Bible sales have risen 22% during 2025 (and that is only through October!) while Christian affiliation and church attendance have remained low.
This is wonderful news and evidence of the continued great revival that has swept over the US over the past two years. It's evidence that the spirit of the Lord continues to draw people to him, even when those claiming religious non-affiliation has skyrocketed; and when church attendance has plummeted.
The younger generations (Gen Z and Alpha) are hungry for authentic discipleship, and we are all called to teach and support the things that Jesus taught. In the Great Comission, Jesus’s last instructions to the disciples before He physically left the earth, he told them to make disciples, and then to teach to them all the things that he had commanded them to do.
But how can we do that if we do not fully and deeply know all that is recorded about what Jesus taught?
Are you looking for an individual Study to start off the new year? May I take a minute to share a resource? The Words of Jesus Bible Study: 10 Weeks in the Teachings of Christ covers all Jesus's teachings in Mark and Matthew. I wrote, compiled, and revised this study over the full course of 10 years to get it to it's current edition! You can download a free sample at Amazon, I recommend the paperback version which has extra space for journaling your responses.
I hope this book brings you closer to Jesus and helps you to understand and truly know what he taught. Jesus instructed his followers to make disciples, and then to teach to them all that he had commanded them to do. this (Matt 28:20). It’s this direct instruction - given from Jesus himself - that caused me to study deeply into all that Jesus taught, so that I would clearly know and be able to teach others what he taught. Now I can share this resource with you.
John chapter 1 starts, “In the beginning (arché) was the
word (logos). Now these words John used are significant, especially
significant to the cultural understanding of the time - and to the philosophers
of the time - and the way that they conceptualized about the beginning of the
world. The word arché was used to refer to origins – the origins of
the universe. This word logos was also a common word and concept used in
ancient Greek philosophy as well.
The word logos might be one
of the most significant words in the New Testament, and yet, it’s one of these
Greek words that – the way we translate it – we don’t grasp what it meant at
all. We encounter this most notably in John 1:1— where we translate logos
in this way -- “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God.” But what does logos mean? Or
what did it mean to the people who lived in Jesus’ time?
I remember, before I studied the
biblical Greek, I would read the passage in John 1, and I would think it’s so
beautifully written – it’s like perfect poetry with perfect rhythm. But the underlying
word for “the Word?”What is that
about? I immediately picture a word on a page in a book—maybe on a page of the
Bible itself—or maybe the spoken words of a teacher or preacher or, yes, from
God maybe like in a word bubble – going out from the one who is speaking? But when John uses logos in his Gospel,
he's pointing to something much deeper than words spoken or words on a page. So,
what exactly did logos mean to the people back then, and how does that
change how we read this verse today? In Greek thought and biblical theology, logos
carried layers of significance in the context in which it is used in the first
chapter of John.
The
Roots of Logos
So here is some background. In Greek
philosophy in the time of Jesus and his disciples, logos when used in
this context with origins (like it is being used here – arche (origins) and logos
–it was referring to a principle - whatever it was - that was the organizing
principle of the universe. Think of it as the force and reasoning behind
creation—that holds everything together. Logos was used in this manner
going back at least to Heraclitus, 500 years BC, who used it to refer to the
order and sustaining of the cosmos. Logos continued to be used in this way
across the centuries and it was present in writings Philo – a Jewish
philosopher – who lived at the same time of Jesus and his disciples. One of the
definitions of logos in a more general sense meant the “expression of
thought,” and it conveys purposeful, active, organizational thinking and
reasoning, and planning.
So clearly, when John was using this
language, he was intentionally using this philosophical language. Then later – in
verse 14 John goes on to explain that the Logos became a person. John
1:14 say, “The Word – the logos -
became flesh and dwelt among us.” The logos put on flesh – became human –
and came to live with us. And this is who Jesus was, and
is.
So, when John says, “In the
beginning was the Logos,” he’s teaching us that Jesus is the very expression
of God. The living embodiment of who God is. As Hebrews 1:3 puts it, Jesus is
“the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being,
sustaining all things by the power of his word.” (Interestingly – the Greek underlying
“word” in that passage is a different word that means utterance or command).
In closing, this idea of logos
has a profound impact on how we live and think. This idea of Jesus being the Logos compels us to listen to what He teaches. Logos is not just a concept to admire or to analyze – it’s a reality to live by. Just as the concept of the logos was that of the organizing principle of the universe, Jesus – as the logos gives us the instruction and representation of how we are to organize our lives -- not to organize our lives so that He controls us; but to organize our lives in a manner that allows us to flourish while we are here.And yes – I use that word flourish intentionally – so hold on for that; because I will explain more in my next blogpost and cast which should be next week and will also be on more of this passage in John chapter 1.
So, as we think about the meaning of
logos, especially around this Christmas season when we are celebrating
the fact that the Logos came and was born in flesh as a baby – let’s ask
ourselves: If Christ is the reason behind all that exists; how much is he the
reason underlying everything that we do? Are we sharing the truth of the logos
with others? Are we letting His Word shape our thoughts and guide our steps?
For my regular readers
and listeners, you know that my full time job is as a
child and school psychology specialist with over 20 years of experience working
with children, tweens, their teachers and their parents.
Over these two decades, I’ve witnessed both the
incredible resilience of young people, and I am also deeply aware of the
avalanche of challenges they face in today’s world.
Through my work, I’ve seen how simple, evidence-based strategies can quickly transform a child’s confidence and resilience. Currently, there are SO MANY evidenced-based, effective, and simple strategies we can implement to help our kids develop resiliency in spite of these challenges. However, these are typically only learned in a private
therapy room or in counseling sessions with licensed therapists. Even when a family does have the financial resources, it's hard to find a therapist or counselor who specializes in supporting children.
I know the incredible impact these tools can have,
but I also know that many parents and grandparents simply can’t afford them or
don’t have access to counselors with specialized expertise
in preventative and positive child and adolescent development.
This full reality has weighed heavily on my heart. That is why I have created this first course as an affordable resource, blending evidence-based techniques to empower parents, grandparents, and caregivers to help
their children thrive.
The four-step system I
am sharing is rooted in solid psychological research. It is also infused with
faith, designed to uncover your child’s deep strengths, celebrate
their successes, and empower them to build confidence and resilience. It’s also
practical, proven, and easy to implement—perfect for busy families who need
tools that they can readily fit into their busy daily lives. For now - the first two video trainings are available for free, so you can sample first to decide if the course and resources are a good fit for your family at this time.
If you do wish to invest
in the short course, it is now available for $16 through the end of December,
and there is also a 14 day no questions asked money-back guarantee.
If your child is not
currently struggling, then this course will help you lay a firm foundation of
confidence and resiliency. You will be able to "get ahead of the
curve" that comes in the tween or teen years when the barrage of negative
influences most commonly rise up.
If your child is
struggling, this course will re-establish their focus -
rather quickly. I've personally seen significant positive turnarounds in struggling children in as short as 2 to 4 weeks.
Whether you’re a parent
seeking ways to strengthen your bond with your child, a grandparent looking to
nurture your grandchild’s potential, or a teacher, educator, or church minister
longing to equip the next generation with faith and confidence, this resource and the ones that follow will be for you. It’s my prayer that the strategies
you’ll find here lay a strong foundation for children who aren't struggling -
so that they will continue to thrive and develop a strong sense of identity and
resiliency. I also hope that for children who are struggling, real change will
be achieved, not only for the child or children in your care, but to
your family as a whole.
