· The BEST Bible Study!! By Rose Carlson, Grafton, ND
“Start a women’s Bible study,” I clearly sensed the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit speak into my heart, as I began making contacts with women in my town who were open to learning more about Him.
Feeling a bit like Moses, I had no trouble quickly stammering back excuses to the Lord: “Who, me? But I’ve been a stay-at-home homeschooling mom for so long and I am rusty. When is there time to meet? What if no one wants to come?”
And then came the toughest question of all, “WHAT BOOK SHOULD I USE??”
It didn’t take the Lord long to convince me that I am qualified to lead a study if He calls and empowers me, and that all the effort is worth it if even one woman attends, but there was still the nagging question of what to study. The possibilities for study books are endless, and anyone who knows me knows that I become paralyzed with indecision if I have too many choices. As I pondered and fretted I again heard the Lord’s rather sardonic whisper, “What about the best book of all, MY book?”
“Heh, heh, now Lord, you know I love your Word and of course your Book is all I need, but really, I think I need some sort of guide with questions in it and commentary and stuff like that…don’t I?” Silence.
“I don’t really have time to do that much in depth study, you know that, Lord. I need a guide of some sort…don’t I?” more silence.
“OK, Lord, You win. I will use your book. And maybe later I can supplement it with something else as you show me the way.”
So began my first reentry back into the world of leading Bible study, something I had not done seriously since I was a single woman in college. It had been easy to rely on my husband, the trained theologian, to do the leading, especially during those busy years of raising small children. But my kids are growing up fast, and the Lord knew it was time for me to bear another kind of fruit once again. I invited a neighbor woman, whose children are dear friends of my children, and who attends a rather lukewarm church, and a second neighbor with the same qualities, who is Catholic. She asked if she could invite her former sister in law, who is former because she was having an adulterous affair and her marriage ended. Of course, she would be welcome. I also invited a single mom who has been through several divorces and again, an acquaintance through our children’s friendships. They all warned me that they knew nothing about their Bibles, so we jokingly called it “Bible study for Dummies” based on all those black and yellow how-to books with the same moniker. We worked our way through almost the whole book of Genesis on Saturday mornings, early, before the small kids were up and the big kids had to be carted off to their sports tournaments. We read the chapter, and talked about what it meant and how it could apply to our lives. I answered questions as they came up, sometimes not related to the particular Scriptures we were studying. We kept it to an hour, and I “made” the women all pray a sentence prayer aloud at the end, something new and scary for them all. We kept our words confidential to just our group, and we supported one another through the challenging times.
The next year, we started again, and this time the Lord gave me permission to use the Navigators’ booklet “Lessons on Assurance”. The beauty of these studies is that they cover foundational teaching, like “assurance of salvation” or “assurance of answered prayer” and they have little Bible memory cards in the back with a weekly verse to memorize. I couldn’t get those women to memorize their verses, but they still heard them and thought about them.
I knew the study was starting to bear fruit when I got a phone call from a local bar where one of the women works part time, to answer a Bible question that had come up in a discussion she was in. She told her friends there, “I know somebody I can call who can answer this question for us.”
Ladies, let me encourage you with the knowledge that it is simpler than you think to start a Bible study. I highly recommend the Best Book, keeping it simple, and letting the Holy Spirit do the work.
· Book Review--“Being Good, to Your Husband on Purpose.”
This past October as I sat by the pool on a short vacation in Florida I was reminded that God wants me to be good to my husband on purpose! Making time for him to come away with him and rest a while (Mark 6:31). The book I am recommending is by Becky Hunter, a pastor’s wife from Florida. The title of her book is “Being Good, to Your Husband on Purpose.” Have you ever thought of the connection between you and your husband’s relationship as being “Voluntary” and “Sacrificial”? The wife’s submission to her husband is “voluntary” and the husband’s love to his wife is “sacrificial”. Just as we “voluntarily “submit to Christ, and Christ “sacrificially” loved and died for the church. No kidding! We have had enough of the deception from the world in our marriages. It is time to tell the truth and live our lives in union with the Word of God!
This is a book that is easy reading but so practical and simple. The world has so much knowledge but lacks the WISDOM that is in the Word of God! Judges 21:25 says, “In those days Israel had no king: everyone did as he saw fit”. Stop! This is not my opinion but the word of God that teaches me what to do. It is time that we, as Christian women do what the bible has made so clear! ( Read 2 Peter 1: 5-9). Purposing to be good to your husband—giving him the very BEST you have to offer in every area of your life- opens you to incredible continual input from God.
