Women of the Bible

Inspired by Max Lucado’s Ten Women of the Bible, this series dives into the lives of diverse women in Scripture to discover how God chooses the ordinary and the imperfect to play an extraordinary role in His story.

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Podcasts + Discipleship: Click to Learn How to Use PursueGOD

PursueGOD is a new kind of discipleship curriculum for an increasingly complicated world. We use podcasts on a variety of topics to offer no-nonsense answers to everyday questions. Then we organize these podcasts into series so you can use them to make disciples at church, home, or in the world. Here’s how it works:

  1. Pick a series from our homepage. There's plenty to choose from!
  2. Each series contains multiple lessons. Click on the numbered tabs to open each lesson.
  3. Start by listening to the podcast on your own, before you meet as a group. Take notes as needed, and listen again if it helps. Consider starting a discipleship journal to track what you're learning.
  4. Meet as a group to talk through what you learned from the podcast. Each lesson includes shownotes, talking points, and discussion questions. Click on the # tab to explore additional topics.
  5. Listen to the podcast above for more helpful tips or check out one of our many training series.

Shownotes

Sarah: Faith in the Uncomfortable

Have you ever felt like God left you in an unfamiliar, uncomfortable place, and you lacked the faith to get through it? Whether it’s a move to a new city, a health crisis, or a dream that seems to be on permanent delay, we all face seasons where God’s promises feel distant. Sarah’s story in the book of Genesis is a raw, honest look at what happens when our timing doesn’t match God’s timing.

Sarah lived a life of significant transition. She left her home in Ur to follow a call to Canaan, all while dealing with the deep personal pain of barrenness. In a culture where children represented status and legacy, Sarah felt “less than” and lost. Yet, God repeatedly promised her husband, Abraham, that they would have descendants as numerous as the dust of the earth.

The Struggle of the Wait

The tension in Sarah’s life came from the gap between the promise and the fulfillment. While God reiterated His covenant multiple times (Genesis 12, 13, 15, and 17), the years continued to pass with no child. This 25-year wait led to several “Sarah moments” that many of us can relate to:

  • Impatience: Sarah tried to “help” God by having Abraham father a child through her servant, Hagar.

  • Consequences: This attempt to take control led to jealousy, resentment, and unnecessary conflict.

  • Cynicism: When God finally gave a specific timeline, Sarah laughed in disbelief.

A Covenant Based on God Alone

A turning point in understanding this story is found in Genesis 15. In ancient times, a “blood covenant” involved both parties walking through sacrificed animals, essentially saying, “May I be killed if I don’t keep my word.” However, when God sealed His promise to Abraham, He caused Abraham to fall into a deep sleep. God alone passed through the pieces. This signifies that the promise didn’t depend on Abraham or Sarah’s perfection—it depended entirely on God’s faithfulness.

Trusting the Path

Sarah eventually gave birth to Isaac (which means “laughter”) at 90 years old. Her story teaches us that God’s timing is not always our timing, but it is never wrong. He is not bound by space or time, and He sees the beginning from the end. When we face our own unfamiliar places, we are called to lean not on our own understanding, but to let the Lord determine our steps.

Talking Points:
  • Many of us face “Sarah moments” when we find ourselves in uncomfortable or unfamiliar territory, feeling as though God has ignored our prayers or left us to handle a difficult situation alone. Genesis 12:1-4
  • While we naturally want to jump into the driver’s seat and “help” God fulfill His promises through our own efforts, taking control usually leads to more confusion, resentment, and unnecessary consequences. Genesis 16:1-4
  • Genesis 15 shows us that God’s covenant depends entirely on His own faithfulness; by passing through the sacrifice alone while Abraham slept, God proved that the promise rests on His character, not our performance. Genesis 15:12-18, Hebrews 6:13-17
  • Sarah’s cynical laughter at age 90 reminds us that God isn’t intimidated by our disbelief or the “impossibility” of our circumstances; He is powerful enough to turn our deepest doubts into a testimony of joy. Genesis 21:1-7
  • Faith isn’t about having all the answers or a perfect plan; it’s about learning to wait on God’s timing and trusting that He orders our steps even when the path doesn’t make sense to us. Psalm 37:5, Proverbs 3:5-6
Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. Have you ever been in an “unfamiliar or uncomfortable” place where you felt ignored by God? How did that affect your relationship with God?
  3. Sarah tried to “help” God by involving Hagar. Why is it so tempting to take control when we feel God isn’t moving fast enough?
  4. Discuss the covenant in Genesis 15. How does it change your perspective to know that God’s faithfulness depends on Him and not on your ability to be perfect?
  5. Sarah laughed because she thought she was too old for a miracle. What is a “too late” or “impossible” situation in your life that you need to surrender to God?
  6. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us not to depend on our own understanding. Give an example of a time when your “understanding” of a situation was completely different from what God was actually doing.
  7. How can you practically “position yourself” this week to trust God’s timing in a specific area where you’ve been feeling impatient?

