As we wrap up Christian book month, I wanted to share some of my favorites* with you. I have divided my list into fiction and nonfiction. While this list is comprised of Christian authors, I do not limit my reading to Christian books. You can see more recommendations on my Amazon storefront.
This is one of my favorites of Klassen’s books, but I have read and enjoyed all of them. This one is a standalone, but she has several series that are also excellent. She picks up where Jane Austen leaves off without the language barrier.
I have not read everything White has written, but everything I’ve read of hers has been excellent. This is the first in a Culper spies trilogy (with 2 added novellas). I’ve also enjoyed the book she wrote for the codebreaker series.
If you enjoy suspense, Henderson is your girl! This is the first of two books that I really hope Henderson will add to in the future. She has written several excellent series, including the O’Malley series.
While some of the romance can be a bit over the top, the plot of Sleeman’s suspense/mystery books is always excellent. This is the first book in the Cold Harbor series which leads into multiple other series.
These cozy mysteries are well written, fairly short, and a pleasure to read. Callaghan has multiple series in the works, so if you catch up on one, there is always another one you can start.
Historical fiction that takes place in Europe during World War II. This series will keep you hooked, and you can follow it with the Zion Chronicles and the Zion Legacy. You might want to keep the tissues handy.
Historical fiction meets true crime! This novel paints a picture of the frontier as it was being settled and some of the challenges the pioneers faced including serial killers! While McNear describes true and disturbing events, the images she paints are not overly graphic.
I’m not much for fantasy, but Padgett does an excellent job in this first of two books. She nailed the allegory and left me anxiously waiting for the sequel!
This series is written by different authors and follows one family tree through the history of our country. Woodhouse contributed more than this one book to the series. She painted an incredible picture of what it must have been like to travel to the New World.
I read this series when I was in college, yet I find myself thinking about it decades later. It is historical fiction set in the time of the Russian revolution and even includes a book focused on Rasputin. I had the privilege of traveling to Russia after finishing this series and felt I was better prepared than I would have been otherwise.
Hegseth does a great job of covering the history of public education in America. This is a great place to start if you are interested in learning more about its roots, its intentions, and its logical outcome.
Whether you are a mom or not, you should read this book! Ferrer has compiled articles written by several authors on many of the topics that plague our society today. The book includes tips for discussing these issues with your children. There is a workbook available and a sequel focused on the gender conversation.
As our society crawls deeper and deeper into gender confusion, Pearcey sheds light on the reasons and the solutions. She followed this book up with another great read, The Toxic War on Masculinity.
This book gives you the tips and information you need to have conversations about your faith with those who do not agree with you. Koukl gives examples and illustrations that make it easy to understand and implement. The sequel to this book, Street Smarts, takes the information presented and goes deeper.
In keeping with the apologetics theme, this book was written by a former detective who set out to disprove the Bible, only to discover that all of the evidence pointed to the truth of Scripture.
Every woman, young and old, should read Stuckey’s book to gain a biblical perspective of the self-love, self-care, “treat yoself” trend in our culture today. Stuckey explains why this trend is not only unbiblical, but also illogical.
This is another book that every woman should read! Merkle explains the history and drive of the feminist movement and the damage it has done while also giving us great hope for the future and practical steps to start rebuilding our society.
Wilson helps Christian women gain perspective on their daily duties, relationships, and pursuit of godliness. It is a very convicting book, so be prepared!
Have you ever felt guilty for enjoying an activity, savoring a meal, or searching for happiness? Rigney explains in this short book that God created this world for His and our enjoyment. This is a shorter version of his longer book The Things of Earth.
I wanted to end the list with a biography that changed my thinking about so many things. Metaxas spells out the rise and fall of Hitler’s Germany through the eyes of Bonhoeffer using his writings, the writings of others, and the testimonies of those who knew him. It is a long book, but so worth the read.
If you would like more recommendations, I have a longer list (constantly growing) on my Amazon storefront. And I would love to hear your suggestions as I’m always looking for my next great read!
*I am sharing books I have read and enjoyed that present Christian themes. I have not researched every piece of writing or every facet of the lives of these authors.
This article about electives was originally published in issue nine of the Learning Well Journal (Winter 2023).
One of the beautiful things about homeschooling is that just about any extracurricular activity can be counted for credit as long as your child does enough of it. For example, if your child is in a church choir or band, that can count as a music credit. If she rides horses, that can count as a physical education class. And if he decides to learn how to build a robot and destroys your vacuum cleaner for parts, that could be a credit, too.
