We are studying Believing God Week 5 by Beth Moore. At the Bible Cafe™, we are enjoying our study of Believing God. So far, this has been a fantastic summer study! My favorite memory is meeting in Zoom groups and talking about our Christian faith. What a blessing for all!
In our study books this week, we explored Hebresw 11, often called the Hereos of Faith or Hall of Faith. If you had lunch with one of the Hebrew 11 heroes of faith, which person would you choose and why? I would find Enoch fascinating as a lunch companion. I’d be curious about his prophecies yet he was not listed as of the 66 books of the Bible. And of course, I want to know about his rapture experience where he is taken into Heaven without a physical death. Do tell!
Open your Bible and Read Philippians 4:13 NKJV: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Many people in the Bible demonstrate this. Think about Saul who is converted to Paul. Or Mary, the mother of Jesus. These are some amazing stories on the power of Christ. All the apostles in the early church needed the power of Christ to establish His church. Like the apostles, our faith should be at the forefront of what we do, and not our feelings.
What is the opposite of this verse? If we are not doing all things through Christ’s strength…then we rely on the strength of humans, politicians, influences, educators, scientists, and people. That is limited strength and subject to lies or failures. The worldview is never a solid foundation for strength, hope, or peace.
What is something you could accomplish only by faith? As we talked about this in our Bible Cafe™ University Zoom group, several women shared personal stories. Mighty Moms raised their special kids with the strength of Christ. Courageous women battled cancer, multiple sclerosis, and chronic illness by faith, not fear. Godly women stayed married when the storms got rough and they wanted to jump ship. What an amazing group of women -sharing their hardships and victories in online small groups.
Something else we talked about this week: If we sense we have failed at a task God has given us, how can we move forward by faith rather than lingering in the past? We agreed to learn from our mistakes and grow in wisdom. But not to pick up shame or regret. We remind ourselves of this verse: Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14 NIV)
Turn your Bible to Romans 5:8 NIV: But God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. How do you feel about this gift of grace? Write that down in your journal and give thanks to the Lord. Be blessed.
According to Beth Moore, “Through Christ, you can absolutely, unequivocally do anything God places before you and that includes getting the enemy off your Promised Land.”
Now Read Ephesians 1:3 NIV: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. What are these spiritual blessings? If you look at the entire chapter in context, you see your blessings. Write them down and carry these in your heart. Pass them to your children and grandchildren.
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Christine Abraham writes for the Bible Cafe™ community. Learn about living by the Fruit of the Spirit as you enjoy her online Bible studies. Join Christine at the Bible Cafe™ University for weekly Bible teaching.
Welcome to womens online bible study as we study Breaking Free by Beth Moore. This week we learned how God desires to change us from the inside out, renewing our minds and mending our broken hearts. He wants us free from the strongholds weighing us down. It’s time to release self-destructive thoughts, behaviors, and relationships and embrace a heart centered on Christ.
When did you give a true impression of whom you are by acting as if you belonged to God? For me, this happened by being authentic and not a people-pleasing perfectionist. I learned to let go of childhood labels and identities and allowed myself freedom from shame.
Beth Moore writes, “Any time we attach ourselves or seek safety in a fraudulent savior we have to depend on lies to support the habit.” In small groups, we identified the fraudulent saviors as people, careers, relationships, volunteerism, food, addictions, and false identities/labels. Even religion can be a false savior, as Dotsi pointed out in our Zoom group this week. Some religions elevate a person’s worth based on work and deeds. That contradicts the Bible which places our identity in Christ, not religion.
As we learned this week, w can experience freedom in one part of our lives while still in bondage to another. For example, we can have freedom over one sin (such as gossip) and still struggle with others (such as jealousy). Spiritual bondage can be difficult to detect as the layers get deeper- such as bondage to fear or insecurity.
Christian obedience includes following the Bible, reading the Bible, and living the Bible. Jesus is our primary motivation for pursuing an obedient life. We are obedient through love and respect. Our desire is for a lack of conflict. Obedience is sometimes motivated by the fear of consequences. The Holy Spirit will guide us and counsel us towards obedience, never s
We are blessed by obedience. Beth Moore identifies the 6 symptoms of broken pottery
A rebellious child of God doesn’t act like a child of God
A rebellious child of God isn’t willing to look to the Lord’s instruction
A rebellious child of God prefers pleasant illusions over Truth
A rebellious child of God relies on oppression
A rebellious child of God depends on deceit
A rebellious child of God runs from the real answers
The Lord will surely comfort Zion
and will look with compassion on all her ruins;
he will make her deserts like Eden,
her wastelands like the garden of the Lord.
