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Delighting in the Word
Joy!: A Bible Study on Philippians for Women
This Bible study will not only bring the truths of Philippians to bear upon your life, but will also train you up for better, more effective study of any book of the Bible with consistent use of the three questions needed in all good Bible Observation, Interpretation, and Application.
150 pages, Spiral-bound
First published June 15, 2012
2 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Keri Folmar
18 books29 followersKeri Folmar is the wife of John Folmar, pastor of the United Christian Church of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and the mother of three children. In a previous life, as chief counsel of House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, she was staff writer of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 10, 2025
Used this book for women’s Bible study at church.
It was helpful overall and I gained greatly both spiritually and in my knowledge of the book of Philippians.
One point of improvement though is that over the course of the study we noticed that some questions tended to be a-bit unclear, confusing or potentially vague.
I think a second round of edits could be helpful to sharpen the questions even more.
It was helpful overall and I gained greatly both spiritually and in my knowledge of the book of Philippians.
One point of improvement though is that over the course of the study we noticed that some questions tended to be a-bit unclear, confusing or potentially vague.
I think a second round of edits could be helpful to sharpen the questions even more.
July 6, 2017
Joy! is an inductive study of the book of Philippians. Being an inductive study, it is as in-depth as you make it. I worked through this study with a group from my church. I enjoyed doing this study, but want to make a few comments.
1. It's sold as a study "for women" but could easily be used by either gender. There really isn't anything gender-specific in this study. I find it irritating that, because the book is written by a woman, it must be covered in flowers and sold for women, but that's the church climate we live in.
2. The amount of work done varies quite a bit day to day and week to week. It took on average 20 minutes a day to work through the study, but sometimes less and sometimes quite a bit more. I wish it was a bit more even.
3. Some of the application questions felt very accusatory in how they were worded. One week, the study centered on how Paul isn't perfect, but striving to be better through the power of Jesus in his life - but the questions felt quite a bit like the author was telling us "you're not perfect enough, do better."
Overall, I found this to be a good study and would be willing to do another by the same author - but my group picked a different series for our next study.
1. It's sold as a study "for women" but could easily be used by either gender. There really isn't anything gender-specific in this study. I find it irritating that, because the book is written by a woman, it must be covered in flowers and sold for women, but that's the church climate we live in.
2. The amount of work done varies quite a bit day to day and week to week. It took on average 20 minutes a day to work through the study, but sometimes less and sometimes quite a bit more. I wish it was a bit more even.
3. Some of the application questions felt very accusatory in how they were worded. One week, the study centered on how Paul isn't perfect, but striving to be better through the power of Jesus in his life - but the questions felt quite a bit like the author was telling us "you're not perfect enough, do better."
Overall, I found this to be a good study and would be willing to do another by the same author - but my group picked a different series for our next study.
February 1, 2019
This has been a fabulous study on the book of Philippians, an inductive study written specifically for women. I worked through this guide with my discipleship group of four other women, and it has been powerful, rich, and life changing. Highly recommend this series by Keri Folmar! This is my second of her Bible study guides, and we delve into her Mark study next. Get a few gals together and study God’s Word together, and you will be blessed! I also highly recommend The Message of Philippians by J.A. Motyer as a fabulous commentary to read alongside it.
December 10, 2017
We have been using this book to guide a small group Bible study. At first I thought some of the questions were unnecessary, but I like the repetition and I like that I have to think about the passage more than I would have otherwise. The book is very helpful in a guided study. Totally recommend
October 22, 2019
Why am I reviewing a Bible Study on Philippians for women? First, I heard many great things about this study and wanted to check it out. Second, our church has a lot of community groups but not a lot of Bible study groups. I wanted to see if this was a resource I could suggest. After reading and interacting with this study, it is one that I wholeheartedly recommend.
A Trustworthy Teacher
Author Keri Folmar is the wife of John Folmar, pastor of the United Christian Church of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. She is also the mother of three children. Interestingly, once as chief counsel of House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, she was a staff writer of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban.
Folmar knows how to write, but she lets Scripture do the talking in this 10-week BIble study. The basic steps of observation, interpretation, and application are highlighted for the reader. Generous white space is dedicated to interacting with the text. The study opens by asking the reader to do an overview of the entire letter. Background information on how a First Century would receive this letter was refreshing to read.
