Seeing the Bible Through Women's Eyes

Sometimes the men just don’t understand.

That's one of the reasons behind Compass Bible Church’s weekly scripture study groups for women.

In the New Testament book of Titus, "We are told that older women are to train younger women. Older doesn't necessarily mean chronologically older, but instead it means more spiritually mature," said Stephanie Schwartz, director of women's ministry at the church. "We have found that a women-only Bible study is the perfect vehicle for us to teach ladies how to process the cares and concerns of the busy woman's modern life through the lines of scripture and ultimately become more like the women that God created us to be.”

The free Bible studies double as a support group for attendees. Sometimes women just need the ear of other women, Schwartz said.

More than 700 women attend the three sessions held each week, she said.

The studies begin with worship, followed by a group lesson derived from topics discussed the week before. Wednesday’s group lesson, for example, focused on how to stop gossip.

After the main lesson, the crowd breaks off into smaller groups. These groups stay the same for an entire year, giving the women a chance to bond and feel comfortable sharing their daily struggles, excitements and fears.

Homework is assigned each week. Every year focuses on a new theme or area of study. This year, the groups are studying Proverbs.

“The group will discuss the lesson that they studied in the homework we provide for them,” Schwartz said. “We have two homework tracks—Palm and Oak. Palm is for busy ladies that can only afford time to answer about one question per day based on the passage we are studying. Oak is for women that have more free time at their current life stage and can invest in about six to seven questions per day.”

Schwartz’s experience with women’s Bible studies and her passion for helping women understand and relate the Bible to their daily lives brought her to Compass Bible Church in 2005.

Schwartz said she understands the worries and questions of modern women and mothers -- and said all women's ministry sessions, including the Kids Club sessions that take place simultaneously with the women’s Bible study, are free.

“The main aim of the group is to allow women to grow in their knowledge of God through Bible study, to discover what the Scripture says about life and to encourage them to put into practice the fantastic truths they learn by means of the friendships they develop,” Schwartz said.

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Compass Bible Church offers a variety of sessions for women, including a Navigating Motherhood program.

The weekly Bible studies are held at 9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, and 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays.