What is InWord?

 

Before we answer “What is InWord?” we’d like to pose the question, “How is InWord?” in that we’re undergoing much needed renovation—enhancing our online experience, increasing our digital offerings, revising our current studies, to name just a few improvements. If you’d like to see more detail about how we’re doing, what we’re up to, and why we’re up to it, check out these two blog posts.

InWord Renovation: The What and the Why

A Personal Word from InWord’s Founder, Barry Shafer

Now to “What is InWord?”

InWord is a non-denominational, non-profit Bible ministry born in 1996 out of a local youth ministry. We are on a relentless mission to strengthen youth ministry with meaningful Bible engagement, helping teens and youth workers experience God intimately through His Word. We are striving to be what our name implies.

How are we doing this?

	Small-Group Bible Studies The New Testament describes three divine elements that equip God’s people: God Himself (Heb. 13), God’s Word (2 Tim 3), and gifted leaders (Eph. 4). InWord incorporates all three elements into its small-group studies by providing a guided personal study for the leader, helping him or her disciple from personal “wow” moments in God’s Word. Every group session is, in turn, designed to give students personal time with Scripture and with God, allowing opportunity for their personal “wow” moments as well. In this way you’re not only guaranteed an invigorating study session rooted in Scripture, you’re also showing your teens how to engage the Scriptures for life. InWord’s Bible studies have been used by thousands of churches across the country, throughout the world and perhaps most poignantly, across the entire theological spectrum. Browse the InWord store here.
	Teen Devotionals Every teen devotional that InWord produces is a 15- to 20-minute “give it all you got” Bible study built around a small chunk of Scripture. We ask teens to not simply read God’s Word, but chew on it—meditate on it, interact with it, and do what it says! Where do you find these? Glad you asked!
	InWord Store: Since God So Loved, a 30-day devo in the gospel of John.
	Teen Devos: A regular feature of InWord’s website, freshly created teen devos for free download.
	Custom-made: Yes, custom-made! InWord has ministered to tens of thousands of teens through custom-made devos for conventions, festivals, missions experiences, etc. Click here for more info.

Here is what drives us, in case you haven’t seen these points in other posts on our site:

The Bible is not solely an instructional book, but rather an experience of love that is to be engaged and internalized in a way that personally exposes us to the redemptive, unconditional love of God. Teens need enduring experiences in Scripture that draw them to an intimate relationship with Jesus and that encourage them to live a life “worthy of the gospel.”

Because teens are more susceptible to temptation and “every wind of doctrine” without a solid foundation in the Word of God, the church needs a relentless effort of creating meaningful accessibility to God’s Word for teens.

God is active in this world. The better we understand how God worked in His Word, the more attentive we are to His work around us today. Teens need to understand how God has worked in the past and know what God has said about Himself to be best positioned to join His work now.

The church needs a sustained effort of leading teens and their adult leaders into rich and transformational experiences in God’s Word. Turning the tide of a biblically illiterate church (and reversing the cultural consequences suffered because of that) starts with youth ministry.