Like many of you, I enjoy the satire of the popular website Babylon Bee. Until it gets personal.
At least that’s how I felt recently when they did a short satirical post on women’s Bible studies. They poked fun at how sometimes women’s Bible studies are not really studying the Bible. Ouch.
I may have squirmed a bit when I saw the post, but it caused me to realize there is always be a bit of truth embedded in satire. In fact, that’s what it’s meant to be—the underlying truth written in a humorous approach.
I’ve been fortunate over the years to be involved in many studies that kept me digging into God’s Word. I’ve learned that the power of Scripture not only informs me, but it transforms me.
How are you leading women’s Bible studies? If you want to make sure you’re leading a study that has the gospel-centered heart of digging into God’s Word, ask yourself these five questions.
1. Are women opening their Bible during the study? If your women can just answer questions or read from a study without actually turning the pages of Scripture, then reconsider what you are studying.
2. Are women using Scripture to interpret Scripture? Challenge women in your study to not just look at someone’s opinions about Scripture, but to give them tools to understand the “whole” of Scripture. Move them from plucking verses out of context to “fit” their wants and desires to helping them read Scripture to shape their desires.
3. Are women opening God’s Word in their personal study? Move them from reading devotionals to reading Scripture. Encourage them to journal or write down what they are learning. Challenge them to memorize Scripture.
4. Are you choosing studies that are trustworthy? I’m an employee at Lifeway Christian Resources and producing reliable and trustworthy Bible studies is one of our most important values. When you choose one of our products, our authors and editors take seriously their calling to provide studies that are true and faithful to God’s Word.
5. Are women being transformed by what they are studying? If the women in your Bible study just want to fill in the blanks and move on to the next study, take some time to evaluate how women are putting God’s Word into action. I like how Drs. Rick and Shera Melick use the term “transformactional.” In their book, Teaching That Transforms, they describe transformactional as how the learner must be transformed if learning honestly takes place. It should be the goal of Bible study, and it should result in positive action.
Make sure your Bible study is actually that—a study of the Bible. Let’s prove the satirists wrong.
Kelly King is the Women’s Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Christian Resources and oversees the YOU Lead events. Join her this year and get to know her heart for ministry leaders. Follow her on Twitter @kellydking.