New Releases by Focus on the Family

Kids need to know the Bible isn''t boring! Through colorful illustrations and creatively told Bible stories, young readers will be excited to engage with God''s Word and apply its truth to their lives. The Read Again and Again Old Testament Bible Storybook helps children discover new truths about well-known Bible stories and Bible characters and can even introduce families to stories they''ve never heard before. This book, along with the companion New Testament edition, is a great way for parents to start important conversations with their children about God and how to know Jesus as Savior. Kids will not only listen to the stories but ask to read them again and again. Each kids'' illustrated Bible storybook includes: Colorful illustrations and engaging characters Interactive questions to help the reader apply the lesson and live out their faith Age-appropriate salvation messages to help kids understand how they can have a relationship with Jesus Perfect for Sunday school, church giveaways, family devotions, and more!

Kids need to know the Bible isn''t boring! Through colorful illustrations and creatively told Bible stories, young readers will be excited to engage with God''s Word and apply its truth to their lives. The Read Again and Again New Testament Bible Storybook helps children discover new truths about well-known Bible stories and Bible characters and can even introduce families to stories they''ve never heard before. This book, along with the companion Old Testament edition, is a great way for parents to start important conversations with their children about God and how to know Jesus as Savior. Kids will not only listen to the stories but ask to read them again and again. Each kids'' illustrated Bible storybook includes: Colorful illustrations and engaging characters Interactive questions to help the reader apply the lesson and live out their faith Age-appropriate salvation messages to help kids understand how they can have a relationship with Jesus Perfect for Sunday school, church giveaways, family devotions, and more!

Every couple who wants a happy marriage will appreciate the revitalizing secrets in Crazy Little Thing Called Marriage. In it, Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley explore the traits of a healthy and thriving marriage. Based on research of thousands of strong couples across the country, the twelve essential elements outlined are not only biblically based; they also chart a course for a romantic adventure that will last a lifetime. With practical advice and stories from their own marriage and counseling experiences, Greg and Erin guide couples to find ways to work around roadblocks in their current relationship and to intentionally create communication patterns that will take them to emotionally safe places. Yes, marriage can have its twists and turns. But the detours don’t necessarily have to lead couples off course. Greg and Erin help couples map out a journey for their marriages so that they can enjoy the passionate and intimate relationship that God has promised.

Originally published: Colorado Springs, Colo.: Focus on the Family Pub., 1995.

Take your family on a fun-filled journey to the manger this Christmas season! Learn more about Bible characters related to the Nativity and help teach your children about the true meaning of Christmas. Dive into each day of Advent with devotions and activities that will engage the entire family. Packed full of fun activities, Journey to the Manger Advent Calendar includes an Advent poster, Bible character stickers, readings, kids’ puzzles, and more!

When it comes to marriage advice, do you know who to trust? All marriages can benefit from a strong and faithful role model. With so many advice-givers, though, how do you know the best to follow? In The Covenant Marriage, discover how marriage mirrors God''s commitment to His people, realize a biblical picture of what a commitment to your spouse should look like, reflect on how tradition draws you to a deeper understanding of marriage, and revisit the covenant you made when you said, "I do." This study contains four sessions, each with four main components: Tilling the Ground Planting the Seed Watering the Hope Harvesting the Fruit By delving into God''s covenant with His people, you will discover a trusted advisor, and a clear picture of how your marriage was divinely designed to look. "We often hear that the institution of marriage is suffering. But there is good news, too! By submitting their relationships to God and seeking out the right resources, married couples can know what it means to truly thrive. That''s what Focus on the Family''s Marriage Series is all about. Whether you''re in a small group, a mentoring relationship, or you just want to study as a couple, this series can transform your marriage for the better."--Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family "Marriage is an amazing adventure--filled with excitement, joy, and challenges. Focus on the Family''s Marriage Series examines God''s gift of marriage in all of its wonderful dimensions. I consider it a privilege to be involved with this important set of relationship-strengthening resources."--Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries, Focus on the Family

