Article by: Sarah Koontz
What if there was a way for you to have an eternal impact without changing out of your pajamas or putting on makeup?
Would you be interested?
If so, grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and let’s chat for a while. I’m still in my pj’s too. So don’t worry about fixing yourself up for this conversation.
If we’ve never met before, my name is Sarah Koontz, and I’m sure we have a lot in common.
I love my family, Bible study, coffee, and Jesus.
We all have different gifts and different callings. That's what makes serving alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ so exciting!I live in a relatively small town and live a relatively small life. My days start with coffee and end with Netflix. I’m always on my iPhone, except for Sundays when I turn it off. I homeschool my kids during the week and love to read novels on the weekend. I’ve got a few close friends and many online friends. Oh, and I write free Bible studies.
I guess that’s one thing you and I might not have in common. But that is precisely why we are having this conversation.
We all have different gifts and callings. That’s what makes serving alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ so exciting!
Romans 12:4-5 highlights this truth so beautifully when it says, “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.”
For some reason, God called and equipped me to write Bible studies. It’s my function in the body.
I’ve written several free Bible studies so far, and plan to release more in the future.
If you aren’t familiar with our Living by Design Bible studies, here are a few things that set us apart:
- Our Bible studies are available online and anyone, anywhere, can access them for free.
- Our Bible studies are available on-demand to help you fit Bible study into your busy schedule.
- Our Bible studies take just 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week to complete.
- Our Bible studies are delivered straight to your inbox each morning.
- Our Bible studies are exegetical (Bible-focused and Scripture-rich).
- Our Bible studies are packed with free digital gifts to engage all your senses.
- Many studies include an Audio Version of the daily devotional (+ Scripture reading).
Over the past several years, our free Bible study ministry has delivered nearly 90,000 Bible studies to inboxes worldwide.
Our most popular study, the Psalm 119 study, has been completed by 17,255 participants so far.
Each of our free Bible studies takes hundreds of hours to research, develop, and promote.
We can only offer such high-quality content with a $0 price tag because of the generosity of our financial donors and volunteers.
Why do we give our Bible studies away? I’m so glad you asked!
We believe that God’s Word is an overflowing spring of life-giving water.
The Bible illuminates the way to the Father, reveals the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and teaches us how to make the most of the life God has given us.
It is a free gift to all seeking peace, power, and provision.
Revelation 21:6b says, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty, I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.” (NIV)
Give without cost from the spring of living waters! That’s our mission at Living by Design Ministries.
The Bible illuminates the way to the Father, reveals the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and teaches us how to make the most of the life God has given us.We exist to offer free online resources to anyone and everyone who desires to draw nearer to God through personal Bible study.
We give.
You receive.
We rejoice.
End of story!
For us to build a sustainable free Bible study ministry, we only need ten percent of our readers to participate in our fundraisers.
With the support of the 10%, we can continue to serve the 90% for free.
Isn’t that incredible?
Living by Design Ministries is changing lives all over the world, and this small-town girl can hardly believe it.
My heart is bursting with gratitude, and I am overwhelmed by the magnitude of this Kingdom work God has called us to.
Living by Design Ministries exists to offer free online resources to anyone and everyone who desires to draw nearer to God through personal Bible study.
An Invitation to Join our Discipleship Team
There is a fierce spiritual battle raging for the hearts and affections of God’s people.
The enemy has targeted the Church, and our communal lack of biblical knowledge has left us vulnerable and exposed.
The only offensive weapon included in the armor of God (Eph. 6:10-18) is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.
If we do not know the Word, we will not be equipped to fight back against the schemes of evil one!
Through the power of the internet, we can make an eternal difference in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ from the comfort of our own homes.
This ministry exists for one reason and one reason alone—to equip Christians for battle.
Our free online resources build a bridge between God’s people and God’s Word.
Our free online resources build a bridge between God's people and God's Word.And, now more than ever, we need the Word!
We are praying for 10% of our readers to join our Discipleship Team and commit to investing at least $10 a month in Living by Design Ministries for a full year.
You might be in the ten percent if…
▪ Our Ministry has positively impacted your life.
▪ You believe in the value of our free Bible studies.
▪ You can donate $10+ a month without experiencing financial hardship.
▪ You’d like to take a more active role in our discipleship ministry.
If this list describes you, please keep reading, because I have an incredible limited-time opportunity to share with you today.
If this list doesn’t describe you, that’s ok!
You are the reason we persist in our fundraising efforts. You are the reason we invite all who are able to help cover the cost of our Bible studies—so we can continue to offer them to you for free.
If you decide to be part of the 10%, your $10+ a month gift will help us disciple 12 people for a full year through our free Bible studies, SOULfood e-mails, and uplifting blog posts.
Think about those numbers for a minute. Really let them sink in…
Just ten dollars a month will equip twelve people to sharpen their swords and fight back against the enemy of their souls.
This Ministry exists for one reason and one reason alone—to equip Christians for battle.And we don’t just want this to be a financial partnership!
We envision our Discipleship Team as being a group of like-minded believers who are personally invested our free Bible study ministry.
Today, we ask you to partner with us in prayer as we ask Jehovah Jireh to lead people to give generously and bless them abundantly for their participation in this vital work.
If just 10% of our Bible study community makes the decision to join our Discipleship Team, 100% of our ministry’s financial needs will be met.
And if you feel the Spirit’s prompting, we invite you to be part of the solution.
When we give to a ministry we believe in, we are transferring a small amount of our earthly treasure to our heavenly bank account.
When we give to a ministry we believe in, we are transferring a small amount of our earthly treasure to our heavenly bank account.Paul drives home this point in Philippians 4:17, “Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. “
We invite you to experience the eternal blessing that comes from giving. And from an earthly perspective, please know that even the smallest donations help!
Because we are a registered 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Ministry, everything you give above and beyond the value of the mug is tax-deductible and will help cover the costs of sustaining this ministry.
Well, there you have it!
Isn’t it remarkable that we can participate in Kingdom work from the comfort of our own homes?
Take right now, for instance. It’s 6:25 am. My family is sleeping. I’m in my red fuzzy robe, drinking coffee from my favorite coffee mug, and sharing my heart with you. What a gift!
This blog was originally published on May 21, 2019. During Sarah Koontz’s Sabbatical in 2024, we will be sharing some of our favorite articles and e-mails from the archives with you. Thank you for praying for Sarah and her family as they enjoy this beautiful season of Sabbath rest.
