My Favorite Resource for Bible Questions

Sometimes I read the Bible and it just makes sense.  Sometimes I have situations in my life and I can see the passages of Scripture that just fit my circumstances.  Sometimes I consider theological and ethical questions and find exactly what God has to say about them in His Word.  Sometimes.

When I can't find the answers I am looking for in the Bible, I ask for help.  I am very blessed to have several friends and family that can often point me to a verse in the Bible or explain something that just didn't make sense to me.  

However, if you have questions and don't have someone to turn to for direction about God's Word, there is a place you can turn to ask questions.  While there are many sources you can look for answers to life's questions, this is one place where the answers will come from the Bible - Answers From The Book.

Answers From The Book has a website - answersfromthebook.net or you can follow them on Facebook.  Their mission is "to help others become more familiar with their Bibles by giving scriptural answers to questions asked."  I personally know the people who answer these questions and they are committed to following God's Word as closely as possible both in answering their questions and in living their lives.

If you have a question, you can contact them several different ways.

• search the archives on the website
• submit a question on the website
• message them on Facebook
• email them at answersfromthebook@gmail.com

So, follow them on Facebook or bookmark their page on your browser, but definitely keep them in mind if you have a question and just can't seem to find the answer.

My Favorite Bible Apps

Smartphones seem to have taken over our culture.  We are often warned about the dangers of cell phones: distractions when driving (or even walking), the decline of social interactions, and the lack of mental focus to name a few.  However, smartphones can be a tool when used properly  Here are some apps that will help you learn more about God from His Word.

Devotionals:

Our Daily Bread

Many are familiar with the Our Daily Bread daily devotional that you can get in the mail or pick up at many churches.  However, you can now listen to it on your phone through their app available from Apple, Android, and Kindle Fire.  I love that you can listen to this instead of just read it.  And the corresponding Bible passage can be opened up through a link to BibleGateway.com in the app.  Some of the great features include setting up daily reminders, opening it directly to today's devotional, and changing to one of many languages.  You can also follow Our Daily Bread on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.  I like following them on Facebook because the devotional will pop in my newsfeed later in the day to remind me what I read.

Keys for Kids

Keys for Kids is like the Our Daily Bread app but specifically geared toward children.  The same print devotions that your kid can order through the mail can be listened to or read in the app.  While it doesn't have all of the features (no daily reminder or direct links to the Bible passages), it does also have Live Stream of Keys for Kids Radio and On Demand listening of Keys for Kids Radio programs.  It is also available from Apple, Android, and Kindle Fire and several other methods like podcasts and social media.  I like following Keys for Kids on Facebook so that I can see what my son listened to that morning.  Here is my full review of the Keys for Kids app.

Bibles:

Bible apps are great because you can have a Bible right in your pocket at all times.  If you've never used an integrated Hebrew/Greek dictionary is great to understand what the English word is trying to translate and can even show you all of the other instances the Hebrew or Greek word was used in the Bible.  Also, if you are trying to find a verse, the search feature is awesome.  You can add personal notes and sometimes tags that will sync across other devices linked to your account.  You can purchase additional resources and carry your entire library of commentaries and study notes in your phone or tablet.  I use my Bible apps all the time.

Bible Study with Accordance

I have used several Bible apps and this one is very good.  This app is free and it includes some free resources like an ESV with an integrated Strongs Dictionary, Easton's Bible Dictionary, and some maps.  If you want to add on other resources like other translations, commentaries, atlases, and study Bible notes, you will have to purchase them.  You can also purchase software for Windows or Mac which can access the same resources from your account.  This app is great for the free ESV with Strong's alone.  

Bible by Olive Tree

This is my Bible app of choice (though Accordance was a very close second).  With this free app you can download many Bible translations for free (and some other dictionaries and commentaries), but you will have to purchase ones that have the integrated Strong's concordances.  Unlike Accordance, the software for Windows and Mac are also free.  In addition to most of the features that Accordance has, this app also lets you tag your notes so you can find them by topic.