“I will because God wills” is the basis of interaction with your husband—NOT “I will if he will.” This requires you to choose to serve Christ in a simple, challenging way. God can give you the desire to be your best and give you the strength to make the effort. (Proverbs 14:1). This means in your physical appearance, your home (cleaning and decorating), personal devotions , meals and family relationships.
To become a wise help-mate, learn what God’s Word has to say about your life and relationship. God’s truth is consistent so don’t look to the world and relativism!
Have you committed yourself to living in your marriage God’s way? How often have you argued with God so that He would give you your desires? Ask yourself today, is it your desire to honor Him as Lord of your life and to honor your husband as well?
Can you think of a better gift to give your husband this Christmas than to be your best physically, spiritually and emotionally? Practically every married man I know would like nothing better than a truly content, loving, and attractive wife. You can encourage your husband in ministry and strengthen your relationship by being your best self. No one should be able to outdo you in encouraging your husband. Are you willing to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ and be that helpmate today?
God bless you as you read and study His Word. Allow me to encourage each one of you to be the best that you can be. God has all that you need to do just that! Merry Christmas!
Jane Emerson
· Book Review-- “Everyone’s Normal Till You Get To Know Them”
John Ortberg’s book “Everyone’s Normal Till You Get To Know Them” emphasizes the need for Christian community. But as we live in community with others we find that the unhealthy, sinful ways we respond to life in a fallen world are hardly God’s idea of “normal” and they can make us as “unhuggable” as porcupines. We face “the porcupine dilemma” says Ortberg. We need each other, but how do we get close without getting hurt? How do we get past these quills and grow together in Christ? Ortberg goes on to say that we are all “weird”. We want to look normal, to think of ourselves as normal, but the writers of Scripture insist that no one is “totally normal”----at least not as God defines normal. Isaiah 53:6 “All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way: But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.” Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God”.
Ortberg shows what relationships are made of, revealing the benefits of authenticity and encourages us to trade the stones we cast at others for acceptance. He takes us through the ins and outs of conflict, forgiveness, confrontation, inclusions and gratitude.
His chapter on forgiveness was one that was particularly helpful for me. I was struggling with a relationship in my life and after reading this book, I was able to replace my anger with God given peace. A few statements in this chapter are as follows: “Forgiving does not mean tolerating bad behavior or pretending what someone did wasn’t so bad. When an action is excusable, it does not require forgiveness. We are always to pursue forgiving people who have hurt us, even when the offenders don’t ask for or deserve it. God commands us to forgive because it is the best way to live. He commands us to forgive others because he has forgiven us: He is the Great Forgiver.” (You will want to read the entire chapter)
Ortberg points us to Godly principles we need to follow in order to foster and restore relationships.
There are 12 chapters in the book with questions at the end of each chapter and scripture references at the back of the book. I’m currently leading this study with a group of women at Solid Rock Free Lutheran Church.
God bless you as you allow God to work in your life through the insights provided by this author.
Submitted by Lucinda Haug,
(Wife of Pastor Gary Haug at Solid Rock Free Lutheran church, Registered Nurse, Mother of 6 children, Grandmother of 4 children)
· EVENT IDEAOne of the women’s events at our church that is one of my favorites is our yearly “Christmas Café”. This event provides for a time when the women of our church can gather together to begin the season of Christmas with an evening of singing Christmas carols, sharing testimonies, and encouraging each other in our quests to keep the attention of Christmas on our Savior.
This event is usually held in a home, where the atmosphere is cozy and intimate. We pamper ourselves by enjoying gourmet coffees and specialty treats. Women, in general, are preparing special dinners, doing extra shopping, and extra decorating during the busy Christmas season; therefore, we want to provide an opportunity to re-charge and encourage them as they enter a beautiful, yet busy season. Thus, there are two main goals that our church has for this event. The first and foremost is to start the season by focusing on Christ; therefore, setting the tone for the entire Christmas season. Secondly, it is our goal to take care of the “care-givers”. We want to pamper the women. We also want to provide a relaxing environment where they can build relationships with one another, as well as be inspired to enter into a spirit of a Christ-filled, joy-filled Christmas.
This event can be adapted for Easter and Thanksgiving as well. This year, our church held a pie social during the month of November for the women. It was a night of praise & worship, testimony, thanksgiving and fellowship.
Naomi Halvorson
Living Hope Church
St. Michael, MN
Websites:
www.motherwise.org www.applesofgold.org www.Lifeway:Biblical solutions for Life-Helps for Ministers wives
www.focusonthefamily.com
