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Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds
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Now Includes BrandNew Study Questions for Each Chapter
"A mustread for every woman interested in teaching and leading Bible discussion groups in your church."
Nancy G
Now Includes BrandNew Study Questions for Each Chapter
"A mustread for every woman interested in teaching and leading Bible discussion groups in your church."
Nancy G
178 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2014
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18329 people want to read
About the author
Jen Wilkin
69 books1,473 followersJen Wilkin is a speaker, writer, and teacher of women’s Bible studies. During her thirteen years of teaching, she has organized and led studies for women in home, church, and parachurch contexts. Jen and her family are members of the Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas. She is the author of Women of the Word.
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February 22, 2021
The principle that this book argues for is by all means important and I cannot agree more with the author: Become a woman of the Word. Jen Wilkin does a wonderful job in explaining why is it important -extremely important- to study the Word of God faithfully. I would give this book 5 stars from pages 1-108.
On the next pages (p.109-145), the author proposes a method to study the Scriptures (and because of these pages I dropped the rating down to 4 stars). Her method is good and in-depth, but I am more afraid about all the discouragement that it may bring to all the women out there (especially to those with little ones, or full-time jobs) trying to get into the Word. As my pastor says, "we need to always be able to discern the principle from the methods."
I would encourage you to read attentively chapters 1-7 as well as the conclusion. Take notes, learn, and find the principles in there, and by all means start reading the Word now.
On the next pages (p.109-145), the author proposes a method to study the Scriptures (and because of these pages I dropped the rating down to 4 stars). Her method is good and in-depth, but I am more afraid about all the discouragement that it may bring to all the women out there (especially to those with little ones, or full-time jobs) trying to get into the Word. As my pastor says, "we need to always be able to discern the principle from the methods."
I would encourage you to read attentively chapters 1-7 as well as the conclusion. Take notes, learn, and find the principles in there, and by all means start reading the Word now.
July 23, 2014
2014 is proving to be a good year for newly published Christian women's books, a genre whose weaknesses and shallowness I and many others have oft lamented.
Without even using the word hermeneutics, this book is a guide to exactly that. (But no worries, lovers of and trained students in hermeneutics, the author still pulls out and articulately teaches words and concepts such as metanarrative, exegesis, and Bible literacy.)
Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds is a clarion call to today's Christian women to lay aside poor Bible study habits and to dig deeply into patient, purposeful intake of the full scope of Scripture, examining God's Word word-by-word, and within context of The Big Story. Just like our culture is currently learning that this the case with food, the more processed your Bible study is, the less healthy it is for you.
Jen Wilkin encourages women to "put the ruffles in the back," (you'll have to read the book to learn the specific meaning of this one :)), to put away flaky bible study, and to realize that simply "doing devotions" or a "spending time in the Word" are often merely buzzwords that have not been further elaborated or adequately demonstrated.
Yet she writes without intimidation; her own words are neither lofty nor inaccessible. Instead, Jen writes as a skilled teacher, articulating with precision and simplicity, giving her readers a helpful framework for studying God's word. This guide gives the reader specific steps to follow while simultaneously allowing freedom for individual seasons of life, speeds of learning, and the relinquishing of poor study habits.
Framework for Studying the Bible
After addressing the need for Bible study, Jen dissects several common, yet ineffective, ways we tend approach Scripture within the American Christian subculture: the Xanax Approach, the Pinball Approach, the Magic Ball Approach, the Personal Shopper Approach, the Telephone Game Approach, and the Jack Sprat Approach. (Check out this article for a more in-depth examination of each of these approaches.)
In going through each of these mistaken ways to approach God's Word, Jen not only discusses how easy it is to treat Scripture carelessly, but how important it is that we take a careful, studious approach.
(While this is certainly not a diatribe-focused book, it is nonetheless important to address these errors. Because these approached have subtly become the standard and accepted methods, extra time and explanation must be given to evaluating each of them. Many of us have habitualized these methods to the point of needing extra effort to eliminate them from our Bible study methods.)
Jen builds a framework for good Bible study using her alliterated five-point outline. She urges her readers to study with:
Purpose
Perspective
Patience
Process
Prayer
Although alliteration is occasionally symbolic of shallow Bible study, in this case it's a well-crafted pneumonic device.
Under these five foci, Jen addresses the importance of understanding metanarrative (the big-picture story of the Bible) and understanding the Bible as literature (focusing on an understanding of specific authors, the time of writing, the intended audience, the style of writing, and the purpose of writing).
As she explains within the section on Study with Process, Jen then gives the reader specific steps for approaching a passage and studying it in detail, listing the three main stages as:
Comprehension - "What Does It Say?"
A Printed Copy of the Text
Repetitive Reading
Annotation
An English Dictionary
Other Translations of the Bible
Outlining
Interpretation - "What Does It Mean?"
Cross-References
Paraphrasing
Application - "How Should It Change Me?"
What does this passages teach me about God?
How does this aspect of God's character change my view of self?
What should I do in response?
While she does give specific instructions, Jen nonetheless is teaching her readers to fish, rather than simply handing them pre-selected fishes. Or in the words of Jen's opening analogy, she gives her readers a spoon to move their "mountains of Biblical ignorance."
At the end of the book, Jen walks through James as an example of studying a smaller book of the Bible. (This is extremely beneficial, particularly for those who may not have had previous exposure to this type of Bible study.)
For the Hungry
Women of the Word is easy to read (can be read in just a few hours), but is also valuable as a Bible study companion — using it as a reference and tool as you learn to navigate exegesis of individual passages.
Christian women are hungry for God's Word. In the absence of being taught how to feed ourselves or where to find the healthy food, women are turning to the ineffective approaches listed above, to false teachers, or to anyone who will claim to feed them. Others have been told that "spiritual meat" isn't food for women, and some have become content with a diet of milk and watered-down Word. Yet we can't expect a quick-fix: studying God's Word takes discipline, persistence, and patience. And as we labor through the text, we soon realized we are being filled, we are growing, and our hunger is increasing.
Regardless of where you are in your spiritual journey or how much Bible study training you have under your belt (or your fluffy tights :)), I can guarantee that anyone who has a desire to study God's word will walk away from this book better equipped to do so.
Does Every Passage Have Personal Application?
One minimal concern with Jen's instructions for Bible study is found in the final step of making application.
(Specifically, my concern is grown out of the application she draws from Genesis 1-6. It would seem that her particular application from that specific text is a bit forced: "A person who applies the creation story can tell you that because God creates in an orderly fashion, we too should live well-ordered lives..." While we may indeed be called to live well-ordered lives, I do not believe this is something that can be drawn out as specific application from this text.)
