SCBC Women's Blog

I can hardly believe our Fall Bible Study has come to an end... or that we returned from our Retreat at Windermere a whole week ago!  What doesn't surprise me is that "The Lord has done amazing things for us." (Psalm 126:3)  He can't help but to bless those who follow hard after Him, and reveal Himself to those who search for Him with all their hearts. 

Over the last several days, I have been so excited to hear about all that God has accomplished in the lives of gals who poured themselves into the study of God's Word--either through our Fall Bible Study or our Retreat.  I've also been doubled over with some of you, laughing the way we gals love to laugh when we get together!  So, here's what I've decided...

There were just too many special testimonies and too many hysterical moments to keep to myself!  I'd like to invite those of you who feel free to share to do just that--so that God will be glorified, and other women will be encouraged by your testimonies.  Psalm 65:1 says, "What mighty praise, O God, belongs to you in Zion!"  Here's your chance, girls!  Give it to Him!

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Old Testament

Job responded to each of his advisors.  He had searched his heart and found no sin for which God would have destroyed his life in this way.  He awaited some other explanation.  Read Job 12:1-15:35.

New Testament

What will it be like on the other side of this material world and these physical bodies?  What will it really mean to be "transformed?"  Read 1 Corinthians 15:29-58.

The Future (1 Corinthians 15:50-58)  Satan seemed to be victorious in the Garden of Eden and at the cross of Jesus.  But God turned Satan's apparent victory into defeat when Jesus Christ rose from the dead.  Death is no longer a source of fear for those who believe in Jesus.  Death has been defeated, and we have hope beyond the grave.  There is a future beyond death, beyond the grave.  However, for most of us, the bodies we have now are going to die.  Or, if we happen to be alive at the time of Christ's return, our bodies will still have to be changed.  Our resurrected bodies have to be different from our present, physical bodies because "physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God."  Our bodies cannot go into God's eternal Kingdom because these present bodies were not made to live forever.  So God has prepared new bodies that will live forever.  The resurrection is a fact; new bodies ready for life in eternity is also a fact.  For those who have no hope in Christ, death is something to fear.  Christians have been given a different perspective.  For believers, death is not the end; it is a doorway into eternal life.

Psalms and Proverbs

Read Psalm 39:1-13 and Proverbs 21:30-31.

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Hi, Ladies!!  I'm back from vacation and looking forward to spending time WITH YOU in God's Word again!  I pray you've had a great couple of weeks--making the most of these last few days of summer, and preparing for Fall (my FAVORITE time of the year)!!  I also pray you're making plans to join us for Bible Study on Tuesday Nights or Thursday Mornings this Fall.  You are NOT going to want to miss this time of Worship, Fellowship, and In-depth Bible Study!  I can't WAIT to see you there!!  Love, Michelle

Old Testament

Bildad and Zophar were Job's next advisors.  Bildad reminded Job that God punishes the wicked.  This was a backhanded way of saying that Job wouldn't be suffering if he wasn't wicked.  Read Job 8:1-11:20.

New Testament

Resurrection; life beyond death; life out of death; life in spite of death:  These are all offered to us by Jesus, who saved us from the power of sin and death.  Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-28.

Overcoming Doubt (1 Corinthians 15:3-9) There will always be people who refuse to believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.  In fact, most churches have a few unbelievers in their congregations.  They believe that Jesus was a good man, a teacher,or a prophet, but they just can't (or won't) wrap their minds around the concept of Him being the Son of God who rose from the dead.  Paul was dealing with doubters when he wrote to the Church in Corinth.  But he had something at his disposal that we do not have today: living eyewitnesses.  In 1 Corinthians 15:5-7, he reminds the Corinthians of all the people who saw Jesus after His resurrection.  Jesus appeared to Peter, the Twelve, and 500 others at the same time.  Then He appeared to James, the Apostles, and to Paul as he traveled on the road to Damascus.  Because so many folks witnessed the resurrection of Jesus, it is recorded many places in the New Testament.  We have this written record; beyond that, we must have faith.  Don't be discouraged by doubters.  Rather, be filled with hope that one day everyone--doubters and believers alike--will see living proof when Christ returns.

Psalms and Proverbs

Read Psalm 38:1-22 and Proverbs 21:28-29.

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Old Testament

The people had spent many years in exile, and now they were returning to their homeland.  First order of business: Rebuild the altar and the Temple so they could once again offer sacrifices for sin and worship the Lord as prescribed in God's law.  Read Ezra 3:1-4:23.

Praise and Thanksgiving (Ezra 3:11) Rebuilding the altar was a priority of the highest order for these exiles who had long been denied the ability to worship freely.  This altar was used twice daily for burnt offerings that were sacrificed to the Lord.  Once the altar was complete, the rebuilding of the Temple itself began.  But when the builders had completed the foundation, construction halted for a public service of praise and thanksgiving.  The people raised their voices to openly acknowledge God's hand in forgiving their sins and bringing them back home.  The words to their song are preserved for us: "He is so good!  His faithful love for Israel endures forever!"  As a Christian, "your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 6:19).  He is always at work in your life--past, present, and future--even when you feel as if you are in "exile" or as if your life is on hold.  Can you look back in your life and find evidence of God's faithful love, even before you started following Christ?  Stop everything and thank God for all He has done and all He will continue to do for the rest of your life!

New Testament

What does it mean to be mature spiritually?  What does it mean to live according to God's wisdom?  How do we look as the body of Christ when we really live as God has called us?  Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-3:4.

Psalms and Proverbs

Read Psalm 28:1-9 and Proverbs 20:24-25.

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Old Testament

The Babylonians were eventually defeated by the next world empire--the Medo-Persians.  God moved Cyrus, their king, to allow the Jewish exiles to return to their homeland.  Ezra tells the story of the Jews who returned from exile many years later in order to begin rebuilding their nation.  Read Ezra 1:1-2:70.

New Testament

Sectarian divisions were plaguing the Corinthian church.  Paul called the church to focus once again on the Cross--the wisdom and power of God.  In light of the Cross, human pride begins to fade.  Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5.

Sharing Our Faith (1 Corinthians 2:1-5) Paul was an intelligent individual.  He spoke multiple languages, was highly educated, and was a former Pharisee.  His intellect was formidable--he knew both what to say and when and how to say it.  But when it came to sharing the message of salvation, he kept it plain and simple, relying upon the power of the Holy Spirit rather than his skill as an orator.  When you share with others about Jesus, what approach do you take?  Paul set a good example for us all.  His message was basic and understandable to all who heard him speak.  It can be tempting for us to think our skillful or impassioned presentation is the reason someone is attracted to Jesus.  Paul warns us against such pride.  This does not mean we should not be prepared when asked about certain Scriptures; we must take time to read and study the Bible.  But when you have the opportunity to share your faith with someone, take a moment to pray and ask for guidance, that your words may be exactly what the unbeliever needs to hear.  And then thank God for allowing you to plant a seed in someone's heart.

Psalms and Proverbs

Read Psalm 27:7-14 and Proverbs 20:22-23

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