Whether you are a new Christian or have been walking with God a long time, it’s always good to have resources at your disposal. The Bible should always be the source of wisdom and instruction, but sometimes there are passages that are difficult to understand or that you would like to dig a little deeper into. (2 Timothy 2:15)

One of my favorite resources is Wisdom International. From daily devotionals to full length sermons and now a monthly magazine, they have more content than I could ever use. I really like their Wisdom for the Heart program – it’s a radio broadcast (on BBN or online) of Stephen Davey’s sermons over the past 30 years. I’ve been blessed to listen to it on my way to work for years. Even Bible passages that I am familiar with can still have new relevance based on how it is presented. I’ve also learned that the Bible needs to be viewed through context (rather than single verse selection), time frame (what was the world like when it was written) and audience (is this something specifically that applies to one group of people or is it timeless for all). I recommend it for both casual listening and deeper study.

I know I mentioned the Bible already, but the Bible app is a really great research assistant. Beside the daily devotions available, their search engine is helpful in finding specific verses or topics. There’s also a community connection area, but I have not used it as of yet. One of my favorite parts is the translations available. As I am not able to go back to the original Greek and Hebrew, I can compare different translations. I grew up a strict KJV reader, but now I usually use ESV or NASB as the vernacular is easier to understand without losing historical distance. However, I will still sometimes review an NIV or NLT as well to get a broader picture of the verses. If internet usage on a phone is difficult, then I would suggest getting a good study Bible with margins big enough to write in.

If you have a heart for children and want to see them brought to saving faith, I recommend getting involved with your local chapter of Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). Their focus is presenting the Gospel to kids in schools, playgrounds and home gatherings through Good News Clubs (Matthew 18:1-6). They also have 5 Day Clubs (usually in summer) that teach teenagers how to run similar clubs in their home towns. While I no longer work for them, I still remember and use the tools and knowledge gained in my time training and teaching there.

While there are many more great resources out there, these would be the ones I use most (plus Google searches of course). I hope you are finding what sources work best for you at your stage of our journey together.