{"id":317826,"date":"2026-02-25T03:04:40","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T08:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/overcome-pain-and-spiritual-abuse-to-love-gods-word-again-faith-womack\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T03:04:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T08:04:41","slug":"overcome-pain-and-spiritual-abuse-to-love-gods-word-again-faith-womack","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/overcome-pain-and-spiritual-abuse-to-love-gods-word-again-faith-womack\/","title":{"rendered":"Overcome Pain and Spiritual Abuse to Love God&#8217;s Word Again &#8211; Faith Womack"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>You&#8217;ve feel like a failure for not studying enough&#8211;or you&#8217;ve even been hurt by twisted Scripture. In family chaos, the Bible gathers dust while guilt builds. If you&#8217;re hungry for truth without the baggage, tune in. Faith Womack, YouTube&#8217;s Bible Nerd, shares her rough, raw origins\u2014from spiritual abuse and miscarriage to building a ministry\u2014and reframes Bible engagement as joyful, everyday discipleship. No more boring; just God&#8217;s Word as the anchor you need.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Faith Womack, YouTube&#8217;s Bible Nerd, shares her rough origins\u2014from spiritual abuse to building a ministry\u2014and reframes Bible engagement as joyful discipleship.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47000,"featured_media":295627,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/traffic.omny.fm\/d\/clips\/cbd16f10-ac60-4f09-b4df-b15400ce35aa\/33aaac7e-3581-4e21-a3df-b154011ba58c\/ba1c00aa-33a5-4b5e-82a5-b3ee012db391\/audio.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:24:55","filesize":"22.85M","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2867,2822],"tags":[],"podcast_series":[11401],"cwp_profile":[11402],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-317826","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-church-involvement","category-growing-in-your-faith","podcast_series-overcome-pain-to-love-gods-word-again-faith-womack","cwp_profile-faith-womack","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Cover_1024x1024.jpg?w=1024","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/317826\/overcome-pain-and-spiritual-abuse-to-love-gods-word-again-faith-womack","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/317826\/overcome-pain-and-spiritual-abuse-to-love-gods-word-again-faith-womack","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"Pvt2p6fQ8I\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/overcome-pain-and-spiritual-abuse-to-love-gods-word-again-faith-womack\/\">Overcome Pain and Spiritual Abuse to Love God&#8217;s Word Again &#8211; Faith Womack<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/overcome-pain-and-spiritual-abuse-to-love-gods-word-again-faith-womack\/embed\/#?secret=Pvt2p6fQ8I\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Overcome Pain and Spiritual Abuse to Love God&#8217;s Word Again &#8211; Faith Womack&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"Pvt2p6fQ8I\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll(\"iframe.wp-embedded-content\"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute(\"data-secret\"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+=\"#?secret=\"+t,e.setAttribute(\"data-secret\",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:\"ready\",secret:t},\"*\")},!1)))}(window,document);\n\/\/# sourceURL=https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-embed.min.js\n<\/script>\n"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Cover_1024x1024.jpg",1024,1024,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Margaret","author_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/author\/margaret-coylefamilylife-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Faith Womack, YouTube's Bible Nerd, shares her rough origins\u2014from spiritual abuse to building a ministry\u2014and reframes Bible engagement as joyful discipleship.","meta_box":{"show_notes":"\n<ul>\n<li>Learn more about Faith and where to get your copy of <em>No More Boring Bible Study<\/em> at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.biblenerdministries.com\/\">biblenerdministries.com<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/product\/resurrection-eggs-30th-anniversary-edition\/\">Begin the Easter story early with Resurrection Eggs<\/a>. Start your family tradition now!<\/li>\n<li>Follow Faith on Instagram<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/biblenerdministries\"> @biblenerdministries<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<ul>\n<li>Thanks to the Christian Standard Bible for sponsoring this episode. Learn more at <a href=\"https:\/\/CSBible.com\">CSBible.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Follow us on all social platforms: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/familylifeministry\">Facebook<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/familylife.today\/\">Instagram<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/playlist?list=PLSzse1nmlqbLhDx5FpGVDgLmxy1rmQBau\">YouTube<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Find resources from our podcast at <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.familylife.com\/product-category\/radio-resources\/\">shop.familylife.com<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Download <a href=\"https:\/\/www.familylife.com\/app\/\">FamilyLife's app<\/a>!<\/li>\n<li>Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on <a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303\">Apple Podcast<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm?si=d6dfa8d2415f4750\">Spotify<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n","transcript_url":"https:\/\/transcript.familylife.com\/fl2026-02-25.pdf","transcript_content":"\nFamilyLife Today\u00ae with Dave and Ann Wilson - Web Version Transcript\r\n\r\nThis content has been generated by an artificial intelligence language model. While we strive for accuracy and quality, please note that the information provided will most likely not be entirely error-free or up-to-date. We recommend independently verifying the content with the originally-released audio. This transcript is provided for your personal use and general information purposes only. References to conferences, resources, or other special promotions may be obsolete. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the use or interpretation of this content.\r\n\r\nOvercoming Pain and Spiritual Abuse to Love God\u2019s Word Again\r\n\r\nGuest:Faith Womack\r\n\r\nFrom the series:Overcoming Pain to Love God\u2019s Word Again (Day 1 of 2)\r\n\r\nAir date:February 25, 2026 \r\n\r\nFaith (00:04):\r\n\r\nWe prioritize what we believe is valuable. I think, so often, we're like: \u201cI ought to do this,\u201d \u201cI ought to do that,\u201d \u201cIt would be nice to do Bible study.\u201d But we don't really think about the power of the Word; Hebrews 4:12 tells us it's alive and active. It's not just some old dead book that doesn't apply to us today. It's literally the light\u2014the light to our path\u2014it is the lifeline!\r\n\r\nDave (00:31):\r\n\r\nWelcome to FamilyLife Today, where we want to help you pursue the relationships that matter most. I'm Dave Wilson.\r\n\r\nAnn (00:37):\r\n\r\nAnd I'm Ann Wilson, and you can find us at FamilyLifeToday.com. This is FamilyLife Today.\r\n\r\nDave (00:50):\r\n\r\nAlright. Of all the years we've done FamilyLife Today, I don't know if we've had a woman named Faith in the studio.\r\n\r\nAnn (00:56):\r\n\r\nIsn\u2019t that a good name? \r\n\r\nDave: I'm not sure we have\u2014have we? \r\n\r\nAnn: No. Well, we probably have.\r\n\r\nDave (01:00):\r\n\r\nFaith Womack is with us!\r\n\r\nAnn: Woohoo! \r\n\r\nFaith: Thanks for having me, guys. \r\n\r\nDave: Do you know a lot of people named Faith?\r\n\r\nFaith (01:05):\r\n\r\nNo.\r\n\r\nDave (01:06):\r\n\r\nIs there a story behind your name?\r\n\r\nFaith (01:08):\r\n\r\nAs I was told it, my mom and my dad were doubting that they could afford another baby, and weren't so sure about it. I think my dad wanted a boy. They didn't have a name chosen. My dad, in a moment of weakness, was like, \u201cFaith, because I need to have faith.\u201d I see that\u2014as the Lord, from the very beginning, kind of setting me apart\u2014I see His hand of mercy in my life, really.\r\n\r\nDave (01:32):\r\n\r\nWow, that's a powerful name. I mean, you are\u2014\r\n\r\nAnn: I love that name. \r\n\r\nDave: You are the Bible-Nerd-Woman-Faith-Nerd Ministry girl; I know that\u2019s not what it\u2019s called.\r\n\r\nAnn (01:43):\r\n\r\nYou said, \u201cNerd\u201d too many times.\r\n\r\nDave (01:44):\r\n\r\nNo, she\u2019s\u2014you named it yourself.\r\n\r\nFaith (01:48):\r\n\r\nActually, early on, in making content, they started calling me the \u201cBible Nerd.\u201d I said, \"You know what? Let's own it.\" \r\n\r\nAnn: You liked it. \r\n\r\nFaith: Yes, we are nerdy. And yeah, just fully embraced it. I got to give that to my audience.\r\n\r\nDave (02:01):\r\n\r\nTell us what Bible Nerd Ministries is.\r\n\r\nFaith (02:03):\r\n\r\nI started making content about seven\/eight years ago, and I was really just lonely. I had just done biblical and theological studies as my undergrad degree and moved out\u2014my husband's a pastor, and we moved out to a new church\u2014and kind of wanted to start a Bible study. Nobody really seemed interested in it. I said, \"Alright, I'll go online.\" \r\n\r\nI sat down in front of my webcam, at a really pixelated picture, and just started talking to whomever out there wanted to talk about the things I was wrestling with. I had a miscarriage, was praying through that. Slowly, but surely, the Lord really brought me to some of the best people online who want to know God's Word, and wrestle with Scripture, and be faithful to Scripture. They started calling me the \u201cBible Nerd.\u201d I eventually, went to seminary and shared what I was learning.\r\n\r\n(02:46) From there, the ball kept rolling. I feel so grateful that the Lord is able to work in, through, and despite me; because I'm definitely not perfect. But through it, the Lord's just refined me in my love for the Word and ability to communicate it well. I look back now, I'm like: \"That was God,\u201d and \u201cThank You, Lord, that I wasn't too afraid to step out in faith and just try something.\" \r\n\r\nAnn (03:11):\r\n\r\nFaith, when you look at your Bible\u2014this is a\u2014\r\n\r\nDave (03:13):\r\n\r\nI hope you're watching on YouTube.\r\n\r\nAnn (03:15):\r\n\r\n\u2014John, I hope that you can zoom in on her Bible\u2014because this tells us everything. This is an appendage; this is a piece of you; this is something that really matters to you. You can tell by the way it's worn; it's marked up. I wish mine looked more like that; because it's a testament that you believe: \u201cThis is God's Word. I need it for everyday life. I need it to live by; it's my breath in my lungs.\u201d \r\n\r\nTake us back to the beginning; because, for you, this has a real\u2014\r\n\r\nDave (03:47):\r\n\r\nYou opened the book with an interesting perspective about why context matters, correct interpretation matters. Tell that story.\r\n\r\nFaith (03:58):\r\n\r\nI grew up in a family of a lot of cultural Christianity, not like regular attendance at church, or even wouldn't really be able to defend their faith. I'm not taking really any knocks at my family, but I think there's a lot of barriers to that if you don't know what you believe and why. My parents decided to go to church once they started having kids. I was raised in some really good churches, but I wasn't discipled in the home. Part of that was because my parents weren't actually living out what they proclaimed to be truth.\r\n\r\n(04:31) Growing up\u2014really, towards the end of my high school years\u2014my father, in particular, made a really bad habit of taking Scripture and twisting it to say what he wanted it to say. In particular, he took it to a lot of extremes; there's probably a level of mental health concerns there\u2014quit his job because God told him to; stopped paying on the mortgage, because God told him to believe that he wasn't called to work because of some random Proverb he twisted; or God called him to divorce his wife\u2014things like that that aren't biblical or Scriptural. I wasn't mature enough in my faith; I was probably 16. I didn't know how to pinpoint exactly what he was twisting.\r\n\r\nAnn (05:12):\r\n\r\nWell, what did you think about that?\u2014like, \"Hey, I'm leaving your mom because God told me to,\"\u2014as a 16-year-old, what did you think?!\r\n\r\nFaith (05:23):\r\n\r\nFull honesty here: I could only see my mom as the wrong one; because she physically walked out the door, and moved in with her family. But also, it looked like really moving, like, \u201cWow, you're willing to quit your job! You're willing to stop hanging on your house!\u201d \r\n\r\nAnn: You were inspired, in a way. \r\n\r\nFaith (05:44):\r\n\r\nYeah, it was extreme faith! At that point, I had been walking with the Lord, and doing morning and evening Bible studies; but wasn't mature in my faith. I still couldn't pinpoint why there was a disconnect. I kept praying, \"God, please get him a job.\" It took a little bit of time\u2014not very long\u2014but eventually, I went to Covenant College. I studied biblical and theological studies. \r\n\r\nIn Week One, they're doing orientation, just walking through the basics of basic doctrine, core beliefs. I think they were talking about common grace, if I believe\u2014but it doesn't really matter\u2014I was like, \"Oh, man; this is so different than how my dad has talked about Scripture and the way that we treat Scripture. This is so different: the way that they're talking about God's sovereignty, His control over all things, than how my dad has described it to me. I remember calling him up, and being like, \"Dad, I got to talk to you about what I'm learning.