Retelling Our Stories
Women most often become—at best—supporting characters. Without thinking about it, we’ve accepted this point of view and this unspoken role for women across time. We’ve accepted looking at women through men’s eyes.
But a second glance reveals the stories of often-unnamed women as living faithfully and courageously for God, as well as some living powerfully and villainously against God. Regardless of whose point of view is reflected in the stories we read in Scripture, women, as much as men, have contributed to the great narrative of God and humanity.
First time to the site? Start here
From the blog
Last Call: Study the Gospel of John
John takes a dramatic departure in his gospel in several ways, not the least of which is in his depiction of Jesus with women. If you would like to study this gospel with us, please register here.
Keep reading
Phoebe
Paul introduced her as “our sister,” and later one of the saints. Phoebe was deacon of the church at Cenchreae, and she was to be warmly welcomed. Anything she required, the assemblies in Rome were to provide for her. Why? Because she was, in fact, a benefactor of many, including Paul himself.
Keep reading
Michal, Daughter of Saul
In Michal’s story we meet a young women in love, who soon becomes courage itself in her quick-witted rescue of her husband. But as the years go by, she becomes an abandoned wife given to another man, then a political pawn and finally the outraged and rejected queen.
Keep reading
Tabitha (Dorcas)
The unique and intriguing story of a woman with dual citizenship, as it were, a woman known for her good deeds, the only woman who was actually called disciple in the entire Christian Testament, whose death rocked her Christian community to its core, and her deliverance by being raised back to life generated widespread belief…
Keep reading
The Sinful Woman
her traditional title of “the sinful woman” is very misleading. In this story, she is portrayed as the devoted-to-Jesus woman, the forgiven-by-Jesus woman, the living-portrait-of-love-sacrifice-and-bold-faith woman.
Keep reading
Mary of Bethany
We might say Martha brought in the importance of right doing in her service to the Lord, and in right thinking as Jesus’ developed her faith in knowing the truth about His divinity. Now enter Mary, who said few words, but whose passion and practice made a deep and lasting impact on Jesus’ heart and…
Keep reading
Woman Caught in Adultery
Upon His divine authority, Jesus forgave what the Law of Moses called unforgiveable
Keep reading
Wife of Noah
To date, anthropologists have collected between 250 to 300 such flood stories from various cultures.
Keep reading
Martha
I think the way Martha would have liked to be remembered was as a woman of bold faith and blessed service, who was able to leave the conventions of her old life and enter into the grace and freedom Jesus offers
Keep reading
Ruth
The story of Ruth is one of redemption. In fact, the word redemption shows up twenty-three times in this little book of only four chapters.
Keep reading
Anna the Prophet
How long have you been waiting for the longing you have been praying about to be fulfilled? A longing you have felt certain God has invited you to pray about, that you feel certain God has indicated will be fulfilled?
Keep reading
The Virgin Mary
In each succeeding story, a picture emerges of a woman of great faith, spiritual wisdom, a scriptural scholar in her own right, one who believed in the power, provision, and promise of Almighty God.
Keep reading
Elizabeth
In one of the more remarkable moments in the Christian Testament, Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and God could not have been more fully present in that amazing moment.
Keep reading
Broken, Searching, Trusted, Powerful
I decided to start “listening” to the voices and stories of the women within scripture’s pages from a woman’s point of view, for we know God created woman with good intent. To woman God gave the power to bring forth life, to be strength, courage, and a powerful rescue to the people of earth. Adam…
Keep reading
Deborah
What does it mean to be a Biblical woman, a woman of God, a woman who fulfills the calling of God in her life? For Deborah it meant having political, juridical, and spiritual authority, leading the whole people of God.
Keep reading
Jephthah’s Daughter
Her story always bothered me, so I decided to make a deep study of what -really- happened. And now I know what this story is in the Bible.
Keep reading
Eve, Part II
Women have been rightfully restored to the blessing and commission God has given to all humanity. Let us now reflect that truth, and live as equals in the liberty of love Jesus holds out to us.
Keep reading
Eve, Part I
Eve’s story is perhaps the most iconic for all women, as she is the first of us, the one from whom all of us have come, and her story becomes, in a certain sense, the source of our stories as well.
Keep reading
Delilah
I Power Struggles in the Patriarchal System, II Sexual Seduction, or Personal Power? III Spiritual Perception (Or, perhaps, the lack thereof) A 20 minute presentation
Keep reading
The Witch of Endor
This twenty-minute mutlimedia presentation explores one of the more mysterious and enigmatic women in antiquity, the Witch of Endor.