Can You Maintain Unity in Your Blended Relationship? Bringing two families together in matrimony can be joyful, and yet chaotic, too. In The Blended Marriage, find out how keeping Christ at the center of your relationship will help you navigate the unexpected twists and turns of remarriage. You will learn to rely on God''s strength and wisdom to recognize God''s role in bringing you and your spouse together and his plan for your marriage, and discover the importance of making faith in God''s grace key in your life. This study contains four sessions, each with four main components: Tilling the Ground Planting the Seed Watering the Hope Harvesting the Fruit All new relationships face hurdles, but with Christ at the helm, you can rise above challenges in your beautifully blended marriage. "We often hear that the institution of marriage is suffering. But there is good news, too! By submitting their relationships to God and seeking out the right resources, married couples can know what it means to truly thrive. That''s what Focus on the Family''s Marriage Series is all about. Whether you''re in a small group, a mentoring relationship, or you just want to study as a couple, this series can transform your marriage for the better."--Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family "Marriage is an amazing adventure--filled with excitement, joy, and challenges. Focus on the Family''s Marriage Series examines God''s gift of marriage in all of its wonderful dimensions. I consider it a privilege to be involved with this important set of relationship-strengthening resources."--Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries, Focus on the Family

Is Your Marriage as Dynamic and Exciting as it Could Be? Remember how you felt on your wedding day? As newlyweds? God wants your life together to become more exciting as time goes on. In The Surprising Marriage, discover the joys of a faith journey together, learn how to pass on to your children the legacy of a Christ-centered marriage, find ways to celebrate your differences--rather than fighting against each other, and realize how a marriage filled with life and love reflects God''s glory. This study contains four sessions, each with four main components: Tilling the Ground Planting the Seed Watering the Hope Harvesting the Fruit Your marriage was designed to flourish as it ages. As you seek God''s will together, you will find that you can have a relationship . . . filled with life! "We often hear that the institution of marriage is suffering. But there is good news, too! By submitting their relationships to God and seeking out the right resources, married couples can know what it means to truly thrive. That''s what Focus on the Family''s Marriage Series is all about. Whether you''re in a small group, a mentoring relationship, or you just want to study as a couple, this series can transform your marriage for the better."--Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family "Marriage is an amazing adventure--filled with excitement, joy, and challenges. Focus on the Family''s Marriage Series examines God''s gift of marriage in all of its wonderful dimensions. I consider it a privilege to be involved with this important set of relationship-strengthening resources."--Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries, Focus on the Family

The More You Give in Love . . . The More You Live in Love Jesus modeled real love for His people on earth, leaving an example of self-sacrifice like none other. In The Model Marriage, consider the roles of courage, strength, and nobility in a healthy marriage; uncover the mysterious power in that sticky word: submission; learn what it means to display a selfless spirit in marriage; and understand why you are called to love like Jesus in your relationship with each other. This study contains four sessions, each with four main components: Tilling the Ground Planting the Seed Watering the Hope Harvesting the Fruit Marriage is about discovering that deep joy comes from following Jesus'' example of loving another . . . with a sacrificial love. "We often hear that the institution of marriage is suffering. But there is good news, too! By submitting their relationships to God and seeking out the right resources, married couples can know what it means to truly thrive. That''s what Focus on the Family''s Marriage Series is all about. Whether you''re in a small group, a mentoring relationship, or you just want to study as a couple, this series can transform your marriage for the better."--Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family "Marriage is an amazing adventure--filled with excitement, joy, and challenges. Focus on the Family''s Marriage Series examines God''s gift of marriage in all of its wonderful dimensions. I consider it a privilege to be involved with this important set of relationship-strengthening resources."--Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries, Focus on the Family

Learn to Communicate Well--Your Marriage Is Worth It! Consistent, open communication strengthens and protect marriages. Yet this area of relationships is often misunderstood, underutilized, and undervalued. The Communicating Marriage will help you realize the importance of declaring your love for each other openly, learn the value in dealing with concerns early, find freedom in expressing your emotions in the safe haven of your marriage, and discover the bounty in remembering the past and dreaming for your future. This study contains four sessions, each with four main components: Tilling the Ground Planting the Seed Watering the Hope Harvesting the Fruit By learning the art of communicating, you will steadily and surely strengthen your marriage. "We often hear that the institution of marriage is suffering. But there is good news, too! By submitting their relationships to God and seeking out the right resources, married couples can know what it means to truly thrive. That''s what Focus on the Family''s Marriage Series is all about. Whether you''re in a small group, a mentoring relationship, or you just want to study as a couple, this series can transform your marriage for the better."--Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family "Marriage is an amazing adventure--filled with excitement, joy, and challenges. Focus on the Family''s Marriage Series examines God''s gift of marriage in all of its wonderful dimensions. I consider it a privilege to be involved with this important set of relationship-strengthening resources."--Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries, Focus on the Family

Has the Concept of Marriage Lost its Essence? Was marriage designed for happiness and self-fulfillment? Or did God have a grander plan in mind when He created marriage? In The Masterpiece Marriage, discover God''s primary purpose for marriage, find out why a healthy marriage is known as a "divine triangle," learn how to live your married life as a great adventure, and guard against the sin that mars your relationship with God--and with each other. This study contains four sessions, each with four main components: Tilling the Ground Planting the Seed Watering the Hope Harvesting the Fruit With some heartfelt digging, you can discover God''s infallible master plan for your marriage. "We often hear that the institution of marriage is suffering. But there is good news, too! By submitting their relationships to God and seeking out the right resources, married couples can know what it means to truly thrive. That''s what Focus on the Family''s Marriage Series is all about. Whether you''re in a small group, a mentoring relationship, or you just want to study as a couple, this series can transform your marriage for the better."--Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family "Marriage is an amazing adventure--filled with excitement, joy, and challenges. Focus on the Family''s Marriage Series examines God''s gift of marriage in all of its wonderful dimensions. I consider it a privilege to be involved with this important set of relationship-strengthening resources."--Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries, Focus on the Family

Is There Such a Thing as a Fair Fight in Love? All long-term relationships face challenges and conflict--even marriages. Especially marriages. How can you deal with those conflicts in a godly and healing way? In The Fighting Marriage, uncover the causes of conflict, learn how to have a "good" fight, find ways to keep talking, and discover the art of confronting in a caring and loving way. This study contains four sessions, each with four main components: Tilling the Ground Planting the Seed Watering the Hope Harvesting the Fruit Some things are worth fighting for . . . your marriage is one of them. "We often hear that the institution of marriage is suffering. But there is good news, too! By submitting their relationships to God and seeking out the right resources, married couples can know what it means to truly thrive. That''s what Focus on the Family''s Marriage Series is all about. Whether you''re in a small group, a mentoring relationship, or you just want to study as a couple, this series can transform your marriage for the better."--Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family "Marriage is an amazing adventure--filled with excitement, joy, and challenges. Focus on the Family''s Marriage Series examines God''s gift of marriage in all of its wonderful dimensions. I consider it a privilege to be involved with this important set of relationship-strengthening resources."--Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries, Focus on the Family

Can You Maintain Unity in Your Blended Relationship? Bringing two families together in matrimony can be joyful, and yet chaotic, too. In The Blended Marriage, find out how keeping Christ at the center of your relationship will help you navigate the unexpected twists and turns of remarriage. You will learn to rely on God''s strength and wisdom to recognize God''s role in bringing you and your spouse together and his plan for your marriage, and discover the importance of making faith in God''s grace key in your life. This study contains four sessions, each with four main components: Tilling the Ground Planting the Seed Watering the Hope Harvesting the Fruit All new relationships face hurdles, but with Christ at the helm, you can rise above challenges in your beautifully blended marriage. "We often hear that the institution of marriage is suffering. But there is good news, too! By submitting their relationships to God and seeking out the right resources, married couples can know what it means to truly thrive. That''s what Focus on the Family''s Marriage Series is all about. Whether you''re in a small group, a mentoring relationship, or you just want to study as a couple, this series can transform your marriage for the better."--Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family "Marriage is an amazing adventure--filled with excitement, joy, and challenges. Focus on the Family''s Marriage Series examines God''s gift of marriage in all of its wonderful dimensions. I consider it a privilege to be involved with this important set of relationship-strengthening resources."--Dr. Greg Smalley, Vice President, Family Ministries, Focus on the Family

Remember how you felt on your wedding day? As newlyweds? God wants the dreams and experiences you had together then to become more exciting as time goes on. In The Surprising Marriage, discover the joys of being on a faith journey together as a couple, learn how to pass on to your children the legacy of a Christ-centered marriage, find ways to celebrate you and your spouse’s differences—rather than fighting against each other, and realize how a marriage filled with life and love reflects God’s glory. This study contains four sessions, each with four main components: Tilling the Ground: personal questions Planting the Seed: studying the Word Watering the Hope: personal application and review Harvesting the Fruit: action steps

The Family Project Devotional offers a year of powerful inspiration and biblical application to spouses and parents. Taking biblical admonitions, such as to bear one another’s burdens and to encourage one another, this devotional then applies them specifically to family life. For each of the 52 weeks, this devotional offers The week’s title and topic An opening prayer Scripture readings for each day, plus a featured verse of the week Reflection questions or an activity for each day A summary of the biblical teachings Quotable quotes Closing prayer This devotional complements Focus on the Family’s much-anticipated The Family Project, a curriculum designed to change the way moms, dads, wives, and husbands see themselves—and to help them build healthy households from the best blueprint of all.

Everybody needs the essentials! That''s what you get in this powerful, entertaining DVD series from Focus on the Family. Hosted by popular counselor and author Greg Smalley, the Essentials of Marriage series brings top relationship experts into your home or church--with practical wisdom, honest confessions, and decades of experience. In Essentials of Marriage: Handle with Care, experts like Gary and Barb Rosberg, Kay Arthur, and Dave Ramsey present hard-hitting strategies for couples to deal with the biggest threats to growing together . . . including anger, depression, and financial troubles. You and your spouse or group will discover new, Bible-based ways to beat these marriage busters.

Everybody needs the essentials! That''s what you get in this powerful, entertaining DVD series from Focus on the Family. Hosted by popular counselor and author Greg Smalley, the Essentials of Marriage series brings top relationship experts into your home or church-with practical wisdom, honest confessions, and decades of experience. Essentials of Marriage: Who Did You Really Marry? shows how even opposites can get along, communicate, and resolve disagreements. Gary Chapman explains the five love languages that bring couples closer. With insights from Les and Leslie Parrott, John Trent, and more, you and your spouse or group will discover how two very different people can "become one" as God intended.

Divinely Designed tackles the issue of femininity, God''s design for women, and the biblical truth about how to be a godly woman in the midst of societal expectations and pressures. Over the years, this topic has caused confusion for many women. And yet God has not kept His plan secret. He has written it indelibly in the hearts of humankind and in His written word, the Bible. As we understand and embrace His design for us, we will find the fulfillment, balance, and peace that He intends for us to enjoy. Like previous volumes in the Focus on the Family Women''s Bible Study Series, Divinely Designed includes leader''s notes.

The theme of this study is “What constitutes healthy communication within a marriage relationship? This four session Bible study will tour through the importance of (1) expressing love openly, (2) dealing with honesty problems, (3) expressing emotions appropriately and finally (4) remembering the past and dreaming for the future.

Seventh in the Focus on the Family Women''s Bible Study Series, Women of Purpose will help women deal with the issues of purpose, direction, and contentment in a biblically based and relevant way. Provides the opportunity for women to reconnect with their Savior and one another through Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and activities.

