my project for 2025: creating a study book for the old testament

I’ve been holding onto this little secret for a while now... and I think it’s finally time to share.

For months, I’ve been working on something that feels both exciting and a little terrifying... a study guide for the Old Testament. Just something I wanted to put together to help make those stories feel more accessible, more approachable... not just for seasoned Bible readers, but for anyone who’s curious or just trying to make sense of it all.

The truth is, the Old Testament has always felt like a tangled forest to me... so many names and places and battles, all layered with meaning but hard to untangle. And I guess this study guide is my way of trying to make that forest feel a little less overwhelming.

a study guide for the old testament

What I’ve put together is simple and straightforward. Nothing too fancy or complicated... just the kind of resource I wish I’d had when I was trying to find my way through those pages.

The guide includes:

• 4 pages for each Old Testament book. Summaries, key verses, study notes, and simple questions for reflection. It’s not meant to replace the Bible... just to help you make sense of it as you go.

• A detailed timeline of the Old Testament. One of the hardest parts of studying the Old Testament is understanding when things happened and how everything fits together. So, I created a timeline that feels clear and easy to follow.

• A list of women of the Bible who’ve inspired me. I’ve always been drawn to the stories of women like Ruth, Hannah, Deborah... women who lived ordinary lives but left a mark of faithfulness.

• A list of prophets and miracles. Because those moments of divine intervention and powerful words are like little beacons of light throughout the Old Testament.

I wanted this to be something anyone could use. Kids, families, Bible study groups, anyone who feels a little lost when trying to make sense of the Old Testament.

It’s meant to be a simple, accessible introduction... not a replacement for the Bible or other resources. Just something to make the journey feel a little less daunting.

how i tried to make it simple

I know how hard it can be to study the Old Testament. It’s dense, it’s complex, and it’s easy to feel lost. So I tried to simplify without losing the heart of it.

I have to admit... it all started with a messy pile of post-its. Bright little squares stuck all over my Bible, half of them falling out every time I opened the pages. Notes scribbled in the margins, arrows connecting verses that felt connected somehow, even if I couldn’t explain why.

I tried to organize everything... and I failed more than once. But somehow, after months of sorting and rewriting and trying again, the mess started to make sense. And that’s when the study guide started taking shape.

Short summaries, simple explanations, reflection questions that don’t feel like a test... just invitations to think a little deeper.

It’s designed to be clear and welcoming for everyone. Kids, families, study groups... anyone who feels like the Old Testament is too complicated to understand. But I also want to be clear... this guide is just a starting point. It’s something to use alongside the Bible and other resources. Not something that has all the answers.

I didn’t do all of this by myself. I had help... good help.

There’s Lorna, who came over one afternoon to help me sort through that pile of post-its when I was ready to throw them all away. She has a gift for turning chaos into something beautiful. And there’s Claire... who encouraged me every time I felt like giving up, reminding me that I was doing this to help, not to impress.

And then there’s Mary. She’s the one who prays with me on the hard days, who asks the questions I’m too afraid to ask myself. It was Mary who convinced me to keep going when I thought the whole project was just one big mess of scribbled notes and lost pages.

I couldn’t have done it without them. And I wouldn’t have wanted to.

what’s next

The study guide isn’t finished yet... but it’s close. I’m still figuring out the best way to share it. Maybe through Etsy, or maybe through a simple website of my own. I’m not sure yet.

I’ve spent so much time working on this, and it feels strange to think it might actually be ready soon. I’m excited... but a little nervous, too.

I wanted to share this now because I want you to know there’s something coming. Something I’ve poured my heart into, hoping it will be helpful for anyone who feels like the Old Testament is too complicated to understand.

Keep reading... I’ll be sharing more details soon. And I hope, somehow, this little project of mine ends up being something you can use.

I’ve missed this... and I’ve missed you.