None of these credits really matter until your child is in high school, but then they can take up all of the elective credits he needs to graduate. If we aren’t careful, we can fill those credits with activities instead of being intentional about what our children need to learn.
There are a few things to consider as you begin to plan for those high school electives. You need to begin with the end in mind, not just educate your child but prepare him, and maybe even leave your comfort zone. Let’s unpack these a bit.
Begin with the End in Mind
Probably the most important thing to consider is where your child wants to end up, or what you have planned for his future. Does he want to go to college, and does he already know what he wants his major to be? If so, you may want to choose electives that prepare him for his future course of study. Some majors require specific prerequisites, so if you have already chosen a college and a major, find out what those prerequisites are and incorporate them into your child’s electives. Some colleges also allow for “testing out” of courses if the student has certain credits or test scores, which is something to consider when choosing electives for your child to take.
Another popular option these days is for high school students to take dual enrollment classes at a local college or an online program. This allows them to get college credits while they are still in high school. This is beneficial for eliminating the general education requirements most colleges have, so it can dramatically shorten their time in their academic endeavors. I have known students who have entered college with enough credits to be a junior! And if you are concerned about the content of the teaching, there are Christian colleges that participate in these programs, too.
Not all careers require a college degree, For example, my son decided as a child that he wanted to fly planes. The original plan was for him to go to college so he could enter the military as an officer and become a pilot that way. As he got older, and that time drew nearer, we decided it would be better for him to simply receive flight training.
After a short time in flight school (which he did as part of his high school education beginning at 17 years of age), he decided he wanted to be a pilot as a career. He might still attend college in the future, but it is not something he is pursuing right out of high school. All of that time spent in ground lessons and flight lessons counted toward his electives.
Of course, being a pilot is not the only career that doesn’t require a degree, and we live in a time when we can learn just about anything we want to learn from the comfort of our own living rooms. Homeschooling provides the perfect opportunity for kids to try on a lot of different careers before they have to make that decision. And even once they decide, it can always be changed or modified.
Electives: Don’t Just Educate Them, Prepare Them
Beyond academics, there are several things to consider when it comes to those elective credits—most important of which is your child’s spiritual well being. You should consider courses such as Christian worldview, logic, and even apologetics. There are full-blown curricula that cover these topics, or you can build them yourself.
There are plenty of books that can be checked out of the library that will instruct your child in these topics. Some we have used include:
The Answers in Genesis books would serve this purpose as well as many of their free online resources. Mama Bear Apologetics has a couple of books, but they also have online tools and guides. One of my favorite resources for a logic course is the Filter It through a Brain Cell podcast by Kathy Gibbens. She also has online resources and a course you can work through with your child. Depending on your schooling situation, these can be used individually by your child by having him fill out a questionnaire or book report, or you can work through them together and discuss the different questions that come up. I could honestly go on and on about different resources available, but as we homeschool families know, we each have to find what works best for us.
Another way we should prepare our children is by growing their confidence. Once our children leave our home, they will need to stand on their own two feet. One thing we have found to be very helpful in this area is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. We watched our son transform from a people-pleaser to a leader who confidently engages with others and stands for what he believes. He has participated in other sports, but BJJ seems to have a maturing effect that instilled confidence in him, so much so that our daughter is now enrolled and learning to defend herself and protect others.
Get out of Your Comfort Zone (and Theirs) when Choosing Electives
It can be really easy to simply allow your child to take electives that are fun and comfortable. And depending on your situation, this may be the best route to take. But it can be so beneficial to push your child out of her comfort zone and require her to do some things that scare her a bit. Perhaps she should take part in voice lessons and sing a solo, or maybe she should try a team sport that forces her to work with others. Your child needs to learn that she can do hard things, and she should learn this while you’re there to catch her if she fails.
Maybe it is you who needs to leave your comfort zone by allowing your child to try things you don’t particularly enjoy. My daughter is an artist, she likes to sew, and she rides horses. I can’t help her with any of these things. I have found ways for her to practice different forms of art because this is not my area of expertise. She has taught herself how to sew by watching YouTube videos, and I have found someone who can teach her to jump fences while atop a thousand-pound animal.
The goal is to allow your child to try things now, making it easier for her to know what she actually likes and doesn’t like and not what she thinks she likes and doesn’t like.
Homeschooling my kids has been such a learning experience for me. I am in no hurry to hand them off to a college, but if and when they go, it is my goal that they know Whose they are, what they believe, and who they want to be.
If you would like to learn more about how to study the Bible, I invite you to download my FREE Bible study workbook, 6 Steps to Study the Bible on Your Own, at the button below.
If you would like to join a group of like-minded women who are pursuing godliness together, check out the Bible Study Academy by clicking the button below.
I would venture to say that for most of us, the problem isn’t finding time to read our Bibles, but learning how to meditate throughout the day on what we read. It is easy to sit down and read the assigned portion of Scripture for the day, check it off of the list, and not think about it again until we open up our Bibles the next day. And this makes us feel like we aren’t really getting anything out of our time in the Word.
Throughout the years, I have come across several Bible study techniques that don’t take up a lot of extra time but can keep me focused on my Scripture reading throughout the rest of the day. Some of these may not be new to you, but it never hurts to be reminded, right? Let’s unpack four of these methods.
Bible Study Technique 1: Paraphrase the Passage
This method has been practiced for centuries, and has only fallen out of practice in modern day. But it is one of my favorite ways to begin the study of a passage. I even included a paraphrase section in my Bible study workbook. To paraphrase is to put someone else’s words into your own. So the idea here is simple: read the passage and rewrite in your own words, incorporating your own style.
In an effort to add female voices to the canon of literature, researchers and historians have had to resort to publishing private writing of women throughout the years. What they have found is that many women used this technique to learn Scripture, make application, and practice their writing. So this is not a new practice. In fact, as a literature teacher, this was an activity I assigned to my college students.
I get a few objections to this practice, specifically a concern for “adding to” or “taking away” from Scripture, as the Bible strictly commands us not to do (Deuteronomy 4:2, Revelation 22:18-19). However, I would argue that this is simply a Bible study tool and is not intended to be read by others or, even less, published for the public at large. And this argument coming from my students probably had more to do with taking the time and energy to complete the assignment.
The goal is to see if you understand what you’re reading. If you can rewrite the passage in your own words, not only will it let you know if you get it, but also it will clarify things that you may not have even noticed in a superficial reading. It can be incredibly powerful and continually come to mind as you go about your day.
Also keep in mind that your paraphrase may be wrong, and that’s ok. As you continue digging into the passage, you may discover that what you thought it was saying is not at all what it meant. This should be encouraging as it shows you are growing in discernment!
Bible Study Technique 2: Map the Passage
Another technique I often use is mapping. This is especially helpful if you are a visual learner. There are many ideas behind mapping, but essentially it is creating a visual of the passage. I especially like to map sections of Scripture that are long and confusing, often containing multiple lists before coming to the end of the sentence (Paul loved to write this way!)
This might be done by drawing bubbles on a page with arrows to other bubbles that contain supporting or following ideas. It can also be an outline-style rewrite of the passage you type up on your computer. Or it could be a beautifully and artfully done word study. There are no rules.
Much like the paraphrase, the idea is to dig into the passage a little more and clarify what it means. It can help you see patterns the author included, grammatical construction (if you’re a language nerd like me), or even highlight explanations you didn’t recognize at first. And this visual should come to mind, bringing the meaning of the passage you studied to the forefront as you head to work, change diapers, prepare dinner, etc.
Bible Study Technique 3: Do Word Studies
One of my favorite Bible study techniques is doing word studies. A word study is simply researching a specific word you come across. It may include etymology of the word, pronunciation, and part of speech. Often you will find that there are many possible meanings of the word, just as we see in our English dictionaries.
When I find a repeated word or there is a word used that causes confusion, I dig into it. I want to know if something is lost in translation, if the word can have multiple meanings, and where the word shows up in other places in Scripture. This always helps me get a more complete sense of the word.
For example, in my study of the book of Ecclesiastes, I dug into the word translated “vanity” as it recurs so frequently throughout the the book. In Genesis 6:6, I looked up the word that is translated “regretted” because it didn’t click with what I know to be true about God. I frequently do word studies and share them with the Bible Study Academy.
My favorite resource for word studies is blueletterbible.com. It allows me to look up each word individually, providing all of the definition options, showing how many times each different translation is used, and even listing every verse in Scripture where that word appears. But there are other Bible dictionaries you may find helpful, especially if you would rather research offline.
Again, this method is intended to bring that word to mind as you go about your day. If you put in the effort to study out the word, your brain will bring it back to your thoughts over and over again. And then you’ll start to notice reinforcing ideas in all kinds of places!
Bible Study Technique 4: Memorize Scripture
You may wonder how memorization can be considered a Bible study technique, so let me explain. When you first begin memorizing a passage, you are simply repeating the words, trying to get them stuck in your brain in the right order. But as you repeat the verse(s), you start to think about the words you are reciting. And little by little, you’ll find that the verse takes on its meaning rather than just being a series of words you’re repeating.