Keep reading
Jezebel
Who was the original Jezebel? This 20 minute presentation traces her history as a Phoenician princess nearly three thousand years ago who became one of the most powerful queens found in the Bible.
Keep reading
Mary of Magdala
In this twenty minute talk, we’ll first follow Mary through the years she was a student and supporter of Jesus, then we will spend most of our time in the Garden with Mary at Christ’s empty tomb, and end with a deeper understanding of ourselves as members of the Body of Christ.
Keep reading
Wife of Pilate
Theologians have been arguing for centuries over the source of her dream…why? Get to know Claudia Procula in this twenty minute multimedia presentation.
Keep reading
Wife of Job
When I first taught the book of Job, I was squarely on one side of this question. But, over the years, learning Hebrew, reading a wider selection of scholarly works, my positioned has been changed, and I share all that research in this twenty minute talk.
Keep reading
Sarah
Sarah’s character and faith were going to be put through several severe tests over the course of her marriage, trials that would include long years of travel, homelessness, risk to her life and to her honor, turmoil in her home, even internal soul-searching.
Keep reading
Puah and Shiphrah
We don’t often talk about the story of Puah and Shiphrah, though their story is one of courage and mettle, standing together against forces of evil seeking to destroy a nation. (a twenty minute tale)
Keep reading
Wife of Potiphar
When we find ourselves at the crossroad of temptation, the path of life and the path of death, by God’s grace, we can choose life.
Keep reading
Jairus’s Daughter
Jesus’ response to faith is to release the power of his grace. (20 minute multimedia presentation)
Keep reading
Esther
Listen in as we learn through Esther that true beauty is found in a humble spirit, that God’s deliverance, though sure, involves taking risks of faith, and that the Lord is faithful to keep to keep God’s covenant with God’s people
Keep reading
Herodias
Listen in on this twenty minute tale that explores the world of Herodias, how she came to be who she was, and how the Lord was also at work.
Keep reading
Rahab
Listen to a story of unshakeable faith, knowing fear is the enemy of faith, and that God redeems the stories of every person who puts their faith in God through Christ!
Keep reading
Miriam
In God’s wisdom, Miriam experienced both the pain of exposure, and the deep and abiding joy of healing, restoration, and reconciliation.
Keep reading
Woman at the Well
Jesus was thirsty for water, and knew the woman at the well was thirsty for eternal life. But. There is so . . . much . . . more to this story. You may be surprised by what the Greek reveals.
Keep reading
Lydia
through Lydia we learn that mature faith accepts God’s crossing up of conventions–I first heard that taught in a BSF class, years ago, and I was struck with the simple wisdom in that statement.
Keep reading
Hagar
Hagar realized God had “seen” her, the Lord knew her just as she was, understood her with great compassion in her inmost depths and all that concerned her.
Keep reading
Rebekah
Ultimately, though Rebekah paid dearly for the way she fought for fulfillment of God’s promises, she held steady as a woman of faith. Far more than Isaac, it was Rebekah who believed God and desired God’s will as well as God’s promises and covenant.
Keep reading
Leah
Broken by life’s traumas, calamities, and tragedies, and just when you’re at your lowest, it seems…there you go, right over the edge, and into the dumpster.
Keep reading
Wife of Lot
What we do reveals who we are and what we truly believe. What pulls you backward? What pulls you forward? Which seems stronger? What does what you say and do reveal about who you truly are and what you truly believe? How can God’s mercy triumph in your life?
Keep reading
Bathsheba
Was Bathsheba a seductress? Was she innocent? Was this an affair or a rape? Or neither, since the mores of that time were different than our own today? And what did God think of all this–the man identified as one after God’s own heart, and the woman identified as a little lamb?
Keep reading
Abigail
Give liberally and be ungrudging when you do so, for on this account the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.
Keep reading
Is the Bible Trustworthy?
Does the Bible accurately represent what God has said and done, and how God thinks and feels, who God is? It is a foundational question, since everything we know about God apart from God as powerful creator, comes from the Bible.
Keep reading
New posts in your inbox
About Me
My passion for the Bible began when I was eight or nine years old, somewhere in there, when on occasion my dad would take me to synagogue, where he sang. I remember watching the men in synagogue pray the words of scripture, murmuring and weeping, lovingly touching and kissing the Torah, and I wished I could read what they were reading.
Imagine, then, my wonder when I was given a Bible of my own! Read more