Because her teaching is so specific and corrective elsewhere in the book, I think further clarification on this particular detail is warranted. Not every passage is going to contain specific personal application or even merit a specific, immediate response. Sometimes, the most specific application that can be wrestled out of certain texts will be to simply step back in awe of Who God is. Sometimes, and Jen does address this elsewhere (also listed in excerpts below), we are simply storing up a savings account of Biblical literacy for the Spirit to apply specifically at a later time.
Jen is careful to repeatedly point out that Scripture is not a book about finding ourselves, but about learning who God is. She is even careful to note that while, yes, we will learn more about ourselves the more we study God's Word, it is only under the umbrella of coming to know who God is. When I understand who He is, I can begin to understand who I am in light of that.
And so, teaching or believing that personal application can be made from every passage can potentially lead to forcing the Scripture into a mold it wasn't intended to be in, going back to the very error Wilkin is so concerned about in the first place.(The particular example that stands out as forced; I think Wilkin would agree with the previous sentence, but perhaps could do a better job in articulating this, especially in light of the ineffective approaches she lists.)
The Truth Will Set Us Free
This book is empowering for women who have been told that theology is the man's work, or who have been relegated to studying only the "pink passages." (Hannah Anderson's Made for More, review here, also has a great, in-depth examination on this subject.)
The truth is that God desires all people — male or female — know Him for who He is.
A proper understanding of Scripture (and how to study Scripture) is absolutely essential for Christian women. Why? Because our Biblical theology affects our practical theology — how we live out what we believe before God and humankind.
Our understanding of who God is directly affects our understanding of the world around us, of ourselves, and how we view and treat the countless other people created in God's image. And until we can dig deeper to understand who God is, we often leave ourselves with a very shallow interpretation of each of those areas.
If we've been taught that it's okay to cherry pick the Scriptures, we end up twisting the Bible to say whatever we want it to say. If we haven't understood the metanarrative of the Bible, we are unable to discern what is truth when we hear Bible teachers teach opposite positions.
It would behoove those in a position of teaching God's word to others or leading a Bible study to read this book. In fact, Jen devoted her last chapter to addressing the particulars of teaching Bible study.
While this book is addressed particularly for women, this would also be a valuable resource in any man's toolkit for studying Scripture. Given the dearth of Bible study teaching for women, my hope is that many pastors and other men would seriously consider reading this book, both to sharpen their own understanding of being people of The Word and for increasing their knowledge of available resources.
For those who are in a season of life that allows for only minimal (or, even no) interaction with the Bible, the author empathizes and is careful not to make rules that Scripture itself does not make. Rather, she writes with encouragement to endure and wait during such seasons. (A portion of such encouragement is included below, as the final excerpt.)
After reading this book, my hunger for further and deeper Bible study grew. This is a book I have long hoped would be written, and am thankful for this important resource in Women of the Word .
Assorted Excerpts:
Table of Contents
Disclaimer: I received an electronic advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my review. But all opinions are my own.
Original review posted here: http://wp.me/p26dwz-256
Without even using the word hermeneutics, this book is a guide to exactly that. (But no worries, lovers of and trained students in hermeneutics, the author still pulls out and articulately teaches words and concepts such as metanarrative, exegesis, and Bible literacy.)
Women of the Word: How to Study the Bible with Both Our Hearts and Our Minds is a clarion call to today's Christian women to lay aside poor Bible study habits and to dig deeply into patient, purposeful intake of the full scope of Scripture, examining God's Word word-by-word, and within context of The Big Story. Just like our culture is currently learning that this the case with food, the more processed your Bible study is, the less healthy it is for you.
Jen Wilkin encourages women to "put the ruffles in the back," (you'll have to read the book to learn the specific meaning of this one :)), to put away flaky bible study, and to realize that simply "doing devotions" or a "spending time in the Word" are often merely buzzwords that have not been further elaborated or adequately demonstrated.
Yet she writes without intimidation; her own words are neither lofty nor inaccessible. Instead, Jen writes as a skilled teacher, articulating with precision and simplicity, giving her readers a helpful framework for studying God's word. This guide gives the reader specific steps to follow while simultaneously allowing freedom for individual seasons of life, speeds of learning, and the relinquishing of poor study habits.
Framework for Studying the Bible
After addressing the need for Bible study, Jen dissects several common, yet ineffective, ways we tend approach Scripture within the American Christian subculture: the Xanax Approach, the Pinball Approach, the Magic Ball Approach, the Personal Shopper Approach, the Telephone Game Approach, and the Jack Sprat Approach. (Check out this article for a more in-depth examination of each of these approaches.)
In going through each of these mistaken ways to approach God's Word, Jen not only discusses how easy it is to treat Scripture carelessly, but how important it is that we take a careful, studious approach.
(While this is certainly not a diatribe-focused book, it is nonetheless important to address these errors. Because these approached have subtly become the standard and accepted methods, extra time and explanation must be given to evaluating each of them. Many of us have habitualized these methods to the point of needing extra effort to eliminate them from our Bible study methods.)
Jen builds a framework for good Bible study using her alliterated five-point outline. She urges her readers to study with:
Purpose
Perspective
Patience
Process
Prayer
Although alliteration is occasionally symbolic of shallow Bible study, in this case it's a well-crafted pneumonic device.
Under these five foci, Jen addresses the importance of understanding metanarrative (the big-picture story of the Bible) and understanding the Bible as literature (focusing on an understanding of specific authors, the time of writing, the intended audience, the style of writing, and the purpose of writing).
As she explains within the section on Study with Process, Jen then gives the reader specific steps for approaching a passage and studying it in detail, listing the three main stages as:
Comprehension - "What Does It Say?"
A Printed Copy of the Text
Repetitive Reading
Annotation
An English Dictionary
Other Translations of the Bible
Outlining
Interpretation - "What Does It Mean?"
Cross-References
Paraphrasing
Application - "How Should It Change Me?"
What does this passages teach me about God?
How does this aspect of God's character change my view of self?
What should I do in response?
While she does give specific instructions, Jen nonetheless is teaching her readers to fish, rather than simply handing them pre-selected fishes. Or in the words of Jen's opening analogy, she gives her readers a spoon to move their "mountains of Biblical ignorance."
At the end of the book, Jen walks through James as an example of studying a smaller book of the Bible. (This is extremely beneficial, particularly for those who may not have had previous exposure to this type of Bible study.)
For the Hungry
Women of the Word is easy to read (can be read in just a few hours), but is also valuable as a Bible study companion — using it as a reference and tool as you learn to navigate exegesis of individual passages.
Christian women are hungry for God's Word. In the absence of being taught how to feed ourselves or where to find the healthy food, women are turning to the ineffective approaches listed above, to false teachers, or to anyone who will claim to feed them. Others have been told that "spiritual meat" isn't food for women, and some have become content with a diet of milk and watered-down Word. Yet we can't expect a quick-fix: studying God's Word takes discipline, persistence, and patience. And as we labor through the text, we soon realized we are being filled, we are growing, and our hunger is increasing.
Regardless of where you are in your spiritual journey or how much Bible study training you have under your belt (or your fluffy tights :)), I can guarantee that anyone who has a desire to study God's word will walk away from this book better equipped to do so.
Does Every Passage Have Personal Application?
One minimal concern with Jen's instructions for Bible study is found in the final step of making application.
(Specifically, my concern is grown out of the application she draws from Genesis 1-6. It would seem that her particular application from that specific text is a bit forced: "A person who applies the creation story can tell you that because God creates in an orderly fashion, we too should live well-ordered lives..." While we may indeed be called to live well-ordered lives, I do not believe this is something that can be drawn out as specific application from this text.)
Because her teaching is so specific and corrective elsewhere in the book, I think further clarification on this particular detail is warranted. Not every passage is going to contain specific personal application or even merit a specific, immediate response. Sometimes, the most specific application that can be wrestled out of certain texts will be to simply step back in awe of Who God is. Sometimes, and Jen does address this elsewhere (also listed in excerpts below), we are simply storing up a savings account of Biblical literacy for the Spirit to apply specifically at a later time.
Jen is careful to repeatedly point out that Scripture is not a book about finding ourselves, but about learning who God is. She is even careful to note that while, yes, we will learn more about ourselves the more we study God's Word, it is only under the umbrella of coming to know who God is. When I understand who He is, I can begin to understand who I am in light of that.
And so, teaching or believing that personal application can be made from every passage can potentially lead to forcing the Scripture into a mold it wasn't intended to be in, going back to the very error Wilkin is so concerned about in the first place.(The particular example that stands out as forced; I think Wilkin would agree with the previous sentence, but perhaps could do a better job in articulating this, especially in light of the ineffective approaches she lists.)
The Truth Will Set Us Free
This book is empowering for women who have been told that theology is the man's work, or who have been relegated to studying only the "pink passages." (Hannah Anderson's Made for More, review here, also has a great, in-depth examination on this subject.)
The truth is that God desires all people — male or female — know Him for who He is.
A proper understanding of Scripture (and how to study Scripture) is absolutely essential for Christian women. Why? Because our Biblical theology affects our practical theology — how we live out what we believe before God and humankind.
Our understanding of who God is directly affects our understanding of the world around us, of ourselves, and how we view and treat the countless other people created in God's image. And until we can dig deeper to understand who God is, we often leave ourselves with a very shallow interpretation of each of those areas.
If we've been taught that it's okay to cherry pick the Scriptures, we end up twisting the Bible to say whatever we want it to say. If we haven't understood the metanarrative of the Bible, we are unable to discern what is truth when we hear Bible teachers teach opposite positions.
It would behoove those in a position of teaching God's word to others or leading a Bible study to read this book. In fact, Jen devoted her last chapter to addressing the particulars of teaching Bible study.
While this book is addressed particularly for women, this would also be a valuable resource in any man's toolkit for studying Scripture. Given the dearth of Bible study teaching for women, my hope is that many pastors and other men would seriously consider reading this book, both to sharpen their own understanding of being people of The Word and for increasing their knowledge of available resources.
For those who are in a season of life that allows for only minimal (or, even no) interaction with the Bible, the author empathizes and is careful not to make rules that Scripture itself does not make. Rather, she writes with encouragement to endure and wait during such seasons. (A portion of such encouragement is included below, as the final excerpt.)
After reading this book, my hunger for further and deeper Bible study grew. This is a book I have long hoped would be written, and am thankful for this important resource in Women of the Word .
Assorted Excerpts:
"It seemed obvious that if God had given us his revealed will in the Bible, I should be spending more time trying to know and understand it. But the task seemed overwhelming. Where was I supposed to start? And why weren't the things I was already doing making the problem discernibly better? How was I supposed to move my mountain of biblical ignorance?
The answer, of course, was gloriously simple. The answer was 'one spoonful at a time.' Thankfully, someone gave me a spoon...
On the other side of the mountain of my biblical ignorance was a vision of God high and lifted up, a vision stretching Genesis to Revelation that I desperately needed to see. I have by no means removed that whole mountain from my line of sight, but I intend to go to my grave with dirt beneath my nails and a spoon clutched in my fist. I am determined that no mountain of biblical ignorance will keep me from seeing him as clearly as my seventy or eighty years on this earth will allow."
"Within our Christian subculture we have adopted a catch-all phrase for our regular habit of interacting with Scripture: 'spending time in the Word.' Church leaders urge us to do so. Authors and bloggers exhort us to value it. But what should take place during our 'time in the Word' can remain a vague notion, the specific habit it represents varying widely from person to person.
The potential danger of this vagueness is that we may assume that our version of 'spending time in the Word' is moving us toward Bible literacy simply because we have been obedient to practice it. Not all contact with Scripture builds Bible literacy. Learning what the Bible says and subsequently working to interpret and apply it requires quite a different practice than many of those we commonly associate with 'spending time in the Word.' We cannot afford to assume that our good intentions are enough."
"For years I viewed my interaction with the Bible as a debit account: I had a need, so I went to the Bible to withdraw an answer. But we do so much better to view our interaction with the Bible as a savings account: I stretch my understanding daily, deposit what I glean, and patiently wait for it to accumulate in value, knowing that one day I will need to draw on it. Bible study is an investment with a long-term payoff. Rather than reading a specific text to try to meet an immediate need, give the benefits of your study permission to be stored away for future use. What if the passage you are fighting to understand today suddenly makes sense to you when you most need it, ten years from now? It has been said that we overestimate what we can accomplish in one year and underestimate what we can accomplish in ten. Are you willing to invest ten years in waiting for understanding? Are you willing to wait a decade for an application point to emerge? Be encouraged that you are storing up treasure, eve if you don't see or feel it in the short term."
"For me, these seasons [of not being able to devote long periods of time to Bible study] have sometimes lasted for years — sermons and podcasts were a lifeline. Having a structured group study to go to helped keep me in contact with the Bible, but some months even that was too much to take on. Some months, just keeping body and soul together for myself and my family seemed to occupy almost every waking moment. I don't consider those months to have been lost time or setback to my growth. They were times to employ patience, not with active learning of the Scriptures, but with waiting on the Lord. They deepened my desire for study. Some of my most fruitful times of teaching and writing occurred immediately after just such a period of waiting."
Table of Contents
Disclaimer: I received an electronic advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my review. But all opinions are my own.
Original review posted here: http://wp.me/p26dwz-256
June 5, 2016
What a wonderful tool for learning how to best study the Word of God. This is one of the most helpful guides I've come across in my many years as a student of the Bible. Highly recommended.
February 11, 2016
Overall, this book was just okay. It has fairly sound teaching, and I can appreciate Wilkin's desire to motivate more women to really know their Bibles.
However, her tone throughout the first half of the book read to me like, "I used to be a terrible Christian who didn't know anything, either. But I have now arrived, and if you just do exactly what I do, you can become an awesome Christian, too!" (Her tone does improve in the second half a bit.)
The book was really dry. I finally started skimming in the last few chapters (which I hardly ever do), because I just wanted it to end already. Her version of studying the Bible is essentially the induction method. Rather than reading an entire book on it, one could save a lot of time and energy by doing a quick Google search to discover the key attributes of such a study. (This book is about 150 pages, but it could have been greatly condensed!)
The bulk of examples/anecdotes were about herself and her family. I would have personally preferred reading stories from multiple women in various life stages.
The more I read, the more I wondered if perhaps Wilkin is an ENFP/ESFP on the Myers Briggs scale. I'm an ISTJ, and so it would make sense that the concepts she spoke of being "breakthrough" type moments only made me go, "Well, duh." She writes as if what she struggled to grasp is the same thing that every woman struggles with. The truth is, we all come to our Bibles with vastly different personalities and experiences, and since she seemed to be writing to only one type of person (someone who shares her exact personality), I had a very hard time connecting with her and walking away with anything of value...
For someone who is very new to the Christian faith and needs very basic information on getting started with studying the Bible, or for the ENFP :) this could be a helpful read.
However, her tone throughout the first half of the book read to me like, "I used to be a terrible Christian who didn't know anything, either. But I have now arrived, and if you just do exactly what I do, you can become an awesome Christian, too!" (Her tone does improve in the second half a bit.)
The book was really dry. I finally started skimming in the last few chapters (which I hardly ever do), because I just wanted it to end already. Her version of studying the Bible is essentially the induction method. Rather than reading an entire book on it, one could save a lot of time and energy by doing a quick Google search to discover the key attributes of such a study. (This book is about 150 pages, but it could have been greatly condensed!)
The bulk of examples/anecdotes were about herself and her family. I would have personally preferred reading stories from multiple women in various life stages.
The more I read, the more I wondered if perhaps Wilkin is an ENFP/ESFP on the Myers Briggs scale. I'm an ISTJ, and so it would make sense that the concepts she spoke of being "breakthrough" type moments only made me go, "Well, duh." She writes as if what she struggled to grasp is the same thing that every woman struggles with. The truth is, we all come to our Bibles with vastly different personalities and experiences, and since she seemed to be writing to only one type of person (someone who shares her exact personality), I had a very hard time connecting with her and walking away with anything of value...
For someone who is very new to the Christian faith and needs very basic information on getting started with studying the Bible, or for the ENFP :) this could be a helpful read.
January 25, 2023
I will read anything Jen Wilkin. She is a solid Bible Teacher.
This one was on Bible Literacy and the importance of women reading, studying, and teaching the Bible!
She had examples and applications of how to get started and get the most out of your study. She sets things up by presenting the case for Bible Literacy. She then builds on Studying with purpose, perspective, patience, process, and prayer.
Now I need to get into one of her studies.
This one was on Bible Literacy and the importance of women reading, studying, and teaching the Bible!
She had examples and applications of how to get started and get the most out of your study. She sets things up by presenting the case for Bible Literacy. She then builds on Studying with purpose, perspective, patience, process, and prayer.
Now I need to get into one of her studies.
December 20, 2019
There are some good principles, which is why this book got more than 1 star for me. Basically, yes I agree. Study the word. Study it well. That is so important. But I have some major concerns because Wilkin sets forth some premises without any support that are just...wrong. For one, she states that gaining knowledge for knowledge's sake is sin. She just says it and moves on. First of all, that statement is vague at best. She offers no explanation as to what specifically she means by that. What is gaining knowledge for knowledge's sake to her? What does that look like? Why does she state that it is sin? She offers zero scriptural support for this very bold statement. She also has some precision of language issues that I find concerning as I believe that the language we use has the power to reveal what's in our hearts, and can betray an immaturity in us when we don't truly think about what we're saying. Some examples:
*"Outside of my family, [Bible study] is the thing I care most about"
The problem: The priority shift revealed here of family followed by passion for God and His word. Concerning at best.
*Chapter 2 makes several claims that certain ways of studying the Bible actually actively works against our Bible literacy. She goes so far as to say "Not all contact with scripture builds Bible literacy" and "We cannot afford to assume that our good intentions are enough"
The problem: we are told time and time again in Scripture that God's words are not sown in vain and always return a profit. The problem with the premise she sets forth is that it implies that unless we are perfect in our study, God cannot use that study for our good. Imperfect study like the ones she describes in chapter 2 still gets used by God for our good as long as our hearts are in a posture of earnestly seeking Him. I know this to be true personally, as my own conversion came after months of this imperfect study.
*Wilkin assumes a premise that there is a difference between intellectual learning and heart learning.
The problem: she offers no support of that belief and the premise just doesn't check out.
*In the section in which she describes the "Magic 8 Ball Approach" to Bible study, Wilkin claims it is "dangerously close to soothsaying". Again, she states it with no support and moves on.
The problem: Soothsaying was prohibited because it constituted idolatry. It was literally consulting non-existent gods and demonic spirits. While flipping to a random passage in the Bible and hoping to be blessed by it may be an inefficient way to study the Word and imperfect, it is still consulting the perfect words of the One God. In NO way is it even close to soothsaying. Again, remember the scriptures that talk about 1. Heart posture and 2. God's word does not go out in vain
*I find it ironic that she criticizes studies that are authors saying what they think and finding ways to attach scripture to it, when that's exactly all she's doing in this book.
*"We'll get way more out of Piper if we invest our time in the book he loves above all others"
The problem: concerning motivation for reading scripture, again misplacing priorities.
