{"id":8539,"date":"2017-10-17T10:00:21","date_gmt":"2017-10-17T14:00:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/womensministrytoolbox.com\/?p=8539"},"modified":"2021-02-04T10:08:09","modified_gmt":"2021-02-04T15:08:09","slug":"6-reasons-your-women-arent-reading-the-bible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/womensministrytoolbox.com\/6-reasons-your-women-arent-reading-the-bible\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Reasons Your Women Aren’t Reading the Bible"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Why<\/p>\n

Most of us probably realize the majority of the women we serve struggle to read the Bible on a regular basis.<\/p>\n

And if we\u2019re being real, we\u2019d admit that many of us struggle to read the Bible on a regular basis too.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at the reasons why your women aren\u2019t reading the Bible and what we can do about it.<\/h4>\n

Just over a year ago, God prompted us to shake up our regular Bible study offerings. We put down our Bible study books<\/a> and picked up God\u2019s Word.<\/p>\n

The first day of our READ Bible study<\/a> we asked our women to anonymously and honestly assess their Bible study habits. Here\u2019s a copy of the card each one filled out.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

We knew our women weren\u2019t regularly reading their Bibles, but it was worse than I had expected.<\/h5>\n

Our women were brutally honest. Many of them have grown up in the church, but very few were reading their Bible outside of church on Sunday. And while the majority of our women were over 40, most rated their Biblical knowledge on a preschool level. And the roadblocks \u2013 every single one received multiple checks\u2026<\/p>\n

My heart hurt after reading through all of their cards. Many of these women have been in \u201cBible study\u201d for YEARS. It drove home the importance of the journey we were about to take.<\/p>\n

Lord willing, we were going to increase our women\u2019s Biblical knowledge<\/strong>, we were going to build their confidence<\/strong> in how to read God\u2019s Word, and we would help them to understand why and how<\/strong> reading God\u2019s Word is necessary.<\/p>\n

6 Reasons Your Women Aren\u2019t Reading the Bible<\/h4>\n

1. They think they need a degree<\/strong>. Some of your women assume only those who have gone to seminary have the skills to read the Bible. Surely at least a class or two on Greek and Hebrew is necessary. Not true!<\/em><\/p>\n

2. They are overwhelmed.<\/strong> It\u2019s a big, long book with 66 smaller books tucked inside. Where does one even start? Some of your women have started at the beginning only to get stuck in Leviticus. We can break things down into manageable segments.<\/em><\/p>\n

3. No one has shown them how.<\/strong> Where do I start? What Bible version should I use? How much should I read? How often? What information is important? Let’s walk through the answers with them together.<\/em><\/p>\n

4. There\u2019s no time in their schedule.<\/strong> To really study the Bible many women assume they need to set aside at least an hour every day. For most of your women an hour of study time is just not realistic. Just 10-15 minutes a day will yield fruit!<\/em><\/p>\n

5. They think the Bible is boring.<\/strong> While not all of the Bible reads like a best-selling novel, even those \u201cdrier\u201d sections of scripture serve a purpose or God wouldn\u2019t have put them there. There is so much of the Bible that does read like a reality show script! Murder, deceit, miracles, mystery, battles, and romance \u2013 the Bible has it all and more!<\/em><\/p>\n

6. It\u2019s doesn\u2019t seem applicable.<\/strong> Written so long ago, many women assume the words no longer apply today. They do not know that God\u2019s word \u201cis alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart\u201d according to Hebrews 4:12<\/a>. Every single issue we struggle with is addressed in some way in the Bible.<\/em><\/p>\n

According to the American Bible Society\u2019s State of the Bible in 2015<\/a>, \u201cthree out of five adults say they wish they read the Bible more often (61%).\u201d (page 17)<\/p>\n

There is a desire to read the Bible more.<\/h4>\n

We can help women work through the obstacles that prevent them from spending more time reading God\u2019s Word.<\/p>\n

The READ Bible Study<\/a> we offered removed those barriers.<\/h4>\n