Disclaimer: I received a FREE copy of this product through the HOMESCHOOL REVIEW CREW in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way.
It is impossible to read or to meditate on this letter too much or too well.”
Luther’s (1483 -1546) Preface to Romans
If you agree with the above quote from Martin Luther, then you’ll know why I was excited to check out Faith Journeys Bible Study Series: Romans bundle from Julie Naturally. Romans lays the framework and foundation for the believer, and is designed to establish the believer in the gospel of grace.
What are Faith Journeys Bible studies?
Faith Journey Bible studies are written by Julie Polanco. The Faith Journeys Bible Study Series: Romans Bundle is an eight week long study. The Faith Journeys Bible Study Series: Philippians is a four week study. Both studies contain daily Bible passages to read, four to five questions to answer, printable memory verse cards, and weekly coloring pages. The Romans study also has weekly videos to view before the study and are approximately 10-12 minutes in length. The studies are designed to be done in 15-20 minutes, 6 days a week. Julie recommends printing them out and putting them in a binder. There is ample room to write your answers to the questions on the printed pages.
How I used Faith Journeys
While most people enjoy having quiet time in the mornings, I am a night owl. There are no disruptions, and I tend to think clearer when I have nothing else pressing to do for the day. With my Bible, my printed study pages, and a hot cup of coffee, I began the Romans study with the video. I like the idea of the weekly check in video with Julie. The conversational tone makes it seem personal, like I was sharing my cup of coffee with a friend. The web-cam style quality of the videos were at times difficult to watch because of the grainy quality. The video segments also lacked organization and guidance as to what to do next. Although she seems knowledgable in the Word, her thoughts came across as choppy to me.
The accompanying worksheets simply were not my style. I felt like many of the questions were human/emotion based and led me away from the text. I was hoping for more teaching from the text itself. The questions are thought provoking, but some feel random and not really linked to the day’s reading. I prefer studying the actual verses and what they mean, and what I can be taught from them. Romans is thick with doctrine for the believer. There are so many “teachable” things in Romans – teach me!
The coloring pages were a nice touch. An added bonus would be to have a verse on them to go with the study. The memory cards were also nice to cut out and put where you will see them often. That is one of the best ways for me to learn them. However, I would have liked the option to have the King James version, as that is the version I’d rather memorize from.
I looked over the shorter Philippians study, and it is the same style, without the video component. While the Faith Journeys Bible series were not my style, I do applaud Julie for taking the time to create these studies. I do like the lesson layout and the fact that it is doable and not overwhelming for the average busy mom. More importantly, the studies get you in the Word, and Romans is the best place to start.
Although this may not have been exactly what I am looking for in a Bible study, I’m only one of 40 other crew members who reviewed the Faith Journeys. Click the banner below to read what my fellow reviewers thought of this series.
