Hannah Ploegstra

Hannah Ploegstra and her husband, John, are founders of learnChrist, a ministry which provides resources for Scripture memorization and study. Hannah and John's recordings of Bible memory songs can be listened to and downloaded for free on Hannah's blog at www.hannahploegstra.com. Through learnChrist, Hannah writes Disciple Curriculum, directs SHEMA Bible Choir, and encourages moms in their disciple-making at home.

Three prayers God will always answer “yes”

  • Hannah Ploegstra
  • 12 January 2016

Many times God answers our prayers with a firm “no”. But there are three prayers to which God’s answer will always be “yes”.

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How to respond when Matthew 18 comes knocking

  • Hannah Ploegstra
  • 15 December 2015

There’s no question about it: as Christians, we are called to forgive. Forgiveness is in our spiritual DNA; it’s a trait of what we are. And what are we but children of God (1 John 3:1), who himself is characterized by mercy, grace, and forgiveness (Exod 34:6-7a)?

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Grace for the forgiver

  • Hannah Ploegstra
  • 23 November 2015

According to the logic of the gospel, forgiveness makes perfect sense. It’s an impeccably rational response to sin; if I’ve been forgiven by God, it is only right that I forgive my brother from the heart (Matt 18:21-35).

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How the doctrine of election fuelled Jesus’ work

  • Hannah Ploegstra
  • 2 November 2015

The New Testament unanimously presents the doctrine of election as a glad and glorious reality of the gospel. The staggering news that God has loved Christ’s people from before the foundation of the world, creating us for mercy, blessing and joy, offers much-needed confidence and security as we walk by faith in the weakness of the flesh.

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In defence of being busy

  • Hannah Ploegstra
  • 20 October 2015

If I hear one more person—or myself—groan “I’m soooo busy”, I think I might explode. Or wilt. That gripe is getting really boring. Worse, I fear we are groaning about something that’s good.

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Whose salt and light does the world really need?

  • Hannah Ploegstra
  • 6 October 2015

I’m sure you’ve been told before that, as a Christian, you are to ‘be salt and light’ to the world. Because you’re aware of Jesus’ sermon given on the mount, you understand that this means to love your neighbour, forgive your brother from your heart, avoid sin, and love God.

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How to measure ‘fruit’ in your ministry

  • Hannah Ploegstra
  • 14 September 2015

In a previous post, I proposed regarding the analogy of the vine (John 15) that we sometimes mistake our leaves for fruit, thinking that if we’re “getting involved” in ministry, we’re producing fruit. But ministry activities are just leaves—an essential part of the health of our ‘branch’, but not what makes God’s mouth water. Leaves aren’t yummy to him; fruit is.

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Don't mistake your leaves for fruit

  • Hannah Ploegstra
  • 18 August 2015

Leaves are essential to plants. But leaves aren’t fruit. Leaves aren’t what the vinedresser comes looking for. Leaves aren’t what he puts in his basket. Yet, in our Christian lives, I think we often mistake our leaves for fruit.

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Five biblical ways to face death defiantly

  • Hannah Ploegstra
  • 29 June 2015

Sympathy cards address the sadness death causes, but few acknowledge the rage. Yet that rage is real. It should be: death is the very opposite of God and all that he has created. We should hate it. Christ did.

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The frustration of forgetting

  • Hannah Ploegstra
  • 24 July 2014

The word of God is like a seed that goes into the soil of our hearts and produces a crop (Mark 4). Those of us who work hard to plant that seed through memorization hope to see God multiply it thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times. So it’s kind

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