BOOK REVIEW: WOMEN OF THE WORD
How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds
This book should be a prerequisite for every womenās Bible study group.
Had I understood these concepts earlier in my walk with Christ, I could have avoided many problematic interpretations and misapplications. I would have developed a more profound love and affection for God much sooner, experiencing delight in God Himself rather than a focus on mere duty. Unfortunately, I often consulted Scripture with myself in mind, seeking to draw immediate application without considering its context or the bigger picture.Ā
OVERVIEW:
Jen Wilkin has set her face like flint to help women grow in biblical literacy. She does so in a conversational style that’s easily accessible to a new believer or Bible study beginner, walking the reader through essential considerations for studying Scripture that transform both the heart and mind.
COMMON PROBLEMS:
The purpose of Bible study is not merely to gain more knowledge about God but to know Him intimately. However, āthe heart cannot love what the mind does not know.ā1 This is why biblical literacy is so critical.
Often, well-meaning believers approach the Scripture with several problematic habits that Jen coins as:
- The Xanax Approach: We find a verse for every ailment. This approach uses Scripture to make me feel better, making it more about myself than God.
- The Pinball Approach: We jump all over the place without regard to context.
- The Magic 8 Ball Approach: We let the pages fall where they may, looking for an answer to our imminent concern, ādemanding that the Bible tell us what to do rather than who to be.ā2
- The Personal Shopper Approach: We hop from verse to verse, looking for Scriptures on a specific subject rather than addressing āa topic as it arises in Scripture.ā3 The result is a partial knowledge of Scripture without complete understanding.
- The Telephone Game Approach: We substitute our Bible study for reading other books about the Bible, preventing us from knowing the Lord intimately for ourselves.
- The Jack Sprat Approach: This āpickyā approach avoids the more challenging books or sticks only to the New Testament.
A BETTER APPROACH
Admittedly, Iāve been guilty of all of these at one time or another in my faith journey. Itās easy to fall into one of these categories simply from feeling overwhelmed by the Bible or not knowing where to start. Jen provides the tools for a better approach, simplifying the concepts of biblical study into what she calls the ā5 Pāsā:
- Purpose: The foundation and trajectory of the biblical story must always be in view.
- Perspective: Understanding the historical and literary context is critical.
- Patience: We must be patient with ourselves as we slowly study and learn.
- Process: These practical steps help us to understand, interpret, and apply Scripture with integrity.
- Prayer: Our heart posture āchanges our study from the pursuit of knowledge to the pursuit of God himself.ā4
With discussion questions at the end of each chapter, itās the perfect book for individual and small-group study that will forever benefit our time in the Word. There is even a chapter for Bible teachers. So whether you are a new believer or a seasoned disciple, this is a must-read for Christians at any level.
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