I have found that I am encouraged by a passage that comes to mind just when I need it even though it has been a long time since I memorized it. This is truly meditating on God’s Word! And it is amazing when you can relate a passage you know to something you never expected to be relevant.
My favorite technique for memorizing Scripture is the FLOW (First Letter Of the Word) method. I explain it and the reason Scripture memorization is important in this blog post. Using this method allows me to come back to the passage repeatedly throughout the day and practice it.
If you are struggling to meditate on God’s Word once you have checked off your list and closed your Bible, I encourage you to try one of these techniques. This, of course, is not an exhaustive list; there are so many study methods we could discuss, but it is a great place to start if you just need a little direction.
If you have a favorite technique, please tell me in the comments so we can learn from each other! And if you try one of these techniques and love your results, please let me know.
We live in an incredible time when not only do we have the freedom to study God’s Word, but also there are so many ways to do it! We can read it, watch it, listen to it, sit under preaching, read books about the Bible—so many ways to study.
On top of that, we can choose from so many different versions of the Bible. Whether you like an old English style of writing, one that sticks closely to the original language, or one that includes slang, there is a Bible version to appeal to your taste. So how do we know which one to choose?
The Bible Is Inspired
An important place to start is to acknowledge that the words originally penned by earthly authors were God’s words. Scripture says the words were “God-breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). He used the writers’ personalities, culture, and writing style, but every word is His.
However, just as we find errors in manuscripts that were copied from the originals (or copies of copies), translating the words also leaves room for error. There is no perfect translation of the Bible. Where translations disagree, there is usually a plausible explanation for the choices made. So, while there are definitely bad Bible versions floating around, in general, there is no reason to get defensive or protective of your chosen version.
Bible Versions: Translation
To understand what the purpose of each version is, we need to define some terms. Let’s start with translation. A translation goes from one language to another. In other words, it will either start with the original Greek and Hebrew of the Bible, or it will originate in the Septuagint, which is the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. Technically, you can call it a translation if it begins with a Bible in any other language, not necessarily the original languages. But for the most part, when a Bible version calls itself a translation, it means the translators went back to the Greek and Hebrew as their starting point.
If you’ve ever worked with another language, whether it was taking a Spanish class in High School, going on a missions trip, or spending time on DuoLingo or Rosetta Stone, you know there are words in one language that don’t translate into another. For example, in Spanish, I can think of four different words that would simply be translated “hair” in English (and one could accidentally be translated “horse”). So translators have to choose the best option in the target language for the word in the original language. This means that EVERY translation includes some interpretation and a mistake could be made.
Translation Spectrum
Bible versions that are translations range from being a “word-for-word” translation to a “thought-for-thought” translation. The word-for-word translations try to stay as close to the original language as possible. This means the sentences may be a little clunky in English because that isn’t the way we speak. It also means that illustrations, metaphors, and allegories might be lost on us because they may refer to things we don’t see in this part of the world or experience in our culture. But, again, we live in an amazing time with so many resources at our fingertips, and it isn’t too difficult to get explanations for things we don’t understand (though there may be more than one possible explanation).
A thought-for-thought translation takes a little more liberty with the interpretation. Rather than sticking so closely to each word, the translators are more concerned with getting the idea of a passage across. The translator’s goal is to make it easier for us to understand what God is conveying during our reading of the passage. Because a thought-for-thought translation presents the idea, there is room for error, though the translators do stay as true to the original as they can while still accomplishing their goal.
Bible Versions: Paraphrase
The next term we need to define is paraphrase. A paraphrase, by definition, is putting someone else’s words into your own. So a Bible version that calls itself a paraphrase, doesn’t typically go back to the original languages as its starting point, but instead uses a translation as its starting point. So it is another step removed from the original. (By the way, this is a great personal Bible study method!)
If we consider that there is a certain amount of interpretation in every translation, then a paraphrase is putting someone else’s interpretation into “easier” language or into language that resonates with its readers. A paraphrase then has the most opportunity for error, especially if it begins with a translation that has already committed an error in translation. But a paraphrase can be helpful for those especially difficult passages or ones with a lot of unfamiliar imagery.
How To Choose a Bible Version
So how do we know which Bible version to choose? My advice would be to choose at least one version from each category for your deep-dive studies. Reading multiple translations and paraphrases of the same passage can give you a more complete idea of what the passage means, and it can demonstrate the difficulties of translating that particular passage.
For an everyday reading Bible, say if you are reading through the Bible in a year, a translation closer to the thought-for-thought end of the spectrum might be helpful. You might “get more” from your reading but not miss important elements that a paraphrase might leave out.