Joy and gladness will be found in her,
thanksgiving and the sound of singing. Isaiah 51:3 NIV
As Christians, we are on a pilgrimage to Heaven and just passing through earth. It is a season of moving forward, holy and sacred.
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Christine Abraham writes for the Bible Cafe™ community. Learn about living by the Fruit of the Spirit as you enjoy her online Bible studies. Join Christine at the Bible Cafe™ University for weekly Bible teaching.
Welcome back to our study at the Womens Bible Cafe, as we celebrate a new beginning. At the end of the Breaking Free Bible study, you will not be the same woman you were when you started the study. You are breaking free! In our sixth week ofBreaking Free by Beth Moore, we’re finding beauty from the ashes.
When you think of the word “beauty” what comes to your mind? I think about inner beauty, the humbleness of a person. Externally, three are many beautiful women who are unkind and unloving. But internally is where the heart shines most. We are God’s masterpiece and were created for His enjoyment.
In our study this week, we learned about the ancient practice of wearing sackcloth to symbolize grief. In modern times, how do people symbolize grief or celebrate life? For the past few years, I found it strange that people would take funeral “selfies.” I found myself standing graveside, grieving, and a cousin snapping photos for her Instagram account. It was very irritating as I wanted my privacy at the grave.
Another modern grief practive is crying. Some cultures hire grave criers, to weep and express distress over the loss of a loved one. In South Korea, families celebrate the anniversary of death with a formal ceremony and a big meal.
Sometimes in American culture, we try to avoid pain at all costs and hide our grief. Yet there is a great Grief Share program to help people comfortable express themselves. Overall, grief is both cultural and grief is personal. It’s a topic worth exploring.
“God wants to surpass our dreams,” writes Beth Moore. So why do we limit our dreams to our understanding, instead of His? What needs to change for us to surpass our limitations? We need to put trust and confidence in Him instead of our abilities. Rather than looking at what we can do, we need to remember what God can do. His view helps us break our limiting beliefs.
Beth Moore reminds us to think of the implications of the term bride. What are a few things the word bride implies that the word wife may not? A bride has anticipation of something that hasn’t happened yet, a future event. She is often queen for a day and will seek beauty treatments for her special ceremony. She is getting to know her Groom day by day.
Beth Moore writes “Our Bridegroom doesn’t allow us to grow too comfortable in one place.” Describe a place where you have followed your Bridegroom. What did He have for you there? Many women said He led them to the Womens Bible Cafe! They were in a season of seeking God and landed on this website- where you are today.
Be Blessed.
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Christine Abraham writes for the Bible Cafe™ community. Learn about living by the Fruit of the Spirit as you enjoy her online Bible studies. Join Christine at the Bible Cafe™ University for weekly Bible teaching.
As we study Breaking Free by Beth Moore, we’re now halfway through our bible study lessons. Many of you have been enjoying the online small groups and Bible Cafe experience. Thank you to our amazing leadership team for leading the small groups each week. To God be the glory! Come join us for the Breaking Free Online Bible Study.
Beth Moore reminds us that “God had only one arrow in His quiver…His only Son.” The importance of God’s plan is evident from Genesis to Revelation. His plan is perfect and based on love.
According to Beth Moore, “Broken hearts can result more frequently from words than actions.” How can we guard our mouths, so we are not breaking hearts? First, we need to know what curses are so that we are not speaking them. A curse can be gossip, slander, putting someone down, telling lies, anger, division, and negative words. Next, we need to tame our tongues. What goes into our minds will come out of our hearts. So if we watch television shows about violence and sex, our mouths will speak these words as common thoughts. But if we watch healthy television, read our Bible, and listen to sermons and Christian podcasts, our mouths will speak these words instead. Guard your mouth with the content that goes into your mind and heart.
Christ wants us free to experience the fullness of the Fruit of the Spirit. And for the Holy Spirit to speak through our hearts and words, we need to know Him as we read our Bible, confess our sins, and pray.
Beth Moore found that her confession of sin allowed God to “forgive me, cleanse me, and change my responses.” Have you experienced a similar refreshment, or does confession make you uncomfortable? Maybe you experienced the childhood confessional, where you sat in a dark booth and confessed sins to a priest. Or perhaps as an adult, you confessed directly to God through daily prayer. Our confession closes the gap between the heart of God and our heart.
