What We Believe Series

Jonathan and I have been working our way through Who is God?, which is the first volume in the What We Believe Series from Apologia. Apologia gave Who is God? and the additional resources to us to go through so we could share our experiences and thoughts with you. We finished it a few weeks ago. So what did we think?

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Who is God? – Not a Bible Study

Who is God? is not a Bible study. It’s a worldview curriculum. It talks about right beliefs and ways of thinking that are based on the Bible. There’s plenty of Scripture throughout the book, but please don’t mistake this book for or use it to replace Bible study. Who is God? explains what a worldview is, why we need to have the right worldview, the nature of God, and salvation.

Who is God? – Additional Resources

In addition to the text book, the What We Believe series has a journal, coloring book, and audio CD for each volume. Jonathan prefers to have me read to him, so we didn’t use the audio CD much. If you have children who like to listen and read along, the audio CD would be a great resource.

The notebooking journal was too advanced for Jonathan in most cases. It’s on par with the regular notebooking journals that Apologia has for the elementary science series. We did some of the word searches, crossword puzzles, and copywork, but we spent more time in the coloring book. Jonathan is not usually a big fan of coloring, but he did enjoy listening to me read while he colored a picture that corresponded to the reading. The coloring book is a great option for younger children.

Who is God? – Scheduling

We started this book at the beginning of Jonathan’s Kindergarten year when he was just 4.5 years old. Apologia recommends the book for ages 6-14, but because Jonathan had already decided to be a Christ-follower and was academically advanced, I decided to go ahead and start the book. It can easily be completed in one school year by an elementary student and older kids could even complete it in one semester. We ended up taking two school years to get through the book. We went more slowly in the beginning and sped up as we moved forward.

Jonathan's Worldview Glasses

Who is God? – Our Thoughts

So what did I think? I loved it. The book was well-written and easy for a child to understand. For that matter, it’s great for an adult too. If you’re a new believer as an adult or lacked foundational training in Christian worldview and basic doctrine as a child, it would be a great book to go through.

What did Jonathan think? He loved it too. He got to a point where he’d beg for more. He looked forward to worldview days. He says the coloring book was his favorite part.

Post about or inspired by Who is God?

During our study of Who is God?, I wrote a lot about it. Check out these posts for more information about and posts inspired by Who is God?

Who is God? and the additional resources are available for purchase on the Apologia website. If you’re heading to a convention where Apologia will be this summer, you can get 25% off your purchase by joining their email newsletter list.

Follow along with us this next school year as we review the next volume in the What We Believe Series, Who am I?

Your Turn!

Have you used Who is God? or other books in the What We Believe Series? How have you kept your kids in the Word this week? Share in the comments or link up a blog post!

Material Disclosure: Apologia gave us the Who is God? text and additional resources in exchange for an honest review.

Kids in the Word Review: What’s in the Bible? Volume 11

Amanda Pelser — May 1, 2013 — Leave a comment

What’s in the Bible? Volume 11

We’ve been watching the new What’s in the Bible? Volume 11 DVD at our house. The wonderful folks at Jelly Telly sent it to us to watch. Insert squealing little boys here! (By the way, did you see our review of volume 10?)

This volume is all about the Book of Acts and spreading the good news. My favorite part is at the beginning of the first episode when science is explained. The tools of science are insufficient for explaining God and Phil does an excellent job conveying this in ways that children can understand.

What about Paul? How do you explain a guy like Paul to a child? Phil talks in this video about how he created the visual representation of Paul and why. I think he succeeded.

My boys of course played the outtakes over and over again. Who can resist outtakes?

What’s in the Bible? Downloads

Coloring Pages are available again with this DVD. If you have hands on kids, they’ll love these sheets that caturre scenes from the DVD.

Discounts at What’s in the Bible?

Looking to make a purchase at What’s in the Bible? Take a look at these offers good through 6/1/13:

A Giveaway at What’s in the Bible?

It’s almost Mother’s Day and What’s in the Bible? is celebrating with a pretty cool giveaway.

Enter to win a Kitchen Aid mixer from What’s in the Bible? here. You’ll also get access to a Mother’s Day Fun Pack printable activity and card.

Your Turn

Have you seen What’s in the Bible? Volume 11 yet? Do you have a favorite part? How have you kept your kids in the Word this week? Share with us in the comments and/or link up a blog post about kids and the Bible, character, or worldview.

Disclosure: We received a free copy of this DVD without conditions and without expectation that we’d share a review.

