When you were a little kid, did you and your siblings ever sneak out of bed into the living room late at night to hear what the grown-ups were talking about? Maybe you hung back in the shadows and darted behind an overstuffed chair, then listened intensely.
Sometimes there were serious words in low tones. You didn’t know what they were talking about, but their tone made you feel afraid. Sometimes, though, there were 
giggles and whispers in happy tones, and you were curious. You wanted to get closer and see what they were happy about. You wanted to be a part of it. If you got caught, they’d smile and shush you all back to bed. You felt happy, secure, and included, but you wanted to be there!
Well, that’s kinda how I felt when I previewed the newest online women’s Bible study by Sarah Koontz, Before I Go: happy, secure, and included.
I felt like a bunch of us little sisters got to sneak into the back of the Upper Room, where Jesus, the Great Teacher of Israel, and His disciples were. We could stay as long as we were quiet, but you know how quiet a small gaggle of curious, wriggling little girls can be! And there is Sarah, who can see over the tops of our fuzzy heads and quietly whisper what was happening back to us, and what the Great Teacher was saying and doing.
In Before I Go, Sarah breaks the bread of life as she shares Jesus’ final, most intimate words to His disciples. I think John chapters 14 through 17 is my favorite passage in my favorite gospel.
It’s astounding when you realize that He spoke these warm words the night before He was to be brutally sacrificed for our sins. And Sarah covers all the major bases as she unpacks each concept that Jesus shared in His last talk.
I love everything about this study: the wording, illustrations, and action points. I love the free digital gifts from the many creative partners who help the ministry which sponsors these free online studies. CLICK HERE: Living by Design.
I even love the theme color: a beautiful, rich, deep denim blue. It made me think of swirls of snow on a wintry evening, in late November. It looked the way I felt when I thought of Jesus’ last words to His disciples—and to us.
It was getting physically dark and spiritually cold. The enemy of God and mankind was coming for His head, and He had to give it. He knew He was leaving them, but He also knew that He was coming back.The winter of mankind was about to descend, and His words were the warmth we needed to get through the freezing cold reality that God had to die for our sins. Click To Tweet
Those big, rugged, simple men couldn’t comprehend what was about to happen, and He was trying to prepare them. When He died, He knew it would get spiritually icy. The winter of mankind was about to descend, and His words were the warmth we needed to get through the freezing cold reality that God had to die for our sins.
Let me share three of my many favorite takeaways that I acquired through reading this study:
On the very first day, Day 1, I love how Sarah used a very common social custom to segue into something Jesus might tell you today. And I love how she worded how He might say it today!
On Day 8, Sarah shares about one of her very favorite pastimes, something which she 
blogged about in her previous blogging life as an expert. She breaks down Jesus’ ideas concerning it very simply but with personal experience and expertise. My dad kind of did what she did, but was no expert. I got a new understanding of Jesus’ words from Sarah’s savvy and skills in this area.
From Day 16 I really like this quote from Sarah as we get closer to the end:
When we choose to share in His life, we share in His victory, and our lives become an extension of His work.
When we choose to share in His life, we share in His victory, and our lives become an extension of His work. —Sarah Koontz, creator of Before I Go online study Click To TweetI know it’s true, not only because God’s Word says so, but because I have to live it every day of my life. Our entire identity and existence is wrapped around who Jesus is. Sarah takes the time to explain what this means, using several cross references that clarify all that He did to secure and strengthen our place as His followers.
I appreciate Sarah’s taking the time to seek the Lord out to craft these studies. I really like this one. I hope you will join us starting Monday, October 15!
If you think Bible studies are boring and cumbersome and take up too much time, you haven’t seen Sarah’s studies! These studies from Living by Design are structured specifically for the busy contemporary Christian woman. Women who are busy feeding their babies, running their businesses, finishing online courses, grocery shopping, house cleaning, and who-knows-what-else… You know, women like us.
When you sign up, you will receive a welcome letter and a free digital gift.
Here’s what you can expect starting October 15:
- A daily email in your inbox with today’s study
- Each study takes about 15 minutes to complete and can be done on any of your devices
- The weekly format is five days on, then two days off for rest and contemplation
- Lots of free digital gifts every weekend from the partners of Living by Design
- Audio version will be available
- This study only lasts for three weeks!
- And if you pre-register before October 15, you will be entered to win a gorgeous, hand-painted bible by Wheat and Honey. See them here: Wheat & Honey Company
To sign up and start on time with us October 15, and be entered in the drawing for the gorgeous, hand-painted bible, CLICK HERE: FREE online study, “Before I Go”.
I’ll meet you next Monday in our inboxes!
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
