Part 2 of an Interview with Barb Roose, Author of Breakthrough #Nonfiction

For some, Christianity is a long list of rules to be followed, and it’s hard to be a “good Christian” because it always seems you’re breaking one of those rules. In Breakthrough: Finding Freedom in Christ (Abingdon Women), popular women’s conference speaker and author Barb Roose wants to help readers let go of the feeling they are not a “good enough” Christian and find freedom in Christ by studying Paul’s letter to the Galatians.Why do you think you have to be perfect for God?   Does God only show up or love you when you “get it right”?   Who has led you to believe you have to follow rules and “measure up”?   For anyone who has ever struggled with these questions or felt trapped by rules or religion, Breakthrough: Finding Freedom in Christ (Abingdon Women), by popular women’s conference speaker and author Barb Roose will provide a path to discovering freedom in Christ. Roose helps readers learn to:   Stop trying to measure up and embrace God’s grace Distinguish between lies and truth Embrace God’s promise of freedom

Q: What is the spiritual breakthrough you hope readers will experience by diving into your new Bible study?   In a word: FREEDOM! I’m so excited about the opportunity for readers to experience the freedom that comes from knowing that our God is at work in us and that we don’t have to jump through hoops to earn His approval, love or favor. He’s already given it to us in every promise that He’s made to us!   While spiritual breakthrough isn’t a term in the Bible, it is reflected in God’s promise to change and transform us by renewing eternally us in Christ (Galatians 2:20). I’ve seen a lot of descriptions of spiritual breakthrough that put the responsibility for spiritual growth or freedom on human effort, but only God can rescue us from the prisons of our pain, our past and our problems. We might be able to push against the prison bars on our own, but only God can break us free!   In fact, one of the key features of the Breakthrough study is the weekly Spiritual Breakthrough Exercise with unique tools to identify where God is at work. It’s been so much fun listening to women celebrate seeing where God is at work and their confidence in knowing that God is transforming them, and they don’t have to try to make it happen on their own.   Q: What are your six freedom principles?   As I studied Paul’s letter to the Galatian church, I created six Freedom Principles to capture the main themes of his letter. I pray that readers will use these principles as tools to apply to their lives when they feel like they need to do more to earn God’s love or blessing. The gospel is based on God’s perfect promises, not our performance. A relationship with God means that we receive from Him rather than follow rules for Him. Your freedom in Christ cannot be shaken or taken away by anyone who chooses not to live like Christ. Freedom in Christ is living free from fear and fully alive with joy and purpose. Spiritual breakthrough is an ah-ha moment when we recognize that God is at work within us, receive what He’s doing, and respond to it. You are God’s beautiful, loveable, capable daughter. You are confident in Christ and worthy of God’s best. Q: There was a season of your life when, even though you were saved, you decided to disconnect from God because of religious rules. What made you decide to reconnect with God?   My mom explained the gospel to me when I was eight years old. I accepted Jesus as my Savior and was baptized when I was nine years old. I was so happy that Jesus saved me that I wanted to be a good Christian and make God happy. I had my list of religious “to-do” rules and worked hard to make God happy. I thought that following all the rules would make me more faithful to God, but I spent so much time in fear. I always wondered if I was doing enough for God and kept pushing myself to jump through those hoops, always trying to do more and do better.   When I got to college, I saw all the other students having fun. I wasn’t having fun while following all of the rules, so I decided to stop. The only problem was that when I abandoned my “good” Christian rules, I felt like I was abandoning what I called my faith.   When I eventually messed up my life so badly that there was nothing I could do to fix it, I experienced an ah-ha moment that changed my life. That moment was realizing that God’s love for me is based on His perfect promises, not my performance. This was when I finally understood the freedom that comes from God’s grace, not following religious rules.   Q: Can you give us some examples of legalism that hold us back from freedom?   In Breakthrough, I tell the story of my conversation with a lovely young believer who felt like she was a bad Christian because she saw other Christians who seemed to read their Bibles more and never miss church. She told me, “Well, I forget to read my Bible sometimes, and I still smoke. I feel like I’m disappointing God.”   My heart hurt for that young believer and so many other Christians who feel exactly like she does. Legalism wants us to believe that we have to earn God’s love and favor by reading our Bibles a certain number of times a week or never missing church. Legalism’s focus is on “what are we doing for God” and the problem is that when the focus is on us, we miss out on receiving what God wants to give us.   When we read our Bibles because we know that God’s truth gives us life, that’s freedom. But when we read our Bibles because we think that will make God happy, that’s legalism. When we go to church because the sermon and music focus us on Jesus’ love, that leads us to freedom. But, when we go to church because we think that God will punish us if we don’t, that’s legalism.   Q: What are the three hoops of legalism Christians get trapped into believing they have to jump through?   I call these the “To-Do,” “Do-More,” and “Do-Better” hoops of religion:   To-Do Hoop – Our attempt to gain God’s forgiveness or save ourselves from sin or struggle Do-More Hoop – Our effort to compel God to act or gain favor (like a quid pro quo) Do-Better Hoop – Our determination to fix ourselves or reduce our shame or guilt after we mess up.   Some of us grew up in religious traditions that promoted certain religious rules or perhaps you’re like me and made up your own legalistic rules to try to earn God’s love or favor. The end result of legalism is never freedom, but rather more fear and frustration.   Q: What is the format of Breakthrough? How many weeks are there and what will participants do on their own vs. within a group?   The Breakthrough Bible study is six weeks long and it’s written for a solo use, but preferably in a group setting. I believe that life transformation happens when we gather together with each other to talk about God, our faith, and our life experience. God uses our individual stories to encourage and inspire each other. So, grab some friends and make a group! Best of all, geography isn’t a limitation. I love hearing from groups across the country who are using online technology to bring together friends for Bible study who live in different states as well as groups that meet in person.   Q: Where can participants access the videos that correspond with each week?   In response to the different ways that groups are meeting, I love that my publisher, Abingdon Women, has made a three video formats available: DVDs, digital download, and streaming media. There’s a solution for everyone!   Readers can order DVDs and access to digital downloads from cokesbury.com/barbroose or use the Amplify Media platform for streaming video access at amplifymedia.com.   If you’d like more information on those options, I recorded a video with my friend and fellow Abingdon Women author, Melissa Spoelstra that gives a demonstration of them all at barbroose.com/groupleaders.

About the author

Barb Roose is a popular speaker and author who is passionate about teaching women to live beautifully strong and courageous in spite of their fears so that they can experience God’s great adventure of faith and purpose for their lives.   Roose enjoys teaching and encouraging women at conferences and events across the country, as well as internationally, including national platforms such as the Aspire Women’s Events, She Speaks Conference, and many more.   She is the author of three books, Surrendered Devotional, Winning the Worry Battle, and Enough Already, and five Bible studies, Breakthrough, Surrendered, I’m Waiting, God, Joshua, and Beautiful Already. Her writing has been featured in many magazines, and she also writes a regular blog at BarbRoose.com. She hosts the “Better Together” Facebook Live events and podcast.   Roose lives in Toledo, Ohio, and is the proud mom of three adult daughters. Her perfect day includes sleeping in, taking a long walk outside, shopping for shoes and eating two big bowls of chocolate peanut ice cream.   Visit Barb Roose’s online home at barbroose.com. Readers can also keep up with her on Facebook (BarbaraRoose), Twitter (barbroose), and Instagram (barbroose).