Several weeks ago I to watch my almost 9-year-old and almost 7-year-old ascended a 50 foot rock wall and it was equip. I was so proud of them for working so hard and having the courage to keep on going even when it was scary!! 

But what I’m most especially thankful for is that harness! Because my kids were wearing the right equipment, they were protected during the activity. Even though it was objectively a very scary, they were quite safe. If they slipped or fell their very capable Uncle Kyle or Aunite Yuvika would catch them.

Similarly, as Christians, God calls us to put on the armor of God so that we will be protected. 

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.“ -Ephesians 6:10-13

Each day as we read the Word of God we are putting on our armor so we will be protected as we scale our mountains. Today I am joined by Katie Faris who will be walking us through the importance of devotional Bible study and quick strategies for doing it well.

***

Katie Faris is a pastor’s wife and mother to five children. She is the author of multiple books, including Every Hour I Need You: 30 Meditations for Moms on the Character of God and God Is Still Good: Gospel Hope and Comfort for the Unexpected Sorrows of Motherhood. She worships at Sovereign Grace Church in Marlton, New Jersey. Learn more at her website or follow her on Facebook or Instagram.

As mothers, we are all called to teach the Word of God faithfully and handle Scripture rightly. Sometimes that teaching will be informal, and other times it will be more structured. It may look like applying biblical truth in everyday moments, leading family devotions, teaching a Sunday school lesson, or facilitating a Bible study.

In any context, teachers are held to a high standard. The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It is powerful and effective. Just as we would handle a weapon with caution, we should handle Scripture with care. Many—both children and adults—have been led astray when teachers mishandled or twisted a passage to suit their own purposes.

Today, we are going to talk about how to equip ourselves to teach the Bible faithfully by understanding context, staying tethered to the text, and preparing appropriately.

We likely will not have time to study Scripture this way every day, though we should be reading it devotionally each day. Still, we probably have more time than we think to devote to serious study.

I do not think it is an accident that God describes Himself as the Word and has revealed Himself through a collection of divinely inspired books. He has made us in His image. We are thinking people, and it is good and right to stretch our minds as we learn to handle the Word of God faithfully.

*****

Shelly Pelletier has been married for 32 years, has three grown children and five grandchildren. She's a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center and has been teaching kids in church in various roles since she was 16 years old and has been leading formal women's groups for over 25 years. 

She's an expert in helping people of all ages understand and apply the Word of God and today she will walk us through the basics of preparing to teach the Bible faithfully. 

Going to church with my five little kids can sometimes feel like wrangling monkeys –very dear little monkeys –but little monkeys that have been known to spill the coffee all over the pew in front of us and then shriek in terror at the act. (Nothing to see here, people. Normal Sunday.)

Matt Merker in his book Corporate Worship argues, “A church service is one of the primary settings in which believers speak the truth to one another. When we recite a creed or read a scripture aloud together, or sing a song or vocalize amen after a prayer, we’re not just following the service leaders directions we are disciplining one another in building up the body to maturity.”

My biggest and strongest piece of advice is simply to go to church. Just go! In every season of motherhood (and every season of life) there will be conflicts with attending church. If you have little babies there is a very good chance your service will happen during naptime. If you have kids in sports it is extremely likely there will be games that conflict with your ability to attend the service. If you have family from out of town staying with you there is a reasonable chance they may pressure you to stay home from church so you have more time with them.

But, Jesus didn’t think attending church was just causally important. He considered it vital and organized the christian life around it. When we place our church attendnece first we are saying that our spiritual condition is more important than naps, sports, or family relationships. If others don’t understand that, it is a chance for us to teach them.

In honor of Father's Day, listen in for a slightly exaggerated but hilarious story about the Magic of Sleepy Ridge.

When a disgruntled doorknob decides he's done being taken for granted, Mom and the kids are trapped outside. There's only one person who can rescue them: Dad.

This story is my reflection of the everyday faithfulness of my dear husband. Often, I can get caught up with everything I'm doing and forget the quiet ways James serves, leads, protects and provides for our family. 

"Sometimes the things and the people that matter most to us we can simply take for granted. Like having a Dad who is funny and kind, adventurous and responsible, and who is willing to stop what he is doing in the middle of a busy fall workday to trudge up the stairs and free his family from exile from the Sunroom. So the next time you turn a doorknob, move freely throughout the country without fear of execution or arrest, or walk into your Dad’s basement office, remember that these are some pretty remarkable things. True gifts from God. 

