Everybody Wants to Rule - TTW Plans Through 1 & 2 Kings!

Welcome Through the Word Family, especially those still adjusting to new school schedules!

Wow.

People are seriously buzzing about two long-awaited (and very expensive!) fantasy prequels series out these last few weeks. Millions tuned in for House of the Dragon last week, and more are expected to tune in for Amazon’s The Rings of Power. At one point, over 30 percent of Americans considered themselves at least casual fans of the “Game of Thrones” series. A staggering 19.3 million people watched the series finale. And the Lord of the Rings franchise is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential film series ever made.

These mega-hit fictional worlds both share a significant theme: Everybody wants to rule. This is also the theme of our Journeys through 1 & 2 Kings. In these plans, Pastor Peyton walks people through each chapter in a clear and concise audio guide that takes less than 10-minutes a day.

When God offered King Solomon anything he desired, he doesn’t ask for riches or fame. Instead, he asks…for wisdom. We may not all be kings or queens, but we all have our own realm to rule, and Solomon’s reign provides a powerful lesson on how to (and how not to) rule rightly.

Check out our 1 & 2 Kings plans on the Through the Word app or on the Bible App from YouVersion. The plans start with “1 Kings Explained Part 1 | Everybody Wants to Rule.”

God Bless!

Pastor Jonathan

Marriage Talks...And Kris Is on the Move Again!

 Hello Through the Word Family! Pastor Jonathan here, and we are deep in the wedding season right now! This year, a record number of weddings are expected—2.5 million couples will tie the knot! That's a lot of toasts, cake cuttings, and a whole lot of "We are Family" from Sister Sledge. But with all those weddings, I bet none will have a Best Man's speech as long as one delivered 20 years ago this week—when Pastor Kris delivered a 40-minute speech—as my Best Man.

This week marks my wife and I's twentieth anniversary. We've officially reached that point where we have been married for more than half of our lives! And the secret to our longevity? Obviously the grace of God, but that grace often came through the wisdom of couples that have been married longer than us. Through pastors, friends, and great authors—we have learned how to love better, forgive faster, and even learned to share the remote.

Through the Word has four helpful journeys on marriage, where Pastor Kris has taken his Best Man's speech and created 23 amazing audio guides! (Okay, they didn't all come from the speech.) The audio guides cover topics such as "Unity," "Love and Respect," and "Making it Last."

You can find the Journeys on the “Bible Topics and Extras” page on the app, or on The Bible App from YouVersion.

Look for this icon on our “Bible Topics and Extras” page!

Kris is Heading to Africa!

This week, Pastor Kris is heading off to Kenya to visit his son Kaleb. Kaleb has been a part of the TTW Team for years—he was technically the first employee! He’s been in Kenya for a year, finishing a degree with Bethany Global University. Kris would really appreciate prayers for a great time of bonding with Kaleb, and for safe travels!

Of course, many of you know I lived in Kenya for 7 years, so I taught Kris some helpful Swahili phrases, such as, "Iko wapi choo?" ("Where is the bathroom?") and, "Nisaidie! Simba anatafuna mguu wangu!" (Help me! A lion is chewing on my leg!") Just kidding. But I did tell him to never, ever say, "Hakuna Matata." It really does mean, "There are no worries," but it is the best way to mark you as a tourist.

God Bless!

Pastor Jonathan

YouVersion for Churches!

Hey TTW Family! We are excited to announce that the Bible App from YouVersion is launching a brand new feature—YouVersion for Churches!

Join YouVersion for a free virtual event on August 16th to find out how you can use YouVersion to help your church build community and connect with each other outside of weekend services.

Churches will be able to create a profile on the Bible App and feature Plans from YouVersion's vast selection. Want to take your church on a journey with Through the Word? Share one of our plans easily with your entire congregation! Take your small groups through "Matthew Explained" or your youth through "Revelation Explained." Teaching a series on Marriage? Feature our "Bible Basics | Marriage" series!

For more information and to register for this free event, click here!

God Bless, and Hope to See You There!

Pastor Jonathan

Back to School Stressing You Out?

Hello Through the Word Family! (Especially those celebrating National Book Lovers Day on Tuesday—what are you reading to celebrate?)

We know that Back to School season can be, well...really stressful. There are lunches to pack, gym clothes to find, and math assignments that always seem to be forgotten until 7:45 am.

If you have kids, you are either in the midst of the Back to School craze or are watching the approaching school year quickly coming at you. Morning devotions are easily forgotten with all of the craziness. (Why are your shoes in the bathtub, son?)

Through the Word to the rescue! In 10 minutes or less, Through the Word can get your family into the Bible each morning. Listen during breakfast or on the commute to school. Through the Word is a great way to get into the Bible, even on the go.

And if Back to School has your family anxious, check out our "Bible Basics | Anxiety" plans. Journey with us through Psalm 139 and Philippians 4 as we learn to find peace amidst life's chaos.

Jumpstart your school day mornings with Through the Word—and find a bit of peace in the chaos of life.

Pastor Jonathan