Sisters Bible Study for Women - A Mile in Her Shoes - Participant's Workbook: Lessons from the Lives of Old Testament Women: Lessons From The Lives Of Old Testament Women; Participant's - Softcover

Patterson, Sheron C.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0687741114 ISBN 13: 9780687741113

Verlag: ABINGDON PR, 2005

Inhaltsangabe

Life in ancient times was a struggle for survival, many times removed from the relaxed, comfortable existence most of us enjoy today. For women especially, simply living often meant enduring a harsh society that viewed women as voiceless entities more like property than persons. Still, faith blossomed and thrived. Explore the bold, yet inspirational lives of Old Testament women such as Hannah, Hagar, Abigail, and others.

This 6-week video study is the fourth in the Sisters Bible Study series and is presented as a kit that includes: video presentations in both DVD and VHS formats (each session is 15-minutes in length), a participant’s workbook, and a leader’s guide. The DVD contains the same material as the VHS, offering users flexibility in viewing the study. The kit is packaged in a vinyl case for ease of use and storage.

Each study group member will need to purchase a participant’s workbook separately.

The format of each study session is: ·A session introduction by the series host with a 7-8 minute presentation of the session material to the group by the study presenter, a small group discussion (i.e., 4-6 women) facilitated by the study presenter after viewing the video, and the remaining 60-90 minutes spent discussing the session material.

For more information about Sisters, go to www.sisters.cokesbury.com.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Dr. Sheron C. Patterson is the Senior Pastor of Highland Hills United Methodist Church, located in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Patterson is a nationally recognized Christian relationship expert. Her sage advice has been broadcast via Black Entertainment Television (BET) and in Jet, Ebony, and Christianity Today. On a weekly basis, believers in 40 cities hear her "Love Doctor" broadcast on the syndicated ABC radio format REJOICE.

In 1995, Dr. Patterson founded the Love Clinic, a contemporary Christian relationship institute. Since it's inception, the Love Clinic has produced seminars, a best-selling book, college tours, a summer camp for teens, and a website.

Dr. Patterson is also the author of five books: Ministry with Black Single Adults, I Want to Be Ready, Single Principles, New Faith, and most recently, The Love Clinic: How to Heal Relationships in a Christian Spirit. Additionally, she writes an occasional column for The Dallas Examiner newspaper.

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Sisters Bible Study for Women - A Mile in Her Shoes - Participant's Workbook

Lessons From the Lives of Old Testament WomenBy Sheron C. Patterson

Abingdon Press

Copyright © 2005 The United Methodist Publishing House
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-687-74111-3

Chapter One

Week One: Deborah—Lessons on Leadership

Readings for the Week: Judges 4:1-23; 5:1-3 DAY ONE: RISING UP IN OPPRESSIVE TIMES

Judges 4:1-3

The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, after Ehud died. So the LORD sold them into the hand of King Jabin of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-ha-goiim. Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help; for he had nine hundred chariots of iron, and had oppressed the Israelites cruelly twenty years.

God moves in mysterious ways. Hardships and hard times can be God's catalyst for positive change. Leaders are produced in difficult times. Who would think that the reign of an oppressive king like Jabin would generate a leader like Deborah? Jabin was the Canaanite king, and Sisera was his cruel army commander. Sisera was infamous for the violence that his nine hundred iron chariots produced. The Israelites were allowed to suffer greatly at the hands of Sisera because they were being punished by God. The first few verses of Chapter 4 tell their story: "The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.... So the LORD sold them into the hand of King Jabin of Canaan" (verses 1-2). Despite this punishment, God was also merciful. God elevated the capable Deborah to lead during these hard times, and her leadership significantly influenced the people to return to God.

In the midst of the oppression, God appointed Deborah to be a leader by serving as a judge. She was one of six judges who guided Israel after the time of the patriarchs and before the time of kings. She was probably the only female judge because women in her society were not permitted to have leadership roles. Old Testament judges were different from the judges we see in our legal system today. They were not elected or officially appointed. They were selected by God from the general population to rule the people and lead them back to righteousness. They served as administrators who helped organize and facilitate the workings of the community. They settled disputes and administered justice. In times of threat, they helped mobilize the Israelite armies to fight. Therefore their tasks were both political and religious; and their leadership helped insure the social, religious, and political stability.

Deborah demonstrates how we can take the negative situations in our lives and use them to propel rather than sink us. It has been said that birds, such as eagles, effectively gain their altitude when they ascend against resistant winds. Aerodynamically the colliding forces lift the birds higher into the skies. Birds do not fear resistance; instead they use it to their advantage. So can we.

Attributes such as power, presence, and persistence may be common during good times, but what about when lives are at stake? We are human; and during difficult times our survival instinct says, Go hide and ride out the storms until safety comes. Safety makes us relax, while trouble makes us tense.

Deborah shows us how to lead despite challenging conditions. God has the proven ability to turn the unfavorable into the favorable. You too are a leader. Leaders come in all shapes and sizes, and are assigned tasks both large and small. You have the God-given ability to lead others, or maybe yourself, out of a bad situation. However you must seize this power with faith, just as Deborah did.

Reflecting and Recording

Do you agree that turbulent times create leaders? If so, make a list of characteristics that hard times produce in leaders.

Are you facing a difficult situation in your own life that may prompt you into leadership? What will be required of you to step forward?

Have you ever hidden or run from trouble? Why? Looking back, how could you have changed the situation?

DAY TWO: EFFECTIVE LEADERS ARE IN TOUCH WITH GOD

Judges 4:4-7

At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth was judging Israel. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. She sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, "The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you, `Go, take position at Mount Tabor, bringing ten thouand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin's army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.'"

Are you busy? Do you have a checklist of places to go, things to do, and people to see all day, every day? You are not alone. I confess that sometimes I wonder if I am coming or going. Full, vigorous lives characterize many women's daily routine. Despite our modern conveniences, we still strain to accomplish all of our daily assignments. Even though our lives are full, there is still room to be a leader, especially one in touch with God.

We can ascertain from the day's text that Deborah was in touch with God despite probably having a busy daily agenda. We know that she was a prophetess, a wife, a mother, and a judge, who kept regular office hours under "the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel" (verse 5). As a judge she made decisions and settled disputes for her people. Imagine the line outside her office. First perhaps was the camel herder who felt the merchant was mistreating him. Next maybe were two landowners who had a border dispute. They all came to Deborah with their problems because she was a person with godly answers.

In the midst of this work, Deborah heard from God that she was to summon the warrior, Barak, into battle against the Canaanites. She heard this godly command because she was connected to God, and she valued what God had to say. We too must be connected to God if we are to hear God's instructions for us. Not only did Deborah hear, but she responded with obedience. Being in touch with God makes all the difference.

Are you connected to God? Imagine if we each had a mechanism that monitored the level of our contact with God. It would be a built-in device that scanned our godly connection. It would hum peacefully when all was well, or blare loudly when we were not as close as we should be. Since we don't have such a device, we must monitor ourselves. I'm not suggesting a sterile piece of equipment but rather an ongoing check that monitors our faith connection. We must continually ask: Have I prayed today? Have I read the Bible today? Have I had a conversation with God today? If we have not been in touch with God, there will be indications such as grumpiness, unexplained anger, and hopelessness. If we have been in touch with God, the bumps and bruises of the day will not hurt us as much as they might absent God's nearness.

Whether our task is to lead groups of people out of a crisis or organize our church's next potluck, we need to be in touch with God....

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: ABINGDON PR
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2005
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0687741114
• ISBN 13: 9780687741113
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 136
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: Nicht verfügbar