*"If we have never been trained how to be a good student of the Bible, it is no surprise that we have looked for ways to improvise"
The problem: 1. Implies we must have human instruction on reading God's word 2. Implies that human instruction is more valuable than the training we receive from the Spirit 3. Implies, again, that there is only one correct way to study the Bible 4. Implies, again, that imperfect study is valueless to us
Overall, I see a lack of precision in language that seems lazy and worldly in some subtle and concerning ways. Much of her writing contains overgeneralizations and assumes premises without any explanation or support. She seems to look for ways to say things that shock us into listening to her, at the cost that many of those statements say some pretty bold (and even dangerous) things that are just, frankly, inaccurate. The problem is she says it with such frank authority that the reader who isn't thinking critically as they read through the book is likely to take what she says as truth without another thought.
*"Outside of my family, [Bible study] is the thing I care most about"
The problem: The priority shift revealed here of family followed by passion for God and His word. Concerning at best.
*Chapter 2 makes several claims that certain ways of studying the Bible actually actively works against our Bible literacy. She goes so far as to say "Not all contact with scripture builds Bible literacy" and "We cannot afford to assume that our good intentions are enough"
The problem: we are told time and time again in Scripture that God's words are not sown in vain and always return a profit. The problem with the premise she sets forth is that it implies that unless we are perfect in our study, God cannot use that study for our good. Imperfect study like the ones she describes in chapter 2 still gets used by God for our good as long as our hearts are in a posture of earnestly seeking Him. I know this to be true personally, as my own conversion came after months of this imperfect study.
*Wilkin assumes a premise that there is a difference between intellectual learning and heart learning.
The problem: she offers no support of that belief and the premise just doesn't check out.
*In the section in which she describes the "Magic 8 Ball Approach" to Bible study, Wilkin claims it is "dangerously close to soothsaying". Again, she states it with no support and moves on.
The problem: Soothsaying was prohibited because it constituted idolatry. It was literally consulting non-existent gods and demonic spirits. While flipping to a random passage in the Bible and hoping to be blessed by it may be an inefficient way to study the Word and imperfect, it is still consulting the perfect words of the One God. In NO way is it even close to soothsaying. Again, remember the scriptures that talk about 1. Heart posture and 2. God's word does not go out in vain
*I find it ironic that she criticizes studies that are authors saying what they think and finding ways to attach scripture to it, when that's exactly all she's doing in this book.
*"We'll get way more out of Piper if we invest our time in the book he loves above all others"
The problem: concerning motivation for reading scripture, again misplacing priorities.
*"If we have never been trained how to be a good student of the Bible, it is no surprise that we have looked for ways to improvise"
The problem: 1. Implies we must have human instruction on reading God's word 2. Implies that human instruction is more valuable than the training we receive from the Spirit 3. Implies, again, that there is only one correct way to study the Bible 4. Implies, again, that imperfect study is valueless to us
Overall, I see a lack of precision in language that seems lazy and worldly in some subtle and concerning ways. Much of her writing contains overgeneralizations and assumes premises without any explanation or support. She seems to look for ways to say things that shock us into listening to her, at the cost that many of those statements say some pretty bold (and even dangerous) things that are just, frankly, inaccurate. The problem is she says it with such frank authority that the reader who isn't thinking critically as they read through the book is likely to take what she says as truth without another thought.
March 1, 2021
I went into this book thinking that I was pretty good at reading and studying the Bible, but boy, was I wrong.
This book is a valuable tool to any woman's study of the Bible.
Jen Wilkin goes against the common mistakes we make when opening our Bibles and shows us a true and right way of studying the Bible with both our hearts and our minds.
Her methods and suggestions make sense.
I can see myself reading this book again in the near future and implementing the Five P's of Sound Study (Purpose, Perspective, Patience, Process and Prayer) into my quiet time!
Some of my favourite points were:
"The heart cannot love what the mind does not know."
The Bible aims to shape the way we think.
We must learn to study the Bible on our own, and become students of the Word.
Basically, I recommend this book 100%!
This book is a valuable tool to any woman's study of the Bible.
Jen Wilkin goes against the common mistakes we make when opening our Bibles and shows us a true and right way of studying the Bible with both our hearts and our minds.
Her methods and suggestions make sense.
I can see myself reading this book again in the near future and implementing the Five P's of Sound Study (Purpose, Perspective, Patience, Process and Prayer) into my quiet time!
Some of my favourite points were:
"The heart cannot love what the mind does not know."
The Bible aims to shape the way we think.
We must learn to study the Bible on our own, and become students of the Word.
Basically, I recommend this book 100%!
October 16, 2018
This book was amazing. I loved the content and the way it was written. It had a lot of helpful tips about how to study the Bible and I can definitely see myself rereading it in the future. It was a very easy read, and yet it had a lot of depth. I highly recommend this book.
January 14, 2023
This is my second reading of this book. I was just at the beginning of my Bible study experience when I read it the first time. Now as someone trying to write and teach about the Word of God it was (I don’t want to say even more helpful) but so so helpful and useful.
In a world that often does sermons and Bible studies upside down the step by step directions in this book are so helpful to remember the Bible is first the story of God and second a text to align our lives with!
In a world that often does sermons and Bible studies upside down the step by step directions in this book are so helpful to remember the Bible is first the story of God and second a text to align our lives with!
December 29, 2018
I am tempted to reduce my rating for this book based on some of the critiques I've heard/read from friends and other reviewers. I certainly see some of the weak spots in this book, and agree about its flaws, but I feel like a lot depends on what you're hoping for this book to accomplish. For me, it did exactly what I needed it to:
1. It ignited a much greater interest in Bible literacy. This is something I've found it easy to overlook or take for granted. I have read the Bible and attended church for more than 20 years, so I can assume that Bible literacy will simply come to me through Sunday morning preaching (which is vital - don't get me wrong!) and daily quiet times. But this book highlights the importance of studying the Bible with intention and depth. I want to know the Bible for myself, and be able to share it with others. I think this book could ignite a similar passion among other women.
2. It helped me realise that I can understand the Bible for myself. This may sound like a strangely obvious statement, but I found Wilkins's encouragement to only bring in commentary and other resources after an initial in-depth study for yourself, really eye opening for me. I have felt that because I have no formal Bible training, I must rely primarily on the teaching of others in order to understand a text, so it was refreshing to be encouraged that God reveals Himself in His Word when any of us are faithful to study it. That isn't to say my interpretations are infallible - I think Wilkin was very clear that we will still find passages hard to understand and will need to ask for as much help as possible as we seek to faithfully understand Scripture - but it was an enlivening to be reminded that God speaks to us through His Word directly.
