A Modern Girl's Guide to Bible Study: A Refreshingly Unique Look at God's Word

by Jen Hatmaker

Written specifically for today's busy women, this book offers user-friendly advice on how to get the most from personal Bible study time.

Transform the academic nature of Bible study into a fresh, simple format that will radically change the way you interact with Scripture forever.

This great leader's resource can be used with the Modern Girl's Bible Study series or as a tool for discipleship ministry.

Genres: Christian, Faith, Religion, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Christianity, Christian Non Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

JEN HATMAKER is the New York Times bestselling author of For the Love and Fierce, Free, and Full of Fire, along with twelve other books. She hosts the award-winning For the Love podcast, is the delighted curator of the Jen Hatmaker Book Club, and leader of a tightly knit online community where she reaches millions of people each week. Jen is a co-founder of Legacy Collective, a giving organization that grants millions of dollars toward sustainable projects around the world. She is a mom to five kids and lives happily just outside Austin, Texas.

To learn more about Jen, visit www.jenhatmaker.com.

Reviews

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wasn't quite what I thought it was going to be, but that is on me. I should have read the blurb. It's not a Bible study, but a guide on one specific way to study the Bible. The author has some good ideas, but I'm not a journaler, so it may be wasted on me.

[Christy Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can not say enough good about this book! I'm so thankful a precious friend gave it to me. It has changed my life...because it taught me in a brand new way what my time reading my Bible should look like. I just led my small group girls through it and every one of us got so much out of it. Girls that were brand new Christians and girls that had been Christians their whole lives...each one of us walked away with a fresh love for God's word!

[Eyehavenofilter · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you feel like the KJ Bible or The NIV Bible is just to overwhelming or you don't even know what I'm talking about.... This little book may be just your style. Jen Hatmaker wants to spread the word in a fun and stress free way, joyfully , sweetly and simply, with a lot of laughs!
Jen helps bible readers boil down the confusion, word by word, slowly, phrase by phrase by phrase. She advises, analyzing why a word was used in a particular place.
Using a"study Bible " which explains things as you go along, and either writing in the margins or keeping a journal as you read.some Bibles are easier to read than others, it often takes a few verses to figure out which one is for you. Keep a dictionary handy, along with a thesaurus, and a good ancient history book and map of ancient Israel, and the surrounding area.
There are lists of helpful books as well as hints on how you personally can identify with some of the people you are reading about. How to form an alliance with The Lord and with what he has planned for you. Hop to it....and jump in, with both feet and an open heart.

[Tracie Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like her simple approach to studying The Bible. I only gave it 4 stars because she said "Girl" too many times. It's a minor detail that only bugs me. For example, "You ready to read The Bible, girl?" "Girl, you have to set aside at least 30 minutes to study." "Make sure to research the background history. Am I right, girl?"

[Kalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never read a book before that had me so excited to dig into God's Word! I could not WAIT to open my Bible and start journaling about what God was teaching me. Jen shares so many great resources and questions to prompt deeper study, and I love that I don't have to have a devotional to do it.

[Chrystal Reese · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to study the Bible more but don't know where to start, ladies, this is the book for you. While some of the anecdotes maybe ought to be changed, this book really ought to be rewritten for a unisex audience, it's a great study. I did not read this as part of a group but I am considering starting one and doing it again.

[Sherra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book if you are not involved in an organized bible study, or are looking to start one and need some help.

['Chal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did. The study and journaling methods she outlines are very helpful.

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Revolutionized my quiet times. Do the study in the back along with the reading

[Karen Potts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book sounded rather flippant at the start, but then I totally got absorbed in the author's experience & wisdom regarding Bible study to the point of becoming inspired & motivated to add some organization & depth to my own study. A whole new glimpse of how inclusive & rewarding scripture study can be when done with focus & dedication. So glad to have read this & now starting on a second time through.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of Jen Hatmakers first studies, and it shows a little. Do not try it as an audiobook it had some great layouts for break up by day that didn'twork in an audio format. It had parts to make me laugh, concepts that were great but harder to follow in audio which effects how much I'm growing in my faith with it

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book did have some great strategies on reading the Bible independently, it could have been a pamphlet as opposed to a book. Jenn's antidotes are funny and relatable they just seem to be taking up enough room to justify selling it as a book.

