The article urges readers to approach the Bible creatively, emphasizing its literary richness and deeper meanings. It discourages separating the Bible's literary aspect from its divine nature, stressing the significance of understanding genres, symbolism, and literary elements. It concludes by highlighting Jesus' use of parables and encourages a curious and wonder-filled approach to reading the Bible.

This article starts with the sentence, "Pastors and leaders in rural churches should be reading good fiction." Intrigued? Click the link to read more. 

A moving and inspirational poem that emphasizes the virtues of modesty, the joys of the commonplace, and the power of the "Blood of Eucharist."a

Even if you've never read any of Austen's novels, you may very well be moved by this brief exploration of her faith... and her prayer life in particular. Also (and here's a little teaser), have you ever heard of a "Jane Austen Prayer Retreat"? It's a real thing, and apparently for good reason.

"Despite the pithy title of this post, not all the poems are “Christmas” poems, strictly speaking, but rather they encompass the season of Advent too, as well as Epiphany. Advent is a four-week season leading up to Christmas that is characterized by a mood of longing and expectation; it is oriented not only toward Jesus’s first coming but also toward his second. Christmas, of course, celebrates the birth of Jesus, the Word of God made flesh. And Epiphany, on January 6, commemorates the visit of the magi to the crib, representing God’s self-revelation to the wider world."

Most of us already understand that the trend of people disaffiliating from organized religion is especially prominent among young adults... and that the "nones" express a general dissatisfaction with organized religion, its leaders, politics, and social stances. This article gives insight into this phenomenon by featuring personal stories of individuals who have chosen to disassociate from religious affiliations and explores the various spiritual beliefs or practices they adopt outside traditional religious structures.

This short but accessible read offers insights on reading the book of Ecclesiastes by exploring the constant cycle of desire and the dissatisfaction that follows each achievement. With its bold exploration of existential questions, the article offers a unique perspective on confronting the fear of life's potential meaninglessness and the toll of ceaseless wanting.

Just a cool collection of resources...

In this article, Michael Edwards argues that many people in Christianity struggle with understanding poetry and asserts that this is not only a major problem for individuals, but for the Christian religion as a whole. Edwards contends that grasping the poetic elements in the Bible, especially the New Testament, is important for spiritual insight and bringing together different parts of the faith. 

Paul Kim dives into the world of Christian higher education, where essays about one's faith are as common as pop quizzes. These essays often mimic the linear stage models of identity development in psychology, favoring a neat progression to an ideal spiritual state.

But here's the twist: Kim argues for a more genuine approach that acknowledges the bumpy, non-linear nature of faith journeys. It's all about embracing those moments of going back to earlier stages and honestly talking about the tough spiritual times. They call for scholars to be brave and institutions to welcome this less conventional approach to faith development.

Students can use this page of religionunplugged.com to virtually transport to significant religious sites worldwide, providing an immersive experience that enhances their understanding of various faiths and their cultural contexts. By exploring these virtual tours and accompanying information, students can gain a deeper appreciation for the diversity of religious practices and beliefs across the globe. The homepage of religionunplugged.com is also a great resource for world religions. 

This young Taiwanese preacher makes a pretty bold claim: "Preaching—be it preparing a sermon or delivering the words to a congregation—is a process that currently involves a speaker, the influence of numerous people living and dead, and the Holy Spirit. I believe that within these actions, there is room for the work of AI too."

The author of this short article briefly recounts a "holy moment" as a 7-year-old while exploring Shel Silverstein's poetry. It makes one think: What constitutes a "holy moment"? How can we facilitate "holy moments" for our students?

This article explores the rise of the "nones," a diverse group of individuals in the United States who do not identify with any organized religion, including atheists, agnostics, and those who are "spiritual but not religious." It discusses their reasons for disassociating from organized religion, their diverse beliefs and practices, and how they are reshaping the religious landscape in America. Good food for thought here...

While not overtly spiritual/religious in nature, this 2-minute read might inspire some interesting discussion in a Bible class.

In this thoughtful article, Michael Edwards argues that the presence of poetry in the Bible is crucial to understanding and reading it faithfully, and that the Bible itself is a form of poetic speech that invites readers to engage with its language and meaning in a manner similar to how one would approach poetry, emphasizing the importance of the form and language in conveying its message about God and the divine.

