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| Source: womensministries.lifeway.com |
I love Bible studies.
What do I mean by that?
Well, I love going to a Christian bookstore, scanning the shelves, and selecting a 7-week, 9-week, or 11-week Bible study to learn more about a particular book of the Bible, Bible character, or Christian living topic.
I love watching DVD Bible study teaching sessions from my favorite Bible teachers such as Nancy Guthrie, Priscilla Shirer, Jennifer Kennedy Dean, Jen Wilkin, and Lysa TerKeurst.
I love leading a weekly women's Bible study in my neighborhood.
I've loved participating in women's Bible studies in my local church.
I love going on women's retreats, learning from lay women and women in professional ministry as they teach from God's word.
If fact, I am sitting beside a glossy-covered Bible study workbook with coordinating DVDs that just arrived at my door step to enjoy on my own for the next two months. (Curious? I selected this one since my neighborhood women's Bible study on this book just ended.)
But I have been doing some reflecting lately about a few major pitfalls that exist in women's Bible studies that we never seem to discuss as a body of believers. (If we do discuss them, I have been absent from the party!).
And, to appease my analytical side, please allow me to discuss this topic in bullet-point format, dear one!
- Pitfall 1: We view the Bible teacher as a celebrity
We live in a modern Christian culture that has fully embraced the worldly concept of "celebrity." We see this at women's events when a well-known Bible teacher gets bombarded after their teaching session with requests for selfies and autographs. Oftentimes, I find myself having to work hard to focus my attention away from the Bible teacher's hairstyle, outfit, or fashion accessories to truly listen to their message. We place our Bible teachers on a pedestal and look up to them, to the detriment of valuing all the parts of the body of Christ. Did not Paul say that all ministries of the church are vitally important in its proper functioning...even those jobs that are behind the scenes or less flashy? (see 1 Corinthians 12)
- Pitfall 2: We falsely assume the Bible teacher has "arrived"
Too often we view our Bible teacher as being someone who has figured out this whole "Christian life" thing and is no longer in need of the grace and gospel of Jesus Christ every moment of their daily lives. This plays out when we expect them to teach us truth and shepherd us in ways that only Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, can do. We often demand too much of them, or fall into pitfall #1 and place them on a pedestal to admire and worship. Don't think you do this? Here's a revealing question for you: how often do you pray for your pastor or Bible study teacher? If your answer is seldom or never, then you've fallen into this common pitfall, dear friend!
- Pitfall 3: We expect the Bible study material to change our hearts
Don't misunderstand me here: the gospel of Jesus Christ always changes peoples hearts and lives! Glory hallelujah! But we can fall into a trap by thinking that attending a weekly Bible study, or completing a Bible study workbook will change our hearts. The only way our hearts can change is when we repent of our sin and unbelief and believe in Jesus and His word. If we are never willing to get real with God and examine our hearts, we will not change, I don't care HOW many years of Bible studies we complete! I am forever awed by the teaching session/church service depicted in the pages of Nehemiah. Ezra the priest is standing on a wooden platform and reading from the Book of the Law. That is it, people. No building. No praise band. No organ. No pews. Just people listening to God's Word....and weeping their guts out (okay, not an exact Bible quote, but I envision a lot of ugly crying; see Nehemiah 8). They are weeping and repenting and hearts are moving and lives are changing, and there is nothing fancy about it.
So these are just three major pitfalls I see when I participate in and lead Bible studies. May we all pray for our Bible teachers, pastors, and church leaders as they are faithful to bring us the Word every week! May we seek to not put them on pedestals, but extend to them the grace that every one of us needs, each day this side of heaven. May we open our hearts and lean into the conviction of the Holy Spirit when He reveals sin in our hearts, and may we be quick and obedient to repent of our sin and unbelief. May we always endeavor to be avid students of God's Holy Word!
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." --Matthew 5:6, ESV
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