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Develop Bible Study That Packs a Punch

Written by Lucinda Rountree

The foundation of women's ministry comes from ladies who desire to study God's Word together. Bible study is the single most important ministry opportunity you can offer women.

Transformed Lives: Taking Women's Ministry to the Next Level

There is something powerful and life-changing when a group of women come together and open the Bible and began to pray and study. Through Bible study, we see modern-day miracles happen: the healing of marriages, restoration of family relationships, finances put in order - the list goes on and on.

You can develop a women's Bible study ministry that packs a punch. Here are six guidelines to paving the path for spiritual transformatin.

1. Define the purpose of Bible study in your women's ministry. Does God want to use Bible study groups to help your women develop better study habits? Pray about His goals for this Bible study ministry to women.

2. Choose the format. Will you have inductive, topical, lecture-style classes, or open discussions? You and your leaders should agree on study formats.

3. Select the right resources. Keep in mind the needs of the ladies in your church and community. Choose studies that will appeal to them. Don't know where to start? Visit your local Christian bookstore or go online and search for a variety of topics and studies.

4. Offer a variety of opportunities to study. Women are different and will have different needs! Consider the following options for studies to meet the needs of the array of women in your church:

varying times and days a study might be offered,
the amount of personal study homework required per day,
different topics, and
different “depths” of studies, to make sure the new and seasoned believer have a place.

5. Recruit group leaders. Look for women in your church who are faithful in their walk with the Lord and willing to sit in the seat of a facilitator. And while we're calling these ladies facilitators, we shouldn't undermine the truth that although they may not be writing and explaining the study, they will still be “teachers” by example.

6. Publicize. Will you use your church bulletin or flyers that you hand out on Sunday mornings to advertise? Will your pastor make an announcement for you? Can your Sunday School or cell group leaders help spread the word?

7. Launch! Pray as the start dates for the studies approach, and continue praying through the duration of the classes. Check in with leaders from time to time to see what else might be needed.

8. Evaluate. When the studies end, pass out evaluation forms. Tell participants to be kind but honest as they fill them out.

Regroup with your leaders and discuss how they think the studies went. Ask for suggestions on how you can improve your Bible study time for the next semester.

Bible study is the single most important ministry we can offer to women today. It will grow your ministry numerically and in spiritual depth. Using God's Word as the foundation of your ministry, you are destined for certain success.