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jenna_turner's review
5.0
This book is eloquent, yet very tactical, with its practices and strategies of studying God‘s word. This read certainly revolutionized the way that I perceive and approach the Bible. It helped me discover the depth and importance of the context, setting, the audience, the writer and the time period of each book of the Bible, and how they fit together in God‘s big picture. This is a fantastic resource for any Christian whether you’re a new Christian or a mature Christian this could strengthen your walk with God and the broaden your understanding of His will for The kingdom of heaven.
essentiallynovel's review
3.0
This book was written as a resource (really both men and women can read this regardless of the title) to help us become those who study Scripture with both our heart and mind. Loving God should include loving His Word.
In this small book Jen Wilkin provides us with tools of how we should study Scripture and what we need to be wary of while doing so: Bible studies are great but they shouldn't replace the Bible, understanding the passages in their truest context and not based off of our own interpretation or someone else's, etc.
Spending time in the Word in crucial to the Christian believer's life, and as Wilkin quotes Paul Bloom, it has been "...found that pleasure results from gaining knowledge about the object of our pleasure, not, as we might assume, from merely experiencing it over and over. Specifically, our pleasure increases in something when we learn its history, origin, and deeper nature."
The only two things that bothered me about this book was 1) a sentence she says early on, and 2) her complete lack of capitalizing pronouns when referring to God and Christ. I don't agree with her statement saying, "Yes, it is sinful to acquire knowledge for knowledge's sake..." and I assume that she means that acquiring Biblical knowledge just for Biblical knowledge's sake, but I am troubled by her statement of saying acquiring knowledge is sinful. We are wired to want to understand things; our brains made to develop understanding, to gain and hold onto knowledge. However, the rest of the sentence says "...but, acquiring knowledge about the One we love, for the sake of loving him more deeply, will always be for our transformation." Whether she's saying this just in reference to Scripture or in general, I don't agree at all with her saying that acquiring knowledge is sinful. Also, notice that she capitalizes One when referring to God and Christ, but does not for the pronouns that also refer to them. Not capitalizing pronouns (He, His, Him) is consistent throughout the whole book.
I think reading that statement within the first chapter or so of the book and the utter lack of reverence by not capitalizing pronouns tainted the rest for me. She writes about loving God but isn’t revering Him by capitalizing the pronouns, an issue I see way too often with Christian authors.
I agree with many other things she writes, but for a resource to help believers begin the journey of being more intentional with their time in God's Word, I personally wasn't all that hyped about this one. Others may find it useful but perhaps since I have heard just about everything in this book growing up in a Bible believing home, gaining degrees at a Christian college, and during my short time in youth ministry, there was nothing in this book that was new to me.
In this small book Jen Wilkin provides us with tools of how we should study Scripture and what we need to be wary of while doing so: Bible studies are great but they shouldn't replace the Bible, understanding the passages in their truest context and not based off of our own interpretation or someone else's, etc.
Spending time in the Word in crucial to the Christian believer's life, and as Wilkin quotes Paul Bloom, it has been "...found that pleasure results from gaining knowledge about the object of our pleasure, not, as we might assume, from merely experiencing it over and over. Specifically, our pleasure increases in something when we learn its history, origin, and deeper nature."
The only two things that bothered me about this book was 1) a sentence she says early on, and 2) her complete lack of capitalizing pronouns when referring to God and Christ. I don't agree with her statement saying, "Yes, it is sinful to acquire knowledge for knowledge's sake..." and I assume that she means that acquiring Biblical knowledge just for Biblical knowledge's sake, but I am troubled by her statement of saying acquiring knowledge is sinful. We are wired to want to understand things; our brains made to develop understanding, to gain and hold onto knowledge. However, the rest of the sentence says "...but, acquiring knowledge about the One we love, for the sake of loving him more deeply, will always be for our transformation." Whether she's saying this just in reference to Scripture or in general, I don't agree at all with her saying that acquiring knowledge is sinful. Also, notice that she capitalizes One when referring to God and Christ, but does not for the pronouns that also refer to them. Not capitalizing pronouns (He, His, Him) is consistent throughout the whole book.
I think reading that statement within the first chapter or so of the book and the utter lack of reverence by not capitalizing pronouns tainted the rest for me. She writes about loving God but isn’t revering Him by capitalizing the pronouns, an issue I see way too often with Christian authors.
I agree with many other things she writes, but for a resource to help believers begin the journey of being more intentional with their time in God's Word, I personally wasn't all that hyped about this one. Others may find it useful but perhaps since I have heard just about everything in this book growing up in a Bible believing home, gaining degrees at a Christian college, and during my short time in youth ministry, there was nothing in this book that was new to me.
cbattle521's review
2.0
Sometimes felt preachy legalistic, and judgemental. Couple of helpful things. Not my style of writing but I’m sure it can be helpful to others.
amber_thiessen's review
5.0
“Mind before heart, God before self”. A powerful encouragement for women to get into the Word. This short book has a practical ways to bring the discipline of bible study into you life. An excellent read for those women who want to grow in their walk with God!
day_fisher's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
"If we want to feel deeply about God, we have to think deeply about God."
I love reading but I don't own books... but I'd like to own this book. I honestly struggled with this book because I wanted to savour it and think over it and simultaneously gobble it all up.
callienicole's review
5.0
I had never read anything by Jen Wilkin before this book, but the audio was on sale so I thought I'd give her a try. I have to admit, I approach a lot of Christian women authors skeptically these days - I have been disappointed so often with a lot of "fluff", sometimes even unscriptural fluff. But I was so pleasantly surprised by this book! If you are wanting to learn how to get more out of your Bible study, grab this book asap!
In Women Of The Word, Wilkin presents a very practical method of personal Bible study, which she calls "the five p's". What struck me as I listened to this book was how concerned Wilkin is for interpreting the Bible soundly and faithfully. I appreciated the tips she gave for how to do this, and also how to avoid interpretation pitfalls.
I am kind of regretting that I only purchased the audio of this book, because I'd really love to have a physical copy for notes and reference! I have been struggling recently with how to dig deeper into God's word on my own, and I thought Wilkin really offered some solid direction for how to get more out of my personal Bible study time. Listening to this book made me excited to dive into my quiet time, and a physical copy of the book is now on my to-buy list! Highly recommend!
In Women Of The Word, Wilkin presents a very practical method of personal Bible study, which she calls "the five p's". What struck me as I listened to this book was how concerned Wilkin is for interpreting the Bible soundly and faithfully. I appreciated the tips she gave for how to do this, and also how to avoid interpretation pitfalls.
I am kind of regretting that I only purchased the audio of this book, because I'd really love to have a physical copy for notes and reference! I have been struggling recently with how to dig deeper into God's word on my own, and I thought Wilkin really offered some solid direction for how to get more out of my personal Bible study time. Listening to this book made me excited to dive into my quiet time, and a physical copy of the book is now on my to-buy list! Highly recommend!
storytimecyrena's review
informative
relaxing
3.5
A good resource for new Christians wanting to know how to approach the Bible. If you have been studying and reading it for years there won’t be anything new in these pages though.