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Becoming Women of the Word: How to Answer God's Call with Purpose and Joy
Winner of a 2020 Catholic Press Association book award (third place, scripture-popular studies).
The women God called to bring his chosen people into the world were ordinary women who struggled with emptiness, oppression, infertility, and loss—yet who found strength and hope in God. In her first book, Sarah Christmyer—codeveloper of The Great Adventure Catholic Bible study program—pairs the stories of key Old Testament women with stories of women she has known to show us how we can hear God, say yes to his call, and share him with the world just as they did. Breaking open the scriptures to reveal the historical, cultural, and biblical context in which Old Testament women lived, Sarah Christmyer breathes new life into their stories and makes their lives surprisingly relatable. In the process, she shares stories from her own faith journey and the lives of family and friends to show how the same principles that turned ordinary women into heroines of the faith are true for our lives today. Each chapter of Becoming Women of the Word highlights the spiritual legacy of one or more women in the Old Testament. Their world was vastly different from ours, yet they faced the same questions we when we can’t feel God’s presence, where do we find help? When our world is collapsing, where is God? Why should we trust him? How can we trust him? Christmyer simply and clearly draws from the lives of these women important principles that help us to trust—even as we struggle with doubt. For These unforgettable portraits create a colorful mosaic of faith, encouraging us to mine God’s Word for spiritual treasure and to pass on the gift.
The women God called to bring his chosen people into the world were ordinary women who struggled with emptiness, oppression, infertility, and loss—yet who found strength and hope in God. In her first book, Sarah Christmyer—codeveloper of The Great Adventure Catholic Bible study program—pairs the stories of key Old Testament women with stories of women she has known to show us how we can hear God, say yes to his call, and share him with the world just as they did. Breaking open the scriptures to reveal the historical, cultural, and biblical context in which Old Testament women lived, Sarah Christmyer breathes new life into their stories and makes their lives surprisingly relatable. In the process, she shares stories from her own faith journey and the lives of family and friends to show how the same principles that turned ordinary women into heroines of the faith are true for our lives today. Each chapter of Becoming Women of the Word highlights the spiritual legacy of one or more women in the Old Testament. Their world was vastly different from ours, yet they faced the same questions we when we can’t feel God’s presence, where do we find help? When our world is collapsing, where is God? Why should we trust him? How can we trust him? Christmyer simply and clearly draws from the lives of these women important principles that help us to trust—even as we struggle with doubt. For These unforgettable portraits create a colorful mosaic of faith, encouraging us to mine God’s Word for spiritual treasure and to pass on the gift.
160 pages, Paperback
Published August 2, 2019
81 people are currently reading
221 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
November 16, 2021
I purchased this book while attending the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Catholic Women's Conference in 2019 but didn't feel called to delve into it until after I returned from a Pilgrimage to France in October 2021. After daily mass in a different church or chapel for 12 days and learning about some fantastic female Saints, I was in a better frame of mind to sit and walk through the lives of the women of faith of the Old Testament.
Sarah Christmyer weaves her own personal stories in with those of the women she writes about and each chapter explores a different lesson that only a woman could teach. Central to each, however, is Love: God's love for us and our love for God.
I look forward to re-reading this book another time with a group for discussion.
Sarah Christmyer weaves her own personal stories in with those of the women she writes about and each chapter explores a different lesson that only a woman could teach. Central to each, however, is Love: God's love for us and our love for God.
I look forward to re-reading this book another time with a group for discussion.
February 23, 2024
Our prayer group really enjoyed this book. The author has so many wonderful insights on Old Testament women. I look forward to reading more by her!
July 8, 2023
I read this book as a part of our women’s spring Bible study book study and absolutely loved it. This book provided such a beautiful and unique insight into the lives of women from the Bible that I thought I knew before (but only knew the surface level story). Not only did this book dive deep into the promises God made (and fulfilled) to these women, it also allowed the readers to make connections between our “normal” lives and the lives of these incredible saints. Truly inspiring and encouraging to read.
December 4, 2019
“I come from a long line of strong women who loved God fiercely and passed along their faith to many children, both biological and spiritual,” Sarah Christmyer writes in the introduction to Becoming Women of the Word (2019, Ave Maria Press). She continues, laying the foundation of her own upbringing, which involved an intimate knowledge of scripture that I can relate with.
“This book reflects on the lives of these Old Testament women who said yes to God’s call and found their place in his plan of salvation,” she promises. “They are true women of the Word—not just because we read about them in God’s Word but also because, like the blessed and faith-filled people of Psalm 1 and Jeremiah 17, they knew and followed the word of God.”
