Christian

What’s Up With Women’s Bible Studies?

Cindy Dawson

Some say I’m too picky. But as a person who was once deceived by NAR and Word of Faith teaching, I know firsthand how dangerous false teaching is. Satan is very tricky and he would like nothing more than to lead Christians down a dangerous road of deception. He is very good at what he does and it won’t be obvious. You can be sure of that.

Women’s Bible Studies often center around a popular Christian author and teacher. I began to notice that many of their teachings were based on their personal experiences. They weren’t really teaching the Bible. Instead, it was more about them, what God had “told” them, and their fascinating experiences. I remember thinking, “Wait! Where’s that in the Bible?”

For me, red flags go up when a “Bible teacher” says, “God told me…” or “God said…”. I haven’t always seen that as a red flag, but I do now. Here’s why:

These “Bible teachers” are often funny and entertaining, so you can see why they would be popular. The word gets around. Hungry believers, seeking to learn about God, consume their books and videos. The motives of these believers may be pure, but pure motives aren’t enough. We must study the Bible for ourselves or risk being misled.

I know this is true because it happened to me. The problem is this: if you learn from the wrong teachers you will undoubtedly be led into error. Of course, they get a lot right, but it’s what they get wrong that is the problem.

You can usually find out a lot about popular teachers on their own websites. Who do they learn from? What books and/or teachers have influenced them? If they are influenced by the New Age, Mystics, NAR, or Word of Faith that’s all I need to know. I don’t listen to their teaching and neither should you. Jesus said,

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Matthew 7:13-15

I’m afraid this kind of advice isn’t very popular today. It would be more acceptable if Jesus would have said not to be concerned about who we listen to as long as it has a Christian label on it. But that is not what He said. In fact, the Bible says,

“For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2 Timothy 4:3-4

Nowhere is this more evident than in the “Prosperity Gospel” teaching of preachers like Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn, Jesse Duplantis, Joel Osteen, T.D Jakes, and others. The Bible clearly teaches that anyone who teaches these things has been robbed of the Truth.

So-called “Bible teachers” are standing in line to say what people want to hear. According to Publisher’s Weekly, one popular teacher (that I won’t name) generates over 30 million dollars a year in book sale revenues!

“If anyone … does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:3-10

I don’t know how it could get any clearer than that. Yet “Prosperity preachers have huge followings and live in great abundance and wealth.

“Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness.” 2 Corinthians 11:14b

And in case you aren’t convinced yet, remember these words of Jesus:

 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ Matthew 7:21-23

Final Word: The Bible is more precious than silver and gold because God’s Word, and God’s Word alone, will keep you on the narrow road. Don’t neglect this precious gift from God.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet,
    a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105

In His Love, Cindy

Do you want to know more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

All Scripture references are from the NIV unless otherwise noted.

RealChristianWomen.blog  

37 thoughts on “What’s Up With Women’s Bible Studies?”

  1. Your post reminded me of some dear friends over the years that were deeply hooked into the word of faith movement, and as far as I know never got out. Sadly the celebrity culture of many false teachers has deceived many brothers and sisters. May our Father God use messages such as yours today Cindy to awaken some out of their satanic slumber, before it is too late. 🙏

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    1. I so appreciate your encouraging words. I know that this post will make some people angry. In my experience people do not like to be confronted even when it is done carefully and lovingly. Blessings, Alan!

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  2. I’ve gotten so much negative response when I’ve called out women “teachers” who end up putting themselves in the role of pastor like Beth Moore, Joyce Meyer and Jenn Wilken. A lot of these start off ok, but quickly fall into false teaching and arrogance.

    I’m so blessed to be a part of a women’s Bible study by community bible study which just takes an expository approach followed by sound commentary on the text. We just meet as women to study the Bible together and one of the rules of the group is that you can’t pull in studies or writings by popular writers or bring up TV or written personalities.
    People like the idea of a God who saves but forget that same God is a God of Justice. We had to explain this concept to our kids recently watching Prince of Egypt when our 5 year old asked why if God loves and saves us, did he kill the first born of the Egyptians. God is sovereign and just.

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      1. If you want a personal Bible study to do at home I highly recommend “Engaging God’s Word” which is made by the same organization that writes the study’s for Community Bible Study. I’ve done the Ruth/Esther study and am finishing the Deuteronomy Study this summer. They’re excellent.

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  3. Cindy, this classic! From all of your posts that I’ve read, this could be your best ever!
    I try to be very careful about telling my experiences and especially what “God told me.” With those impressions, and especially with dreams, if the interpretation doesn’t line up with Scripture, either I’m not hearing right, or it isn’t God! Thanks for the reminder that “Seeking Divine Perspective” is not about ME, it’s about sharing what (Whom) I find and drawing people closer to Him!

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  4. Now that was an excellent post! Not that your other posts aren’t also “excellent” but this one was “especially” excellent! I think I heard that from someone last week! Kidding aside, what you state is bang on, Cindy. I received a comment from a fellow that likes to throw rocks at me quite often, about my last post regarding Bob DeWaay. There was profanity in it so I did not release it but his argument was as follows: :”He (Bill Johnson) just sells the gospel in his own way, no different than the way you do yourself!”

