Part 6 of The Friendship Series

Why should I be part of a Women’s Bible Study Group?

Mum’s group, Fellowship group, Prayer Group and many other “groups” could all be forms of a women’s Bible Study Group.

This is a place of Christian community, where we develop deeper relationships, form close bonds, trust each other with tender parts of ourselves, support one another, pray for each other, encourage one another, hold one another accountable, and press on to know more of The Word together, and grow deeper faith with one another.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is part of it

1 Corinthians 12:27

A “sisterhood” where we are known to each other and know each other. It’s a life-giving circle that you WANT to be part of.

Loneliness is a very common emotion experienced by mothers. We are surrounded by little people, but lack adult connection during our days. This is one of the simplest, most effective ways to address that loneliness. Meeting every week, or fortnightly means no one has to plan, invite or remember to be intentional. It just happens and you just go.

What is a Women’s Bible Study Group?

It is a group of Christian women who gather together regularly (weekly or fortnightly), to have fellowship, study the Bible, share prayer needs and pray together. Usually for a period of 2 – 3 hours.

A Women’s Bible Study group(WBSG)can take on many different forms according to ages and stages of life, but usually the women who meet will have a few interests in common.

My experience of a WBSG

My first WBSG was a “mum’s” group. A group of mums from our church would meet with our babies and young toddlers every Tuesday morning. We rotated hosting the group at each house, brought a simple morning tea to share, listened to worship music, did a short reading together, talked about areas in our lives needing prayer, and prayed together…all while our babies and children played and made a noise and argued over toys around us. This group continued for many years and was a wonderful support for me. To be with mums experiencing the same challenges, joys and frustrations helped normalise my mothering journey, and in a time of life when structured Bible Study and prayer time is difficult, it kept us growing and moving in our faith. As a group we also made gift baskets for new mothers with encouraging verses to unwrap each day for a week, with a little gift. It was wonderful to reach out in a small way.

My next group after moving to Australia, started as a Christian book club, with ladies I had met at my children’s school. We all brought our books, and shared them, and talked about what we were reading. Soon we were praying for each other, and then , all hungry for more, we started a Beth Moore Bible Study, which had us watching a short video and doing readings and having conversation.

My children moved schools, and I joined a group of mums one morning a week, at the school…and we prayed for the school and one another. We were called “The Prayer Mums” and children and staff would ask us for prayer. There were only 4 of us, but we developed a close friendship and a strong bond…which faith fuelled friendships seem inclined to do.

After moving to the farm, I felt unhinged without a group of Christian women to meet with regularly and invited other Christian homeschooling mums to join with me once a week. This group – The Thursday Mums – consists of 9 beautiful ladies…originating from different countries, with different methods of homeschooling and varying in age from in their 30s to in their 50s. And while we meet on a Thursday afternoon, our troupe of children get to run around in the garden and play. We grab a cup of tea, study scripture and discuss it, spend much time hearing about one another’s prayer needs, and then praying for one another. We keep in contact through the week, and continue to lift one another in prayer.

This group has been a strong shelter and a safe place for me in many of the trials that I have faced. And we have prayed one another through amazingly difficult seasons. We have cried together and triumphed together. Because we KNOW one another. We know the backstory. We know each other’s character. We know truth about one another. Because we CARE…Because we LOVE – with the love of Christ that is the strongest kind. We have sharpened one another with the lessons The Lord has taught us, and reminded one another of the faithfulness of our Father.

Join or start your own

Churches usually have multiple growth groups available for different groups of people at different times. If possible, join one that is already running. But if nothing exists that is suitable for you, start your own. This is not as difficult as it may seem. Chat to one or two other women and see if they would be interested in meeting every week to read The Word, chat and pray. You only need one or two to start and eventually you will meet others who you can invite to join.

How to run a WBSG:

My Group – God’s gift to me

On a personal note; when my family and I went through the most severe and heart breaking crisis, it was these women – my sisters in Christ – who understood me and all that had led up to this moment. I knew I was understood. They held me up with prayers and weeping of their own….like no one else in my life could do. I urge you, dear friend, to surround yourself with Godly women. Invest in this area of your life now…because you do not know when you will need this kind of unconditional love and support.

If you have missed any posts from The Friendship Series, find them here:

Part 1:Why women NEED friends

Part 2:https://therefinedmother.com/have-the-friendships-you-have-always-desired/

Part 3:10 ways to be a LIFE GIVING friend

Part 4:How to lose a friend…FAST! (When that isn’t your intention)

Part 5:https://therefinedmother.com/teach-your-child-to-be-a-great-friend/