In Deals, Faith, Homeschooling, Kids in the Word Wednesdays

Kids in the Word Review: A Cry from Egypt

Amanda Pelser — April 24, 2013 — Leave a comment

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A Cry from Egypt by Hope Auer is now available for purchase. I’m excited to share this new book with you. I received a pre-release copy to read and review last summer. It’s all about the Exodus from the perspective of an Israelite family. It was a perfect timing to go with our ancient history studies.

I read A Cry fro Egypt aloud to Jonathan and Jacob after we studied about Moses and the Exodus. Jonathan had already read Exodus in his Bible so his was familiar with the story. It took us a while to get through the book because there was so much to take in and talk about. I’d have finished the book in a day or two if it were just me reading alone because the story pulled me in and I wanted to know what would happen next.

Hope’s writing is wonderful. (She’s a homeschool grad, by the way!) I really felt like I was right there with the Israelite slaves. It was fascinating to think about the lives of the Israelites during this time from their perspective. What was it like to be a child during this time? How would the people have reacted to Moses and Aaron? Hope did such a great job crafting each character. Be warned: the mother in the story may drive you crazy.

A Cry from Egypt is a great book to help your kids visualize and understand more about the Israelite slavery and Exodus. It’s now available for purchase from Raising Real Men.

How have you kept your kids in the Word this week? Share in the comments or link up a post!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In Ancient History, Books, History, Homeschooling, Kids in the Word Wednesdays

Kids in the Word: What’s in the Bible? Giveaway Winner

Amanda Pelser — March 20, 2013 — Leave a comment

And the winner of the What’s in the Bible? DVDs is…. (Be sure to click over if you can’t see the Rafflecopter form in your RSS reader or email.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Don’t forget that you can get DVDs 1-10 for 20% off using the code BUNDLE10. That code is good through 4/1/13 and the bundle qualifies for FREE shipping. What do you think of the What’s in the Bible? DVDs? Do you or your kids have a favorite? How have you kept your kids in the Word this week? Share with us in the comments and/or link up a blog post about kids AND Bible, character, or worldview.

In Faith, Giveaways, Homeschooling, Kids in the Word Wednesdays

Kids in the Word Review: What’s in the Bible? Vol 10

Amanda Pelser — March 13, 2013 — 12 Comments

My boys were so excited when What’s in the Bible? Volume 10 arrived in the mail recently. My boys go crazy giddy over these DVDs. (I think Daddy does too. Shhh!!! Don’t tell anyone!) Jonathan always heads straight to the bonus features. He loves the bloopers and this blooper real does not disappoint.

We’ve watched What’s in the Bible? Volume 10 over and over again since it arrived. I love how the Old Testament and New Testament are pulled together. The explanation of the intertestamental period is excellent. Jonathan was quite excited when he heard the names of people and events that he had recently studied in history.

Of course, the most important part of this DVD is the culmination of the previous 9 DVDs and the Old Testament. It’s the Gospel message. Through the first 9 DVDs, we’re reminded over and over again of our sin but that God has provided a rescue plan. Finally, we get to hear what that rescue plan is. Phil and the characters do such an amazing job of explaining the life of Jesus and the Gospel story. There’s a little bit of the usual silliness along the way, but the appropriate reverence and awe are given too.

You need to hear Phil Visher’s heart behind this latest release and really all the DVD’s up to this point in the series. Click on the picture below to be taken to the What’s in the Bible? site to view this video.

Here are a couple of clips from Volume 10. If you’re reading this via RSS or email, you may need to click over to the post to watch the videos:

There are more clips available at What’s in the Bible? here.

There’s a ton of FREE downloads to go with What’s in the Bible? Volume 10:

Here’s the best news of this post… Ok, not better than the Good News found in What’s in the Bible? Volume 10, but still exciting. What’s in the Bible? has provided a wonderful giveaway for my readers. You can enter to win a copy of two What’s in the Bible? DVDs. The winner will get a copy of Volume 1 and Volume 10! Enter using the Rafflecopter form below. RSS and email readers will likely need to click over to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
And one last offer from What’s in the Bible? You can get DVDs 1-10 for 20% off using the code BUNDLE10. That code is good through 4/1/13 and the bundle qualifies for FREE shipping. What do you think of the What’s in the Bible? DVDs? Do you or your kids have a favorite? How have you kept your kids in the Word this week? Share with us in the comments and/or link up a blog post about kids AND Bible, character, or worldview.

Disclosure: What’s in the Bible? provided me with a copy of What’s in the Bible? Volume 10 in exchange for an honest review.

In Faith, Giveaways, Homeschooling, Kids in the Word Wednesdays