Exodus Women

The book of Romans is rich in theology and vital to our understanding of the gospel — it's well-known among believers today. What's not as well known is the critical role women played in this epistle and the church in Rome. As we study Romans 16:1-16, we'll learn about the women who worked alongside Paul to bring Jesus into the world, and how they can encourage us to do the same today. Teacher is Amy Summers. 

"Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." As we study Mary's story in Luke 1 and 2, we'll understand what she surrendered to identify herself as the servant of the Lord, and how we can make this our identity. Although there is a great cost to living as the servant of the Lord, this is how we will ultimately know what it is to be seen, known, and chosen. Teacher is Joy LaPrade.

Matthew 1 is a birth story. But unlike most birth stories, this one focuses on the father of the baby. As a Jewish man, Matthew wants to connect Jesus to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and God's promises of a Messiah to come through those founding fathers. Mary simply isn't as important. But Mary's insignificance in this story will help us consider our calling: "God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong." Teacher is Joy LaPrade.

Her name was Bathsheba, but in the genealogy of Jesus she is referred to as "The Wife of Uriah." She was Uriah's wife when King David saw her, took her, and used her, then tried to cover up his sin by murdering her husband, one of his most faithful soldiers. Despite the ways Bathsheba was sinned against, God saw her, knew her, and called her to play a significant role in his redemptive story.  Teacher is Cheryl Lowe. 

The book of Ruth starts out with loss, emptiness, and grief, and concludes with restoration, fullness, and joy. This little story of a woman's simple little life of striving to be faithful to God and kind to others becomes part of a much larger, eternal history of hope.  Teacher is Amy Summers. 

Rahab the prostitute is the unexpected hero of Joshua 2. When two Israelite spies come to Jericho, she risks her life to save theirs. Rahab's decision to trust the Lord is commended in the New Testament: the author of Hebrews lists her as an example of faith, and James says she was "justified by works." As we use these passages to study Rahab's story, we'll see how God calls us in a similar way — to risk things that give us security and place our trust in a kingdom we've not yet seen.  Teacher is Joy LaPrade.

Tamar's story is not well-known, and for good reason. It's confusing and disturbing. But as we study Genesis 38, we will see a story about a woman who took a risk to trust God's justice, and get a glimpse of His mercy to those who are helpless and unseen.  Teacher is Cheryl Lowe. 

Welcome to our fall 2021 study, "Seen, Known, Chosen: The Unlikely Women God Calls to Bring Jesus into the World." In this first week of study, we look at the connections between the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1 and our theme passage from 1 Corinthians.  If you have one of our study guides, you can follow along and take notes. Together, we'll work through the Week 1 questions, found on page 17. Plan to pause for a couple minutes for question 1 (at 29:10 of the recording) and questions 2-5 (at 34:30).  Teachers for this week are Joy LaPrade, Amy Summers, and Cheryl Lowe.   

We wrap up our study with the psalm that David wrote when he fled from Absalom his son. As we finish David's story, we look forward to the end of the one great Story: "Salvation belongs to the Lord." Teacher is Amy Summers. 

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love." This week we look at David's famous prayer of repentance after his sin against Bathsheba and Uriah, as recorded in 2 Samuel 11 & 12.  Teacher is Cheryl Lowe. 

Now that he's finally become king of Israel, David goes to war against his nation's enemies. The official history of this time, as recorded in 2 Samuel 7-8, shows success after success. But Psalm 60 shows that things weren't quite so simple. David suffered, struggled, and lost some battles. He had reasons to doubt God's promises, yet kept seeking after God's heart. Teacher is Joy LaPrade.

In 1 Samuel 24, David is hiding in a cave with his men. Then Saul shows up, and things get interesting. Psalm 57 and Psalm 142 are both related to this story.  Teacher is Amy Summers. 

"Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!" David invites us to magnify God with him after his escape from the Philistines in 1 Samuel 21.   Teacher is Joy LaPrade.

In 1 Samuel 20 and 21, David is on the run from Saul. He flees to Gath to hide with Israel's enemies the Philistines, but can't find safety there either. Psalm 56 describes this experience. Teacher is Cheryl Lowe.

"Deliver me from my enemies, O my God." This week, we'll study Psalm 59 and its background story, 1 Samuel 19:1-18. Teacher is Amy Summers. 

Welcome to our spring Bible study, "The Psalms of David: After God's Heart." In this first week, we'll learn some background information and look at a few themes from David's life that will guide us through the rest of the study. This episode is interactive — as you listen, you'll be directed to pause and read passages of Scripture and answer a few questions. There are 3 main sections: Who Was David? What Are the Psalms? Practice Study: 2 Samuel 15-17 and Psalm 63 Teacher for this week is Joy LaPrade.

Our living hope will be demonstrated through humility. 

Week 7:  A hopeful and holy life is a prepared life.

Week 6: We can rejoice in our sufferings because Christ suffered, died, and triumphed over death to bring us to God. 

Week 5: We see how believers are called to follow in the footsteps of Christ, the suffering servant.

Week 4: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

In Week 3 of our study, we look at the call to be holy. 

In Week 2 of our study of 1 Peter, we look at the living hope God has given us in Jesus Christ.

In our first week studying 1 Peter, we learn the background of this letter, its author, and its first readers, then look at the first two verses of chapter 1.  

We're so glad you can join us to study 1 Peter this fall. Before we get started, here's a quick introduction to how we do Bible study, and what to expect in your homework and discussion time. We want you to start these 8 weeks with confidence in what God will do.