\" He would have nothing to do with it. \r\n\r\nAnn (06:31):\r\n\r\nYou were excited, like, \"Dad, you're going to love this!\"\r\n\r\nFaith (06:33):\r\n\r\nYes; \"This is eye-opening! This is life-changing!\u201d He wouldn't really have anything to do with it. In so many words, basically just said, \"I've decided what I believe Scripture is telling me to do.\" That was really eye-opening for me and made me hunger more and more for: \u201cWhat does the Bible really say?\u201d and \u201cWhat is truth?\u201d and \u201cCan we just twist Scripture? How can we just twist Scripture if we really believe it's true?\u201d That took me on a lifelong journey\u2014eventually, went to seminary\u2014and now, share it with others; because if we really believe it's true, we'll treat it like it is. \r\n\r\nAnn (07:10):\r\n\r\nPart of that was through your pain. As you were discovering more and more, theologically and biblically, how did that affect your relationship with your dad?\r\n\r\nFaith (07:20):\r\n\r\nWell, for a long time, I was afraid; I was afraid. In Christian culture, we often say, \u201cHonor your mother and father,\u201d so you don't really ever stand up for things or disagree with them. There's a Bible verse\u2014I believe it's from Exodus 20\u2014where it's really a blessing: \u201cIf you honor your mother and father, you'll live long.\u201d \r\n\r\nHe [my dad] took that blessing and turned it into a curse; he said, \"Faith, you're cursed to die young; because you're not respecting me. You've set some boundaries with me.\" That was a light bulb moment for me: \u201cThis man is willing to twist God's blessings into curses. This man does not honor Scripture.\u201d And that was kind of the final for me. I think it sent me\u2014and praise the Lord for this; this is His mercy of my life\u2014it sent me to my knees to continually recheck myself: \u201cIs this my pride? Is this my arrogance? Is this really Scripturally-based? Does he have any room to have a right standing to say that to me?\u201d It did, frankly, make me fearful; I was fearful of my life. Ironically, a few years later, my older sister did pass away early, young in life. \r\n\r\nThere are a lot of people who can be so scared of life, and fearful of consequences or the result of their actions; but when you're pursuing the Lord, and living faithfully unto Him, I think you don't have to fear anything but God. A true fear of God will kind of put everything in its right place. For me, I knew there was a pan\u2014and when he used that blessing, and turned it into a curse\u2014that kind of crossed the line for me. It's only been confirmed more and more\u2014when I set boundaries, with my father\u2014it was only confirmed more and more. I was then able to step far back enough, to say, \"Wow, look at all this Scripture he's misused; and this Scripture\u2026\" and \u201cThe Lord does not tell us, ever, to divorce our wife\u201d; things like that. I don't ever want that man to feel shamed or rejected by me\u2014like I felt from him\u2014but I do have to speak for truth. \r\n\r\n(09:31) I do have to stand for something that I think a lot of people deal with in different ways. A lot of kids are looking to their parents to be their savior, to show them the ropes. Parents are stumbling through. You guys wrote a whole book about it!\r\n\r\nAnn: \u201cWe don't know.\u201d \r\n\r\nFaith: Yeah, No Perfect Parents. Y'all are wrestling with it, too. I'm wrestling with it, as a parent. I think, when we all have our eyes fixed on Christ as our Savior, that puts everything in its right place.\r\n\r\nAnn (09:46):\r\n\r\nWhat would you say then to the parents if they don't know the answers? How should they communicate that to their kids? \r\n\r\nFaith (09:53):\r\n\r\nSay that: \u201cI don't have the answers, but I know the Lord does. He's the perfect place to go with our questions. Let's go there.\u201d Be that humble fellow-follower of Christ. I think there's a level to which parents feel so afraid, in their leadership of the family and their discipleship of the family, that they feel like they have to take on a savior role that they were never intended to take on.\r\n\r\nAnn: \u2014have all the answers.\r\n\r\nDave (10:17):\r\n\r\nHow's your relationship now with your dad?\r\n\r\nFaith (10:20):\r\n\r\nWe actually still do not talk to this day. He's a bit of a hermit\u2014still hasn't held jobs or\r\n\r\ntaken care of basic things in life\u2014it's been sad to watch that happen and continually see him choose arrogance: \u201cI want Scripture to mean this for myself.