my 5 favorite Bible studies for women
I love a good Bible study. I find that a good Bible study helps me with two things: It helps me see God and myself more clearly, and it helps me grow in my relationship with Him. I get to know God a little better when I study and seek Him in His Word. Our hearts are brought closer together as I believe that Word and walk in it. The Holy Spirit has met and ministered to me through certain Bible studies that I want to share with you here. My hope is that you discover exactly the right Bible study for you in the season you’re in or in whatever you’re facing. We get to grow in wisdom, understanding, and intimacy with God through engaging with and abiding in Jesus, revealed in Scripture - what a very sweet gift. So here they are: my top 5 favorite Bible studies for women.
1. Breaking Free (Updated Edition) by Beth Moore
This study was recommended to me by a sister. It’s an extensive study that centers the freedom promised in Christ. I went through this study slowly, on my own, which gave me plenty of time to digest it. It taught me that believing lies is at the heart of bondage, while believing truth is at the heart of freedom. The more we believe what’s true, the more truly free we are. This concept is something I’ve carried with me ever since. It changed the way I think about God’s saving work in my life, and even the way I understand my role and work as a therapist.
I recommend this study if you:
are dealing with some area of bondage such as anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, an addiction, or trauma
are longing for more of the freedom promised in Jesus
are trying to make sense of your story
2. Relaxed by Megan Fate Marshman
Me and a few girls decided to go through this study shortly after Megan visited our church to teach at a women’s gathering. I was so glad we did. Each week’s lesson has a 30-minute or so teaching video, which makes it more engaging and in-depth than some other studies. I loved its focus on moving from self-dependence to honest dependence on God - more honesty with God, in general! By the end, I was rooted more deeply in the reality that God is perfectly secure and invites me into perfectly secure relationship with Himself through Jesus.
I recommend this study if you:
are anxious or fearful
have insecure attachment
tend to worry
are tempted to perform or pretend with God
3. Rescued: Lent with the Lamb of God by Blessed is She
Blessed is She releases a Catholic study for Lent each year and I’ve grown to love them (Under the Olive Tree and Who Do You Say I Am? are the most recent ones, which I also recommend.) I went through this with a few girls and we all loved it. It was my first experience with a study that went beyond sort of your typical Bible study format. It has contemplative practices like lectio divina and imago divina that engage more of your right brain - the non-language based, more emotional part of your brain - where many Bible studies tend to focus on engaging the left brain. God made us with both, so I found this different format really refreshing. It drew me closer to Jesus, the Lamb, my soft place to land.
I recommend this study if you:
tend to engage with God’s Word mentally, but maybe have a harder time engaging emotionally
are interested in or enjoy contemplative practices
could use a hug
4. In Weeping and Rejoicing: Emotions in Theology and Life by Paige Stitt McBride
This is not so much a study, but a book that I read and studied with a few other girls. I learned so much about emotions and God’s design for them. I loved the concept of “training” our emotions - something that I still use personally and as a counselor. The other girls and I had many eye-opening moments as we went through this book. How amazing that we have a God who feels emotions and that ours can be formed so that we reflect Him in that way.
I recommend this ‘study’ if you:
want to understand emotions from a biblical perspective
are unsure how feelings + emotions fit into faith
5. Beauty Not Beheld by Paige Stitt McBride
Written by the same author as the previous book, this study (this one is a true study) specifically addresses topics of identity, worth, beauty, and our bodies. It compares specific, common, cultural messages about each of these things with what God has to say. I found this study to be so relevant to my life, specifically as a woman. One thing I appreciate about Paige’s writing style is that she’s honest and direct, but not without grace.
I recommend this study if you:
are insecure in your identity
struggle with body image
are tempted to focus too much on your appearance
are a young woman
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Ephesians 3:18-19 NLT
