Comments on: Why I’m Tired of Bible Study Books

By: Cyndee Ownbey

Cyndee Ownbey — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 16:17:12 +0000

Hi Barbara, so glad you commented. I did not mean to be misleading.

If you look at my inductive-style READ Bible study resources you’ll see that after spending time with the Holy Spirit, following cross-references, and reading in another translation, the next step is to use solid commentaries to understand the cultural and historical details we might miss. Those biblical scholars have spent years and years in training and studying things we may miss on our own or may never know to consider. Hopefully the Bible study author your group is using has had biblical training and is using sound commentaries to support what they have written.

Rather than reading what someone else learned, we can teach women to learn it for themselves. As leaders we can recommend good commentaries to help our women dig deep on their own. While we can certainly learn from Bible study authors and our pastors, we are capable and have the resources to study God’s Word on our own.

I hope that better explains the purpose behind this post. 🙂

By: Barbara J. Stephan

Barbara J. Stephan — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 17:33:43 +0000

While I have to agree that we don’t always have to use a study guide or someone else’s book to study Scripture, it is important that whoever teaches it has studied themselves and understands how the Scriptures should be studied especially knowing the proper context, the history etc and knows not to take verses out of its context to teach something the verse isnt teaching. Saying we don’t need a guide, only the Holy Spirit, I think is misleading. The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to discern what is good or bad teaching but saying we don’t have to look to any other Christian or their studies is a little troubling. The eunuch from Ethiopia needed Peter to explain Scripture to him and I believe the Holy Spirit enabled Peter to be in the right place at the right time. The church is to edify and support and help each other learn. Sometimes we as fallible humans will mistake a teaching as being from the Holy Spirit and go down a wrong path. I would agree we should not be spoonfed everything and be encouraged to find things out for ourselves.

By: Cyndee Ownbey

Cyndee Ownbey — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 01:05:16 +0000

In reply to Camillyn. Thank you for your comments, Camillyn. :) I'm so glad you find it easy to read through the Bible. Many people find it intimidating and some find it boring.

By: Camillyn

Camillyn — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:29:25 +0000

It is so, so easy to “just” read your Bible! My husband and I have read through the Bible about 7 times in the past 10 years. If I’m reading through the Bible with a group we just read through the same Scriptures each week and share with each other what we learned. That’s it

By: Cyndee Ownbey

Cyndee Ownbey — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 14:59:25 +0000

In reply to Joann. Joann, thank you for your comments. Such great points.

By: Joann

Joann — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 21:25:58 +0000

Thank you for this article which touches my heart. I can relate to this issue. I’ve grown very tired & discouraged over many women’s Bible studies (and unfortunately I use the words bible studies loosely.) Questions asked without scripture to back anything up, wanting women to dig up their past/etc. I truly believe many of these types of books can be dangerous. I too want meat…not fluff & stuff…but God’s word. We have the Holy Spirit, let’s not quench the Spirit, let’s not have spiritual starvation when we have God’s truth to draw from. There are topical books I’m not against but I believe most Christian women want something different that will help us grow & disciple. Thank you. God Bless.

By: Cyndee Ownbey

Cyndee Ownbey — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 12:57:34 +0000

In reply to chelsa. Chelsa, thank you for sharing. I pray the women in your church will see the value and importance of digging into God's Word. <3

By: chelsa

chelsa — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 19:16:26 +0000

I’m dealing with the exact situation. However, I’ve never felt comfortable or satisfied with bible study literature. Gods word give us everything we need for a godly life. He’s gave me this hunger to know HIM and seek him. Bible study literature restricts that by asking us basic questions not allowing us to really dig in and get the meat we are all longing for. I want to know all of him intimately. God gave us his spirit for a reason. Let him guide you and teach you what HE wants you to know.

By: Cyndee Ownbey

Cyndee Ownbey — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 10:39:06 +0000

In reply to victoria. Victoria, thank you for your comment. Praying your women develop a greater love and hunger for the Word of God! <3

By: victoria

victoria — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 19:45:17 +0000

Agree 100%!
I don’t know how many times women have told me they waited till the last minute to read the chapter in their book, like right before our meeting.
We are doing bible study this go around!