In the next ten chapters, Christmyer spends time with Old Testament women you may (or may not) have heard of: Eve, Sarah, Leah and Rachel, Miriam, Rahab, Deborah, Ruth, Hannah, Esther, and Judith. She calls it “a kind of spiritual pilgrimage through the Old Testament,” inspired because she felt “so strongly that [these Old Testament women’s] experiences are relevant to us, regardless of the miles and years between us.”
She got my attention, that’s for sure. I get that we’re all women, but can we really have something in common with a desert nomad from four thousand years ago?
Yes. And yes.
(Not that you’re really surprised by that, I know.)
Each chapter starts with a personal story from Christmyer’s background. Some are from her childhood, others are from family member’s adventures, and still others are of her own immediate family. She follows with the context of the Old Testament woman, that woman’s story, and relating that story/adventure/challenge back to our modern lives. There are also reflection questions at the end of each chapter, tying it all together.
The storytelling in this book complements the Old Testament stories quite well. You can read the passages and books Christmyer references, which makes for quite an in-depth study. You can also whip through it (guilty) and then mark passages for revisiting later.
Christmyer beautifully unpacks the Old Testament women, bringing them to life and making me remember the hours I spent as a child poring over my Children’s Bible (the comic strip one). She turns what were merely stories into a heritage, one that’s been passed down to me as part of the family.
“This book reflects on the lives of these Old Testament women who said yes to God’s call and found their place in his plan of salvation,” she promises. “They are true women of the Word—not just because we read about them in God’s Word but also because, like the blessed and faith-filled people of Psalm 1 and Jeremiah 17, they knew and followed the word of God.”
In the next ten chapters, Christmyer spends time with Old Testament women you may (or may not) have heard of: Eve, Sarah, Leah and Rachel, Miriam, Rahab, Deborah, Ruth, Hannah, Esther, and Judith. She calls it “a kind of spiritual pilgrimage through the Old Testament,” inspired because she felt “so strongly that [these Old Testament women’s] experiences are relevant to us, regardless of the miles and years between us.”
She got my attention, that’s for sure. I get that we’re all women, but can we really have something in common with a desert nomad from four thousand years ago?
Yes. And yes.
(Not that you’re really surprised by that, I know.)
Each chapter starts with a personal story from Christmyer’s background. Some are from her childhood, others are from family member’s adventures, and still others are of her own immediate family. She follows with the context of the Old Testament woman, that woman’s story, and relating that story/adventure/challenge back to our modern lives. There are also reflection questions at the end of each chapter, tying it all together.
The storytelling in this book complements the Old Testament stories quite well. You can read the passages and books Christmyer references, which makes for quite an in-depth study. You can also whip through it (guilty) and then mark passages for revisiting later.
Christmyer beautifully unpacks the Old Testament women, bringing them to life and making me remember the hours I spent as a child poring over my Children’s Bible (the comic strip one). She turns what were merely stories into a heritage, one that’s been passed down to me as part of the family.
June 17, 2019
Sarah Christmyer’s Becoming Women of the Word is a jewel from the Biblical Word! “A spiritual pilgrimage through the Old Testament,” Sarah’s subtitle, takes us on the daily travels and travails of ten women from the Old Testament. From Eve to Judith, with the adventures of Sarah, Leah and Rachel, Miriam, Rahab, Deborah, Ruth, and Esther, the stories are vibrant and deeply personal. Coupled with Sarah’s own life’s narratives throughout, these women – and Sarah – remind us that we “receive” Faith – we do not generate it from our own lives. Faith is gift, as the author writes, and as gift it needs time, lived experience, and appreciation to become active, and then passed to the next generation.
Sarah Christmyer presents the Biblical story of our very own Christian family tree in the Old Testament. In her stories we find ourselves and learn how to receive and live with daily grace, to become women in the daily Word spoken to us. Her very personal tone, as friends’ conversation over coffee, gives insights you might receive from a spiritual director. In stories retold from the author’s spiritual perspective, the listening reader is invited to apply these insights to her own spiritual journey. Sarah provides her experience of faith’s gift: daily conversion, salvation through the Word. This is a VERY valuable resource for soaking in Scripture.
Sarah Christmyer presents the Biblical story of our very own Christian family tree in the Old Testament. In her stories we find ourselves and learn how to receive and live with daily grace, to become women in the daily Word spoken to us. Her very personal tone, as friends’ conversation over coffee, gives insights you might receive from a spiritual director. In stories retold from the author’s spiritual perspective, the listening reader is invited to apply these insights to her own spiritual journey. Sarah provides her experience of faith’s gift: daily conversion, salvation through the Word. This is a VERY valuable resource for soaking in Scripture.
