by Katy Kauffman @KatyKauffman28

My adventures in blogging began at one of my favorite places on earth—the Blue Ridge conference. I sat nervously in James Rubart’s marketing class and raised my hand. He needed a guinea pig, someone who wanted to set up a blog in class as an example. So I volunteered. 

Twelve years later, I still believe in the power of blogging, but it can be hard to find new topics to write about. Do you believe blogging is worth it? It does take time away from writing books, but in addition to building our platforms, we can have instant access to our audience through our blogs, as we seek to encourage them and share the treasures of God’s Word. But do you also have trouble finding things to write about?  

For Bible study bloggers, the world may seem like our oyster—Scripture is quite long, and there’s so much to write about! Then again, we may feel overwhelmed because there are too many possibilities to pick from. I’d like to give you five ideas of what to write about, and I hope these whittle down the possibilities a bit. Maybe this list is the refresher you need to start blogging in a new year.

5 Ideas of What to Blog about:

1. Topics that speak to your audience – Who do you want to minister to—Christian women, moms of young children, teens, those suffering with a chronic illness, or business professionals? Tailor your posts or devotions to target your intended audience, and provide both encouragement from the Bible and practical help for real-life struggles.

2. Lessons learned in your quiet time – What is God teaching you in your personal time with Him? Some of the best material I’ve written about, has come from the passages of Scripture I’ve studied in my quiet time. Share insights about a particular verse, or dissect a passage in a fairly short, to-the-point post. Don’t overwhelm the reader with too many facts or notes. Include just enough to give some needed background on a passage, and share relevant application for life today.

3. A series on a Biblical topic – For three or four weeks, blog about peace, joy, or hope. Ask other bloggers to guest post for you, so your readers benefit from their insights and experiences as well. 

4. A special quote you heard in a sermon or Sunday school lesson – If you hear something in a message that resonates with you, it may resonate with those who don’t go to your church. You can quote public speeches without having to get permission, but it’s a courtesy to ask. Always give credit to the pastor or teacher who said the quote you want to write about, and expound on it in the post. 

5. Principles from your book – Pick a principle from your Bible study to write about, or post a short excerpt from your book if you have permission from your publishing house. If your book is under contract or under review by a publishing committee, seek your agent’s or editor’s advice about when and how much to write about your book. Share with readers why you wrote it, and give a glimpse of what’s in it. 

If you are a Bible study writer or a Christian living writer, what topics do you like to blog about? Do you have any lined up for the new year? Share your ideas in the comments below, and happy blogging! 

Katy Kauffman is an award-winning author, an editor of Refresh Bible Study Magazine, and a co-founder of Lighthouse Bible Studies. She loves connecting with writers and working alongside them in compilations, such as Heart Renovation: A Construction Guide to Godly Character, which was a 2019 Selah Awards finalist and Director’s Choice finalist. Lighthouse’s next compilation, The Power to Make a Difference, releases at the end of January. 

Katy’s writing can be found at CBN.com, thoughts-about-God.com, the Arise Daily blog, and two blogs on writing. She loves spending time with family and friends, making jewelry, and hunting for the best donuts. Connect with her at her blog, The Scrapbooked Bible Study, and on Facebook and Twitter.