If you want to do more than a superficial reading, or if you want to know which Bible to carry to church with you (since the preacher should be digging a little deeper than a superficial reading), my personal preference is a Bible version closer to the word-for-word end of the spectrum. I especially prefer a good study Bible that can help me clear up any questions that arise from the translation challenges.
If you have a Bible and you don’t know where it lands on the spectrum, open the front cover. Most Bibles have an explanation of the process for that Bible version at the beginning of the book. Read through it and decide if you approve of the process used or if you would rather seek out a Bible closer to your preferences. You can also do this research online by searching for the Bible version you have.
The unfortunate reality is there are some very poor Bible versions available to us, so it behooves us to do a little research to make sure we aren’t led astray by their faulty interpretations.
As we begin a new year, it is common for many of us to set a goal of reading through the Bible this year. Some of us set this Bible reading goal because we want to get a full picture of what is contained in Scripture. Others of us set it so we can finally say we have read through the Bible. And still others set the goal because of FOMO (fear of missing out) since everyone else is announcing their intention to read through the Bible this year.
There are many benefits to reading through the Bible from cover to cover. My favorite way to read through the Bible is following a chronological plan, though this means I do not get to the New Testament until very late in the year. It gives us an overall idea of the history of the Israelites and what that means to us today. We get a deeper understanding of why Jesus came and how He atones for us. And we start to grasp the connection between the Old and New Testaments.
Unfortunately, statistics tell us that only 5% of those who set a goal at the beginning of the year will complete it. That includes those who decide to read the Bible through. This is because there are also hard things about reading through the Bible in a year.
When we are simply reading the Bible at a surface level, it can be very difficult to make it through those particularly hard sections of Scripture. And that is when we quit. We have the best of intentions, but when it doesn’t make sense, it’s hard to follow through on the goal. Maybe you’ve set this goal yourself and have quit more times than you would like to admit.
The truth is that a Bible reading plan for a year deadline is actually reading it too fast for most of it to sink in. When you are reading it that quickly, it is difficult to marvel at the gift the Word of God is to us. While it is easy to get bogged down in details we don’t understand, it is also easy to completely miss amazing revelations of God’s love and design for us.
An Alternative Approach to Bible Reading
So if you’re yearning to strengthen your connection with God’s Word, there’s an alternative approach worth considering. I have read through the Bible multiple times, sometimes in a year, sometimes in two years, and sometimes in 90 days. And I loved completing those goals, but it wasn’t until I started focusing on one book at a time that I began to feel like I was truly learning God’s Word in a way that allowed me to apply it to my daily walk.
Choose one book of the Bible. It doesn’t matter if it is in the Old Testament or the New Testament, though I would advise that you don’t avoid those hard books forever. You can begin with Genesis, Matthew, the book your pastor is preaching through, a long book, a short book–there is no wrong place to start.
Read and reread that one book until you feel like you know it. Depending on the book, this could be a month-long commitment or a quarter-long commitment or longer. As you read, you’ll start to notice patterns, repetitions, and word choices. You’ll notice imagery and cultural indicators and you might even make a connection to something you’ve read elsewhere in the Bible.
Read the book in different versions and notice the choices different translators made. Choose a word-for-word translation, a thought-for-thought translation, and a paraphrase to compare (learn more about Bible versions here). Make sure you have a notebook handy, but not a pretty one that you’re too afraid to write in!
Discover the Depth of Scripture
Once you have learned the book, dig in. Do word studies for repeated words or words that confuse you. Check the cross-references for passages that intrigue you or grab your attention. Consult commentaries for particularly confusing sections. And take LOTS of notes! And when you think you are at a stopping point with that book, move on to another one and do it all again.
I have been studying the Bible this way for many years now, and each time I finish a book, I feel like I’m turning the page on an old friend. I remember where certain passages are in Scripture when before I couldn’t remember the reference to save my life. And the more books I study, the more pieces I fill in of the overall message of Scripture (metanarrative) and how it all ties together. It is incredibly fulfilling to make connections between books of the Bible you didn’t think had anything in common.
For the past two years, we have been implementing this method in the Bible Study Academy, planning to cover each book in one month. So far we have studied twenty books covering both Testaments. If you want community and accountability while you study through the Bible, click on the button below to learn more about the Bible Study Academy. We’re saving a seat just for you!
If you would like to learn more about how to study the Bible, I invite you to download my FREE Bible study workbook, 6 Steps to Study the Bible on Your Own, at the button below.
If you would like to join a group of like-minded women who are pursuing godliness together, check out the Bible Study Academy by clicking the button below.