[Alicia Vander Tuig · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit jumpy in going through all the different bible study methods/tools BUT when she leads you to do it on your own, studying the Bible takes on more depth and discussion than the average hold-you-by-the-hand Bible study.

[Danielle Sturgeon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I followed the 6-week study guide from the back, which I definitely recommend. Doing that puts into practice the different strategies offered, and helped me find my own style. It was empowering without letting me off the hook, and was very practical.

[Mackenzie Albrecht · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had some good, simple strategies for independent Bible study, but it didn’t really need to be a book. It could have been a couple-page PDF document. The author’s personal anecdotes were funny.

[Carrie Campbell-jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Advice About Bible Study. This book was in my Audiobook library so I listened to it. I felt the author provided practical guidance to approaching Bible study -whether as a group or individual- and in a humorous way. I bookmarked several areas to review again and would recommend.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this a very approachable way to start reading your bible weekly. Lots of helpful information but wrapped in humor and accessible prose.

[Sarah Percy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this on Audible. I love Hen Hatmaker!

[Zoe Kirkby · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting read even for someone who is not that religious like me.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciate the humor and transparency in the writing. Great laughs, and a quick weekend read.

[Dyan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this Bible Study. I have never kept a journal as I read through the Bible, but doing the practices she lead us to do helped me understand why it is important.

[Heidi Kuipers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book. Learned a lot.

[Amber Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this look at thinking about scripture study in a different way.

[Misty]

The book that changed my approach to bible study. Cannot recommend highly enough.

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't enjoy this one as much as Hatmaker's later books. There were times I was like " get to the point"

[Katie Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

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[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The women's Bible Study at our church read this book in our initial study, and it was amazing! Hatmaker gives you practical tips to digging into the word and studying the Bible on your own, without a book to guide you. Whether or not you agree with her stances as of late, she clearly has a heart for God and helping others develop their relationship with the Almighty as well. I definitely recommend this book!

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like I get overwhelmed sometimes when I don't have a specific Bible study going on with our small group or a group of girlfriends or a class at church. I find myself constantly looking for books to sort of serve as my study of God's word. This book was what I needed to guide me in studying the Bible on my own and to not feel overwhelmed or intimidated by it. Hatmaker offers practical strategies for reading the Bible in small chunks and journaling your way through it. Ay times I found the chit-chatty style of the chapters a little over the too, but the five week plan in the back helped me to focus and get started. I would recommend this to anyone else who feels a little overwhelmed when they just open a Bible and set out to read (and I've been a follower of Jesus for most of my life and still felt overwhelmed). She helps you establish purpose and background and gives you a lot of different directions to take when your journal.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great basics on how to read the bible on your own without being in a bible study or devotional book or simply a Christian book where someone else tells you what they think. This reminded me what I learned at my church growing up- journaling with God is powerful. And I should always be able to read God's Word without aids. Journaling allows us to more deeply explore our thoughts with God. She tells you how to approach the Bible without crutches and then gets you started in studying on your own. It has totally refreshed my daily time in God's Word. I am again excited to read my Bible each day. The bible study part in the back is key to use with the chapter portion of the book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Jen Hatmaker's sense of humor, and she does an excellent job of encouraging and empowering her readers to get excited about Bible Study and be much more confident and motivated to read the Bible. The first part of the book discusses the reality of how we usually study the Bible (very amusing at times!) and how we can change for the better, and the second part provides a series of strategies in order not to feel overwhelmed but do a better job. Although the book is worthwhile to read on its own, you won't get the full impact without completing the study guide, preferably with a group. I really enjoyed this book and recommend to anyone whose Bible reading has become a bit stale.