\u201d I can't step in and save my dad, and that's been a really hard thing for me. I can't step in and save my mom either. I believe that I'm a light in my family\u2014I get to point people to Scripture\u2014but everybody has their problems. My biggest weakness is I want to step in and try and take them away, and solve them; and I can't do that.\r\n\r\nAnn (10:55):\r\n\r\nDon't we all?\r\n\r\nFaith (10:56):\r\n\r\nYeah, I can't do that. It's been a growing experience for me to learn how to follow the Lord. When I'm called to step in to help, or things like that, I can do that; but then, also honor boundaries, and my marriage, and my kids.\r\n\r\nDave (11:13):\r\n\r\nWe've said this many times here that: \u201cOften, the pain or struggle in our life becomes the foundation or platform for what we do.\u201d It's true in your case as well. There's a sense that some of that struggle is why you are so passionate: \u201cThis Word has to be understood correctly, taught correctly, applied correctly; it is truth. How do you get to the truth, that's in there, correctly?\u201d It's who you are, and it's blessing the world. It came out of, in some ways\u2014\r\n\r\nAnn: \u2014from pain.\r\n\r\nDave: \u2014a foundation there of pain and hurt. \r\n\r\nFaith: Definitely; yeah.\r\n\r\nAnn: For sure. \r\n\r\nDave: And that's what God does\u2014He takes it and turns it\u2014and says, \"Okay, I'm going to use this.\"\r\n\r\nAnn (11:52):\r\n\r\nSo good. \r\n\r\nWe know life is full of challenges, and families today need biblical truth more than ever. As a FamilyLife Partner, your monthly gift helps bring the truth into homes every single day through podcasts, events, and resources.\r\n\r\nDave (12:13):\r\n\r\nSo let's make a lasting difference together. Become a Partner today; just go to FamilyLifeToday.com, and click the \u201cDonate\u201d button.\r\n\r\nAnn (12:24):\r\n\r\nI love that you're a mom; you have two boys. Even as parents\u2014when I look at the title of your book, No More Boring Bible Study\u2014\r\n\r\nDave (12:33):\r\n\r\nEvery parent: \u201cMake sure the Bible's not boring!\u201d\r\n\r\nAnn (12:35):\r\n\r\nExactly! But even\u2014\r\n\r\nDave (12:36):\r\n\r\nBecause it's not boring, but we often make it boring. Our kids are like, \"No, not another Bible study with Mom,\u201d or \u201c\u2026Dad.\"\r\n\r\nAnn (12:42):\r\n\r\nI know! I think today could be:\r\n\r\nYou're younger, in terms of being married, compared to us. Kids\u2014your boys are six and seven, did you say?\u2014some people are looking at your Bible [study], as young moms, like, \"I don't even know how in the world you're making this happen.\" \r\n\r\nAnd the other thing is: \u201cHow can I get my kids to love the Bible?\u201d\r\n\r\nI think this is going to be a great conversation and great topic.\r\n\r\nDave (13:05):\r\n\r\nSo let's talk about that: \u201cHow do you study the Bible, like you study; and you've got a six- and seven-year-old.\r\n\r\nAnn (13:11):\r\n\r\nAnd you've been doing it for a while, based on your Bible.\r\n\r\nDave (13:13):\r\n\r\nYou had a two- and three-year-old crawling around, probably,\u2014\r\n\r\nAnn (13:16):\r\n\r\n\u2014babies. \r\n\r\nDave (13:17):\r\n\r\n\u2014pulling your hair; diapers. How does a mom, or a younger family, study the Bible when they're living in chaos?\r\n\r\nAnn (13:26):\r\n\r\nHow does she read her Bible, let alone study it?\r\n\r\nFaith (13:29):\r\n\r\nYeah.\r\n\r\nDave (13:29):\r\n\r\n\u2014in the bathroom with the door locked? Is that what they do? \r\n\r\nFaith (13:31):\r\n\r\nSome days.\r\n\r\nDave (13:32):\r\n\r\nThat\u2019s what we did.\r\n\r\nFaith (13:32):\r\n\r\nI\u2019m being real. Yeah, I went to seminary with a nine-month-old; I was still nursing. What would that be?\u2014a two-year-old and a nine-month-old?\u2014yes.\r\n\r\nDave (13:41):\r\n\r\nFull time?\r\n\r\nFaith (13:43):\r\n\r\nYeah, yeah.\r\n\r\nDave (13:43):\r\n\r\nOh.\r\n\r\nFaith (13:44):\r\n\r\nI rocked through it in two years, by the Lord's grace. That shows a passion and a fervor. I couldn\u2019t get enough of it. \r\n\r\nDave: You had like 16 hours a semester?\u2014\r\n\r\nFaith (13:51):\r\n\r\nYes.\r\n\r\nDave (13:51):\r\n\r\n\u2014in two years.\r\n\r\nFaith (13:52):\r\n\r\nYes. It shows you, though, what you have fire and fervor for\u2014when you pursue it, it doesn't matter how much sleep you miss\u2014the endorphins, or the excitement, or just the love of it will just take you. I could not do that now, y'all; I could not. I dream about getting my doctorate; but man, I'm not getting up at 4:00 am anymore.\r\n\r\nAnn (14:09):\r\n\r\nYou will.