Philippians 4
I had to see what Folmar presents in Philippians 4, and she does not disappoint in asking the hard questions. For instance, she asks, “In which circumstances or areas of life do you find it hardest to be content? Examine the following areas.”
She then lists marriage, singleness, children, health, financial difficulties or financial abundance, family relationships, career, church, and living arrangements. As a new father, I remember the uncertain time and discontentment that can creep up on a waiting husband and wife. I appreciate that Folmar tackles this question within the context of Scripture and helps the reader find contentment in Christ.
Written with Joy
But it is not just in Philippians 4 where she asks the hard questions. She challenges her readers throughout the book to really think about what the Bible says. She encourages everyone to wrestle with the text. There are questions for single women, married women, older women, and younger women. I benefitted from this study as a man, and I recommend it for anyone who is ready for serious study.
I was provided a complimentary copy of JOY! — A Bible Study on Philippians for Women in exchange for an honest review.
A Trustworthy Teacher
Author Keri Folmar is the wife of John Folmar, pastor of the United Christian Church of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. She is also the mother of three children. Interestingly, once as chief counsel of House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, she was a staff writer of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban.
Folmar knows how to write, but she lets Scripture do the talking in this 10-week BIble study. The basic steps of observation, interpretation, and application are highlighted for the reader. Generous white space is dedicated to interacting with the text. The study opens by asking the reader to do an overview of the entire letter. Background information on how a First Century would receive this letter was refreshing to read.
Philippians 4
I had to see what Folmar presents in Philippians 4, and she does not disappoint in asking the hard questions. For instance, she asks, “In which circumstances or areas of life do you find it hardest to be content? Examine the following areas.”
She then lists marriage, singleness, children, health, financial difficulties or financial abundance, family relationships, career, church, and living arrangements. As a new father, I remember the uncertain time and discontentment that can creep up on a waiting husband and wife. I appreciate that Folmar tackles this question within the context of Scripture and helps the reader find contentment in Christ.
Written with Joy
But it is not just in Philippians 4 where she asks the hard questions. She challenges her readers throughout the book to really think about what the Bible says. She encourages everyone to wrestle with the text. There are questions for single women, married women, older women, and younger women. I benefitted from this study as a man, and I recommend it for anyone who is ready for serious study.
I was provided a complimentary copy of JOY! — A Bible Study on Philippians for Women in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2021
This study prompted some great discussion, but I think it would have been well served by a more through editing process. The questions were often vague, confusing, and lacking in a clear purpose or direction. With no leader guide, it made facilitating the discussion difficult as I often had no idea what the author was looking for, or what her goal for each question was. Additionally, some days the homework would have 5 questions where as others would have 35 causing it to be very difficult to know how much time we needed to plan for each day's work.
July 21, 2020
I really wanted to love this book. It was just ok. I would give it 2.5 stars if I could. Philippians is only 4 chapters but the workbook drags it out to a 10 week course of study. Although many of the questions made for great discussion of the Bible study group I belong to (More of the credit goes to the members of the group & their experiences than the questions), I found much of it to be repetitive. I would not use this book again.
November 8, 2017
This book really makes you dig deep and think about what Paul is writing to the people. I learned a lot about Paul, the Philippians and Paul's relationship about God. This isn't a book for you if you don't want to do some additional research. Also some of the questions do get repetitive.
May 28, 2024
Did this study together with a group of ladies, follows an inductive method of bible study. We had great discussions and gleaned a lot from Philippians.
January 8, 2013
Great Bible study! Went through it with my small group and with a group of ladies via Skype. It was a great encouragement to pursue joy in Christ, but also challenged us to apply God's Word personally for our individual growth, corporately for the benefit of the body of Christ, relationally with family, and missionally to advance the kingdom. My only critique was that both groups of ladies I studied with had a hard time getting through all the questions each week.
November 21, 2013
VERY in-depth study. Lots of good questions that led to some great discussion in our small group.
That being said, some of the questions did get a bit repetitive at times, but truly a good resources to dig into this short epistle (and be reminded of what Paul was going through when he was encouraging others to rejoice)
That being said, some of the questions did get a bit repetitive at times, but truly a good resources to dig into this short epistle (and be reminded of what Paul was going through when he was encouraging others to rejoice)
June 17, 2015
While others in my neighborhood group enjoyed it, I thought this bible study was very monotonous and boring.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews