Julie Kloster ~ Bible Studies

Marriage

Communicate Love to Your Spouse

Glorify God Together: A Marriage of Purpose

Good Communication

Marriage Mentors for Newlyweds

Learning to Appreciate our Spouse

The Importance of Compromise

Parenting

Balancing Work and Family Life

Care for Children with Special Needs

Creating a Stronger Parent-Child Bond

Debunking the Myth of the Ideal Mom

Friendships that Benefit Parenting

Loving Discipline

Public, Christian, or Home School?

Replace Whining with Respect

The Ground Rules of Discipline

Use Stories to Pass on the Faith

Make Church a Positive Experience for Kids

The Chronicles of Narnia Course

Women’s Issues

Balancing Work and Family Life

Debunking the Myth of the Ideal Mom

Dark Night of the Soul

Making Stress Work for You

Gift of Life
The Spiritual Benefits of a Good Night’s Sleep

Where Do We Get Self-Worth?

Spiritual Life

Being Transparent about Our Trials

Customizing Spiritual Formation

Dark Night of the Soul

Encounters with the Risen Lord

Forgiving from the Heart

Making Stress Work for You

The Chronicles of Narnia Course

Gift of Life
The Spiritual Benefits of a Good Night’s Sleep

Church Life

Care for Children with Special Needs

Make Church a Positive Experience for Kids

Miscellaneous

Christians and Politics

Marriage

Communicate Love to Your Spouse

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/colotoyosp.html
“I’m convinced there are only five languages of love. Each person uses all the languages, but really thrives on one,” says Gary Chapman in his article for MARRIAGE PARTNERSHIP magazine. These love languages are channels to communicate our love to our spouse. They require sacrificial effort, contemplative forethought, and purposeful demonstration. However, the results of successfully communicating our love are tender intimacy and a stronger marriage bond.

What does the Bible say about each of the love languages Chapman proposes? How did Jesus use these love languages to communicate his love to his followers? What heart issues affect how we communicate with our spouse?

Glorify God Together: A Marriage of Purpose

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/glgodtomaofp.html
A marriage centered on Christ is specifically focused on glorifying God, according to Rick Warren in his article entitled “The Purpose-Driven Marriage,” written for MARRIAGE PARTNERSHIP. Our main purpose in marriage should be much greater than fulfilling our own wants and needs or even the wants and needs of our spouse. Our main purpose in marriage should be to focus on being of the same mind, according to Jesus, so that with one accord and one voice we glorify God.

In this study, we will ask: Why did God give us the institution of marriage? What is the purpose of marriage? How can our marriage bring glory to God? How can the marriage relationship help make us holy?

Good Communication

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/goco.html
When spouses feel safe enough to share areas of weakness, they have reached a vulnerable phase in opening up their spirit and allowing their partner to see who they really are, say Leslie and Les Parrott in their article for MARRIAGE PARTNERSHIP magazine. Becoming active listeners, choosing our words with care, speaking the truth in love, and using our words to build each other up in Christ are all principles of communication that are based in Scripture.

What communication skills should newlyweds develop? What communication difficulties do married couples often face? How might good communication help you to better understand your spouse? How should you best explain your thoughts and feelings to your spouse? How should married couples work through disagreements? This study will investigate scriptural principles of communication in an effort to answer these questions.

Marriage Mentors for Newlyweds

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/mameforne.html
“Newly married couples benefit by having access to couples who have already been through many of the things the newlyweds are just now encountering,” says Ron R. Lee in his interview with Les and Leslie Parrott for MARRIAGE PARTNERSHIP magazine. Building a strong friendship with another couple allows natural mentoring, where newlyweds gain insight from hearing the stories of their marriage mentors. It also allows newly married couples to have a natural forum to discuss the struggles and joys of marriage.

How do both newlyweds and marriage mentors benefit from a mentoring relationship? What should newlyweds expect from a mentoring relationship? How should newlyweds choose marriage mentors? What examples of mentors are found in Scripture? This study will investigate all these questions and more.

