A LifeGuide® Bible Study

WOMEN OF THE NEW TESTAMENT

10 STUDIES FOR INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS

Phyllis J. Le Peau

With Notes for Leaders

An imprint of InterVarsity Press

Downers Grove, Illinois

InterVarsity Press

P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426

World Wide Web: www.ivpress.com

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©1996, 2003 by Phyllis J. Le Peau

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Cover image: Kirsten Pott

ISBN 978-0-8308-6314-3

Contents

Getting The Most Out of Women of the New Testament

1 Elizabeth

Luke 1:5–25, 39–45, 57–66

2 Mary

Luke 1:26–38, 46–56

3 Herodias

Mark 6:14–29

4 A Sinful Woman

Luke 7:36–50

5 The Canaanite Woman

Matthew 15:21–28

6 Mary and Martha

John 11:1–44

7 Sapphira

Acts 4:32–5:11

8 Lydia

Acts 16:6–15

9 Euodia and Syntyche

Philippians 3:20–4:9; 2:1–8

10 Priscilla

Acts 18:1–4, 18–28

Leader’s Notes

Getting the Most Out of Women of the New Testament

Women in the New Testament are as diverse as women today. I love getting to know them. I am challenged by most to draw closer to God and am warned by a few. I find myself wanting to grow in faith as I observe those who believed God when everything around them screamed of the impossibility of the situation.

I want to be as generous as the New Testament women and to care for others as they did. I am deeply touched by the way Elizabeth graciously received a good gift from God, influencing those around her who saw God’s goodness in her life. I am excited by Priscilla’s partnership in the gospel with her husband and the contributions that she made to the early church.

The Bible is sometimes accused of being anti-woman. That is not what I see as I look at the women in the New Testament. I see Jesus reaching out to comfort and give hope to women. I see him point out their godly acts to others. He honors their faith and defends their acts of worship and gratitude. In an age when women are regarded as second-class citizens in society and in religious tradition, Jesus esteems them and allows them to play a vital role in his life, death, burial ...