Women and Bible Study

Hunger for the Word: the Hidden Spiritual Gift?
By Jeanne Sant


Why do some Christians hunger for the Word, and others not? Does God want women to study the Word?

I was gloriously saved at the age of 42 in 1987! In an instant of time I was brought into the Kingdom of God - and have never been the same. I hungered for the Word and that has continued to this very day. The day I was saved I immediately got into Gods Word to see what He had to say for me, and I continue to be in the Word daily.

I am no spiritual superstar. I truly believe that the Holy Spirit has put it on my heart to hunger for the Word, to be in constant study. It is not my choice, it is the energy, and guidance of the Holy Spirit! But is it a spiritual gift to want to study the Word Of God? Why do some of us, professing born-again Christians, study and others not?

A year after I had been saved I began to notice that I seemed to have a better grasp of Gods Word, than women who had been Christians 20-30 years. Women in their 50, 60, even 70s did not seem to know some basics. What had they been studying all those years? Sometimes I was not only amazed at their lack of knowledge, but embarrassed for them. I am no spiritual giant-I feel average and wonder why "average" women do not hunger for God's Word.

Many of the Senior Adult ladies have told me that as young women they were never encouraged to study the Word of God – so they never got into the daily habit-and most of them see no need to begin now.

Do women want to study? Many do and I am blessed by their lives and knowledge. I am challenged by them and learn from what they have studied and teach to me. A woman who studies the word has a sense of steadiness about her. She is solid in her faith. She knows her LORD. There are many serious Woman's Leaders such as Kay Arthur, Ann Graham Lotz, and Joyce Myers, to name just a few. You go gals!!! Teach the Word! Teach the serious, factual Word! I am blessed by these and others also.

Over the past 15 years I have been a member of 4 different churches (I have lived in 4 different cities). Small congregations, and large congregations. I do not see many women in serious Bible Study. Just small pockets of women here and there meeting to seriously study the Word of God in depth. Where are the others? I have figured out that the other women must be in secret, private Bible Study groups. Why have they not publicized these groups so we can join in? Where and when are these clandestine groups? They must be out there!

Many women do study at home alone and have no interest in a group study. I have led a ladies Sunday School class almost continually since I was a new believer. Most Sundays I ask the class if they have read their lesson prior to coming to class. Just a simple little Sunday School lesson. A few do read and prepare for Sunday. Many times I will say to the others, "I know why you did not have time to study this simple little Sunday School lesson, you must have been spending so much of your time this week in some other deep, serious Bible Study." They usually smile and look sheepish.
Time. Maybe it is a time factor that women do not study. I am single again, and have no children. Even when I work 40 hours a week I am in serious Bible Study. I realize that I have much more time to study than others. I really do realize that. God has arranged my life with much free time so that I can study. Perhaps this is the spiritual gift - the "gift of free time," so that we have no excuse for not studying the Word of God. What are you doing with your time?

Some women consider daily bible study as reading their “Daily Bread, “Journey” or other prepared devotional – yet they never open an actual Bible.

Is “the hunger to study” a spiritual gift that is not listed in the Scripture? Why do some study and others not? Does God want women to study the Scripture? Not anywhere in the Scripture does it seem to indicate that the “hunger to study” is a spiritual gift. It is an issue of the heart and a discipline like prayer, worship, tithing, good works, etc… Reading and studying the Word of God is submission and obedience.

Not only do women not hunger for the word of God, but when they do study, many study in a "fluffy" emotional way. I realize that God made women as “relational and emotional” and we need fun and fellowship when we gather together. Today there even seems to be an upsurge of women studying the word of God, but if you look closely, many of those leaders base their programs on humor, and "feelings," and never get down to a serious, meaningful study.

Just observe what is said as you listen to women teach. One nationally known woman speaker constantly sprinkles all of her teachings with the words, "I feel," "me," my experience," etc... Emotion, feelings. The Word of God and the truths of God are based on facts, not feelings. We are to base our truth on the Word of God and not the Word of God on our feelings.

This well known, national leader states that we must pay attention to our feelings and the Word of God. She is wrong. Our feelings may lead us astray, but Gods Word does not. This “feelings” and ‘fluffy’ approach to Bible Study seems to appeal to many women. Maybe “fluffy study” is better than no Bible Study at all. (?)

What can you do to increase your Bible Study?
1. Admit that God does want women to study the Scripture.
2. Go to God in repentance for hours, days and years lost to you.
3. Ask God to impress on your heart the importance of His Word.
4. Pray for time and no distractions.
5. Get someone to help you. Talk to a mature woman in your church to guide you.
6. Put all other reading aside, even the daily news paper. Why are you reading this when you can be reading the Word of God?
7. Turn off your TV for an hour a day.
8. Bible study means growth and change to be more like Jesus. Look at any studies or groups you are involved in now. Are you challenged by your Sunday School teacher or group leader? Is what you learn applied to daily living? Is it the Word of God or the word of someone else? How much time of your group gathering is actual study and how much is socializing?

Last but not least – this should be first thing you do:
9. Pray, pray, pray for a hunger to be in the Word. God will hear
and will bless you. The Holy Spirit will lead you into all truth.

God wants all of His children to study His word and be obedient – that includes women. The Holy Spirit will lead you into obedience – that is really the issue.