Below you’ll find the show notes for episode 104, How Bible Study Authors Shape Your Women’s Ministry, from the Women’s Ministry Toolbox Podcast and YouTube channel.

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How Bible Study Authors Shape Your Women’s Ministry

Today, we continue this series on things I wish leaders knew.

I wish leaders realized the impact and influence Bible study authors can have on the women in their church. I think we often underestimate how powerful their influence can be.

What scripture says about teachers:

James 3:1 says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”

In 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul tells Timothy, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

In Titus 2:1 and verses 7-8 Paul talks about the importance of teaching  “what accords with sound doctrines” and how a believer should, “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned.”

Teachers should expect to be judged with greater strictness. We should expect teachers to rightly handle the word of God.

Of course, we know people make mistakes and can change their opinion on what a passage says as they grow in their understanding of God’s Word; however, when we select Bible study materials we want both the material and the teacher to be as solid as possible.

If you and your team are not taking the time to do a deep dive on the Bible study teachers you’re using or promoting in your church, I want to encourage you to do so.

Find out where they stand on important issues and make sure that aligns with what the Word of God says and what your church teaches.

Here are some questions you might want to answer:

1. What denomination is this teacher?
2. What do they believe about the roles of men and women?
3. What do they believe about gender?
4. What do they believe about marriage?
5. What do they believe about the sanctity of life?

You might find these answers on their website, their podcast, or their social media channels. Look for a Statement of Faith and try to find out what church they are a member of and what that church teaches.

For those Bible study authors you feel confident using, check in regularly to make sure they haven’t changed their mind. Sadly, many once solid-seeming Christians are destructing. I can think of several popular Bible study authors that I can no longer use or promote because they have changed course.

When teaching contradicts your church’s doctrine (on women in ministry, spiritual gifts, salvation, sanctification, and so on), women may feel confused or conflicted about what to believe. Conflicting teaching can undermine pastoral leadership, lead women astray, and cause division in your church.

The women attending your Bible studies are very likely to follow the Bible study author on social media. They may spend more time being taught by that Bible study author than they do the pastor of your church.

A Bible study author’s teaching may have a bigger impact on her understanding of God, Scripture, and following Christ than your pastor’s teaching. We’ve got to make sure it’s right.

Don’t just look at what the Bible study author teaches, but also look at who they promote. It’s one thing to be friends with someone, but it’s another thing to promote someone on your platform. Are they linking arms with someone who promotes something that doesn’t align with what scripture says or what your church teaches?

Can we rely on trusted Christian publishing houses?

Back in the day, women’s ministry leaders generally used to be able to rely on solid Christian publishing houses to promote Bible studies written by sound Bible study teachers. That is no longer the case. I’ll explain why in just a moment.

I did a quick search and discovered at least 9 denominations have publishing houses. I’m SBC (Southern Baptist) and many SBC women’s ministry leaders rely heavily on Lifeway (the SBC-related publishing house) to make certain the books align with our statement of beliefs, which are called the Baptist Faith and Message.

Here’s where things get messy. While a study might align with your denominational beliefs, that doesn’t mean the author does. Let me say that again and explain.

While a study might align with your denominational beliefs, that doesn’t mean the teacher does.

I’m going to share an example that I especially want women who serve in a complementarian church to pay attention to. If you’re an egalitarian, hang with me. This is not meant as an attack on your interpretation; it’s about the influence you’re potentially bringing into your church.

If you’re unfamiliar with the terms complementarian and egalitarian, let me give a really basic explanation of the two. Within each one, there is a spectrum of interpretations. Keep in mind, this is a general definition of each one. Complementarians believe men and women are equal in value, but have different roles in the church and in the home. Egalitarians also believe men and women are equal in value, but they do not believe the Bible outlines different roles for men and women in the church or home.

A Bible study author may be published by a denomination that holds to a complementarian interpretation of scripture, but that author may be a practicing egalitarian.

For example, I am a member of an SBC (Southern Baptist) Church. In the SBC, we believe and practice that only men can serve in the role of pastor. If a female Bible study author is on staff as a pastor in her home church, that does not align with what our church teaches. If we were to use her materials, we could be sowing division in our church.

(You might think that’s a bit extreme, but I can tell you about a church we used to attend where there is a large number of women who are fighting against the church’s beliefs and teaching on who can be a pastor. It’s led to a lot of problems!)

Some authors and possibly their publishing houses are beginning to recognize this could be a problem for some church leaders. Some are playing defense removing material online making it harder to discover an author’s biblical beliefs and practices.

You’re inviting Bible study authors into your church home.

You are giving them a position of influence among your women. You’re putting your stamp of approval on this Bible study author.

In this day and age, we can assume our women will follow the author on social media, and they will discover what they practice, and they may be swayed by it.

We need to be just as thorough in investigating our Bible study authors as we are the speakers we bring into our church. Sometimes the concerns will be obvious, but sometimes they won’t be.

We need to pray and ask God to give us discernment as we research.

Let’s not settle for okay, let’s seek out the best fit for the women in our church.

Please make sure you’re not inviting someone in who is going to teach contrary to what your church teaches.

If you’re thinking that sounds like a lot of work, it is. But part of our job is to be diligent in providing sound teaching.

While I am thankful for elders and pastors who help approve Bible studies, there’s a good chance they may not be as familiar with the authors as the women on your team. Men tend to read men’s studies, which are almost always written by men.

There are women on your team and in your church who could easily produce a list of Bible study authors your church should avoid and who you should use. They’d probably be happy to provide the proof and research those they aren’t familiar with. I am one of those women on our women’s ministry team. I want to know who our women are listening to and if they are solid or not.

At this point you may be thinking, it would be better to have a gifted teacher in our church write the materials for our next study. Maybe so!

We’ll talk more about that in the next blog post. We’ll look at the impacts of video-driven studies, too. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss the next episode!

Today’s Toolbox Tasks:

1. Before you schedule your next Bible study, ask a couple of team members who have the gift of discernment to investigate the authors of the books you’re thinking of using.
2. After they’ve had time to investigate, ask them to present their findings to the rest of the team.
3. Decide the best path forward. Is more information needed? Is it an easy no or an easy yes?

The right Bible study teacher will align with what your church teaches. Let’s make sure they support our church’s teachings and encourage unity and not division.

You may also want to explore:
Selecting Discipleship, Mentoring, and Bible Study Materials
How to Select Your Next Bible Study
Everything a Bible Study Leader Needs to Know
Bible Study Facilitator Training