June 21, 2020
I was excited to receive this review copy from Ave Maria Press about a year ago. I started reading it sometime at the beginning of the pandemic as a buddy read with a friend. The book features some amazing women from the Old Testament: Eve, Sarah, Leah & Rachel, Miriam, Rahab, Deborah, Ruth, Hannah, Esther, and Judith.
The author also weaves in stories of the powerhouse women who formed her from childhood through adulthood. We read about 3-4 women per month and discussed.
There are scripture passages in each chapter to read the entire story of the woman, but I just read the author’s summary – which were compelling and insightfully written. There are also questions at the end of each chapter (as per usual in a spiritual book written about women). We never used those for discussion, instead just talking about the passages we underlined that struck us during our read – which were a lot.
I highly recommend. If I read it again, I’d read the chapters/book referenced and do a deeper study into their stories, which I think would be beneficial.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The author also weaves in stories of the powerhouse women who formed her from childhood through adulthood. We read about 3-4 women per month and discussed.
There are scripture passages in each chapter to read the entire story of the woman, but I just read the author’s summary – which were compelling and insightfully written. There are also questions at the end of each chapter (as per usual in a spiritual book written about women). We never used those for discussion, instead just talking about the passages we underlined that struck us during our read – which were a lot.
I highly recommend. If I read it again, I’d read the chapters/book referenced and do a deeper study into their stories, which I think would be beneficial.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 21, 2019
I regularly read books on faith and spirituality geared toward women. But I have to admit, I’m hard to please. Every now and then a book comes along that speaks deeply into my soul. Becoming Women of the Word is one of those books. Sarah Christmyer takes the reader on a journey, not only into the lives of the women in the Old Testament, but also into the heart of the reader. With vivid narrative and soul searching depth, Sarah masterfully weaves together the threads of triumph and weakness of women in the Old Testament, women from her own family, and women everywhere searching for their own purpose and meaning into a rich textured tapestry. Someone once said the longest distance is 18 inches – from the head to the heart. Becoming Women of the Word succeeds in bridging that distance. It’s intellectually stimulating and meditatively nourishing with many insights worthy of further pondering and prayer. I hope this book travels near and far into hands and hearts of many women.
December 26, 2022
This is by far the best book on the subject of the women in the Old Testament. The author illustrates a thread from Eve to Mary, the mother of Christ. Each woman has a chapter written for her. There is a unique perspective that Ms. Christmyer presents to her readers. She not only delves into symbolism, the meaning of names, but she also shares her family history that is truly remarkable and is in alignment with the themes in the women of the Bible's lives. This author completely captures the essence of each woman who God had chosen to be part of his revelation. Many of these women rise up to meet God's will that moves the message of the Word forward to Mary who says yes to God and becomes the mother of the son of man and the son of God.
August 5, 2019
Theology, personal connection, Biblical heroines, devotion and questions for reflection....what woman could ask for more in a lively and spiritually nourishing read? Christmyer's book is a wonderful companion for Christian women who are looking for inspiration in the Word of God.. Her stories of women of faith from her own family history is a reminder that each of us have heroines in our own families, and we would do well to remember their words and actions that have helped us on our own paths to God. Highly recommended! .
I was provided a free e-version of this book by Netgalley.com in return for my honest review.
I was provided a free e-version of this book by Netgalley.com in return for my honest review.
September 18, 2019
Becoming Women of the Word” is a must-read! My teenage daughter and I enjoyed reading this book over the summer which was a springboard for tender and good conversation. The women in each chapter were easy to imagine with Sarah’s detailed knowledge of scripture, context, as she placed herself in the scene of the day. We particularly enjoyed hearing stories from her own life which made the women relatable and relevant to issues we face in today’s society. I highly recommend reading this with other women or between mothers and daughters as a springboard to sharing how our feminine genius is distinct and complementary to God’s Divine plan revealed in real concrete ways.”
December 27, 2020
I found this book enlightening. I've read the bible stories of the Old Testament when I was younger and haven't given them much thought since. When I picked up this book, I half expected to find it dry and lacking in anything relatable to my life. Big mistake.
This book by Sarah Christmyer, opened my eyes to the beauty of faith and how through all the many, many generations, the same truth prevails and we meet the same problems and challenges. How we deal with them makes all the difference. I can relate to many of these faith filled ladies, in their weaknesses and in their strengths. And finding that I can resonate with them gives me hope, love, and joy.
