I am always looking for new Bible Studies to dig deeper into the Word. This summer I was given an opportunity to review Mindy Ferguson’s newest study: The Women In Jesus’ Life.
This six-week study is designed to help you walk with the women that encountered Jesus during His life and ministry. The women in this study walked side by side with Jesus and witnessed our Savior at work.
Each week you will study five lessons on each of the women in the study. The questions will challenge you to dig deeper into the Word and to reflect on your life. At the end of every lesson is a Heart Question. I encourage you to really take your time with this question. It may help to read the question and contemplate it before answering it.
This would be a great tool for a Bible Study group. It takes you on a journey through the lives of many women. I learned so much as I worked through the study. I read about women that I had never thought much about when reading about them in the past.
I had the opportunity to ask Mindy a few questions about the book and about encouraging women:
Why did you decide to write about “The Women in Jesus’ Life”?
I taught an evening women’s Bible class for about seven years. Most of the women worked and I noticed that they often struggled to finish their homework when we did in-depth Bible studies that required a lot of Bible reading and questions. I also noticed that the majority of the women felt like they couldn’t measure up to all of the expectations or meet the many needs of their families, employers, and friends. It was clear to me that a study with a lighter amount of homework that emphasized the depth of Jesus’ love for them was needed. As I prayed about that need, my attention was drawn to the compassionate and loving way Jesus treated the women He encountered during His life and ministry. Inspired, I wrote The Women in Jesus’ Life for the women in my class. I found the lessons generated rich, open discussion. Women came to class each week feeling affirmed and encouraged, anxious to share how they related to the women they had studied during the week. It was a special time with a special group of women.
How did you decide which women to include in the study?
I simply covered each woman that I encountered in the four gospels. Some, like Mary & Martha of Bethany, were mentioned in several chapters of Scripture. Others, like Anna the Prophetess, were only mentioned once. Regardless, I was amazed at how much we can learn from each of these women’s actions and circumstances.
Gather Inspirit is all about encouraging and inspiring women. What is one piece of encouragement you have for women today that are trying to balance their spiritual life with their to-do lists?
Wow, Amy, I can certainly relate with the continual struggles that women face as they try to balance their relationship with God and the demands of their daily to-do lists. We women are busy, aren’t we?
The encouragement I offer is that I also have days when I fail to make my relationship with God my first priority. But when I get that part right – when I resist the temptation to turn on the morning news program before I’ve spent time reading God’s Word; when I get up early enough to sit quietly, unrushed before my Lord; when I prayerfully take my calendar before the One who knows the demands I will encounter each day – I find that my to-do list either becomes shorter or my energy and peace multiply. Make your relationship with God your first priority and somehow, in His timing and His way, He’ll bring balance to you life.
Thank you so much Mindy for the opportunity to review this study. For an opportunity to win a copy of this study from Mindy, please leave a comment. A winner will be picked on Wednesday, September 1st.
You can find more information about Mindy’s Ministry by visiting FruitfulWord.org.
In a world that urges us to live for ourselves, Mindy Ferguson encourages women to live for Christ. She founded Fruitful Word Ministries in April 2003 and is passionate about encouraging women of all denominations to apply and abide in God’s transforming Word.
Mindy stumbled her way into the arms of Christ at the age of twenty-six. She speaks nationally at women’s events and at retreats as one who understands the tug of worldly passions and the emptiness of selfish ambition. Her writings have appeared in Christianity Today’s Kyria.com, the P31 Woman magazine, Just Between Us magazine, Chicken Soup for the Mother of Preschooler’s Soul, and the One Year Life Verse Devotional. Mindy is the author of Walking with God: From Slavery to Freedom; Living the Promised Life (Hensley Publishing), Hugs Bible Reflections for Women (Simon and Schuster), and her latest study, The Women in Jesus’ Life, is now available.
Mindy is also the Women’s Ministry Director for her home church in Cypress, Texas where she lives with her husband of twenty-three years. Their son is currently attending college and their daughter is a Junior in high school.
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i LOVE studying His word, too. What a great resource. I was most touched by how the Lord brought the study about…what a blessing.
Melissa | Madabella: made beautiful´s last blog ..Preparing Hearts and Backpacks
I think this bible study would be great to do with a group of my girlfriends.
The Bible Study looks great. Kudos on all the hard work it took to bring this project to completion.
Amy,
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review of The Women in Jesus’ Life. We share a passion for encouraging & inspiring women. I pray God continues to use your words and your efforts to do just that.
Thank you for sharing! Come by tomorrow, I’m having a Master Books Giveaway! Great homeschooling options!
Love,
Traci
http://www.ordinaryinspirations.blogspot.com
Sounds like an interesting Bible study.
Wow! This sounds wonderful!! I used to live in Cypress, Texas!!! How cool!
Penny´s last blog ..His Words Sunday
This sounds like an interesting study. I’d like to learn more about the women in the Bible.
This is great! I always planned to study the women in the Bible..sometime.
Thanks for sharing this book with us, GIS team! I’m adding it to my ‘want to read’ list! And Mindy, my maiden name is Ferguson – maybe we’re related way back!