hear kind words about themselves very often. Words hold great power.
35. Life has more gray areas than I once thought.
36. Text and email are the two worst methods of having emotional conversations.
37. There is something magical about playing at the ocean or a lake.
38. You fall in love with a person. You marry into their whole family.
39. Watching your kids laugh is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Laughing with them is even better.
40. The flight home is always a good flight.

50 Lessons from my first 50 years on this planet.
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41. Prayer is more about changing my mind than changing God’s.
42. Don’t bother having a political conversation with someone whose opening line is what or whom they are against.
43. Comparison is the thief of joy. (Quote from C.S. Lewis)
44. If you start laughing at a funeral or a wedding, it’s really hard to stop.
45. You are 100% responsible for what you say. You are 100% responsible for how you say it. You are 100% responsible for why you say it. You are 0% responsible for how someone responds.
46. It is not my job to change hearts and minds. That’s the Holy Spirit’s job, and He’s way better at it than I am. My job is to bring people one step closer to Jesus by loving them the way He would.
47. Entering a conversation with a mindset of What can I learn? rather than What can I say? will always lead to a better conversation.
48. My kids are way cooler than any other kids on the planet. (I hope you feel the same way about yours.)
49. Singing loudly in the car is good medicine for you and good entertainment for the drivers around you.
50. If God was small enough for me to understand, He wouldn’t be big enough to save me.

I realized pondering “life lessons” is a pretty rewarding practice at any age. Give it a try. Then share one of your lessons in the comments below.

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