How can you forgive those who have hurt you? How can you know that God has forgiven you? In this new addition to the Women of the Word Bible study series, readers learn how to accept God's forgiveness for their sins and to extend forgiveness to others. Through personal stories any woman can relate to--about family, career, and church--The Gift of Forgiveness deals honestly and compassionately with this tough yet necessary choice: the choice to forgive. Eight sessions of Bible study cover topics such as "Experiencing God's Forgiveness," "Why Forgiveness Is Hard," "Loving Your Enemies," and "The Power of the Cross." Readers will examine the challenges of accepting and offering forgiveness, dig into the teachings of Scripture, and reflect on their own relationships. Each session wraps up with action steps for applying to their everyday lives what readers learn from God's Word. Plus, a brand-new Leader's Guide is included to facilitate meaningful group study.
There are two kinds of shame. Legitimate shame is a tool in the hands of a forgiving God; we feel it when we recognize our sin and turn to Him. False shame, on the other hand, is a tool in the hands of the enemy; Satan uses it to convince believers that they are not worthy of God's love and acceptance, and to turn them away from fellowship with Him. In From Shame to Beauty, readers will discover how to arm themselves against false shame and live confidently in the knowledge of God's love. This interactive study, ideal for individuals or small groups, guides readers through a process of healing from false shame that has plagued their lives and relationships. From Shame to Beauty includes eight weeks of study. Topics include ''Characteristics of Shame, '' ''Cause of Shame, '' ''Contagion of Shame, '' ''Cure for Shame'' and much more. Each week's study examines how false shame threatens the lives of believers, digs into Scripture to find out what God's Word has to say about it, offers readers the opportunity to reflect on their own struggle with shame and suggests practical action steps to help readers apply what they have learn
“Women of the Word will help all who read it to find their way deeper into the Word of God without having to be seminary educated, a genius, or even an especially good student.” —Kathy Keller We all know it’s important to study God’s Word. But sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. What’s more, a lack of time, emotionally driven approaches, and past frustrations can erode our resolve to keep growing in our knowledge of Scripture. How can we, as Christian women, keep our focus and sustain our passion when reading the Bible? With over 250,000 copies sold, Women of the Word has helped countless women with a clear and concise plan they can use every time they open their Bible. Featuring the same content as the first edition, and now with added study questions at the end of each chapter, this book equips you to engage God’s Word in a way that trains your mind and transforms your heart.
Everyone wants satisfying, intimate relationships, but not everyone agrees on the best way to achieve them. In Building Better Relationships, readers go to the source of truth about making relationships thrive: the Bible. This interactive eight-session study, ideal for individuals or small groups, starts with the premise that fulfilling relationships with people begin with a right relationship with God. As readers discover, accept, and believe who they are in the eyes of God the Beloved, they are empowered to build relationships that flow out of God's love for them. Topics include "Loving Our Neighbors," "Honoring One Another," "Handling Confrontation," "Learning to Listen," and more. Each week's study examines a particular challenge of relationships, digs into Scripture to find out what God's Word has to say about that challenge, offers readers the opportunity to reflect on their own relationships, and suggests practical action steps to help readers apply what they have learned.
Forgiveness is always personal. It's incredibly difficult to do. But it's never optional. When someone has offended us, the temptation to not forgive is great. But the roots of unforgiveness and bitterness can grow deep in the human soul. Left alone, unforgiveness produces bitter fruit that shows itself in angry thoughts, words, and deeds. Eventually, it will destroy us from the inside out. Through this study, you will learn of the rich, life-altering teachings God's Word offers about forgiveness. Your heart will soften as you learn of Jesus' forgiveness for you. And, most important, you'll be encouraged to extend that same forgiveness to others. Book jacket.
Friendships with other women are as important to our mental, physical, and spiritual health as rest, exercise, and prayer. We don’t just want friends—we need friends. God created us for relationship. Yet despite being more connected than ever before, we struggle to feel connected. From the false intimacy of social media to busyness and relational conflict, there are many challenges to developing authentic relationships. If you’ve ever been hurt by a friend, struggled to balance friendship with everyday life, seen a friendship end too early, or longed for deeper and more authentic friendships, this Bible study is for you. As Natalie leads you in a deep exploration of timeless truths in the Old and New Testaments, you will learn how to develop and nurture the kind of enriching and satisfying friendships that build up the body of Christ and bring honor to God. Personal testimonies and stories of successes and failures add a level of authenticity that is refreshing and insightful. As you learn to cultivate God-honoring relationships, you will become more like Christ and demonstrate His love to a broken world. Study participants will find deep study of Scripture's principles for God-honoring friendships; help for navigating conflict, setting boundaries, and learning to forgive; in-depth study of Scripture with testimonies and stories that "ring true," the do's and don'ts of authentic friendships; and Bible-based guidance for building stronger and deeper relationships. The Leader Guide contains six session plan outlines, complete with discussion points and questions, activities, prayers, and more—plus leader helps for facilitating a group. Other components for the Bible study, available separately, include a Participant Workbook, DVD with six 16-20 minute sessions, and boxed Leader Kit. “Becoming Heart Sisters is a beautiful reminder of how powerful walking hand in hand with a loyal friend can be. After completing this study, you will be better equipped to be this kind of God-honoring friend. Thank you, Natalie, for the charge to sacrificially love and serve our friends.” —Lysa Terkeurst, New York Times best-selling author and president of Proverbs 31 Ministries
In a world where faith is fading and integrity is rare, the life and legacy of Joseph shine bright, showing us that following God brings hope even in the worst of circumstances. Join bestselling author Charles Swindoll as he sheds light on a man whose tenacious faith kept him strong in the face of temptation, danger, and torment. Great Lives: Joseph presents a fresh look at one of the most intriguing characters in the Old Testament and focuses on the virtue of forgiveness in the face of deceit and betrayal. From his famous multi-colored coat through the jealous rage that prompts his brothers to sell him into slavery to his astounding rise to national power, Swindoll follows Joseph through temptation, imprisonment, his ascension in Egyptian society, and the brothers who deceived him. Despite the incredible challenges he faced throughout his life, Joseph stood firm, exemplifying what's possible when ordinary people maintain their connections with God. In Great Lives: Joseph, the third installment in Swindoll's bestselling Great Lives from God's Word series, Swindoll traces the life and legacy of a man who exemplified grace under pressure, teaching us how to: Be quick to forgive Live with integrity Trust God every step of the way Joseph's story reads like an epic novel, filled with intrigue, tension, temptation, and torrential emotions--but it heartens us as we face the same kinds of difficulties today, proving that we can triumph over whatever life sends our way.