If we do not confess then we risk the temptation of bitterness and blame. The book Bait of Satan by John Bevere is an excellent resource for reminding ourselves to put off the offense. When we let go of these negative thoughts, our words are Spirit-filled and life-giving once again.
Open your Bible and turn to 2 Timothy 2:25-26 NLT: “Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.” How can we keep from falling into the devil’s trap? We can read our Bible daily, worship, fellowship, and pray. Keeping these activities as regular habits will help us saturate in the Truth rather than in worldview lies.
My prayer is for you to see your identity in Christ, and not in a past behavior and sin. According to the Bible, your past sin is erased by God. So do not go pick up an identity that God has erased. Your identity is Christ alone.
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Christine Abraham writes for the Bible Cafe™ community. Learn about living by the Fruit of the Spirit as you enjoy her online Bible studies. Join Christine at the Bible Cafe™ University for weekly Bible teaching.
It’s time for another Bible Cafe™ study as we discuss Believing God Week 3 by Beth Moore. In this week of study, we are questioning the strength of our faith. Do we believe God Can Do What He Says He Can Do…or is our faith lukewarm? These are important Bible Cafe™ conversations. Grab your Bible, study book, and iced tea. Let’s continue our summer online Bible study.
Those of us who are Christ followers believe the Word of God is our plumbline. This Holy Bible anchors our moral values, life purpose, and hope for the future. The Bible has never failed in 2,000 years despite the world’s chaos. Knowing this is a plumbline, are you reading your Bible or does it sit on a dusty shelf?
My Bible used to sit in the dust, unread unless I was experiencing a crisis that the world could not solve for me. But then, after I started the Womens Bible Cafe™ in 2009 and began diligently studying, it became a plumbline for every decision in my life. It was no longer a Band-Aid rescue but a Book of love and a Living Word. It became my daily bread.
Read your Bible daily. If you find the content repetitive and are overly familiar with the words, try reading a different Bible translation. Use a Life Application Study Bible, or a commentary Bible from your favorite pastor. Challenge yourself to see the Bible with fresh eyes yet sound theology. Watch online sermons from churches in other cities and denominations, paying attention to how they interpret the passage. Avoid motivational speakers and seek sermons with sound theology. Hear the Word, as you listen to an audio Bible. Get this into your heart, mind, and soul! Select the focus word for the year, open your Bible, and mark every verse where you find that word mentioned. These simple methods will help you use your plumbline more often.
If we are not using the Word of God as a plumbline, what alternative authority are we using to measure right from wrong? Many people will seek direction from their parents, friends, or coworkers. Others depend on the news media to influence their decisions on how to vote, dress for the weather, and manage their medical care. Some will seek the opinion of billionaires such as Zuckerberg, Musk, or Oprah, presuming these intellectuals are good plumblines.
New Christians might view their pastors as their plumbline, but if the pastor has hidden sins or motives, this can quickly cause the newbie to lose faith. Children depend on biased schoolteachers and social media as their plumbline, causing the corruption of moral values. We discussed these dangerous alternatives in our Bible Cafe small groups as we examined the worldview with biblical truths.
God displayed signs and wonders in Jesus’ day. In the historical period, the world was filled with mystics, mediums, astrologers, and palm readers operating under an evil spirit, God tested the prophets to prove their inadequacies. As we know from the Revelation Online Bible Study, the antichrist spirit discredits miracles by mimicking them and creating confusion.
If miracles reveal God’s glory, why do we turn away from discussing them or attempt to discredit them? The world pressures us to live within what it can see. As Christ’s followers, we walk by faith, not by sight. So how can we discern if a supernatural event is coming from the Holy Spirit or an evil spirit? Look at the Fruit. Does the supernatural event give glory to God? Is the testimony profit-driven or coming from selfish ambition? Does the testimony lead people to God’s heart and His Word?
We need a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit for this generation. What helps people see or hear Him when filtered by social media algorithms and Artificial Intelligence (AI)? People need to share their testimonies. Gather in homes for meals and celebrate holidays. Tell others how God answered your prayer. Be careful to talk about YOURSELF and YOUR testimony. You are an eyewitness and ambassador for Christ. Share your story and keep your conversation about faith, hope, and love.
Read Acts 2:1 NIV: “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” Why should we not be surprised if we hear increasing testimonies of God revealing a message through a dream? We are taught to be skeptics, that everything is “fake news” so discernment becomes more challenging but NOT difficult. Open your Bible and look to see if the dream and vision bring glory to God. Let people judge you and don’t fear it when they disagree. The antichrist spirit wants you to be silent. Speak up for Jesus, not man.
