In All Things by Melissa B. Kruger

What is the book about?

In All Things was a great book to walk through with my Bible study group. The subtitle is “A Nine-Week Devotional Bible Study on Unshakeable Joy” and it walks through the whole book of Philippians.

How is the In All Things Bible study organized?

Firstly, this is a exegetical study, going verse by verse, chapter by chapter and uses a simple three-step method to ponder each section of Scripture:

1. Observation: What does the text say?
2. Interpretation: What does the text mean?
3. Application: How does the text transform me?

Next, each of the weeks follow the same basic structure: 4 days of homework, using the steps mentioned above, then a 5th day of devotional.

Also, since the overall theme was “An Invitation to Joy”, each of the chapters spoke about a different aspect of joy:

1. Joy in Salvation
2. Joy in True Fellowship
3. Joy in Christ’s Lordship
4. Joy in Humility
5. Joy in Obedience
6. Joy in Knowing Christ
7. Joy in Heaven
8. Joy in the Inner Life
9. Joy in Giving

In addition, there was also a study guide with conversation starter questions or just further reflection, as well as a printed copy of the book of Philippians in the back of the book.

My favorite quotes from In All Things:

Here are a few of my favorite highlights throughout the book:

“We need friendships that are centered on God’s Word to speak above the cultural clamor.”

“God wants our affections. The outward signs of faith are important, but true renewal starts inside and works its way out. In Christ, we’re given new hearts, ones that love God and long to walk in His ways. Our obedience is not a way to earn God’s favor but the natural overflow of God’s work in our hearts. God wants more from you than obedience.”

“We don’t naturally drift toward holiness. We have to deliberately press on toward it, knowing that God promises to work in and through us. Because He’s in the process of making us like Jesus, we can strive with all that is in us to be more like Him.”

In All Things, Melissa B. Kruger, page 161

“When we submit our thoughts to Him, God transforms the way we think about the world and then uses us to transform the world. In the Lord, we can experience relational unity, emotional peace, and a new way of thinking.”

I could go on and on listing all the wonderful things I highlighted and underlined, and double underlined, and circled, and boxed (I’m a bit excessive sometimes…), but I’ll keep it to that.

Did I do this with a Bible study near me?

Actually, no I didn’t! A good friend of mine leads a mom’s Bible study group near Atlanta. They meet in person every Tuesday morning or evening, but they also have an online component, which was great for me to be able to jump on my computer and join them each week. If you are interested in doing a Bible study with other women like this, check with your local church or leave me a comment below and I’d be happy to help connect you with a group that will work!

My review of In All Things

In conclusion, I really enjoyed my time in Philippians and studying through it with this companion guide and my group. This is the first study I have done by Melissa B. Kruger and if I come across another, I’ll definitely be adding it to my To Be Read list.

“The more I read the Bible and see the picture of the Christian…, the more I understand the nature of sin and life in this world, and what God has done for me in Christ, then the more I shall desire the things of God and hate the other. So I suggest that the best practical step is to read God’s word, and to be thoroughly soaked in it.” – Martyn Lloyd-Jones

In All Things, Melissa B. Kruger, page 99

For this review and many more, plus what I’m reading now, visit me on GoodReads. Thanks so much for checking out the Collective!
– Sarah

If you enjoyed this review, here are a few others that you might like:

• Whence Came A Prince by Liz Curtis Higgs
• Run Rose Run by Dolly Parton & James Patterson
• Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens