I posted this in that other forum (guys section as it is the only one I post in) and thought I'd post it here too.

Help leading a Bible study with my wife...


We've been doing a lot of marriage-development type books each week when we meet and have our family meeting (just the two of us but a good thing to start on now) but my wife says she's been "lacking in the joy of her faith" lately and says she'd like me to do a regular Bible-study with her on another day of the week. Like any good soldier I was, "Hell, yeah I'll do it!" but now I need to realize that I'm pretty busy and would like some help focusing. I'd like to find a good book to work from for this first "real" Bible study. I've always gotten good counsel from you guys so I thought I'd ask for help. I actually have two questions:

1.) Know any good books to use as a Bible study for a wife and her husband?

2.) What are the women like in the women's section of CF? Are they good, supportive gals? My wife is needing a place and I get so much support from youse guys that I thought she might like to have a place that keeps her accountable and gets her stretching her faith muscles again. Know of any good gals for her to converse with? Those who have read my previous posts will understand that she is a little hesitant to come on this site b/c of our past that I've aired in order to help get through (you guys are great helps). She fears judgement from anyone who finds out she's my wife. Suggestions?

Hey, thanks in advance for the prayer and all the support. I love you guys (and I don't even want your Bud Light... seriously.)

I led a Bible Study for a while at our YMCA. We got our studies from RBC Ministries. They don't cost much, but there is a minimum order for shipping...

Also, if you subscribe to "Our Daily Bread" from their website, you will get a free offer every month. Many of these monthly offers are for a free copy of one of their Bible Studies. I've gotten them for the book of Jonah (The Success of Failure), Jeremiah, Isaiah and Ezekiel.

This is the best, cheapest source I've found for Bible Study materials.

I have discovered another thing, though - and this goes way beyond study. My wife went through a period of weak faith. She said, "I can't even pray." So, I grabbed her hands before bed one night and prayed with her and for her. Since that night, we have had a nightly ritual of praying together. We take turns, but I always wind up closing. This has brought us both closer to the Lord and to each other. When one of us is having a crisis, the other one can bring us both into the Lord's presence. Having made it a regular thing, it also helps us resolve problems before 'letting the sun go down on our anger'. You have to bury the hatchet before you can approach God together!

This prayer time can be worth a thousand Bible studies.

We do pray nightly together and whenever we pray we always hold hands so it is like we're going to the Lord together but it's more her personal faith that seems weak... thanks for the advice!

Anyone else?!

First, had to laugh at your "hell yeah!" response. That was pretty funny.

I've been away from the women's section of CF for almost a year now. I find there's far too much backbiting for me. I prefer the maturity I've found in the women here...which is why I came here.

I've never done a bible study with my husband, so I can't really think of a single book to suggest you read together. We've both read the same books, like Your Best Life Now, but we haven't had a formal study of a book together. I attend two Women's bible studies at my church. Does your wife attend a women's bible study group? I'm just wondering why she would have to have another study with you to regain the joy of her salvation.

Since we're all so different, I think we have different spiritual needs. We need to fellowship with each other. Men need friends and women need friends. A woman can study a topic in bible study that her husband will never understand, among women who understand exactly where she's coming from. The same goes for men.

For instance, my Tuesday a.m. bible study is just finishing "Captivating." A great deal of this book deals with our childhood and relationship with our parents, specifically our mothers, and how it affects us today. It's been incredibly impactful to me. And while my husband is patient and helpful when I've had one of my many revelations in reading this book, he doesn't fully understand the impact it's had on me, like my sisters in Christ do.

Understand, I'm not criticizing your joint bible study, I think it's great. I'm just wondering if something else might be in order.

I totally agree with the idea that she needs to get involved with a women's Bible study but there are only two at our small church and one she can't attend. The other she used to go to but it's been such a tight-knit group that she never felt like she belonged to the group. She went faithfully for 6 months then it never got better and she quit. That was 6 months ago and not one of the ladies from the group has even asked her why she quit going or what happened. We see them every Sunday! We're moving this July to San Jose from the Seattle area and she feels like everyone (her job, her church, her friends) are disconnecting themselves from her b/c we're moving so she can finish her doctorate. She feels very lonely right now and she asked me to lead a Bible study with her so I'll do it but I do agree that she needs to have fellowship with other women... now I just have to find a group of women she'll fellowship with!

Seige, will she join us here? I mean, I know we're a small group...but we're really, really nice!

Maybe we could talk about doing an online bible study. I've been wanting to do this for a while. I just don't want to pick a topic and go all willy nilly. If we can agree on a book, and then open a thread to discuss one chapter a week, I think it could work.

I'll open a poll in the women's section here. Let us know if you think your wife will join us.

As I've said in the other forum (and maybe earlier on here) she is worried about people knowing about what happened in our marriage and judging her for it. Though both Christ and I have forgiven her she has a hard time forgiving herself sometimes... I'll ask her though!

With our histories, who the heck are we to judge? Me, I'm a former drunk and druggie who's now considering the possibility that there are fatherless kids around the world - kids I may never find or know about. I also possess a wicked temper and a tendency to throw large furniture. And these people know that about me and they still love me.

So, regardless of what may have happened, she'll be welcomed into our group with open arms. I know the ladies here are very accepting.

Yeah, don't worry about the past. FHL is all about healing.

And the whole other thing is, this lady has no clue about the past with your wife....I don't frequent the men's forum over there (not much, anyways.... B) ), so I don't think your wife would have to worry about chatting with us gals at all.

Plus, like Clay said....what's in the past is in the past, every day is a new day and who are we to judge, anyways?

PS...Lynn, I'm up for a study like what you were talking about!

Yeah, I haven't a clue about anyone's past. Your wife is welcome to be friends with me.

What's she getting her doctorate in, anyway?

Scientology..



Sorry couldn't resist after seeing your sig.

She's actually getting her degree in Chiropractic.

Now, what's the difference between Chiropractic and Massage Therapist? I mean, besides the hourly rate...

God blessed me with a short memory I guess, because I have no clue what you're talking about. :blink:

I don't care about her past. Who the heck doesn't have a past. I'm sure I could make some of you blush. But then, why bother? I'm forgiven. B)

If she's interested, we're here.

Massage deals with muscle, chiropractic deals with the spine and skeletal system. The idea is pretty sound when you think about it (there are many Christians who are chiropractors) God made the body and he made it pretty darn resiliant. The idea is that your body has everything it needs to heal itself (put there by God) but in order to do so the brain needs to send a message down the spinal column to the area that needs to begin repair. If for instance you are having problems with your liver or stomach the nerves that come out of the spinal column and go to these organs may be pinched (called a subluxation) where they exit the spinal column so they aren't getting a complete or regular message. Hope this helps...

Oh, and thanks for all the help she has joined both this and CF though she hasn't posted anything yet!

Massage deals with muscle, chiropractic deals with the spine and skeletal system. The idea is pretty sound when you think about it (there are many Christians who are chiropractors) God made the body and he made it pretty darn resiliant. The idea is that your body has everything it needs to heal itself (put there by God) but in order to do so the brain needs to send a message down the spinal column to the area that needs to begin repair. If for instance you are having problems with your liver or stomach the nerves that come out of the spinal column and go to these organs may be pinched (called a subluxation) where they exit the spinal column so they aren't getting a complete or regular message. Hope this helps...

Oh, and thanks for all the help she has joined both this and CF though she hasn't posted anything yet! (BTW I just blew her cover b/c this is seige! Sorry babe!)

Hey! My husband is a chiropractor, too.

:lol:

Actually, I knew the difference. I should've put a LOL or something on my question.

There were some finer details in your answer that I did not know, though. Thanks! I can see where chiropractic is really a science and massage therapy is just fun stuff.

Speaking of chiropractic, my friend told me this weekend that his neck was stiff. I offered to 'adjust' it for free. He asked how I'd do it. I said, "I went to the Ah-nold school of Chiropractic," and moved my hands like Ah-nold breaking someone's neck... :haha:

I don't bag on massage though! I don't do the foo-foo massage. If I'm not in pain and need ice when I leave then it wasn't good for me. I had one massage where I fell asleep! Screw that! I'm not going to pay $50 for a nap! I have a shoulder injury that keeps messing with me so every few months I go in and have my massage therapist friend jerk my arm around and elbow me and I can use it again.