Doorknobs.

Democracy.

Dad.

So don’t take them for granted." 

Practically, how do we carve out time, in the midst of hectic mothering, to seek the Lord in prayer? 

Susanna Wesley, mother of evangelists John and Charles Wesley, had sixteen kids. She was certainly busy, but she taught her kids that if they saw her with an apron over her head, they were not to bother her because that meant that she was in prayer or in the Word. 

That’s a woman committed to depending on the Father. I want to be a mother like that. I love this anecdote because it shows creativity and determination. 

If I really want to do something, I tend to find a way to do it. The most important practical step to praying more is being convinced we need to pray more. But once we are relatively convinced, we need to ask God’s help to find creative and life-giving ways to make it happen.

Let’s think through two categories of prayer – private prayer and prayer on the go – and a few routines that might be helpful in making them happen.

Some Christian authors describe fasting as the most feared and misunderstood discipline, and perhaps the least practiced in the Christian church. Why? What stops Christians from fasting?

Listen in as James walks us through a definition of Christian fasting as well as why and how to engage in fasting as parents. 

Like all spiritual disciplines or ordinary means of God’s grace, through fasting, Christians engage Scriptural patterns with the aim to become more like Jesus.

1 Tim. 4:7-10. “[Discipline] yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come . . . because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”

“There is no virtue in fallen man by which he can make himself more godly; there
is, however, virtue in the divinely appointed means of grace. If we, by the power
of the Holy Spirit, mortify the deeds of the body (through fasting), we shall grow
in grace, but the glory of such change will be God’s alone.” David Smith.

John Calvin: “since fasting is a holy exercise both for the humbling of
men and for their confession of humility why should we use it less than
the ancients did in similar need?”

The Nelson Family welcomed sweet Katherine Grace Nelson on April 1st 2026. Sweet Katie has been a joy and a delight to all of us. Listen in for a brief update about life with five kids and the magic of Christ centered motherhood.

What is classical education? In particular, what does it look like during the early years? Is it boring? Is it rigorous? It is effective? 

Are there ways to blend elements from the classical model with other models? 

Although this conversation is largely geared towards parents who choose to home educate, the concepts discussed can enrich the the educational experience of all families whether schooled through public, private, or home education.

Listen in as Cara Schmidt, director of Classical Conversations Annandale, explains the basics and breaks down the sometimes mysterious world of classical education.

Listen in as Kelly Schibi shares her testimony of God's care for her as she has battled cancer as a mom to three young children. 

For ease of listening this conversation has been split into two segments. Be sure to listen to part one before part two.

Kelly Schibi’s reflections on her Caring Bridge

Scripture References: 

·       Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

·       In Ezekiel 36:26, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh”

·       Luke 5:17-26, “but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, ‘Man, your sins are forgiven you.’ And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, ‘Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, ‘Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the man who was paralyzed—'I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.’ And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, ‘We have seen extraordinary things today.’”

Books: 

·       Suffering is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliott

·       Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering by Tim Keller

·       You Are Still a Mother by Jackie Gibson

·       Dark Clouds Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop 

Sermons:

·       Job’s Resignation by Charles Spurgeon

·       In the Lowest Pit by J. Ligon Duncan

Hymns

·       Afflicted Saint to Christ Draw Near

·       Be Still My Soul

·       What Ere My God Ordains is Right

Listen in as Kelly Schibi shares her testimony of God's care for her as she has battled cancer as a mom to three young children. 

For ease of listening this conversation has been split into two segments. Be sure to listen to part one before part two.

Kelly Schibi’s reflections on her Caring Bridge

Scripture References: 

·       Ephesians 6:12, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

·       In Ezekiel 36:26, “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh”

·       Luke 5:17-26, “but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, ‘Man, your sins are forgiven you.’ And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, ‘Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?’ When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, ‘Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he said to the man who was paralyzed—'I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.’ And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, ‘We have seen extraordinary things today.’”

Books: 

·       Suffering is Never for Nothing by Elisabeth Elliott

·       Walking with God Through Pain and Suffering by Tim Keller

·       You Are Still a Mother by Jackie Gibson

·       Dark Clouds Deep Mercy by Mark Vroegop 

Sermons:

·       Job’s Resignation by Charles Spurgeon

·       In the Lowest Pit by J. Ligon Duncan

Hymns

·       Afflicted Saint to Christ Draw Near

·       Be Still My Soul

·       What Ere My God Ordains is Right