3. The length of this book was great. I could see this book not only being an accessible resource but actually a catalyst for spurring on Bible study within churches. It sets out a great vision at the beginning and end, and between it gives simple practical tools. Though some have compared this book to more in-depth writings by Kay Arthur and John Piper, I'd say that my interest in reading those books has been stirred BY reading this one. Perhaps this is the "introductory" level book on Bible study that begins a longer journey.
1. It ignited a much greater interest in Bible literacy. This is something I've found it easy to overlook or take for granted. I have read the Bible and attended church for more than 20 years, so I can assume that Bible literacy will simply come to me through Sunday morning preaching (which is vital - don't get me wrong!) and daily quiet times. But this book highlights the importance of studying the Bible with intention and depth. I want to know the Bible for myself, and be able to share it with others. I think this book could ignite a similar passion among other women.
2. It helped me realise that I can understand the Bible for myself. This may sound like a strangely obvious statement, but I found Wilkins's encouragement to only bring in commentary and other resources after an initial in-depth study for yourself, really eye opening for me. I have felt that because I have no formal Bible training, I must rely primarily on the teaching of others in order to understand a text, so it was refreshing to be encouraged that God reveals Himself in His Word when any of us are faithful to study it. That isn't to say my interpretations are infallible - I think Wilkin was very clear that we will still find passages hard to understand and will need to ask for as much help as possible as we seek to faithfully understand Scripture - but it was an enlivening to be reminded that God speaks to us through His Word directly.
3. The length of this book was great. I could see this book not only being an accessible resource but actually a catalyst for spurring on Bible study within churches. It sets out a great vision at the beginning and end, and between it gives simple practical tools. Though some have compared this book to more in-depth writings by Kay Arthur and John Piper, I'd say that my interest in reading those books has been stirred BY reading this one. Perhaps this is the "introductory" level book on Bible study that begins a longer journey.
January 27, 2015
I did not like this book, overall, because of the misguided views of our faith being attached to our heart and not our heads. The Bible is clear that God deals with both and so we are to deal with both. One is not superior to the other nor should one have to hold back their heart's response until a cued time when it can finally engage in scripture (only AFTER the mind has turned it over in every capacity THEN the heart can engage). I believe our God is not only bigger than this limited "step 1; step 2" and is capable of engaging our hearts and minds at the same time but more so, I believe, there is a wealth of scripture that supports the idea that God cares about our hearts chiefly and time and again we see example of the heart encountering God and responding to Him before the head enters into the picture.
Too stiff. Too robotic and definitely flirts with a legalistic stance of reading scripture.
Too stiff. Too robotic and definitely flirts with a legalistic stance of reading scripture.
June 1, 2020
I read this with my ladies Bible study group this spring. This book will deepen your understanding on reading the Bible, prayer, studying, thinking, learning, and even teaching God’s word. The book is well organized and has an excellent approach that will encourage you to study our God. In the newer edition, there are discussion questions in the back of the book, or you can download a free study guide with the same questions at crossway.org/WilkinStudy.
Quote: We must make a study of him if we want to become like him. We must seek his face.
Quote: We must make a study of him if we want to become like him. We must seek his face.
November 10, 2024
This was an excellent read that gave me many new perspectives in Bible reading and study. The main thought was the Bible is a book about God. Read it and STUDY I️t to KNOW God not just to mark I️t off a list or to “get what I️ need for the day” attitude that really is selfish, self-centered reading. There’s always minute things I️ don’t agree with, but overall very good.
August 1, 2015
An accessible hermeneutic for ladies and seriously...just anybody.
October 3, 2024
The most encouraging, transformative book I have ever read outside of the Bible itself. A simple, yet challenging book about how to study the Bible to get to know God.
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May 15, 2024I loved this!! Should have read this sooner, but I loved how straight forward and practical this was! I loved how she ended with a reminder that we read the Word out of a for a love for the Lord, not for a love of knowledge. The only thing is I wish this was marketed for all people not just for women, because I think this is beneficial to everyone!! Will my little brother cringe if I gave him this, maybe but idc!!!!
October 23, 2023
Women of the Word will appeal to a subset of Christian women, depending on their existing exposure to Bible study, resources and learning. However, Wilkin makes sweeping generalizations about women and their needs that women not fitting into her target audience may find abrasive. Sadly, she frequently does this pompously. Is her circle really so bereft of well-educated, life-long learners?
Additionally, Wilkin draws heavily on similar, previously published works, such as Fee and Stuart's How to Read the Bible for All It's Worth--which she references in chapter 4. It begs the question of whether Women of the Word is actually necessary, despite how many women have been encouraged by it.
I have been unconvinced of the genuine value of the "women teaching women the Bible" niche, as though gender is the qualifier. It consistently seems to be a mechanism to create an audience for women who want to teach, dumb down the material to an insulting level or develop excruciatingly narrow life applications. I recognize that Wilkin is heroically trying to combat Biblical illiteracy with this book and that her audience is, by default, women. Nonetheless, I just don't see that Women of the Word adds anything unique to the pool of resources that already exist.
I know mine is the minority opinion on this book. If it has blessed and encouraged you, I'm glad for it.
Additionally, Wilkin draws heavily on similar, previously published works, such as Fee and Stuart's How to Read the Bible for All It's Worth--which she references in chapter 4. It begs the question of whether Women of the Word is actually necessary, despite how many women have been encouraged by it.
I have been unconvinced of the genuine value of the "women teaching women the Bible" niche, as though gender is the qualifier. It consistently seems to be a mechanism to create an audience for women who want to teach, dumb down the material to an insulting level or develop excruciatingly narrow life applications. I recognize that Wilkin is heroically trying to combat Biblical illiteracy with this book and that her audience is, by default, women. Nonetheless, I just don't see that Women of the Word adds anything unique to the pool of resources that already exist.
I know mine is the minority opinion on this book. If it has blessed and encouraged you, I'm glad for it.
October 14, 2020
This book is about basic Bible study, with the emphasis on basic. I skimmed much of this book because it is full of things I learned years ago. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who already has a ground level understanding of a Bible study method. The book is also much longer than it had to be and filled with unnecessary explanations, examples, etc. If all the personal anecdotes were eliminated, the book would be a pamphlet.
Also, this book did not need to be gendered. I hate when books are needlessly gendered. There is nothing about Bible study in here that a man couldn't learn from or use. It could easily have been "People of the Word" or "Students of the Word".
If you want to learn a beyond the basics Bible study method, I would recommend a book like Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application through the Lenses of History, Literature, and Theology.
Also, this book did not need to be gendered. I hate when books are needlessly gendered. There is nothing about Bible study in here that a man couldn't learn from or use. It could easily have been "People of the Word" or "Students of the Word".
