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Order Resources for This Study

Jesus and Courageous Women. (Eng. #2964; Span. #2965; Korean #2966) By Elsa Tamez, with Leader’s Guide by Sallie Cuffee. $4.50    Stories of named and unnamed women from the Bible are told as if by Lydia, first-century follower of Jesus. Her own story is included. The Leader’s Guide encourages readers to both identify the characteristics of, and expand the list of, courageous women followers of Jesus beyond the pages of the Bible.    Order this book from the Service Center.    Return to Adult Web Study.

Youth Study--Jesus and Courageous Women. (#2967) By J. Ann Craig. Illustrations by Doris Pritchett. $4.75    Seven scenes of Jesus and courageous women illustrate this New Testament study, in which two youth groups raise questions about each story. Leaders are aided by a detailed activity guide. Youth are stimulated by the visuals, internet links, and interactive style.    Order this book from the Service Center.    Return to Youth Web Study.

About the Theme

   The theme for the 2001-2002 spiritual growth study is Jesus and Courageous Women. This topic offers an opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with the many women in the New Testament who followed Jesus and the significant role these women demonstrated in the early Movement of Jesus.

   In the Gospels, Jesus is portrayed as preaching, teaching, encountering, and healing among women. Yet, in the world of biblical studies, women in the Bible are often overlooked as incidental or of minimum importance. This study examines the treatment of women in the New Testament, bringing to our attention some important named and nameless women who give us insight into women’s leadership among the early followers of Jesus.

   Since the very beginning of Christianity, women have been leaders as disciples and apostles of Jesus. Many have taken risks and defied social and cultural norms. This study invites us to explore anew some key Gospel stories in which women exercise enormous courage, faith, trust, daring, and persistence in their commitment to Jesus. They provide role models for women today, who open themselves to experience transformation by Jesus and his teachings, and, in turn, are compelled to transform the world in which they live.

About Our Spiritual Growth Studies

   The process for selecting a theme, authors, and publishing our spiritual growth studies takes about seven years. In addition to a web site, each theme has a study book, leader's guide, and other printed and audiovisual resources that can be ordered from the Service Center. The main study books are printed in English, Spanish, and Korean.

   Topics range from a book of the Bible to an important spiritual issue such as suffering, historical church figures such as or themes such as women in the New Testament. In all cases scripture is foundational for each study although we do not use a verse by verse approach as the only model.

   Directors of the Women's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries of The United Methodist Church make the final decision about each theme. Staff select authors, give them direction and feedback, and then edit and publish the resources.

Current Online Resources