Learning to Appreciate our Spouse

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/letoapoursp.html
It is easy to focus on the aggravations, annoyances, and behaviors that frustrate or anger us in marriage. This can cause us to lose sight of the significant gifts of kindness and service our spouse gives us every day. If our attitude is critical or negative, we will miss much of the joy of married life. Rachael Philips, in her article for MARRIAGE PARTNERSHIP, suggests we should learn to appreciate the “daily behind-the-scenes good deeds of unsung spouses.”

Why is it easier to criticize than encourage our spouse? How does negativity and criticism damage a marriage? How can a heart of appreciation deepen and strengthen a marriage? This study will explore how to train our hearts and minds to be thankful for our spouse.

The Importance of Compromise

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/imofco.html
Seeking to know our spouse’s preferences, and being willing to change in accord with those preferences, directs a marriage toward mutual compromise and greater intimacy, according to Eva Marie Everson in her article for MARRIAGE PARTNERSHIP. Scripture tells us to think of others as more important than ourselves and to give up our own rights for the sake of peace. These principles have tremendous implications for the marriage relationship.

What role does communication play in compromise? Why is compromise often difficult? How does our attitude affect our communication and our desire to compromise? Why should we be concerned about our spouse’s preferences? How do we humbly communicate our desires to our spouse?

Parenting

Balancing Work and Family Life

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/bawoandfali.html

Balancing work demands with family life can be a complicated and stressful responsibility. Jane Kise, in her article for TODAY’S CHRISTIAN WOMAN, recommends preplanning to ensure the outcome we desire for our families. Preplanning will allow for financial flexibility and time for family needs, as well as increase our ability to hold to values that honor God and family.

Using the example of the Proverbs 31 woman, this study will discuss: How do we gain financial flexibility and stability while caring for our family? How do we balance preplanning with trusting God for the future? What Christian values should guide us as we determine a career/family balance?

Care for Children with Special Needs

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/caforchwispn.html
Jesus cared for the disabled wherever he went, and he expects us to model his compassion. The first step in developing an effective ministry for children with special needs and their parents is to communicate with the parents about their needs, desires, and practical ways the church can support them. In his article for LEADERSHIP journal, Steve Harris, the father of a child with spina bifida, has outlined practical ideas to help those who face the difficulty of raising a handicapped child.

How can the church develop strategic and effective ministry for children with handicaps and their parents? How did King David model care for his friend’s disabled son? How did Jesus respond to hurting people and their families? How can we best demonstrate love and support to the parents of a child with special needs?

Creating a Stronger Parent-Child Bond

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/crstpabo.html

“Parents need to be intentional about creating a stronger parent-child bond,” writes Kathi Hunter in her article for CHRISTIAN PARENTING TODAY. In a culture filled with hectic schedules, overbooked kids, and worn-out parents, often there is little time left for depth of relationship with our children. Hunter says carving out time to spend with our children is a must for shaping our children’s character.

How can we use teachable moments in our daily activities to form our children’s character and teach them about God? Why is spending quality and quantity time essential to passing on our faith to our children? Why is mutual respect and devotion critical to a healthy parent-child relationship? How can we use words to edify our children?

Debunking the Myth of the Ideal Mom

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/demyofidmom.html
“Constant pressure to live up to unrealistic ideals can lead women to serious problems like depression,” says Carla Barnhill in her interview with Jane Johnson Struck for CHRISTIAN PARENTING TODAY. Barnhill believes the role of motherhood has been undervalued and over romanticized by our culture and our church, leading mothers to feel overwhelmed by expectations, unsure of their parenting skills, and burdened by a sense of failure.

Why is it essential to differentiate between God’s leading in parenting and our desire to please others by fulfilling idealistic expectations? How can we gain contentment in our role as mothers? Why should recognizing the truth that God has created us all uniquely and has a different function for every individual and family free us from social norms?

Friendships that Benefit Parenting

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New parents can feel overwhelmed, insecure, incompetent, and inadequately prepared, according to Mimi Greenwood Knight in her article for CHRISTIAN PARENTING TODAY. Knight said she was also lonely and starved for adult interaction as a stay-at-home mom. Building a community of friends helps alleviate these doubts and gives moms shared wisdom and skill, comfort, reassurance, and encouragement.

This study looks at why it is important for moms to make time for friendships, and how covenant friendships strengthen us emotionally and spiritually. We also examine how intergenerational friendships and mentors add valuable wisdom to our parenting skills.

Loving Discipline

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/lodipatobist.html
Biblical discipline focuses on heart changes, not merely outward behavior changes. It includes consistent training, calm correction, biblical teaching, and clear communication. It also includes punishment, but only in the context of unconditional love, according to Gary Chapman and Ron R. Lee in their article “Loving Discipline That Works,” written for CHRISTIAN PARENTING TODAY. This means we never withhold love when we discipline, but instead see discipline as part of love, just as God disciplines those he loves.

This study considers: How can we discipline in love? What are the components of loving discipline? Why is discipline an essential part of loving our children? How do we focus on heart changes instead of concentrating only on outward behavior changes? How do we model God’s unconditional love and forgiveness?

Public, Christian, or Home School?

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/puchorhosc.html
God created each child uniquely with a specific plan and purpose. Education is one tool to aid in the fulfillment of this plan. We must make choices about each child’s education, considering their individual learning styles, character qualities, and God-given gifts. Every decision must be rooted in the wisdom that we seek from God who formed each child and knows them better than we ever will.

What should you consider in making decisions about your child’s education? How might a child’s educational environment affect his spiritual life? How can you equip your child to be successful in her educational environment? This study will guide you in deciding which educational option is best for your child.

Replace Whining with Respect

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/rewhwirene.html

Whining and arguing in response to an instruction seem to be accepted as a childhood rite of passage in our current culture. This study will guide parents in techniques of discipline that are grounded in Scripture and challenge parents to use discipline techniques that replace whining and arguing with obedience and respect.

Should children be expected to obey before discussing an instruction? How can a child appeal to a parent with respect and wisdom? What roles, if any, do negotiation and compromise play in discipline? How does effective discipline influence a child’s long-term relationships, future employment, and the desire to be submissive and respectful to leadership and authority?

The Ground Rules of Discipline

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/grruofdine.html

“Logical, age-appropriate consequences can solve most disciplinary problems,” says Suzanne Woods Fisher in her article for CHRISTIAN PARENTING TODAY. Parents often rescue their children from the consequences of their choices and behavior. Fisher says instead of rescuing them, we need to set clear expectations, make logical connections, and be willing to get tough.

What are the results of having expectations that are too high for a child’s developmental level? What role does communication have in discipline? Why are natural consequences an effective means of discipline? How does rescuing our children from the consequences of their choices and behaviors undermine discipline? This study uses biblical wisdom, applicable questions, and practical activities to aid in disciplining through natural consequences.

Use Stories to Pass on the Faith

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/usesttopaonf.html
“Stories are a powerful way to connect with kids,” says William Bennett in his article for CHRISTIAN PARENTING TODAY. `God reveals himself through the eternal stories of the Bible. He uses story as a powerful tool to demonstrate difficult concepts, chisel our character, influence our thought formation, and inspire us to action.

How can we use dramatic reading and creative storytelling to make the Bible come alive? In what ways does imagination influence thought and action? How can we use stories to strengthen belief and reveal God’s trustworthy character? How did Jesus use stories to clarify difficult concepts and demonstrate the actions he desires us to take? How can we use stories as a means to remember God’s faithfulness to previous generations and to us? This study will examine the power of story as a tool to pass on our faith.

Make Church a Positive Experience for Kids

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/machpoexfork.html

Children need to feel that they are an important part of the church community, says Michelle Leise in her article for CHRISTIAN PARENTING TODAY magazine. The thoughts, feelings, and attitudes that we develop as children can carry over into our adult lives. This is of critical importance when we consider how kids view church. We want to be purposeful about making church a positive experience for kids so that they desire to have a personal relationship with Christ and intimate fellowship with God’s people.

Why do children need to observe adults worshiping God? How does our attitude toward children in the church affect their spiritual formation? How can we make church an exciting, kid-friendly environment? Why is it important for kids to serve in the church? These are questions we will be discussing in this study.

