Article by: Sarah Koontz, Founder of Living by Design Ministries For many years, I mistakenly believed grace is a New Testament—or New Covenant—concept. In my mind, it was almost as if Jesus’ death and resurrection unleashed God’s grace on mankind for the very first time. How very wrong I was! The concept of grace—unmerited favor—is […]
7 Beautiful Examples of God’s Grace in the Old Testament Read More »
Article by: Sarah Koontz Is there a person in your life whom you esteem as a scholar in God’s School? Someone who seems to have unique access to God, supreme wisdom in every circumstance, and an uncanny ability to weave God’s truth into each conversation? I know several of these scholars, and their depth of
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Are you familiar with the saying, “It is more blessed to give than to receive?” If you know, off the top of your head, where that quote originated from, you are doing better than me! I was surprised to discover that this familiar saying is quoted by the Apostle Paul as a teaching of Jesus
The Grace of Giving and Receiving | 2023 Fall Fundraiser Read More »
By Sarah Koontz When I was fourteen, the enemy planted a lie in my heart that grew undetected for nearly two decades. One day after school, I sat in the wing-backed chair in the corner of my mother’s home office. I remember it like it was yesterday. My mom was on a business call. When
Five Lies Teenagers Believe & Biblical Truth to Set Them Free Read More »
I am writing this article from my cozy home office in South Dakota. A steady spring rain is pattering on my roof, and my teenage daughter is typing her final history paper of the semester. My thumb is sore from working in the garden this weekend, and I just got a phone call from my
2023 International Readers Survey Results Read More »
A recurring gift is an ongoing, specific donation amount that is charged monthly to a donor’s credit card. Recurring gifts are easy to set up and provide a manageable way to give a dependable source of income to Living by Design Ministries. Setting up a recurring donation to support Living by Design Ministries or any
5 Reasons Recurring Gifts Strengthen the Global Church Read More »
2022 Annual Impact Report Download the Printable Report By Ryan & Sarah Koontz Since we launched this non-profit ministry in 2017, we’ve received financial contributions from more than 650 people. Most people who choose to invest in Living by Design are unfamiliar to us. We may have exchanged an e-mail or two with them, but we
2022 Impact Report | Living by Design Ministries Read More »
Raise your hand if you love to study the Word of God with other believers. What a joy it is to learn and grow alongside one another as we dip our toes into the springs of living water together (Jer 17:13). I’d like you to take a moment to think of 4-6 people you would enjoy
How to Study King Solomon’s Life and Writings with Your Friends Online Read More »
Recently, I took a course entitled Effective Ministry to Women at Dallas Seminary. It was one of the most engaging classes I’ve ever participated in. As a woman raising two teenage daughters and writing Bible studies for women—the content was relevant and revelatory. In this article, I will share some of the most powerful takeaways
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I’ll never forget the first time I read CS Lewis’ Screwtape Letters. I could not have been more than fourteen or fifteen years old. I was astounded by the creativity and artistic talent of the author, yet disgusted and unimpressed by the demons’ strategies illuminated in the letters. Although Lewis stated that this book was
How to Write Your Own “Screwtape Letter” | Examples & Instructions Read More »