\r\n\r\nFaith (14:10):\r\n\r\nI'll say this\u2014the person listening is, like, \"I'm not getting up at four.\u201d You don't have to get up at four. But when you truly\u2014\u201cDo you believe it's true?\u201d\u2014because we prioritize what we believe is valuable. I think, so often, we're like: \"I ought to do this,\u201d \u201cI ought to do that,\u201d \u201cIt would be nice to do Bible study.\" But we don't really think about the power of the Word; Hebrews 4:12 tells us it's alive and active. It's not just some old dead book that doesn't apply to us today. It's literally the light\u2014it is the light to our path\u2014it is the lifeline! \r\n\r\nFor me, often, what it looks like is\u2014I am not afraid of morning cartoons\u2014if my boys need 30 minutes of morning cartoons, that is when I'm getting my Bible study in. Now, if it's a school morning, it might be audio Bible; or it might be after I've dropped the boys off at school. Other times, it's the evenings. Those are typically times where we have to ourself, but there is no shame in what I call the toilet time. If you are scrolling, you have time, as much as we hate to hear it. If you're watching other podcasts, you could be listening to the audio Bible. There's so many pockets of time to make it work. I think we find a lot of excuses of why we don't have time to read the Bible when we need to, instead, put all our energy into finding reasons why we should.\r\n\r\nDave (15:23):\r\n\r\nWe all make time for what is important to us.\r\n\r\nAnn (15:27):\r\n\r\nHave you guys seen the social media?\u2014how they'll have these clips, as if our Bibles were our phone. You're standing in line, reading the Bible; you're in the bathroom, reading the Bible.\r\n\r\nDave (15:38):\r\n\r\nYou wake up, reading the Bible. \r\n\r\nAnn (15:39):\r\n\r\nYou\u2019re in the car, reading the Bible in between red lights. It's true!\u2014if we really did see it as: \u201cThis is God speaking to me.\u201d\r\n\r\nDave (15:48):\r\n\r\nDid something happen, when you're in seminary, with the Word? Or was it always there?\r\n\r\nFaith (15:54):\r\n\r\nI think it was my undergrad degree, Biblical and Theological Studies. Every day I would leave our lectures\u2014my husband was also taking the same classes as me; he's now a pastor\u2014we would walk out of the lecture hall. We'd stand, right there outside the door; and I'd be like: \"I can't believe this is so cool!\u201d and \u201cThis is so cool to see!\" That's when we really fell in love over the love for the Word and theology. It really just set me on a lifestyle of: \u201cI'm never going to have it mastered. There's always going to be more to study and more to learn.\u201d \r\n\r\nWhen we become apathetic to the Word, I think it's because we're underestimating the Word. We don't realize just how much there is that applies to us today. Whether it's the exile, or Revelation, or Exodus, there's constantly so many passages of Scripture that will cut to the heart, like Hebrews 4:12 talks about. It's so convicting; it's so moving; inspiring\u2014all the things\u2014if only we will go to it, hungry, and looking.\r\n\r\nDave (16:45):\r\n\r\nWell, it's interesting: I can remember, in seminary\u2014I know you're going through the book of Psalms\u2014\r\n\r\nFaith (16:50):\r\n\r\nYeah. \r\n\r\nDave: \u2014you're diving. I can remember sitting in seminary class\u2014 and my professor, Scott Ray, said, \"Okay, I'm going to walk you through Psalm 11 from a Hebrew text, and teach you how to study it; and then you're going to do this,\"\u2014I remember, literally, \r\n\r\n40-some years ago, Psalm 11 came alive like I'd never seen or heard in my life. I'd read it many times\u2014but as he dove in, and word studied, and put together pieces\u2014I still can remember it.\r\n\r\nThe Word\u2014when you understand it\u2014and I would say, as a pastor, 90 percent\u2014maybe, I'm exaggerating; maybe, not; you tell me\u201490 percent of our church-going people have no idea how amazing the Word of God is. They've never experienced it like that. They read it, they hear it\u2014although, most\u2014\r\n\r\nAnn (17:42):\r\n\r\n\u2014never tasted it themselves.\r\n\r\nDave (17:43):\r\n\r\n\u2014although, most church people hear the word of God for 30 minutes once a week, and that's about it. It's an important book to them; but they don't understand: \u201cIt is the Word of God.\u201d It is your second chapter: \u201cIs It True?\u201d \u201cYes! It\u2019s the truth, and so we should know it that way.