If you want to learn a beyond the basics Bible study method, I would recommend a book like Inductive Bible Study: Observation, Interpretation, and Application through the Lenses of History, Literature, and Theology.
March 1, 2021
esse livro é completamente diferente que a maioria dos livros cristãos voltados para o público feminino. normalmente, outros livros se limitam a um tema específico e outros 10 falam quase a mesma coisa, mas, esse é uma jóia rara. jen wilkin nos ensina com uma didática impressionante como estudar a Palavra de Deus de forma intencional e profunda, ela nos ensina nessas páginas um método de estudo Bíblico que coloca Deus e Seu plano redentivo acima de tudo, principalmente do nosso eu. acredito que esse livro é um excelente material para quem está em busca de por a mão na massa e cavar mais fundo no conhecimento de Deus. é hora da gente sair da água com açúcar e buscar o alimento sólido. apenas conhecendo ao Deus que servimos através da Sua revelação poderemos ser transformadas por Ele. recomendo muito a leitura!
April 28, 2015
Women of the Word is an excellent resource for learning a process for Bible literacy. Would be helpful to walk through with someone in a discipleship relationship who would like to learn to study the Bible for themselves.
January 8, 2023
Great and helpful little book on studying the Bible.♡ I think this is a worthwhile read, whether you're new to the Bible or have been studying for a while. It's always nice to be reminded of what our heart posture and intention should be when studying the Word.♡
November 8, 2022
5 Stars ✨
“The heart cannot love what the mind does not know.”
“We must make a study of our God: what he loves, what he hates, how he speaks and acts. We cannot imitate a God whose features and habits we have never learned. We must make a study of him if we want to become like him. We must seek his face.”
“The Word is living and active. It will conform you by dividing you. And in the dividing, miracle of miracles, it will render you whole.”
This was fantastic. Full of tips and tools on how to study the Bible more in depth. I found it very encouraging and see where it would be a great book to own to reference back to until you learn the process she presents. Highly recommend for those looking to go deeper in knowledge of the word and in their relationship with God.
“The heart cannot love what the mind does not know.”
“We must make a study of our God: what he loves, what he hates, how he speaks and acts. We cannot imitate a God whose features and habits we have never learned. We must make a study of him if we want to become like him. We must seek his face.”
“The Word is living and active. It will conform you by dividing you. And in the dividing, miracle of miracles, it will render you whole.”
This was fantastic. Full of tips and tools on how to study the Bible more in depth. I found it very encouraging and see where it would be a great book to own to reference back to until you learn the process she presents. Highly recommend for those looking to go deeper in knowledge of the word and in their relationship with God.
October 17, 2019
wow this was a challenging read, definitely encouraged to try and study the bible more effectively
October 3, 2025
really awesome must read for anyone who wants to grow in Bible literacy!!!! Jen Wilkin is that girl - although I have beef with the title, boys should read this too
September 7, 2025
This was my first book by Jen Wilkin, and I hope it won't be my last. In Women of the Word, Wilkin unpacks what it means to not just read the Bible, but study it in the way God intended. She provides a study skillset to equip learners with the ability to comprehend, interpret, and apply Biblical passages as well as place said passages into historical context. Through the Five P's method, readers learn how to read the Bible with perspective, purpose, process, prayer, and patience, becoming not just learners, but active doers of the Word.
There was much about this study book that I found informative, but the main encounter one experiences in these pages is not new facts, but introduced challenges. Wilkin doesn't sugarcoat the kind of determined effort and commitment needed to dissect the Bible in order to understand it to its greatest extent. Her study methods are intended to break and shape a student for the sake of becoming better equipped in Biblical literacy.
Much of what she presents is meant to make us ask ourselves hard questions. Often, it is easier not to come to terms with those answers, especially when they ask more of us than we're used to. But Wilkin knows those traps we face because she's faced them herself. Through her personal experience as a Bible teacher, she shows us the way to overcome the temptations to give up or take the easy way out, challenging us to do more, to be more, than we are now.
Women of the Word covers a large range of study habits to build our literacy in a short amount of pages. Despite this book's flighty length (not even 200 pages), it took me quite some time to finish it, and I attribute that to a couple different things.
First, it has a directed audience. Several Biblical accompaniments I've read seem to be directed towards a specific group, whether it's teenagers, moms, young men or women, seniors, teachers, or students. This can be helpful when I fall into the correct category, but more often than not I find it hard to relate when it seems like the author isn't writing to me. It's like reading a letter addressed to someone else. Women of the Word seems to be written for group discussion and for the Bible teacher, neither of which align with my roles at this moment in life. I think an older woman participating in or leading a group Bible study would get more out of this book than I did.
Next, the repetition. Wilkin discusses that one way our brains naturally remember things is by encountering it numerous times. How else do we memorize Bible verses but reading, hearing, and speaking them over and over? Yet often it felt that she was reiterating points she discussed in prior chapters rather than moving onto new topics, which made it hard to want to keep reading.
Last, one is sure to experience their own measure of frustration whilst reading this book. While that is part of Wilkin's intended purpose (after all, developing patience is crucial for in-depth Bible study), many of her points were recognizable from teachers past, and at times I felt that I wasn't learning anything new. The group discussion-style questions left me feeling impatient mostly because I'm in a time of life where expending more time and energy on nonmandatory critical thinking is not always applicable. That's not to say that this book doesn't present any new ideas or that the questions weren't engaging; I simply think I would have gotten more out of this book at a later time in life.
It's so important for Christians to study the Bible correctly, and Women of the Word teaches us to do that. We cannot expect God's Word to do its work in us if we do not put in the work of understanding God's Word. We cannot treat it like a magic ball that gives us answers on demand, nor can we expect its truths to become apparent to us upon first read. We must study it with our hearts and our minds, giving God the time, commitment, and steadfastness he asks of us, all the while letting Him enrich us with His Word.
There was much about this study book that I found informative, but the main encounter one experiences in these pages is not new facts, but introduced challenges. Wilkin doesn't sugarcoat the kind of determined effort and commitment needed to dissect the Bible in order to understand it to its greatest extent. Her study methods are intended to break and shape a student for the sake of becoming better equipped in Biblical literacy.
Much of what she presents is meant to make us ask ourselves hard questions. Often, it is easier not to come to terms with those answers, especially when they ask more of us than we're used to. But Wilkin knows those traps we face because she's faced them herself. Through her personal experience as a Bible teacher, she shows us the way to overcome the temptations to give up or take the easy way out, challenging us to do more, to be more, than we are now.
