Why Women Need Women Bible Teachers
Last week, I had the privilege of traveling to Chicago to attend a workshop for women on expository teaching by the Charles Simeon Trust (CST). I got to stay with my BFF Grace and her family, and she and I experienced the workshop together as well. The text for the intensive three days was the book of Exodus, and the course included times of instruction (principles of teaching), expositions (messages by seasoned teachers given as models), and small group discussions (sessions in which we presented our findings on passages each of us had prepared in advance).
This was my second CST workshop - the first one was in Toronto last fall on the Gospel according to Mark. The lessons I learned there ignited in me such a passion for both teaching in general and Mark in particular that I've been studying this gospel and teaching it ever since. I am not confident I will launch into an in-depth study of Exodus any time in the near future. But I do have a newfound hunger to study the Old Testament with the goal of understanding not only what each text meant to its original audience, but also how it points us to Christ.
"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." Luke 24:27. (Context: Jesus post-resurrection appearance to two disciples on the road to Emaus).
I could say so much about CST. Here's a few thoughts:
1. These workshops are not merely for women who enjoy speaking to a large audience. Small group leaders and even devout Bible students would benefit from them. The principles I learned simply equipped me to better handle and communicate God's Word in any context. Who doesn't long for that?
2. Witnessing women proclaim God's truth with competence and conviction inspired me to aspire to be a better Bible teacher. The following excerpt from Jen Wilkin's "Women of the Word" (p. 129) articulates my own sentiments so well:
Why Women Need Women Teachers
First, we need the example of women teachers. When a woman sees someone who looks like her and sounds like her teaching the Bible with passion and intelligence, she begins to recognize that she, too, can love God with her mind - perhaps beyond what she thought necessary or possible. Had I only heard men teach the Bible well, I don't know that I would have considered myself capable of doing the same. Thankfully, God gave me smart, diligent women to set an example of what it means to open the Word with reverence and skill.
This was my second CST workshop - the first one was in Toronto last fall on the Gospel according to Mark. The lessons I learned there ignited in me such a passion for both teaching in general and Mark in particular that I've been studying this gospel and teaching it ever since. I am not confident I will launch into an in-depth study of Exodus any time in the near future. But I do have a newfound hunger to study the Old Testament with the goal of understanding not only what each text meant to its original audience, but also how it points us to Christ.
"And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself." Luke 24:27. (Context: Jesus post-resurrection appearance to two disciples on the road to Emaus).
I could say so much about CST. Here's a few thoughts:
1. These workshops are not merely for women who enjoy speaking to a large audience. Small group leaders and even devout Bible students would benefit from them. The principles I learned simply equipped me to better handle and communicate God's Word in any context. Who doesn't long for that?
2. Witnessing women proclaim God's truth with competence and conviction inspired me to aspire to be a better Bible teacher. The following excerpt from Jen Wilkin's "Women of the Word" (p. 129) articulates my own sentiments so well:
Why Women Need Women Teachers
First, we need the example of women teachers. When a woman sees someone who looks like her and sounds like her teaching the Bible with passion and intelligence, she begins to recognize that she, too, can love God with her mind - perhaps beyond what she thought necessary or possible. Had I only heard men teach the Bible well, I don't know that I would have considered myself capable of doing the same. Thankfully, God gave me smart, diligent women to set an example of what it means to open the Word with reverence and skill.
Second, we need the perspective of women teachers. A woman teacher will naturally gravitate toward application and examples that are accessible and recognizable to other women. Think: fewer football and action movie analogies, more HGTV and romantic comedy analogies; less about porn addiction and abdication of responsibility, more about self-image issues or sins of the tongue.
Amen to that! So, don't you want to join me in a deeper study of God's most precious and holy Word? Whether you attend the next CST workshop in a city near you, or you take other steps to dial up your biblical literacy and skills as a teacher, I'd encourage you to pursue what will bring you the greatest joy - knowing and loving Christ more as you see and savour him in the pages of Scripture.
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