Calvary Church

If you would like to join our Women's Ministry email list, please contact Carol Foust at carolpfoust@yahoo.com.

Women's bible study begins on 1/23 from 7:00 - 8:30 in the fellowship hall for eight weeks. We will be doing things a bit differently this study. Beth Moore has developed a new commitment level format - see below. We will be showing the video first thing from 7-8pm and then having discussion on the homework (if you choose to do it) from 8-8:30. Or, if you just choose to do the videos you can leave at 8. Beth really wants women to be there - so ladies choose your level. If you choose to do the homework, I have book available for $15. Make checks out to Calvary Church. Can't wait to see you there!!! carol

This time God placed the idea on my heart to offer you options.

Goodness knows we need a few of those

amid frantic schedules and demanding roles.

You get to choose your own level of participation.

Levels of Participation

1 Watch Videos

2 Complete Homework

3 Handwrite James

4 Read Articles

5 Memorize James

Level 1: Participating in the video sessions only. Through the years I’ve

watched women drop out of weekly Bible study because they couldn’t keep up

with the homework. Don’t think for a moment that, if you can’t do all of it, you’re

better off doing none of it. A shorter time in Scripture is far better than none at all.

Watch the video sessions even if you can’t get your homework assignments accomplished.

You have LifeWay’s blessing to copy the viewer guides for this purpose.

Level 2: Participating in the video sessions + doing the weekly homework

assignments. Moving up to level 2 where you meet with God on the pages

of Scripture numerous times each week exponentially increases your experience.

When you turn the last page, you will truly know the Book of James and feel

acquainted with the man who wrote it. If you’ve got the stamina to do the homework

(and you do!), you’ve got it in you to view the sessions. Keep in mind that

many of the larger themes are addressed in the sessions, so try your hardest to view

the coinciding ones at the end of each week of homework.

Level 3: Participating in the video sessions + doing the weekly homework

assignments + handwriting the Book of James. I’m really excited about

this level! For the first time in my nearly 20 years of writing Bible studies, we’ve

arrived at a book of the Bible short enough to invite this exercise. The first and last

weeks of this series focus on the life of James. In weeks 2 through 6, we’ll study

the actual Book of James. Each time we come to a new segment of James’ epistle,

I will ask you to read it then handwrite it in the back of your member book on

pages designed for this exercise. If you don’t choose level 3, you’ll simply read the

portion and, I pray, without a hint of self-condemnation. This option is simply

available for those who want to take the next step to retain what they’re learning.

Level 4: Participating in the video sessions + doing the weekly homework

assignments + handwriting the Book of James + reading “The Next Level

with Melissa.” You might say I’m particularly partial to this level since I’m her

mother. I say that with a grin but, while that’s true, the real reason we incorporated

this level is because you—or women like you—asked for it. Many women have

written me after a series and asked how they could go even deeper in the material.

By that time, I’ve usually given them all I have to offer or, at the very least, all

that the time and space allotment allowed. Woodrow Wilson once said, “I not only

use all the brains I have but all I can borrow.” Good advice, if you ask me; so this

time around, I’ve borrowed my daughter Melissa’s brain. And it’s a big one. She

has far surpassed her mother in formal theological training and the use of original

languages, so I’ve asked her to bring a more academic approach to several of our

concepts each week. Please keep in mind that her portions are options and that,

stylistically, they are exactly what I asked of her.

Melissa and I know up front that neither of our writings will suit everyone’s

tastes, but we partner this time with a deep and sincere desire to serve you more

fully. I would gladly have added her name to the cover, but she asked that I refrain.

My daughter Amanda is almost always involved in the Bible study process as my

first reader and editor. This time around she had her hands full with my beloved

grandchildren. You can know that she joins Melissa and me in serving you through

this series as your number one intercessor. We wrote and she prayed.

Level 5: Participating in the video sessions + doing the weekly homework

assignments + handwriting the Book of James + reading “The Next Level

with Melissa” + memorizing the Book of James. Trying to picture some of your

faces almost has me tickled. But don’t blame me. Remember all those women who

kept asking for more? Blame them. Beloved, if you commit to all five of these levels,

the Book of James will live in the marrow of your bones—probably for the rest

of your life. You’ll find a short tutorial in the DVD bonus material that may help

you if you’re interested in this level. Needless to say, we’re not recommending that

anyone try to memorize the whole book in the seven short weeks of this series. In

the tutorial, I suggest a chapter a month for a total of five months, but the best

recommendation is whatever works! Because God led me to take this challenge,

I’ve recited the five chapters aloud more times than I can count in the process of

writing this study. The exercise continues to bless me beyond what I could have

imagined. Think about it! Pray about it! Then, some of you, do it!