According to Beth Moore, “The lack of supernatural intervention could very well be a result of our stronghold of unbelief.” Because we are pressured to “fake news” on everything, even the Word is now filtered. Big tech has a “remedy” for our confusion and has created Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help us see their way of thinking. A worldview.
Listen to the voice of God when you read your Bible. It’s a plumbline that will never fail.
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Christine Abraham writes for the Bible Cafe™ community. Learn about living by the Fruit of the Spirit as you enjoy her online Bible studies. Join Christine at the Bible Cafe™ University for weekly Bible teaching.
Welcome back to the Breaking Free online Bible study. We are discussing week four in our Bible Cafe™ small groups. For many of you, this may be a challenging week to move some big boulders. If the boulder is too big and causes you discomfort, seek help from your Christian counselor or pastor. Beth Moore wisely shares this advice for her Breaking Free readers.
As Beth Moore writes, “Even Jesus had a blend of the negative and positive in His lineage.” This reminds me that perfection is lacking on this side of eternity. I enjoy reading Bible stories about Jesus’ earthly family. Like us, He has parents, siblings, cousins, and grandparents. A blend of personalities, strengths, and generational weaknesses.
When I look back at my family line, I inherited some attitudes about God from my grandparents. One grandmother taught me to fear God and that He would punish me. She taught me the religious habit of not eating meat on Friday. But this same grandma would read Tarot Cards over me and predict my future. Religion confused me as a child. Another grandmother taught me to serve others, as she baked pies for her church and volunteered when they needed help. Both grandmothers loved the Lord while my grandfathers were both unbelievers.
This week we completed a diagram of our family generations’ positive and negative influences. When I completed the diagram I saw how my grandmothers taught me creativity, hospitality, and serving others.
As modern Christians, we might struggle with the boundary stone of the Ten Commandments. What would be the benefit of anchoring ourselves to God’s Commands? This will depend on your denomination as some believe the 10 Commands are past tense, while others believe in the value today. In the New Testament Jesus narrowed this to two commands:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 36-40 NIV
When we love the Lord and love people, these 10 commands become a boundary stone that honors that love. It’s a beautiful place to stay inside the will of God.
Turn your Bible to 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 NIV: (Paul says) “Anyone you forgive, I also forgive. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, so that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” How does forgiveness turn the table on Satan’s schemes?
Unforgiveness can result in a pity party and worldview mindset that celebrates victimhood. Jesus demonstrates forgiveness at the cross. Flip the script on Satan and forgive everyone. I keep a gratitude journal AND a forgiveness journal. A record of the opportunities I have been given to show mercy, grace, and kindness when it’s undeserved. Just like Jesus did for me.
According to Ezekiel 18:14, 31 “a new heart and a new spirit” break the chain of destructive behavior. We pursue a new heart as we make time to KNOW JESUS. Let’s leave the unforgiveness generation behind us and teach our children and grandchildren the value of loving people through the heart of Jesus.
Read Isaiah 61:3 NIV: The captives set free …” will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.” How do you feel about displaying the splendor of the Lord? I see the splendor in my friends and the Light of Christ in their eyes. It is a beautiful sight to see!
We also carry a fragrance. Turn your Bible to 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 HCSB: For to God we are the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To some we are an aroma of death leading to death, but to others, an aroma of life leading to life.
Are you allowing Satan to cripple your testimony, or are you walking in freedom as a captive set free? Let your Light shine and carry the fragrance of one who is chosen, beloved, and saved. Learn to see yourself and other people as Jesus sees them. Let us stop living through the worldview lens.
As a woman who knows Jesus, believes in God, and walks with the Spirit, what impact will you have on the next generation? The impact of authentic Christ-like love.
Be blessed.
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Christine Abraham writes for the Bible Cafe™ community. Learn about living by the Fruit of the Spirit as you enjoy her online Bible studies. Join Christine at the Bible Cafe™ University for weekly Bible teaching.
CHRISTINE ABRAHAM is the Bible Cafe™ Founder and helps people understand the Bible, fellowship in small groups, and develop a lasting relationship with Jesus. She earned a Graduate of Theology degree in Biblical Studies from Liberty University. Christine has directed more than 100 Bible Cafe™ studies. She is a popular Christian Life & Leadership Coach. She lives in California with her husband and two rescue dogs.