This book by Sarah Christmyer, opened my eyes to the beauty of faith and how through all the many, many generations, the same truth prevails and we meet the same problems and challenges. How we deal with them makes all the difference. I can relate to many of these faith filled ladies, in their weaknesses and in their strengths. And finding that I can resonate with them gives me hope, love, and joy.
October 3, 2020
This is a book for anyone who wants to explore some of the women of the Old Testament and how they can still affect our lives The author does an amazing job of telling the story of the strength of OT women. There is a chapter devoted to each women and is told in a simple format. It can easily be put down and picked up again without interruptiom. But one you start you will want to finish. I am in all women book study group and we are studying this book. The discussion makes it all the more enjoyable.
May 24, 2025
Read 6 of the 10 chapters with 6 lovely ladies for a Bible Study Book Club in the fall of 2024. I finally finished the entire book. I loved discussing with the ladies, but I didn't really care for the book. I gained more insights from my friends' research and discussion than the author's ideas. The author talks about the faithful women in her life but most of the stories were personal to her and not really inspiring for me. And the discussion of the women in the bible were mostly a synopsis of the Bible stories rather than insightful observations.
March 11, 2021
Very good summaries of various women from the Old Testament. The author brings these characters to life and shows how they are relevant today. She also interweaves stories from her personal life and the lives of relatives (who were missionaries) to show how some of those experiences parallel those of women like Ruth, Hannah, Judith etc. An interesting read and great for church book club discussions.
July 20, 2023
Read this book for Bible study. Really enjoyed it!!! Easy, quick read but chalked FULL of new insight into the women of the Old Testament. It was inspiring and I learned a lot about women I have known about my whole life- rahab, Esther, Deborah, etc. if you’re looking for a spiritual read that’s not the typical “Bob Goff” book where every chapter essentially says the same thing or where every chapter is just about the author’s testimony, I would recommend this book!
September 25, 2022
What a beautiful book! I learned so many new things about the women in the Bible featured in this book. I read Becoming Women of the Word with my book club. We all agreed it is an excellent book with many insights on women of the bible and how to apply these lessons to our lives. So good! I highly recommend Becoming women of the Word: How to Answer God's Call with Purpose and Joy by Sarah Christmyer!
December 6, 2022
Often when we think of the Old Testament we think of the giants - Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, Elijah etc. This took me on a journey through the female giants of the Old Testament and how they are excellent example of how to become a woman of God and to live out my faith. Excellent read, and will revisit often!
October 20, 2019
This book was fantastic. Here's the structure. Each chapter opens with a story about a woman in Sarah's family, or a close family friend. She shares about their love for God, and how they lived out a certain characteristic, or virtue. Then she introduces a woman from the Old Testament. She puts the woman in context of the entire Salvation history, and hows how the woman ultimately points to Mary. She ends the chapter connecting the woman from her life, the woman from Scripture, and us. There are thoughtful reflection questions for each chapter. I took the time to read the Scripture for each of them women, which is listed in the book. This really allowed me to pause, reflect, and go deeper. It was very well written, easy to read, and yet deep. I think I will return to it in the new year.
August 11, 2025
I read this book with our church group and really loved it. What a unique insight into the lives of women from the Bible as the author also relates it to her life and loved ones. We all agreed it was so enjoyable and inspiring.
May 16, 2020
This was a pick for our women’s book club. The questions at the end of each chapter are perfect for Zoom discussions!
May 16, 2020
Becoming Women of the Word is a beautiful study that has helped me know and appreciate the holy women of the Old Testament in a new and personal way! Highly recommened for any women’s group.
September 9, 2021
A wonderful easy read with great journaling reflections. It is comforting to remember and reflect on the timeless impact of women who have changed history and cemented our faith.
June 7, 2024
great book!
March 6, 2025
I really liked how the author melded modern examples of the Old Testament figures.
April 16, 2025
Demonstrates the bravery , impact and joy of women from Eve through the Old Testament. My favorites are Deborah (courage), Miriam (leading praise) and Ruth(loyalty)
December 6, 2023
I read this for a women’s prayer group and had some nice conversations that were spurred by the book. I didn’t find the book to be particularly deep- maybe just not deep enough for me. I also didn’t love how brief the tie-in to Mary was at the end. I would’ve loved more about the most important woman in Scripture.
February 3, 2024
Very enjoyable stories of the author’s families combined with stories of women from the Old Testament. Very insightful!
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews