My first womens bible study was called “Why Godly People Do Ungodly Things” by Beth Moore, not exactly the most appealing title! However, it was the only study offered at my church and I wanted to grow in faith, so I enrolled in the study. Hesitant and turned off by the title, I arrived on the first day of the study, grabbed my workbook from the stack of books, and then turned around and headed out the door. I was too uncomfortable and felt out of place. As I was leaving the church, a friend saw me and questioned me. When I told her about my lack of commitment and uncertainty about the book subject, she grabbed both my eyes with hers and gave me “the talk.”
The talk my friend gave me changed my life and placed me directly before God and my bible. She has no idea…God simply used her through our relationship and the glory goes to Him, not to the friend. In fact, today, I can no longer remember her name…she was a distant friend, an acquaintance. John C Maxwell once said “You never know when God will use you to be a miracle in someone else’s life.” He used my friend that day.
As I was pulling away from Bible study, and away from God, my friend interrupted my path. She explained to me how Satan, the father of all lies, would do everything in his power to keep me from Bible study. She revealed to me that Satan did not want me to know scripture, and more importantly, he did not want me to have an intimate relationship with God. If I listen to the small voice in my head, making so many excuses for not going to the bible study, then I was following Satan and not God. She encouraged me to listen to my heart.
With my heart I knew I wanted to be closer to God, know more of His word and study the Bible. So I made a U-turn in life, redirected my path, and walked into my first bible study.
When I arrived, a welcome group of women invited me in, and started what appeared to be a routine bible study session. Begin with prayer, open your Bibles…
I was in DESPERATE trouble! I did NOT have a bible. I was at my first Bible study and did not think to bring a bible. Actually, I did not even own a bible. Ducking my head in shame, a kind woman offered me the standard church bible from a stack in the back of the room. The church bible had such tiny print, in red letters, I could hardly focus my eyes. I felt so lost…yet so loved…all at the same time.
At the completion of my “Why Godly People Do Ungodly Things” by Beth Moore bible study, I learned two things:
- The bible is not just a book with prayers and commandments to memorize, it’s a LIVING love letter from God.
- I could not learn this on my own, and needed a Bible leader, such as Beth Moore or Jennifer Rothschild.
Soon I was participating in more small group studies, and found myself exploring workbooks by other authors, such as Max Lucado, Jennifer Rothschild, Priscilla Shirer, Anne Graham Lotz, Kay Arthur, Nancy Lee DeMoss and more. I realize that although I enjoyed Beth Moore studies, I needed to explore other authors as well, or I could easily turn Beth Moore into an idol. Beth didn’t want me to read the Bible for Beth, she wanted me to read the bible for the Lord and to discover God in the pages of scripture. So I balanced my workbooks and study with various authors. In my current bible study plan, I alternate a short 6-week study with a long 10-week Beth Moore study and I find balance.
Now that I’ve shared my first Bible study experience, I’d like to know more about yours. What was your first experience like? Please post a comment below!
My first bible study group was an amazing experience. I was in the midst of a personal crisis and I know that this study and the women God placed in my path during that time were all part of His plan to bring me peace again. It was a small group of women from my church and our study was called The Fruit of the Spirt. I was one of the youngest in our group and new nothing about the Fruits of the Spirit. I was amazed at what I would learn. I was surrounded by support and love from women I had never met and they each in their own way taught me something about myself and how I could use what I was learning in my day to day life. I learned that at some point like most things in our lives if we practice the fruits of the spirits dayly (even when we don’t want to) they will become natural to us. This bible study really helped me to get a grip on my attitude and change the way I dealt with personal issues and people in my life. I will be forever greatful to God for the opportunity I had through that Bible Study to have peace once again.
I do believe that a single Bible study can change a woman’s life, on two conditions:
1. She has a willing heart ready to hear the Word
2. She completes her study
We grow in Bible study. Think of the scripture verses about God pruning the vine, or the verse about the Potter’s hand. As we study and learn, we are changing from the inside out.
Thank you for sharing your experience Rachel!
I grew up in the church, went to a christian college and had many bible study experiences. Most of my bible studies involved catty girls, or people not sharing anything or me feeling like I was the only one sharing or like an oversharer since no one seemed to have problems, prayer requests etc. My friends and I seemed to have better fellowship/study then any studies I was attending so I was very reticent to try a new study ever.
All of that changed when I moved to Los Angeles,finished school and no longer had a christian community around me. I attended an amazing church on the hill, I went with a college friend and while he and his friends were amazing. I knew I needed christian women around me and I felt at home at this church. I looked at the bulletin and saw a monday night women’s bible study. I walked in and felt so out of place I was the youngest woman there, would they accept me, could I share and be safe there?!
Well its been seven years at monday night bible study! I haven’t always been in the perfect group or studied the perfect thing, but God has always shown up and used each study.
Then we started to do Beth Moore studies and wow every study has rocked it brought me back to God, and it saved and changed my life. I even attended her conference after wining tickets . Basically I am a huge Beth Moore fan as I know God is using her and all the lifeway ladies and many I haven’t yet discovered. God used and continues to use Beth to bring me back, draw me closer and makes me want to be either a teacher ,a leader and/or just have biblical knowledge and a relationship like that with God!
I even lead a Priscilla Schirer(she’s amazing) study and enjoyed amazing studies by equally amazing and Godly teachers like Jennifer Rothschild and Kay Arthur whoo hoo! I am a bible study addict!!!!
I have to say our leadership in my church bible study has become amazing, our studies fantastic and attendance is through the roof, also we now have woman of all ages attending and sometimes in the hundreds!
God so rewards the faithful thank you! So stick with your bible studies at church and here online God will reward you for staying the course and making it more than you imagine if not perfect at first.
I also want to give Christine credit for being an incredible woman of God for providing this site, twitter etc they offer such a wonderful opportunity for women to study and such powerful daily encouragement. Thank you and God Bless!
I am doing the Ruth study and it is my first bible study. I found this group accidently and have loved reading all your stories! I can already tell this is an encouraging group of women to have for a first bible study and I want to say thank you for being here
God Bless
We love having you here Nicole, thanks for posting the comment
Christine,
I know I posted this before, but I cannot remember where. Sorry. When are you going to do Breaking Free, Esther and No Other Gods But Me? I would like to do them, so if you have time and find please e-mail me. Thanks.
Blessing,
Sue
We’ll have a poll posted soon to see what the next study will be.
Hi Ladies,
My most memorable first “Bible Study was in Sunday School when I was only eight years old. I know you are probably saying how is that relevant?? Well, it was during a time in my life when I was growing up in an abusive household with very little expressions of love. Everyday I used to leave home early to escape all the yelling and fighting. I had this special place off the side of the road where I would sit on a fence and talk to my imaginary friends and write poems about everything. One day my neighbor stopped and invited me to go Sunday school with her. She would not take no for an answer. She began to pick me up every Sunday. It was in her class that I learned about this man named Jesus who as a child, then became my best ever imaginary friend. I now realize that God used my neighbor to introduce me to Him that day. Though it would be many years later before I allowed Christ to be Lord over my life, it was in that class I wrote my first poem about God. I now write and recite poetry to share the love of God all over the world.
So as I listen to all of you, I smile inside at the different ways God introduces Himself to us. I too thank Christine for creating this special place for us all to come and learn about the Mercies of God together. To God Be the Glory!
So if any of you know someone that needs encouragement, by all means invite them to join us in this Bible study or maybe even start a small one yourselves with a couple of friends. God just wants us to take the initiative; He will do the rest. I will close by sharing the poem that I wrote for my Sunday school class. I often use it today to open when I speak at church or during my conferences. I thought it was appropriate to express how wonderful it can be when we learn about God. I hope you enjoy it….
My First Day of Church
I walked in
And what did I see?
Over fifty people
And they were all asleep.
The man in the front
Talked in his sleep
While the others all nodded
And patted their feet.
When they opened their eyes
They started their song
My mom and dad
They began to sing along.
They talked about
This man called God
Who son had died for us
With all his Heart.
I did not understand
I was only three!
But now it all
Makes sense to me.
Amen.
1. Yearning
2. Although I’ve always believed I’ve never dug deeper to know who he truly is. This is my first ever Bible study and I am so happy about it. My work and school schedule seems to keep me from everything else. The past two years I’ve felt a pull to know him and to live my life through him. I hope to meet other Christians who I can learn from and pull inspiration from.
My first bible study was also a Beth Moore study, the one about breaking strongholds. A friend invited me. It was so very good and Beth is so awesome. I have since done Kay Arthur and am now doing a Priscilla Shirer. I saw Angela Thomas at a women’s conference and totally loved her, so I am looking forward to the Brave study. My friends and I are going to order the videos, alternating each purchase.