Ok, so this is a looong read, but if you're having a discussion with students about consuming entertainment (especially film) as a Christian, it is likely that there are some good nuggets in this article that could be of some use. Check out this quote for instance: "The Christian cinephile’s first challenge, then, is simply the challenge of any Christian navigating the world: he must always remember, sometimes with great effort, that he cannot belong to the cinema because he first belongs to God."

This thought-provoking interview with writer Scott Cairns presents some interesting notions... including a discussion of the unique parallels between writing and prayer, both of which require discipline and engagement. Click the picture to access the interview and read more for yourself.

This article presents a thorough overview of this powerful yet simple poem by E.E. Cummings. The great thing about this piece is that it is accessible enough for nearly every reader to glean something from it, so it makes students feel empowered as opposed to intimidated or confused; however, there is also lots of opportunity for deep discussion of both the message and the literary elements that Cummings employs in crafting this unique poem. 

The Psalms Project is a musical initiative that seeks to present the complete Psalms set to music. Singer/songwriter Shane Heilman's vision, dating back to 2006, led to the creation of this epic (and growing) collection, involving over 70 musicians and resulting in nearly one-third of the Psalms set to moving arrangements that capture the grit, grandeur, and glory of the Psalms.

This short article could be posted in a number of places; however, it is especially powerful as we consider our roles as Bible teachers and how we share scripture with our students. Question: How are you helping students to furnish the living rooms of their minds? How are you an assistant interior decorator of their psyche and their soul. 

While students today might not remember the band Korn, they may still be moved by the inspiring conversion story of the band's guitarist, Brian "Head" Welch. If you're not familiar with his tale of recovery and redemption. Click the picture to watch a brief interview.

If you're not familiar with this unique poem by American civil rights activist and poet James Weldon Johnson, check it out! It's compelling and dramatic but also accessible for students on every upper school grade level. 

This is a blog that I stumbled upon as I was reading about best practices for annotating in the Bible. I haven't explored it too extensively at this point, but it looks pretty interesting despite the fact that the posts seem infrequent. Give it a whirl and see if there is content that applies to you or your students.

Writer David Smith ponders the responsibility of educators in creating meaningful challenges for students. Drawing from Christian teachings, he explores the balance between fostering growth and avoiding overwhelming burdens, sharing his experience of encouraging deep engagement in students through structured tasks and reflection. 

This site claims to have pinpointed the location of every identifiable place mentioned in the Bible.  From the looks of it they may not be wrong. Let the geographic journey through scripture begin!

We're used to seeing images of Christ in anguish on the cross; however, in most other depictions he seems serene and peaceful. This stark painting by Ivan Kramskoy (1872) might be food for thought for students as they consider the humanity of our Savior.

From the website: Within the pages of Ekstasis, we exhibit arts and letters that reflect the depths of Christian life. In a clamorous and contentious age, we view Ekstasis as a kind of digital cathedral, a sanctuary from the noise, a place that captures our attention through loving art and luminous words. Ekstasis publishes work that slants toward the triumphant and glorious aspects of life in Christ, framed through the arts and literature.

It might seem "cheesy," but Sara Adams reflections on being "cool" to the pizza delivery guy provides some interesting connections with biblical admonitions of how we treat others. After all, her first statement on the matter is that it is a practice in "forgiveness and humility."

This absolutely amazing Lent calendar offers a variety of ways to interact with the Easter story on a daily basis: art pieces, passages of scripture, music, devotionals, unique poems, and more. 

While not an overtly religious/spiritual concept, the phenomenon known as the 'overview effect' might be an interesting concept for Bible students to consider/discuss. The author states, "The overview effect" is a cognitive and emotional shift in a person's awareness, their consciousness, and their identity when they see the Earth from space." It may be worth asking, "Why does seeing the Earth from a distance tend to change people's perspective of humanity?"

The STEP Bible is a Tyndale House project that sought to build high quality free reliable Bible tools, with the aim of enabling anyone who wants to study the Bible seriously to do so. This has grown out of the free Tyndale Toolbar which is being used by thousands of people all over the world.  Serious Bible study is made fun and engaging with this website.

Websites that offer quotes and scriptures in relation to certain topics are great, but this site takes things a bit further by offering bite-sized illustrations that may capture students' attention.

This website helps grant wishes for children who are/were in the foster system. While some of the wishes might seem superficial, each of these children have endured difficult circumstances, and each wish is screened and approved. It is often also beneficial for the giver of a gift to know specifically what they are providing to a needy individual instead of simply making a blind contribution to a cause.