    This was my response that I sent him privately via email: “That would be like Progressive Christianity “sells” Christianity by basically denying everything that the Gospel of Jesus Christ declares, as opposed to what the Gospel of Jesus Christ does actually declare in the actual Gospels.

    It makes no difference to you because the Gospel of Jesus Christ means nothing to you.
    If it did, you would think otherwise.

    How you “sell” what you “sell”, is dependent on the value you place on what you are “selling”.

    And then of course, there is this verse in Galatians 1:8-9 NASB which reads as follows; “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, even now I say again: if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

    It mattered to the Apostle Paul!”

    I’ve often wondered about the continual necessity of judging what is put forth as “coming from God” by various popular Christian authors, and you’re right, there is always a good porportion that is good, sometimes very good, but in like manner there is frequently a notable portion, in a good number of cases, that is not good and that portion speaks of self pride and shifting the onus from Jesus to themselves.

    The bottom line is that the Biblical truth matters because it often times differentiates between God’s thoughts and ways to mans thoughts and ways, and that becomes self evident as we read through the entirety of the selected book we are reading. We start to place our dependency on the thoughts of an individual versus maintaining our focus on God’s Holy Word. The shift is subtle but effective. There ARE good Christian teachers, but we are told to test EVERYTHING and a true balanced teacher of God would encourage that, not demean someone for actually doing that.

    The truth that we behold as God’s truth matters, because it is God’s truth. Never feel apologetic for defending His truth. Speak it as lovingly as you can, but speak it. All Christians are called to do that. Not all Christians value His truth in the same manner. It doesn’t mean we are any better than those who do not place a strong value in His truth, it just means His truth has taken deeper root in us, and that is attributable to God’s grace. That value is precious.

    God’s continued blessings to you and yours, Cindy. Great post!

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    1. Bruce, First of all I want to thank you for your encouragement. I had no idea this post would get such a favorable response. I expected the opposite. In fact, after I went to bed last night I almost got up to read it again in case I should unschedule it!
      In regard to “selling the Gospel in his own way”, I have had similar responses such as, “But a lot of people are getting saved.” God only knows, but I’m not so sure that’s true.
      The Truth that we understand is attributable to God’s grace. I think of that often.
      I don’t understand how people can be so deceived. Then I remember that I was once deceived myself. The verse that started me on the road that walked away from WOF and NAR was 1 Timothy 6 about the love of money.
      It breaks my heart to see sweet Christian women so easily led astray. Pastors are going to have to step up and guard the flock against wolves in sheep’s clothing instead of silently standing by in an effort not to offend anyone. I know that won’t be easy for many reasons. Jesus never said it would be easy. Blessings, Brother!

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    2. Amen. Agreed. I appreciate my pastor saying to the congregation to measure everything up with scripture. And to read the Bible more. It breaks his heart to see many Christians aren’t reading the Bible. They don’t know who God is.

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  6. You have given very sound advice here, Cindy. I too love studying God’s Word and not an author’s book. I do use the Focus on the Bible series for my Bible study, doing studies of each book of the Bible chapter by chapter. These are commentary books that apply scripture to our lives. I have not been in a lady’s group for a long time, largely because of what you wrote about today. Bless you for taking stands where it counts!

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    1. Thank you for your encouragement. I will check out the “Focus on the Bible” series you referred to. I think it’s interesting that you have seen the same problems I spoke about. Blessings, Patty!

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  7. I appreciate your words and post here very much, Cindy. For ten years I have led ladies groups through popular Bible Studies, many written by popular women mentioned in this string. I agree, it is sometimes difficult to keep the focus on Biblical Word and not the experiences of the author. It is crucial to focus on the Scriptures referenced in the studies, along with devoted prayer asking for guidance and revelation as we read and study. And to also purposefully teach NOT to idolize the popular author. There is so much healing needed in our People today, and these popular studies can be a good tool when used properly. But God’s Word must reign supreme – always! Thanks for your great post! 💗

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    1. Thank you, Mindy. I know there are good books and Bible Studies available. I certainly don’t condemn them all. You are right to focus on Scripture and always to ask God for guidance. As you so beautifully stated, “God’s Word must reign supreme – always!” Blessings, Mindy!

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  8. Your invaluable ongoing message has been to read the Bible daily, find your answers in the Bible, and don’t stray from the Word of the Bible. Well said and you can never say it too much! Thanks, Cindy.

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  10. This is an on time post. I’m learning. What bible study do you recommend that aligns to God’s word. I’m in a new area after a major move and do not have a home church. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks
    🌻🐝💛☀️

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    1. Hi Debra, I highly recommend that you simply read your Bible. I love the David Jeremiah NIV Study Bible. A person has to know what the Bible says to be able to discern truth from error. I pray that God will help you find the right church. God bless you!

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  11. Hi Cindy, It’s really important that you do continue your warnings because we need to hear it. You have experienced it and so can share legitimately from your experiences and warn others. You know how to recognise the dangers. We can be so blinded that we don’t see it when we are in it. Keep it up. Have you thought of starting your own bible study group? One of your comments had an excellent example of their structure. Blessings,

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    1. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, Nicola. I appreciate your encouragement so much. I have taught women’s Bible studies in the past, but God has not opened a door for me to do one right now. I put all my energy into the blog! God bless you, my friend!

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