Bible Study and Book Club Updates

Believing God Online Bible Study | Week 8

Posted: 06 Oct 2015 08:07 PM PDT

Welcome back to womens online Bible study as we continue the Believing God by Beth Moore. We’ve finished reading week eight in the workbook and have just two more weeks of study. Our next study begins November 2nd so please register for the Armor of God study by Priscilla Shirer when you CLICK HERE. If you saw the War Room movie then join us for this study and learn to organize your prayer closet! Missionary Mom Stasia Nielsen will be writing our discussion questions and weekly updates for the study on prayer.

believing god week 8 online bible study

This week is a good time to remember that although you have not seen Jesus, you love Him, you believe Him, and you are receiving salvation for your soul through Him.

It’s also a reminder that God brings good from tragedy and times of grief are seasonal. The hardship and the grief are not long-suffering unless we choose to make it so through our own will. As Christian women who love Jesus, we are promised that suffering turns to joy (Psalm 126). The Amplified Version (v. 5-6) says: They who sow in tears shall reap with joyful singing. He who goes back and forth weeping, carrying his bag of seed [for planting],Will indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. The Message Version (v. 6) says:

Those who went off with heavy hearts will come home laughing, with armloads of blessing.

Would you take a moment and write that down- jot a note into your cell phone, or a Post-It or anything that will remind you of God’s promise. I know who you are because I see your suffering in our small group discussions and in the prayer requests each day. Jesus sees your heavy hearts. Lay your burdens at His feet with prayer.

As I look back on my own journey of faith, I recognize that my sin did bear fruit. Though that prodigal season God allowed me to rebel and I hid my face from Him in shame. He showed me the consequences of my sin and in that experience deepened my faith. It would be impossible to lead and disciple women if I had not experienced the same wounding and shame. Because I wore this burden over my heart and cut-away my relationship with God for a season, I’m able to see this reflected in the hearts of my sisters in Christ and lead them on the same path to freedom that I found through consistent Bible study. A restored relationship with the Father is rooted in unending love. He calls me to be myself and not imitate people. Only Jesus.

My prayer for you is to remove all stumbling blocks in your journey of faith. An armload of blessings are waiting for you!

Assignment For the Week

Calendar your study time and small group time. Use a reminder alarm on your cell phone.
Pray before you begin reading. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart to wisdom.
Select a small group day and time that fits your schedule. Arrive to the private Facebook group for the one hour meeting.
Read Week Nine: Believing God When Victory Demands Your All in your workbook
If you are listening to the audio cd's or watching the videos, watch Session Nine, available through Lifeway (not required for participation in the study)

Discussion Questions- Answer in your small group or post a comment below

Galatians 6:9 reads, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (KJV) Do you feel frustrated over the sowing and reaping principle or satisfied and encouraged? If you are comfortable, share what you are presently experiencing even if it is frustration.
Beth Moore suggests that our human tendency is to trust God with virtually anything (our health, circumstances, children) before we trust Him with our finances. (page 179) Why are we at times reluctant to give God all of our trust with some things and not others?
As we looked through different periods of our lives in Lesson 8, have you identified any lies that you believed during those years that God later exposed to you and replaced with His truth? If so, please share and explain.
Beth Moore characterized Gilgal as a place where any one of three things happen: 1) we realize that God has rolled away our reproach, 2) God has proved us victorious in a do-over (an opportunity to go back and get something right), or 3) God has taken us full circle in a significant way. (page 193) Have you experienced a Gilgal of your own during your life so far?

With Love,

christine abraham

The Holy Spirit Unleashed in You Online Bible Study | Week 8

Posted: 06 Oct 2015 07:50 AM PDT

Welcome back to our online Inductive Bible Study on the book of Acts, “The Holy Spirit Unleashed in You” at the Women's Bible Cafe™.

First of all, I just want to express my gratitude and thanks to all of you who have prayed for my home State of South Carolina. As you are aware, we experienced a great deal of rain and flooding that began late Friday evening on October 3rd which continued throughout the day and night on Saturday and Sunday. South Carolina has been declared a State of emergency, and many people have lost their homes. We do not always understand why these tragedies happen, but what we do know is that we have a bigger God who is sovereign and in control over everything.

holy spirit unleashed online bible study

As we completed our study of Week Eight, “Not Perfect…But Faithful” and Week Nine, “Is Your Heart Grieved by the Idols People Worship,” we have seen firsthand how God is in control over all situations and circumstances even over the hardships that Paul and his companions endured.

This week we observed Acts Chapters 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 and continued to follow Paul’s second and third missionary journeys. Paul and his companions spread the good news of the Gospel everywhere they went. Paul’s primary mission was to seek the lost and point them to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. He followed the Holy Spirit’s lead wherever he went, even if it meant persecution and prison.

And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." Acts 16:31 ESV

Do you ever question God about why we experience hardships and devastation, such as the devastation we experienced just this weekend with the flooding in my home State of South Carolina? I think it’s okay to question God, but more importantly, it is how we respond to our hardships that really makes the difference. Paul and Silas were flogged and imprisoned, but they did not let their hardships get the best of them. They continued to praise God despite their situation. Why? Because they knew God was in control, and they kept their eyes focused on God and not on their circumstances.

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them…” Acts 16:25 ESV

Did you catch the latter part of that verse? “and the prisoners were listening to them.”

What a lesson for all of us when we go through hardships, heartbreak and devastation in our lives. As Christians, we will undoubtedly experience hardships at various times of our lives, and people will be watching us and our reactions to the struggles we endure. Some of these people may not know Jesus but will want to know Him just by observing our reactions to troubled times. What a powerful witness and testimony for our Lord Jesus Christ to praise Him with prayers and hymns of praise in the midst of our dark days!

We can sing in our struggles, because we know He leads and blesses us in each step of our lives no matter how difficult and dark some days may be. There will be days when things are going great, but then the bottom drops out. In those times, too, we need to keep trusting God and sing praises in the midst of our struggles. We can experience His perfect peace during hard times as well.

Kay Arthur asks these questions in the Thought for the Week:

“Who has been close enough to you to see the way you live? Who has followed your teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings? Or are these things woefully lacking in your life, so that you cannot say with Holy Spirit boldness that anyone should follow you?

These are questions that we should ask ourselves and ponder as we continue with our study of “The Holy Spirit Unleashed in You.”

ASSIGNMENT FOR THE WEEK:

Join a small group and fellowship with your fellow Bible students.
Complete your study of Week Ten, “Will You Declare the Truth–No Matter the Cost?” and Week Eleven, “Bold and Confident Because of the Spirit.” Pray before you begin your study. Ask your resident Teacher, the Holy Spirit, to open your heart to wisdom and understanding to learn His truths.
Store in your heart Acts 16:30-31.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR THIS WEEK (answer in small groups or post a comment here)

Hardships never seem to slow Paul down. Do you think Paul’s attitude is a result of positive thinking or something more? What helps us to move forward even when we’re discouraged.
Every one of us has experienced hardships in life. Think through some of the difficult times you have experienced. How have you seen God bring good things out of our bad situations?
Do you know of people who have never heard about God before? What strategy and message would you use to approach these people and introduce them to Jesus?
As you have watched Paul on these three missionary journeys, what have you learned from him about sharing the gospel? What have you learned from his life about the consequences of being Jesus’ witness? Is it always easy?

Blessings,

femaleInside

Wednesday, October 7, 2015