Wednesday is Bible study day here on the blog. Over the years, we’ve made our way through five Old Testament books, seven New Testament books, three topical studies, and various miscellaneous studies and lessons. (As always, all of my studies are suitable for individuals and groups, they’re available to you for free at the Bible Studies tab in the blue menu bar at the top of this page, and you’re welcome to print them out.)
My plan is to get our next Bible study kicked off before the end of January, but I’m having a tough time deciding which one of the two studies I’ve been considering would be the right one for right now.
That’s where you come in. I would greatly appreciate your input as I make this decision. So let me tell you a little bit about the two studies I have in mind, and then you can let me know what you think. Whichever one of these studies we don’t do at this time, we will most likely do at some point in the future.
Countless women have been deeply hurt by the church…a loved one…an abuser. Sadly, culture, and even most contemporary “Bible” studies, teach women to rehearse their hurts and wallow in a state of perpetual victimhood and bitterness rather than to pursue the ability to extend biblical forgiveness, and, consequently, true healing and freedom.
Forgiven to Forgive would be a topical study on forgiveness, similar in format to Imperishable Beauty and Sweet Hour of Prayer. We would examine the forgiveness we receive in Christ and how His forgiveness should fuel our zeal to forgive others who have hurt us. We’ll study both Old and New Testament stories of forgiveness and didactic passages on forgiveness. I anticipate that this study would be roughly 10-15 lessons in length.
What does God’s Word teach us about thinking biblically and developing Christian character? Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew starts off with a list of character traits God blesses (the Beatitudes), then fleshes out how to submit to Scripture in real life scenarios in order for the Holy Spirit to grow us in those godly character traits.
The Sermon on the Mount would be an “expositorially topical” (an expository deep dive into a short segment of Scripture) study of Matthew 5-7, similar in format to The Ten. We would examine the character traits God blesses in Christians and how God develops those traits in us as we walk with Him through the practical circumstances of life and as we develop a biblical worldview. I’m hoping to rein this study in to about 12-16 lessons.
So, how about it? Prayerfully consider how God is shaping you (or the ladies in your class) right now, and which of these studies might be of greater help to you in that regard. Comment below or on social media and let me know what you think. I’ll be praying about it and giving it lots of thought, too, and I’ll let you know when I’ve reached a decision.
Michelle Lesley 
Wow, both sound so needed! I want forgiven first, but I’ve never found a good study on the sermon on the mount!
I ask for both In 2021. 🥰💕💕
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Either study would be good for me but my vote would be for the Sermon on the Mount.
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I just read The sermon on the Mount abs made a note that I need to tackle it on its own more in depth. So my vote is for the Sermon on the Mount for it is timely
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Would love to participate in a bible study on forgiveness. I think it will help with some issues with family members. Thank you for all that you do for the Lord.
~kelly
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These are both wonderful topics. My vote would be forgiveness. It would touch so many areas of our lives that are hurt by bitterness and resentment that a lot of times we hold onto (church relationships, marriage, family, etc), not realizing we haven’t truly forgiven as God has.
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I vote for the Forgiven study first.. much needed in our age..
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As the other ladies have mentioned, both topics are useful. However, my preference would be the Sermon on the Mount.
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They both sound fantastic. I would appreciate the Sermon on the Mount first.
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My vote is Sermon on the Mount. Building Christian character and developing a biblical worldview is essential, I believe, especially in an ever-increasingly secular world and amidst so much false teaching inside the “church.”
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Though they both sound great, I vote for forgiveness.
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Sermon on the mount maybe
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I like both. It would be great to do the forgiven one first, then the Sermon on the Mount. There is a lot of hurt everywhere and learning forgiveness would be so helpful
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Sermon on the Mount
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Forgiven first, please! Then, the Sermon on the Mount.
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Sermon on the Mount, then Forgiveness!
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Forgiveness is a big one for me. I find this speaks to my soul.
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Both sound good, but the forgiven one is what I feel would be most helpful to me first.
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Forgiven. Just finished teaching Sermon on the Mount!
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Thank you for all you do! I would love the study on forgiveness first. I find that I need to forgive daily those who have hurt me. I thought I had gotten past all of them, but find still that some unforgiveness remains. Thank you.
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I vote for the Sermon on the Mount. We all need to have more Christ-like character, me most of all!😁
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A lot of my friends are wanting to do a study on Lisa TerKeurst’s new book on forgiveness. I am advising them against following her and your bible study on forgiveness would be a great tool for me to suggest to use instead, so my vote is the forgiveness one first.
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I would personally enjoy Sermon on the mount since my husband (pastor) has just started the book of Matthew.
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I vote for the Sermon on the Mount, but I’m excited for whichever study you decide to do first!
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Currently reading through Lloyd Jones “Studies in the Sermon in the Mount” for part of my kids catechism, so I think a women’s Bible study on this would be great!
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I’d benefit from Forgiven
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I think both studies would be great! Sermon on the Mount is my choice. Thank you Michelle❤️
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Sermon on the mount! We need to hear and be reminded of that topic!
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I vote Sermon on the Mount.
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I would really like to do the “Sermon on the Mount”. Both sound great!!
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Both will be wonderful and look forward to them both. For me personally and seeing a lot of what is going on around us, I think The Sermon on the Mount would be most pertinent. How we react to situations as Christians, either in our personal life, marriage, kids, church, or world, reflect WHOSE we are. And we need to always be aware of this and in tune with our Christian character and the impact it has on others and ourselves. Look forward to seeing the direction chosen.
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The sermon on the mount first and then Forgiveness, both will give us insight into the heart of Jesus.
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I like both but will prefer to do the study on forgiveness first.
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Please do the Forgiven to Forgive first! I would love to study biblical forgiveness. I have been deeply betrayed by my own family and my husband and need to know proper ways to bibically continue moving forward.
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Sermon on the Mount sounds good
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Sermon on the mount first 🙌
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This will be my first bible study with you and I am excited to be among my sisters for either study.
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I would love the Sermon on the Mount first, then forgiveness. Thanks Michelle.
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Forgiveness.
Please.
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I vote for forgiven.
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Forgiveness, please!
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Both would be amazing! I would prefer Forgiven to Forgive first and then The Sermon on the Mount. But I would love to do either.
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Forgiven to forgive first would be helpful for me because I find myself almost cut off from Scripture in a sense because I know I’m carrying this unnecessary (and unbiblical) resentment, pain, and guilt when I don’t need to, and I hit a roadblock with certain Scriptures because of it.
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Sermon in the mount!! But I’ll be happy either way 🙂
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I vote Forgiven to forgiveness. Thank you
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Forgiveness is where my heart is right now.
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