\u201d\r\n\r\nYou're doing that online; and people are getting, what I got in a seminary class, anytime they want\u2014boom; click on it\u2014let you teach them what it really means. \r\n\r\nFaith: Technology is so cool. \r\n\r\nAnn (18:12):\r\n\r\nHow did you decide, even with your book, what did you want people to know? \r\n\r\nFaith (18:18):\r\n\r\nI think we all want to read our Bibles; we all want to love the Bible; and then, it moves to: \u201cWell, nothing's really going to get us into the Word unless we have that conviction of: \u2018This truly is true, \u2018This truly is valuable,\u2019 \u2018This truly will change my life.\u2019\u201d And so we move from\u2014\u201cDo we believe it's true?\u201d\u2014to \u201cThen, if it's true, then this is how we, therefore, read it\u2026\u201d\u2014hermeneutics\u2014that's a study of how to read; and then, interpret and, eventually, apply it to our lives. \r\n\r\nAnd then, throughout the book, I talk about what it's not; because a lot of us put the Bible in boxes: \u201cOh, it's just a poem,\u201d \u201cIt's just a story,\u201d \u201cIt's just wisdom; it's not really much more than that.\u201d And so my chapters are titled: \u201cNot Just a Poem,\u201d \u201cNot Just a Story,\u201d \u201cNot Just a Movie\u201d to try and show us how there's so much more in Scripture than maybe what we come into it, expecting.\r\n\r\nDave (19:06):\r\n\r\nSo help parents; because I know parents are listening, going, \"Okay, I want to help my son,\u201d or \u201c\u2026daughter\u201d\u2014five-year-old, ten-year-old, fifteen-year-old\u2014\"understand the Word correctly. How do I, as a parent, help teach them this book and understand it?\u201d \r\n\r\nI know you talk about context; you talk about hermeneutics; exegesis\u2014all that's in there\u2014I'm like, \"This is a Layman's Hermeneutics 101,\u201d which is awesome. But if I'm a parent, I'm like, \"Well, I'm never going to seminary. If I pick up Facebook, and read it, will that help me be able to teach this to my kids?\"\r\n\r\nFaith (19:39):\r\n\r\nAbsolutely. I love that desire. So many people want to disciple their kids in the truth, but they don't know where to begin. They're going to hate me saying this, but I'm not going to lie to them. It starts, first, with them loving the Word; it starts, first, with them being anchored in the Word; and then, that trickles down to your kids. \r\n\r\nSomeone asked me earlier, \"When do you Bible study with your kids?\" I was like, \"Honestly, all day is a Bible study. My kids don't know what it's like to be an adult, who\u2019s not always talking about the Bible. Because that's what my husband and I do\u2014dinner, and breakfast, and driving to school, and all the time, are all\u2014 \r\n\r\nAnn: What's that sound like, Faith? \r\n\r\nFaith: Okay; so the other day at breakfast, my son wanted to wear a crucifix. I was like, \u201cOkay, let's talk about the debate around icons and crucifixes. Some Christians wear a little Jesus on a cross, and some don't want to have Jesus on that cross; and why.\r\n\r\nDave (20:27):\r\n\r\n\u2014and a  lot of non-Christians.\r\n\r\nFaith (20:29):\r\n\r\nYeah.\r\n\r\nDave (20:29):\r\n\r\nSame thing.\r\n\r\nFaith (20:30):\r\n\r\nSame; yes. That's very popular in Hollywood right now; especially, crosses on things. My husband was able to chime in, and be like, \"Well, in church history, \u2018Da-da-da-da.\" They get to see that it's something we're wrestling with. We're asking questions about: \u201cWhat's not just rules? But it's something that actually is life-giving to wrestle with?\u201d or \u201cIf Jesus was on the cross, do we want to always view Him on the cross; or is it just a cross, and it's finished? Let's talk about that and give room for debate.\u201d He may only be seven, but he gets it; he gets it a whole lot more than I think we want to think.\r\n\r\n(21:00):\r\n\r\nWe're like: \u201cOh, that's for seminary,\u201d \u201cThat's for the adults to debate.\u201d But in all reality, my seven-year-old was great with the conversation; he loved it. He felt like we were treating him like an older adult or something, like, \"Hey, I'm welcomed into this debate. I'm welcomed to wrestle with theological conversations, even just as a seven-year-old.\" \r\n\r\nI really try and focus on mirroring to him: \u201cThis is what adulthood, as a Christian, looks like. It means being in the Word every morning. It means wrestling with Scripture, asking questions, listening to sermons, going to church, even if we're late. That's just called being an adult.\u201d I don't think he will grow up and be someone who doesn't know what it looks like to not live unto Jesus.\r\n\r\nAnn (21:40):\r\n\r\nI like that. Well, your question is exactly\u2014I just had someone DM me; and they said, \"I'm very new in my faith. I have a seven\u2014no, a six-, four-, and one-year-old. The Bible's very new to me. I don't even know where to begin. I want my kids to know this, so where do I start? And then, how do I teach my kids?\" You answered that a little bit in terms of it is every day; and you said it starts with you. \r\n\r\nLet's talk to our listener, who's like, \"I want to read my Bible. Where do I start?\" \r\n\r\nFaith (22:13):\r\n\r\nI would encourage you: \u201cIf you're not doing a Bible-in-a-year plan, to start maybe in the Gospels; and just look at what is revealed about Christ. The four Gospels are written at four different angles; they're giving four different pictures of who Jesus is. Matthew's writing to Jews to show them that Jesus is the promised Messiah. Mark's writing to Christians, who are suffering, so he really highlights Christ's suffering. John is so different than all the others, very theological. But if you make your way through the Gospels, at whatever pace you can manage, and just look at who God is; and then, point that out to your kids\u2014have them identify: \u201cWhat do you notice about Jesus in this story?\u201d\u2014\"Oh, He touched the woman,\u201d \u201cWhy would He...\u201d Ask the questions; teach them how to ask questions. You're not really going to teach them anything wrong, because all you're doing is looking at God.\r\n\r\nAnn: That\u2019s good.\r\n\r\n(23:02):\r\n\r\nNow, if you come to Scripture, and you're always like, \"Well, this means, therefore, we have to do this\u2026\u201d or \u201cWe wear this kind of clothes.\" If you're always looking for your takeaway from Scripture, yeah, you might get weird moments, where you twist Scripture; or maybe, even apply it in weird ways. \r\n\r\nBut if you're just going into Scripture, looking at how God reveals Himself in Scripture, you can't really go wrong; because it's the story of God redeeming His people for His glory. So it's the story of God doing His good, beautiful, redemptive work. And if you train up your kids on how to see that, identify that, and ask questions all around it, you can't really go wrong. You are mirroring to them what it looks like to grow in your walk with the Lord, and to wrestle with Scripture, and study it. Again, I think we need to mirror what it looks like to be students of the Word and not necessarily masters.\r\n\r\nAnn (23:56):\r\n\r\nOkay; I'm super inspired by Faith\u2014her book\u2014No More Boring Bible Study.\r\n\r\nDave (24:02):\r\n\r\n\u2014which you can get at FamilyLifeToday.com. Click on the show notes and buy the book there. I'm telling you what: I'm inspired, too. \r\n\r\nAnn: Me, too. \r\n\r\nDave: We're in the Word every day\u2014but I don't know\u2014there's something that happened today that says,\u2014\r\n\r\nAnn (24:13):\r\n\r\n\u2014\"Let's go deeper.\u201d\r\n\r\nDave (24:14):\r\n\r\n\u2014\"Let's go deeper,\u201d and \u201cThis can impact our marriage; can impact your marriage.\u201d We got another day with her tomorrow, so we'll be back with Faith tomorrow.\r\n\r\nAnn (24:20):\r\n\r\nOne of the greatest passions of my life is growing spiritually stronger, going deeper, learning more, connecting to Jesus more. Maybe, you feel like that, too\u2014like you just want more; you want to learn more\u2014you want to grow, and you want to go deeper. You can by going to FamilyLife.com\/StrongerFaith.\r\n\r\nDave (24:45):\r\n\r\nFamilyLife Today is a donor-supported production of FamilyLife\u00ae, a Cru\u00ae Ministry. \r\n\r\nCelebrating 50 years of helping you pursue the relationships that matter most.\r\n\r\nIf you\u2019ve benefited from the FamilyLife Today transcripts, would you consider donating today to help defray the costs of producing them and making them available online?\r\n\r\nCopyright \u00a9 2026 FamilyLife. All rights reserved.\r\n\r\nwww.FamilyLife.com\n","theme_header_position":"","post_header_is_sticky":"","is_header_overlay":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast\/317826","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/podcast"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47000"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=317826"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/295627"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=317826"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=317826"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=317826"},{"taxonomy":"podcast_series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/podcast_series?post=317826"},{"taxonomy":"cwp_profile","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cwp_profile?post=317826"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=317826"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}