Biblical Resources for Time in Isolation

I don’t know about you, but I. love. resources. Even better if they are new, free, or discounted. During this time of isolation worldwide, there are so many companies and organizations that are offering wonderful resources to encourage, equip, and build up everyone that is stuck at home. If you are like me and love resources, I’m sure you have received endless emails about resources available to you in this time. It is so amazing how everyone is coming together to support one another during this crisis- absolutely beautiful.

I’ve compiled some of those resources that are available specific to Covid-19 (many for a limited time!) to share with you- this is just a little snippet of what is available, so make sure to check out your favorite companies and organizations and see what they have available right now!

As we walk through this crisis together, we can model the character of God, a godly response to suffering, hardship, and changed circumstances, how to love our neighbors as Christ has loved us, and what it looks like for the gospel to impact our everyday lives. It is a special time to be intentionally walking alongside those we are discipling and our families as we seek to follow Jesus. It is a great opportunity to begin things like family devotions or your own personal devotions if you don’t already have a daily time with God. My prayer is that these resources will be a starting ground for some of these things in your families and communities.

Alright, here goes with the ones that we are excited about! I’ll start off by listing ones for families/kids and then end with a list more geared towards adults. I hope this blesses and encourages you!

Resources for Families/Kids:

• Truth 78 (Children’s Desiring God) has started a wonderful series of devotionals for families called “Biblical Truths to Teach Children about Disease and Disasters.” The series walks through different truths about God’s character and the hope we have in Him. This free series includes the devotional, application questions, ways to pray, and printables for the kids. This is a wonderfully rich theological study for families with all ages of kids! They also have many discounted resources available on their site at this time.
• World Vision has various great lessons, activities, and challenges available. We are really enjoying the series of lessons that they have put together for kids during this time called The Ignite Learning Series. This is a series of video lessons equipping our kids to learn about important issues affecting the world today such as: clean water, global health, hunger, refugees, women and girls, child protection, and education. They are very engaging and have some great hands on activities during and following the video! We are THRILLED to be joining in on this one!
• Focus on the Family has put a massive list of family discipleship resources together including family devotions, music to stream, articles on talking to your kids about coronavirus, and many of their other resources for free right now including their magazines for different age groups and streaming of the Adventures in Odyssey audio series!
• Many musicians are singing live from their living rooms, which has been a wonderful way to worship as a family together or have it going in the background while you do things together. One that we have enjoyed with the kids is the Keith and Kristyn Getty Family Hymn Sing every Tuesday at 7:15pm (Central Time, USA) on Facebook live. It is so beautiful to hear them worship with their kids and sing along to life-giving hymns together. And our kids particularly love that their kids are there singing too!
• Scripture Union now has many of their Bible study resources for free on the YouVersion app! They have Bible studies for Elementary/Primary aged kids like their “Who Do You Say That I Am” study looking at the “I am” statements of Jesus, through to teenage studies such as the one called “The One Behind the Book” looking at God’s redemptive plan in scripture. These studies look great! Some have accompanying videos and various other modes of taking in God’s Word. Go to the YouVersion Bible app to check these out.
• Free/Discounted Books are everywhere! Check out The Gospel Coalition’s collection of what they have found for free/discounted books during quarantine. Did you know that Audible has tons of books to read for free right now? Many Christian bookstores have free or discounted sales online right now too.

Resources for Adults:

• Crossway has a great list of their resources including free ebooks, Bible verse cards, articles, podcasts, and Bible reading plans and devotionals. I would highly recommend their Bible reading plans and devotionals, whether you are just starting out in reading your Bible or have done so for years, they have many encouraging options, including some specific to Covid-19, anxiety, peace, and hope in Christ.
• The Gospel Coalition has a page they have dedicated to articles relating to issues and topics that are coming up during Covid-19. I have been so encouraged by many of these posts as they push me to see the gospel in light of all that is going on and to lean on Christ. There are articles from parenting to trusting God to marriage to how to navigate doing church online, etc. They also have special things happening if you keep checking back to their site such as: simulcast prayer times, live streams from pastors on certain topics, and new songs from artists to encourage your heart.
• The Navigators also has a Covid-19 Resource page and it is filled with encouraging stories of how God is working amidst this crisis! What joy it is for my soul to hear stories of how God is working around the globe. They also have disciplemaking tools and encouraging resources. I’ve been particularly enjoying their resources on praying for the world right now, praying the promises of God, and Psalms to counteract fear. Go check them out!
• Coronavirus and Christ by John Piper – John Piper has just released a new book offering six biblical answers to the question “What is God doing through the Coronavirus?” This looks like another great book by John Piper to point us to Jesus as our sustainer and sovereign God working for His purposes in all circumstances.
• Desiring God also has a number of articles on their Coronavirus Resource Page to accompany the new book listed above. These articles are gospel centered articles pointing us to the Word of God and being satisfied in God and His glory in all things.
• Join many musicians on Facebook Live on their facebook pages! This has been a real mood lifter and opportunity to fix my eyes on Jesus throughout our time at home. Our favorite has been to tune in to Shane and Shane on their Facebook page. Check out your favorite artists and see if they are doing this too- there are many doing this which is such a blessing!
• Speaking of worship music…this article from the Gospel Coalition has 25 songs from YouTube. We played these one night while cleaning up from dinner and it brought so much life and truth to our household.
• Free/Discounted Books are everywhere! Check out The Gospel Coalition’s collection of what they have found for free/discounted books during quarantine. Did you know that Audible has tons of books to read for free right now? Many Christian bookstores have free or discounted sales online right now too.

Whew. That was a lot! Don’t be overwhelmed by it, but pick one thing and start small. If anything, save these for later so that you can refer back as you have time or a specific thing you are dealing with along the course of the time in isolation. I pray these encourage you toward Christ and help you to pour the love of Christ into your family, friends, and neighbors during this worldwide crisis. May God be glorified and be our rest, joy, and peace.

*Side note: I have stuck with biblical resources because there are tons of other general activity round-up pages out there. If you’re looking for those ideas, a couple that we have enjoyed at our house are:

125 Things to Keep Kid’s Entertained During the Coronavirus Crisis

COVID-19 Quarantine Resources- TCKI

Lastly, another great thing to get started as a family might be to memorize scripture together as we seek to meditate on God’s grace and nearness in this time. You could head over to check out the resources I have to spend time looking at biblical truths about God’s character to dwell on or spend time praying the promises of God! Or sign up below for a wonderful plan for memorizing and meditating on God’s Word with your kids! I pray these resources will bless you, your family, and those you disciple in this time!