Broken, Searching, Trusted, Powerful
32 Biblical Women Whose Impact Is Still Felt Today
Imprint: Resource Publications
At first glance, it may seem as though the Bible is populated with the stories of faithful men, courageous men, or nefarious men, men who were either enemies or friends of God. Mostly stories of men.
Added to the difficulty of seeing women in the pages of Scripture is the effort it takes to "hear" their voices and understand their stories. The Bible itself was written largely from the male perspective, concentrating on male heroes and villains. (Only the books of Ruth and Esther focus on a woman, and neither one is written from an explicitly female lens.) Women most often become supporting characters. Without thinking about it, we've accepted this point of view, and this unspoken role for women across time.
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 Scripture's stories, women as much as men have contributed to the great narrative of God and humanity.
May their grit and tenacity, their dignity and tragedy embolden you and me to live out our faith to the full.
J. Guarnieri Hagemeyer, retired Teaching Leader and Area Advisor with Bible Study Fellowship, teaches at Ancient Voices, Sacred Stories, LLC, serves on the pulpit teaching team of New Hope Chapel, Arnold, Maryland, and is a member of the Board of Directors for Lay Counselor Institute and Biblical Archaeology Forum. She has participated in two excavations, Tel Kabri and Tel Akko. An MTS student at Portland Seminary, she is the author of Love Feast (2020). For more from the author visit graceandpeacejoanne.com.
“This book is a Bible study, a personal trek rather than the diary of someone else’s journey. Each chapter has three parts: (1) a concise, well-written introduction to a woman described in the Bible; (2) a collection of related Bible texts that take a deep dive into this woman’s real, personal decisions; and (3) a toolbox of questions to weigh her choices against the most important teachings of the Bible.”
—Glenn Parkinson, Pastor Emeritus, Severna Park Evangelical Presbyterian Church
“It is a pleasure to endorse this series of Bible studies on thirty-two women of the Bible. May God’s blessing be on each one who picks up the Bible and is led by the series of questions to ask themselves very similar questions so that we all may grow up in Christ Jesus. Special thanks to Joanne Guarnieri Hagemeyer for a beautiful piece of work.”
—Walt Kaiser, former President of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
“This is an excellent book of studies on biblical female figures, some of whom are relatively obscure. Joanne Guarnieri Hagemeyer has provided helpful contextual introductory notes for each woman being studied, and a series of probing questions encourage the reader to wrestle with and apply the biblical material. I would commend it to any reader looking for a topical study on the women of the Bible.”
—Joanna Barlow, psychiatrist, Teaching Leader, and sought-after consultant on women’s issues in the Australian Presbyterian Church
“By combining illuminating historical backgrounds, comprehensive Scripture readings, and profound questions, these studies situate you in the cultural and emotional contexts of thirty-two biblical women.”
—Denise Murphy Plichta, author of Redemptive History and Theology
“Many studies on women in the Bible have been written in our modern time. Yet in Broken, Searching, Trusted, Powerful, Joanne has been able to provide a fresh and thorough survey on the topic, along with valuable questions to reflect upon. For anyone wanting to dive into further exploration of God’s work amongst women in Scripture, I commend her study to you.”
—Scott Lencke, author of Change for the First Time, Again and Reflections of Immanuel
“Searching for an in-depth Bible study that will move you past the superficial into deep biblical truth? Look no further. This book will draw you into the lives of thirty-two women in Scripture whose experiences will foster a fresh understanding of a powerful and loving God. Study questions will encourage thoughtful responses and meaningful application for any student of God’s word. I highly recommend this book for personal or group study.”
—Julie Zine Coleman, Bible teacher and author of Unexpected Love: God’s Heart Revealed through Jesus’ Conversations with Women
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