Women of the Word covers a large range of study habits to build our literacy in a short amount of pages. Despite this book's flighty length (not even 200 pages), it took me quite some time to finish it, and I attribute that to a couple different things.
First, it has a directed audience. Several Biblical accompaniments I've read seem to be directed towards a specific group, whether it's teenagers, moms, young men or women, seniors, teachers, or students. This can be helpful when I fall into the correct category, but more often than not I find it hard to relate when it seems like the author isn't writing to me. It's like reading a letter addressed to someone else. Women of the Word seems to be written for group discussion and for the Bible teacher, neither of which align with my roles at this moment in life. I think an older woman participating in or leading a group Bible study would get more out of this book than I did.
Next, the repetition. Wilkin discusses that one way our brains naturally remember things is by encountering it numerous times. How else do we memorize Bible verses but reading, hearing, and speaking them over and over? Yet often it felt that she was reiterating points she discussed in prior chapters rather than moving onto new topics, which made it hard to want to keep reading.
Last, one is sure to experience their own measure of frustration whilst reading this book. While that is part of Wilkin's intended purpose (after all, developing patience is crucial for in-depth Bible study), many of her points were recognizable from teachers past, and at times I felt that I wasn't learning anything new. The group discussion-style questions left me feeling impatient mostly because I'm in a time of life where expending more time and energy on nonmandatory critical thinking is not always applicable. That's not to say that this book doesn't present any new ideas or that the questions weren't engaging; I simply think I would have gotten more out of this book at a later time in life.
It's so important for Christians to study the Bible correctly, and Women of the Word teaches us to do that. We cannot expect God's Word to do its work in us if we do not put in the work of understanding God's Word. We cannot treat it like a magic ball that gives us answers on demand, nor can we expect its truths to become apparent to us upon first read. We must study it with our hearts and our minds, giving God the time, commitment, and steadfastness he asks of us, all the while letting Him enrich us with His Word.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made' without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."~John 1:1-5
November 14, 2017
I had never read anything by Jen Wilkin before this book, but the audio was on sale so I thought I'd give her a try. I have to admit, I approach a lot of Christian women authors skeptically these days - I have been disappointed so often with a lot of "fluff", sometimes even unscriptural fluff. But I was so pleasantly surprised by this book! If you are wanting to learn how to get more out of your Bible study, grab this book asap!
In Women Of The Word, Wilkin presents a very practical method of personal Bible study, which she calls "the five p's". What struck me as I listened to this book was how concerned Wilkin is for interpreting the Bible soundly and faithfully. I appreciated the tips she gave for how to do this, and also how to avoid interpretation pitfalls.
I am kind of regretting that I only purchased the audio of this book, because I'd really love to have a physical copy for notes and reference! I have been struggling recently with how to dig deeper into God's word on my own, and I thought Wilkin really offered some solid direction for how to get more out of my personal Bible study time. Listening to this book made me excited to dive into my quiet time, and a physical copy of the book is now on my to-buy list! Highly recommend!
In Women Of The Word, Wilkin presents a very practical method of personal Bible study, which she calls "the five p's". What struck me as I listened to this book was how concerned Wilkin is for interpreting the Bible soundly and faithfully. I appreciated the tips she gave for how to do this, and also how to avoid interpretation pitfalls.
I am kind of regretting that I only purchased the audio of this book, because I'd really love to have a physical copy for notes and reference! I have been struggling recently with how to dig deeper into God's word on my own, and I thought Wilkin really offered some solid direction for how to get more out of my personal Bible study time. Listening to this book made me excited to dive into my quiet time, and a physical copy of the book is now on my to-buy list! Highly recommend!
June 22, 2024
I'm so happy to have found Women of the Word by Jen Wilkin. I've always craved to be able to study and understand the Bible as preachers and teachers do but have always felt as if it was just beyond my reach. After reading this book, I finally feel as though I have the correct tools at my disposal. It won't be easy at first. For as Jen points out in this book, study is hard and frustrating. But the benefits far outweigh the cost. To those (like myself) who have been searching, read this book. It will give you the basic tools for a sound study system and also serve as an encouragement to know that you CAN study and understand the Bible.
August 18, 2018
I can’t tell you how incredible, insightful and especially convicting this book has been!
I’ve always been one to love reading, no matter what it is, but need help when it comes to actually studying the Bible. This had so much insight, tips & examples on how to make the most of your study & where to start. This should be on the must-read list of every Christian women & men alike! I cannot talk enough about this book, so just read it.
P.S. There’s also a FREE study/download that comes with it!
I’ve always been one to love reading, no matter what it is, but need help when it comes to actually studying the Bible. This had so much insight, tips & examples on how to make the most of your study & where to start. This should be on the must-read list of every Christian women & men alike! I cannot talk enough about this book, so just read it.
P.S. There’s also a FREE study/download that comes with it!
November 8, 2021
Not sure what happened to the review I wrote years ago but I'm not happy that it's disappeared because I can't remember what all I wrote and don't have the time or desire to reread the book in order to write a new review.
July 17, 2025
Bible literacy, which was once as common as actual literacy, is a largely forgotten field in modern society. Though I do believe that we are currently seeing an encouraging uptick. I am incredibly fortunate to have been raised in a family and a church family that not only encouraged me to ask big questions, but equipped me to dig into the Word and find the answers for myself. And I realize that is not at all a common upbringing, especially today. So where for me, Women of the Word was lovely reinforcement and expansion of principles I’ve lived by for years, I think it would likely tread completely uncharted ground for many readers.
If you’re longing to get more out of your time in the Word, this is an excellent resource to help you study more deeply through practical, actionable steps. If you’re a Bible teacher on even the smallest of scales, you’ll find this especially helpful, but this is a book I think every Christ follower should read. Whether you’ve been reading the Bible for decades or are just getting starting, Women of the Word is a useful, easy to read tool to help you get more out of your time in Scripture.
“It has been said that we become what we behold. I believe there is nothing more transformative to our lives than beholding God in His Word. After all, how can we conform to the image of a God we have not beheld?”
If you’re longing to get more out of your time in the Word, this is an excellent resource to help you study more deeply through practical, actionable steps. If you’re a Bible teacher on even the smallest of scales, you’ll find this especially helpful, but this is a book I think every Christ follower should read. Whether you’ve been reading the Bible for decades or are just getting starting, Women of the Word is a useful, easy to read tool to help you get more out of your time in Scripture.
“It has been said that we become what we behold. I believe there is nothing more transformative to our lives than beholding God in His Word. After all, how can we conform to the image of a God we have not beheld?”
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