The Chronicles of Narnia Course

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/chofna.html
These seven beloved stories by C. S. Lewis bring warm thoughts to those of us who read them as children or adults. Many of us have been greatly affected by the view Aslan has given us of Christ. Great scriptural truths worm their way into our lives through the power of these creative stories. In light of that, we’ve created a Bible Study Course which covers all of these books separately, so when you receive the course, you can study one particular book or all of them in a series. You’ll enjoy thinking through the spiritual principles these books bring to the forefront, and how they apply to your life.

Women’s Issues

Balancing Work and Family Life

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/bawoandfali.html

Debunking the Myth of the Ideal Mom

Dark Night of the Soul

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/daniofso.html

When doubt, confusion, or suffering threaten to drag us into the black hole of despair, the saving hand of hope can seem elusive. Even despair, however, cannot keep us from the fierce and faithful protector of our soul. It is during these “dark nights of the soul” that we begin to understand that true faith is hope demonstrated regardless of circumstances.

Why does God allow “dark nights of the soul”? How did God restore Elijah’s hope when he hid in loneliness and despair? How did God the Father strengthen Jesus in his anguish at Gethsemane? What happened when Habakkuk questioned God? The purpose of this study is to learn to embrace the dark nights of the soul.

Making Stress Work for You

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/hast.html
Stress can cause a host of emotional, spiritual, and physical problems. None of us, however, can avoid stress completely. The key is not to eliminate stress, but to handle it in a way that is godly and productive. Holly G. Miller, in her article for TODAY’S CHRISTIAN WOMAN, said if stress is carefully harnessed, it can create positive results in our lives. These results include increased productivity, greater effectiveness, and renewed energy.

How can we harness stress to make us more productive? What is the difference between stress and worry? How do we deal with the stresses of life without it affecting our physical, emotional, and spiritual health in a negative way? Is it possible stress can be good for us? How can we glorify God despite our stressful circumstances? This study will explore these issues.

Gift of Life

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/gioflidoen3s.html
What does it mean that God is the creator of life? Does that mean that we should not be using birth control? What does it mean concerning a decision to have an abortion? How do men feel who have no say in an abortion of their child? How should the church respond to these issues? This three-session course will examine these questions in depth.

Session 1 - Making Room for New Life
Seeking God for wisdom in birth-control choices.
The birth-control pill has given us the ability to postpone having children until we are well established in our careers, have bought a home, or have fulfilled many of our goals and dreams. But are there philosophical, even moral, issues that need to be examined?

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/spbeofgonisl.html
“We are a nation of the chronically sleep-deprived,” says Lauren F. Winner in her article for BOOKS & CULTURE. Winner examines the motives behind and the consequences of sleep deprivation, pondering why we deny our God-created need for sleep.

Is sleep deprivation a subconscious desire to deny our mortality in a culture that intensely focuses on eternal youth and vigorous health? Do our sleep habits reflect our trust in God? What are the physical, emotional, and spiritual consequences of sleep deprivation? This study will examine the priority, necessity, and purpose of sleep.

Where Do We Get Self-Worth?

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/whdowegetse.html
When physical beauty, intelligence, athletic ability, or talent is the basis for self-esteem, the average person can have feelings of inferiority, emptiness, longing, and worthlessness. Shea M. Gregory, in an article for TODAY’S CHRISTIAN WOMAN, humorously shared her struggles with feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness. She ultimately realized her value was not based on physical appearance, but on God’s love and sacrifice for her. This, in turn, helped her to focus on the inner beauty that God develops in his children, rather than the outward appearance seen by man.

Upon what should our self-worth be based? What gives us value as human beings? How can we focus on inner beauty in a culture seemingly obsessed with physical beauty? Is it possible to find our worth in God alone?

Spiritual Life

Being Transparent about Our Trials

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/betrabourtr.html

Contrary to superficial American expectations, God does some of his best work when we can’t make life ‘work,’ when all the outward measures spell chaos and disaster,” says Peter K. Nelson in his article written for CHRISTIANITY TODAY magazine.

