Bible Studies are a great place for women to grow! Here are ten tips for leading a Bible study.

1. Pray, Pray, Pray. This seems like something we should have under our belt, but many times we get busy in the activity of planning and don't spend enough time in prayer. Pray for the women who will attend, for God to begin working in their lives. During the study pray for them to find the time and strength to complete homework and to apply what they are learning. After the study, pray for the Word to stay alive and active in their lives.

2. Be Prepared. Have your homework and lesson completed in advance, or at the very least early in the week, so you can spend time praying over the lesson and looking for other scripture, articles or stories to tie into the lesson.

3. Take Advantage of Study Materials. Many studies today offer leader's guides, advertising materials, video promos, bookmarks, and more to enrich the study. Leader's guides often have ideas for activities and small group tips that will greatly enhance each lesson. Don't try to reinvent the wheel... use these materials!

4. Advertise Well This ties a little into the above tip. If your study offers posters, bulletin inserts and registration cards... print them off and use them! Make sure that all your events are on the church calendar, are Consider creating your own video promo to advertise your studies and events to show at a "kick- off" event.

5. Use Small Groups. In my experience, women seem to interact best in a small group. Because women are very diverse in their maturity, Bible knowledge and personalities, having small groups of 4-8 women are a great way to make women more comfortable to share.

6. First Meeting Tip. At your first meeting, get all the business out of the way. If you have childcare, book payments, etc to go over, do it now. Let women know what you expect of them and set up guidelines for sharing in small groups. Have attendance sheets (or registration cards) where women provide their address, phone number and email. This way you can stay in touch throughout the study as well as let them know about other women's ministry events and studies in the future.

7. Take Time to Interact and Encourage. Send emails and postcards encouraging women throughout the study. Spread yourself around - spend time greeting and talking with different women each week. If you see someone struggling, call them and see if you can spend some time helping them during the week, or connecting them with someone else in the class.

8. Get There Early. Always be at the study early. If you arrive about 30-45 minutes before the study, you will have plenty of time to pray, check that coffee is made, check that childcare providers are there, and have time to greet women as they arrive. If you are in a larger church, you may have an assistant or study helper that will see to the coffee, refreshments and childcare, leaving you available to pray, greet and answer questions. Either way... get there early!

9. Use a Prayer Request Sheet. Rather than take time from your study, consider having a prayer request sheet that you pass around the room for women to write their requests on during your introduction. Have someone designated to take the sheet to your church office and make copies to distribute to the ladies or small groups for prayer time.

10. Look For Practical Applications. This is pretty self explanatory, but can be a very valuable part of putting "feet" to your study. Look for news stories, personal applications and other ways to illustrate the lesson. Consider having a service or mission activity for the women to participate in that ties into the lesson. Find ways for the women in your study to take the lesson and live it out.

I pray that each Bible study you lead is filled with women who are seeking the Lord, that you will be a servant leader, and that lives will be changed for the Kingdom of God.

From Martha...
Title: Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul
Author:John and Stasi Eldredge
Publisher: Nelson Books
Length of Study: Twelve Weeks
Three Reasons I liked it:
1. It helped me understand my heart... what it desires and needs and why.
2. It lifts you out of the hum-drum of drudgery and gives you the ability to see the significance of your life from God's point of view.
3. Our ladies were impacted in different ways depending on where they were in their spiritual journey. Some understood for the first time how much God loves them and that they matter to God. Others discovered the reasons behind behavior they didn't understand and were challenged to seek further healing. Still others of us were drawn to become those that, by living out who we are in Christ with the world become living invitations, captivating, beautiful...warriors fighting for the hearts of those around us.

From Ginger...
Title: Walking in the Truth, a companion study guide to Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free
Author:Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Publisher: Moody Publishers
Length of Study: Twelve Weeks
Three Reasons we liked it:
1. It was very powerful in the fact that it brings us back to the Divine design and plan of God.
2. It was difficult at best as many of us have been so "steeped" in our culture and had a hard time eliminating all the "buts" and "what ifs". It helped us to see Satan’s age old process of deception, and through prayer we were able to apply that knowledge to twenty-two of the common lies that Christian women in American today fall into.
3. Many of the women gave testimony of how it had impacted them in positive ways... although it was a struggle. But isn't that just like our Heavenly Father, not sparing the difficult or painful so that we will be more like Jesus!
WM.NET Note: Several other studies from Nancy were highly recommended also.

From Leah...
Title: Fingerprints of God
Author: Jennifer Rothchild
Publisher: LifeWay
Length of Study: 7 weeks
Three Reasons you liked it:
1. I am going through some difficult times in my life right now and this study really "hit home."
2. I like the length of the DVD's - they are short enough to keep your attention yet long enough to get the point across.
3. I love how Jennifer is so down to earth and makes things so simple to understand.

From Lori...
Title: Wisdom for Mothers
Author: Denise Glenn
Publisher: Jars of Oil, Inc.
Length of Study: 10 weeks
Three Reasons you liked it:
1. Daily lessons were easy to accomplish.
2. It covered different relationships that mothers have.
3. The study allowed me to draw closer to God and examine the importance of my life and relationships.

Looking for something new to do? Here are some Bible studies that are hot off the presses! Click on the title to review, and order, the study.

Understanding Purpose: Women of Faith Study Guide Series (Women of Faith Study Guide) by Carolyn Custis James

The Power of a Praying Woman: A Bible Study Workbook for Video Curriculum by Stormie Omartian

A Woman of Beauty (1,2,3 John) by Dee Brestin

Designing a Woman's Life Study Guide: A Bible Study and Workbook by Judith Couchman

Lord, Teach Me to Study the Bible in 28 Days by Kay Arthur

Finding Hope When Life Seems Dark: Hosea, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, And Zephaniah by Kay Arthur and Pete De Lacy

Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy by Beth Moore. The leader kit for this study can be ordered through Lifeway.

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