YouVersion Bible

YouVersion is a very popular Bible app.  The app is free and you can access all of the Bible translations for free as well when you are online.  Most of the Bible translations are available to download as well.  This app is very different from the other Bible apps in that it is not focused on other resources like commentaries, Hebrew/Greek dictionaries, and atlases.  It only has the Bible itself along with the ability to highlight and add notes.  However, it does have free audio for about 15 different translations including ESV, KJV, NASB, and NLT.  If you like to listen to your Bible, this app would be great for you! 

Kids Bible Apps:

Bible App For Kids

The Bible App for Kids is made by Life.Church, the same people who made the YouVersion Bible App.  This is basically a story Bible for Kids in an app version.  It has audio that will read the words if desired.  You can also touch part of the illustrations to see animations and find gems or questions.  Each of the 41 stories can be downloaded onto your phone (and can be individually deleted to add other stories).  It's even available in quite a few languages... all for free.  You can also find free videos, coloring pages, printable booklets, and parent guides on their website for each story.

Slugs and Bugs

My daughter loves Slugs and Bugs and she loves listening to their music on this app.  It has videos of some of her favorite silly songs as well as some Bible verse songs.  Five of their videos are available for free and you can upgrade to download 22 more.  There are also games to help you memorize Bible verses and a matching game.  This free app is only available for Apple products.

Bible Memorization:

Fighter Verses

Fighter Verses is a Bible memorization program used in John Piper's Bethlehem Baptist Church.  It is basically annual sets of verses for Christians to memorize.  The purpose is to arm Christians (especially children) with God's Word so that they can be prepared to "fight the good fight of faith" (1 Timothy 6:12).  This app lets you keep track of which verses you have memorized and you can review them through several different methods (all similar to fill in the blank). Each review method has 5 levels to practice.  If you are looking to memorize the Bible and would like direction on what verses to memorize and how to review them, the low price of this app is well worth the investment.

What is your favorite Bible app?  Let me know in the comments below.

My Favorite Sources for Artwork for Bible Crafts

Do you create your own children's Sunday School lessons or like to supplement your curriculum with your own craft but are not artistic?  Here is where I find most of my visuals for crafts and storytelling.

My Wonder Studio

My Wonder Studio has the cutest Bible pictures and they have multiple resources for lots of stories. This is my absolute favorite for Bible people!  Of course, you could always be creative and use their images for other Bible stories.  The picture above from the resurrection story could also be used for the story about the centurion whose servant was healed.  I especially love their Be The Artist series that lets you parts together to create scenes.  These would be great for adding moving parts with brads or a slider with a straw and some string.

My Little House

My Little House has similarly cute Bible pictures to My Wonder Studio except it has less 2D content.  However, it has 3D figures and building that can be folded from printables.  That would definitely have to be for older kids, but they are pretty awesome

Activity-Mom.com

Activity-Mom.com has made a printable of a set of Bible figures available on their blog.  They would make great popsicle puppets for acting out Bible stories.  The only down side of these is that the characters have their names on them so you are less likely to use them for other Bible stories.

Crafting the Word of God

Crafting the Word of God has great Bible crafts that already are interactive (puzzles, movable parts, pop-ups...).  The website organizes their crafts by topic and their crafts include free printables.

What's In The Bible

The free activity page from What's In The Bible has coloring pages, flash cards, popsicle stick theater printables, and other activities.

Philip Martin Clipart

Philip Martin has free clip art available and a section devoted to Bible clipart.  They have visuals for the Books of the Bible and certain Bible stories

FreeBibleImages.org

This website has tons of visuals for free and they are searchable by topic or book of the Bible.  They would be great for printing out to tell the story like a picture book or as a slideshow.

DLTK

DLTK has craft ideas and coloring pages.

Coloring Home

Many coloring page websites like Coloring Home have Bible themed coloring pages.

VisualUnit

VisualUnit has the best charts for Bible timelines, maps of locations, mini models, charts of the structure of books of the Bible, and so much more.  Some of these are better suited for teens and adults.

Google

If all else fails, Google some of your words and choose to view the image results.  Be careful that you check to see if the image is copyrighted and the kind of license, but I have gotten many of my pictures and coloring pages here.

If you want to give these flat two-dimensional images some pizzazz, try these suggestions.