Seventh in the Focus on the Family Women''s Bible Study Series, Created Beautiful guides women through a path of discovering their true beauty and worth in Christ and addresses issues that surround a woman''s perception of her body. Provides the opportunity for women to reconnect with their Savior and one another through Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and activities.

Now You Can Lead the Women in Your Church on a Journey of Fellowship and Fun! In America today, Christian churches are held together through the prayer and service of women--yet many of these women are overwhelmed and in need of a break so that they can reconnect with the Lord. That''s why Focus on the Family has combined the best features of women''s ministries and created these new resources to give women of all ages a chance to get together for quality time with each other--and with God. The essential principles in this guide were specially selected to help you lead a ministry that comprises women from different generations and backgrounds. Even if you''ve never led a group before, you can successfully start, run, and grow a women''s ministry with the step-by-step guidelines in this manual. Help the women in your church join together for a journey of laughter and growth in Christ.

Study #4 in the Focus on the Family Women’s Bible Study Series. This study will help women build godly relationships with one another and experience the joy and support that comes from bearing each other''s burdens and lifting one another up in prayer. Provides the opportunity for women to reconnect with their Savior and one another through Bible study, prayer, fellowship and activities.

Third in the Focus on the Family Women''s Bible Study Series, Balanced Living gives women the tools to understand how to balance the various demands on their time, while still maintaining an intimate relationship with their God. Provides the opportunity for women to reconnect with their Savior and one another through Bible study, prayer, fellowship, and activities.

STUDY #2 IN SERIES Helps women experience emotional and spiritual healing in overcoming past hurts and pains. Provides the opportunity for women to reconnect with their Savior and one another through Bible study, prayer, fellowship and activities. The Women''s Ministry Kit gives a leader everything they need to start an effective women''s ministry at their church. Trade Paper.

Study #1 in the Focus on the Family Women’s Bible Study Series, The Worth of a Woman Bible Study will help women discover their true identify in Christ and develop a closer relationship with their Savior. The Focus on the Family Women''s Ministry Series provides the opportunity for women to reconnect with their Savior and one another through Bible study, prayer, fellowship and activities.

This Bible study explores the concept that understanding and practicing biblical stewardship as a way of life gives joy and longevity to a marriage. It will lead couples to discover how to be good managers of the time, talents, finances, possessions and people that God has uniquely provided for them. This the eighth study in the marriage series.

This resource is much more than a mere leader''s guide for the Focus on the Family Marriage Series; it is a manual for developing and sustaining a ministry to marriages in your church and community. With marriages in our culture-and even the Church- in dire straits, there is a desperate need for the Church and it''s leaders to stand in the gap for families and marriages. Gleaned from ministries around the nation, this manual contains information on how and where to begin, types of ministry settings, staffing and organization of the ministry. It also includes basic information on learning styles and how to teach adults, develop lessons and encourage discussion. It will also include reproducible forms, publicity aids and clip art, as well as a listing of additional resources.

This resource is much more than a mere leader''s guide for the Focus on the Family Marriage Series; it is a manual for developing and sustaining a ministry to marriages in your church and community. With marriages in our culture--and even the church--in dire straits, there is a desperate need for the church and its leaders to stand in the gap for families and marriages. Gleaned from ministries around the nation, this manual contains information on how and where to begin, types of ministry settings, staffing, and organization of the ministry. It also includes basic information on learning styles and how to teach adults, develop lessons, and encourage discussion. It will also include reproducible forms, publicity aids, and clip art, as well as a listing of additional resources.

This Bible study explores God''s plan for marriage as a reflection of His glory and emphasizes that marriage in a three-way relationship with Him will bring true happiness and self-fulfillment. The heart of the program is seven Bible studies. Each one consists of four sessions, takes about 45 minutes to complete and focuses on issues that can impact couples at every stage of their married life. Extremely flexible, the Focus on the Family Marriage Series can be used in a variety of settings: Sunday School, small groups, counseling sessions and more. Get the entire program with the Group Starter Kit.