Product Description

With distinct, vivid accounts of fifty-two remarkable women in Scripture, this book offers a way for readers to nurture their relationship with their Heavenly Father and gives them a glimpse into the lives of Old and New Testament women.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #331546 in Books
• Published on: 1999-09-17
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 432 pages

From Amazon.com
This one-year devotional program offers contemporary Christian women a chance to study the lives and legacies of 52 women in Scripture. Some, such as Eve or "Lot's wife," are prominent and well-known biblical figures. Even the lesser-known women--such as the daughter-in-law of Judah, Tamar, who disguised herself as a prostitute--offer provocative and fascinating stories. What shines through in this well-written book is the authors' great respect for these gritty, intelligent, and occasionally flawed women. The authors briefly tell each woman's life story in an enchanting storytelling voice, helping readers to see how these ancient stories still have meaning centuries later. The book is well-organized, offering a woman's story for every week of the year, as well as a week's worth of structured lessons and reflections.

From the Back Cover
Women of the Bible focuses on fifty-two remarkable women in Scripture -- women whose struggles to live with faith and courage are not unlike our own. Far from being cardboard characters, these women encourage us through their failures as well as their successes. You'll see how God acted in surprising and wonderful ways to draw them -- and you -- to himself. This year-long devotional offers a unique method to help you slow down and savor the story of God's unrelenting love for his people, offering a fresh perspective that will nourish and strengthen your personal communion with him.

About the Author
Ann Spangler is the author of several best-selling books, including Women of the Bible, co-authored with Jean Syswerda. The former editorial director and vice-president of Servant Publications, she was also a senior acquisitions editor at Zondervan. She lives with her two daughters in Grand Rapids, Michigan.;Jean E. Syswerda is the best-selling author of Women of the Bible (co-authored with Ann Spangler). She is an editorial and publishing consultant and former editor and associate publisher for Zondervan Bibles. While at Zondervan, she was responsible for such best-selling Bibles as the NIV Women's Devotional Bible, the NIV Adventure Bible, and the NIV Teen Study Bible. She and her husband live in Allendale, MI.

Customer Reviews

Excellent Beginning for Personal Study
I found this book to be an excellent beginning to learn specifically about the life and times of women in the Bible. I did not have a good foundation in this area and yearned for a concise way to focus and get started. The book's readings and additional Biblical references were helpful in becoming more familiar with the Bible. In addition, it has served as an encouragement to read other books about women in the Bible. Some I have found to be better than others. The Q&As were helpful for my journal writing as I mediated on the meaning and message of these women in their lifetime and our times today. All in all, I encourage women to read this book and and experience their own revealations found in these very special women's lives touched by God. Peace and blessings

More intended for individual study
I agree with the other reviewers who enjoyed Women of the Bible as personal devotionals -- leading the reader towered Scripture passages, suggesting prayer, etc. -- or as the opportunity to learn more about the personalities and accomplishments -- and think of applying the lessons from their lives to today -- of biblical women.

However, I do not this book is a good choice for a small group study. My small group chose to do this study; we were flipping through the book at the bookstore and liked the organization and amount of study/discussion questions. Our weeks went like this: review the accomplishments of the woman, generally discuss her attributes or failing, then on to the study questions. We found that the study questions were just unable to spark meaningful conversation -- in many cases they were yes/no questions. On a good week, one of us would bring up some great topic to discuss that just tangentially related to the woman's life, and were able to have a more lively and interesting conversation.

At the end of the study, we confessed to one another that we simply did not enjoy this book -- that it not group study material. There are just so mnay excellent small group study books, books where you can't wait for the group meeting to discuss your revelations over the week and how the book can impact you life. For starters, look at anything written by John Eldredge. The Sacred Romance or Journey of Desire, for instance, are just womderful and will make an impact on your lives. If your group doesn't want to do a "book study" but more of a Bible study, just pick a book of the Bible and do that. A group at our church spent an entire year studying Revelation on their own. But there are also studies that correspond to books, such as the New Inductive Style Series published by Harvest House.

So, if you're looking for a nightstand devotional, this may be the book for you. Skip around chapters and find the people and themes you find most meaningful to your life at that point. And it's an easy devotional to put aside and later come back to. But in terms of a small group study, look at some other books and formats (especially if you're the group leader -- you'll get points by choosing something that'll make you group running late every meeting and where group members meet informally during the week as well).

Wonderful for a solo or group read
This book is wonderful for a solo or group guided study. It guides you, but allows you to draw your on conclusions. It is a wonderful study for anyone interested in learning more about the women in the bible.