Many of these works are older (as the title "Classics" might imply); however, it never hurts to have a wealth of resources like this at your fingertips. The site also features daily meditations and some interesting blog articles, one example being: "Is artificial intelligence capable of love?" 

The author of this article is a Muslim, not a Christian; however, the personal reflection upon the process and impact of modern-day fasting is intriguing and is (hopefully) worth our consideration. 

These videos don't necessarily deliver content from a Christian perspective, but they do tackle a wide variety of interesting content with relative objectivity. Topics range from the "creepiness" of biblical angels to explorations of strange and psychadelic Christian art. 

This article in and of itself may not be well-suited for students, but it presents some interesting questions and ideas for students to explore. For example, consider this snippet from the article and consider whether you agree or disagree: We never create, wrote Lewis in Letters to Malcolm, “We only build.” And that might dent our modern sensibilities. We create, we express, or so we like to say. Lewis, however, points to the fact that only God truly creates; he alone brings something from nothing, and he alone brings forth existence itself. 

This site is expertly crafted and provides a treasure trove of stimulating visuals and digestible analyses of a wide variety of Christian artwork depicting women. From the website: The goal of this multi-year project is to make the visual record of women in ministry and leadership available free of charge and unencumbered by permission requirements; and to include short teaching elements to guide the audience through the constitutive and pivotal role of women throughout Christian history. 

This short video is easy-to-watch, very accessible, and contains some very practical advice for increasing the quality of your prayer life. Best of all, it's very "safe" for students of all denominational backgrounds. Check out the other videos on this channel as well!

Just a little story that might inspire a service project. Show this 90-second clip to your students and see what ideas of their own they can come up with. 

Ok, some of these prompts are silly and cheesy, but others are genuinely thought-provoking and quite interesting. Tossing some of these out to your students would hopefully at worst illicit a smile or two... and at best, it could spark a really meaningful conversation.

This article about the National Hebrew Bible Quiz is intriguing and entertaining simply because of its focus on an obscure competition that not many are familiar with; however, it also raises some interesting questions about how we may think about or perceive the idea of a contest of biblical knowledge. Are contests like this a good thing? Why or why not? Consider this statement from the article: "In an age in which most kids aspire to become influencers, with the average teenagers staring at a screen more than 8 hours a day.... the kids gathered in this gym are more likely to carry a copy of the Hebrew Bible than a smartphone.

This website provides very short analyses of biblically-inspired works of art that students have likely not encountered. It also provides a link to scriptures that could be paired with each piece. Are you familiar with The Green Christ by Paul Gauguin? 

This article briefly discusses a recent study which suggests that fiath amongst teens is on the rise. This finding is speculated by some to be due to social and political turmoil over the past few years sparking a need in young people for security. Share this article with your students. What do they think? While we have certainly seen that the Covid pandemic had a negative impact on church attendance, could is actually positively impact the faith of the next generation? (Heads-up: You may have to create a WSJ account to read the article, but it is free to do so.)

Donorschoose.org is a website/organization that helps teachers raise money and gather supplies for much-needed classrom projects that will direclty benefit students. If you search our nearby area, there are a number of local teachers reaching out for help, and some of them are right down the road. Brainstorm with your students ways to help these teachers who are in need of money and/or classroom supplies.

"Barna Group has released the second volume of The Open Generation, a first-of-its-kind international research study to understand the identity, values, and views of teenagers around the world. The second volume, titled "How Teens Around the World View the Bible," reveals teens' opinions of the Bible and how interested teens are in learning more about the Bible. It explores how this generation engages with and applies scripture to their lives, and how it impacts those who read it."

This list of 50 novel titles taken from (or inspired by) scripture displays how the Bible has "penetrated deep into the discourse of English speaking people" and how "its beautiful phrases sum up thousands of human situations that could not be expressed better." Can you and your students identify the passage of scripture from which each novel name is taken?

In a recent article for Christianity Today (click here), Morgan Lee explores the fact that Christians are turning to ChatGPT with their theological questions; however, he warns about trusting the chatbot as a spiritual advisor. As a result, he presents a "Christian" chatbot known as BibleMate.org. as a possible solution. What do you think?

The video delves into the captivating tale of John Frum, the American "god:" of Tana Vanuatu, and how the cargo cult's belief in a white tall messiah transformed the island's economy through the creation of wooden airplane replicas and jungle landing strips. This ultimately led to a profound cultural impact on the identity of the island's people. It's truly a strange tale that will likely spark your students' interest. For a longer discussion and more application to modernday Christians, watch this video as well.