Why does the American Christian culture often focus on prosperity in the forms of physical health, material wealth, or earthly success? In this study we will ask: How does God use pain and suffering in the lives of his children? What roles do confession, repentance, brokenness, honesty, and humility have in our spiritual growth, the advancement of the gospel, and our glorifying God?

Customizing Spiritual Formation

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/cuspfo.html

“There is no one-size-fits-all approach to spiritual formation,” says Angie Ward in her article for GiftedforLeadership.com. Ward believes that Christian leaders should help women take the next step in their spiritual journey instead of focusing on how to reach the “ideal” level of Christian maturity.

In what unique ways does God bring people into intimate fellowship with him? How do we encourage others to take the next step in their spiritual growth journey? How is a hunger for spiritual growth created? This study will focus on encouraging individual spiritual growth in creative, step-by-step ways.

Dark Night of the Soul

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/daniofso.html

Encounters with the Risen Lord

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/enwirilo.html
“He has risen! He is not here.” The risen Christ appeared to his followers in different ways, which demonstrated his care for their uniqueness. He continues to meet people in distinctive ways today. “God comes to us in various ways, accommodating our pain, fear, doubt, abstraction, and pride,” says John Witte Jr. in his article for CHRISTIANITY TODAY.

In what unique ways did Jesus meet his followers after his resurrection? How did his appearances demonstrate his consideration of their life experiences, emotional fragility, and individual personalities? How does Jesus meet people today? How do we respond with grace to other believers who experience Christ in ways that are unfamiliar to us?

Forgiving from the Heart

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/fofrhe.html
In his article, “Forgiveness—The Power to Change the Past,” Lewis B. Smedes talks about forgiveness as a redemptive response to having been wronged and wounded. Jesus commanded us to forgive our brother from our heart (Matthew 18:35). Yet because we have memory, sometimes the hurt and pain resurface, and we find that once again we are struggling with the very issue we thought we had forgiven.

How do we know when we have truly forgiven? Why must we forgive others? What are the steps to forgiveness? Does forgiveness always mean reconciliation? This study will discuss these issues.

Making Stress Work for You

The Chronicles of Narnia Course

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/hast.html
These seven beloved stories by C. S. Lewis bring warm thoughts to those of us who read them as children or adults. Many of us have been greatly affected by the view Aslan has given us of Christ. Great scriptural truths worm their way into our lives through the power of these creative stories. In light of that, we’ve created a Bible Study Course which covers all of these books separately, so when you receive the course, you can study one particular book or all of them in a series. You’ll enjoy thinking through the spiritual principles these books bring to the forefront, and how they apply to your life.

Gift of Life

The Spiritual Benefits of a Good Night’s Sleep

Church Life

Care for Children with Special Needs

Make Church a Positive Experience for Kids

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/machpoexfork.html
Children need to feel that they are an important part of the church community, says Michelle Leise in her article for CHRISTIAN PARENTING TODAY magazine. The thoughts, feelings, and attitudes that we develop as children can carry over into our adult lives. This is of critical importance when we consider how kids view church. We want to be purposeful about making church a positive experience for kids so that they desire to have a personal relationship with Christ and intimate fellowship with God’s people.

Why do children need to observe adults worshiping God? How does our attitude toward children in the church affect their spiritual formation? How can we make church an exciting, kid-friendly environment? Why is it important for kids to serve in the church? These are questions we will be discussing in this study.

Miscellaneous

Christians and Politics

http://biblestudies.stores.yahoo.net/chandpo.html
“The New Testament writers show great confidence that the world is being transformed through the redemptive work of Jesus Christ,” says David P. Gushee. “But they show no confidence whatsoever that the powers and principalities of this world serve as the agents of that global transformation.” Gushee reminds us that redemption is God’s work, and he will accomplish it in his time. The church is intimately involved in this process through the faithful pursuit of its mission and the daily practice of God’s will.

How might Christians best impact the culture in which we live? What does Scripture say about a Christian’s role in politics? How might we best produce moral change in our country? This study will discuss the relationship of Christians and politics.

joy@juliekloster.com Bridge-Logos Foundation Christianity Today