Shownotes

Rahab: The God Who Redeems Your Story

Have you ever felt like you’ve gone too far for God to still love you? Maybe there’s a part of your past you wish you could erase. Maybe you’ve made decisions that still haunt you, or maybe shame keeps whispering that God could never truly use someone like you. That’s exactly why the story of Rahab matters so much.

In Joshua 2, we meet Rahab, a woman living in Jericho—a city known for idol worship, immorality, and rebellion against God. Rahab herself was a prostitute, someone most people would assume God would overlook or exclude from His plans. Yet amazingly, God not only notices Rahab—He redeems her story and gives her a place in His greater purpose.

As the Israelites approached the Promised Land, Joshua sent two spies into Jericho. Those spies ended up staying at Rahab’s house. When the king of Jericho found out, he demanded that Rahab hand the men over. Instead, Rahab hid the spies and protected them, risking her own life in the process.

Why would she do that? Because Rahab had heard about the God of Israel.

Joshua 2:11 (NLT)
“For the Lord your God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.”

Rahab believed that the God of Israel was the true God. Even though she came from a pagan culture and had lived a sinful life, something in her heart recognized the power and truth of God. She acted in faith, trusting that God could save her and her family.

The spies promised Rahab protection. They instructed her to hang a scarlet rope from her window so that when Jericho fell, her household would be spared. That scarlet cord became a symbol of salvation and rescue.

What makes Rahab’s story so incredible is not just that she survived Jericho—it’s what happened after. Rahab joined the people of Israel. She married into the community. She became the mother of Boaz, the great-grandmother of King David, and ultimately part of the family line of Jesus Himself.

Think about that for a moment.

God could have hidden Rahab’s past. He could have quietly erased her from the story. Instead, Scripture highlights her. She’s even listed in Hebrews 11—the “Hall of Faith”—as an example of genuine faith and courage.

Hebrews 11:31 (NLT)
“It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God.”

That title—“Rahab the prostitute”—remains attached to her story, not to shame her, but to magnify the grace of God. Her identity was no longer defined by her past. God redeemed her life completely.

That’s the beauty of the gospel.

God doesn’t wait for us to clean ourselves up before He welcomes us. He meets us in our brokenness and offers us a new beginning. Rahab had nothing impressive to offer God. She simply responded in faith. And God transformed her future.

Maybe you can relate to Rahab more than you’d like to admit. Maybe your story includes seasons of rebellion, compromise, addiction, shame, bitterness, or regret. Maybe you’ve wondered if God could ever truly forgive you or use you again.

Rahab’s story answers that question clearly: yes.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!”

When we trust in Jesus, God doesn’t merely improve our old life—He gives us a brand new identity. The cross is proof that God specializes in redemption. He takes what is broken and makes it beautiful. He restores what sin has destroyed.

Galatians 2:20 (NLT)
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”

That doesn’t mean we ignore our sin or pretend our past never happened. Rahab’s past was real. But it also means our failures no longer have the final word. God’s grace does.

Rahab’s story reminds us that no one is too far gone for God. His mercy reaches into the darkest places. His grace rewrites stories. His love restores what shame tries to bury.

So whatever your past may hold, don’t stay stuck there. Bring it to Jesus. Leave it at the foot of the cross. The same God who redeemed Rahab’s story is still redeeming lives today.

You are not beyond His reach. You are not disqualified from His grace. And in Christ, your story is never over.

Talking Points:

  • Rahab was a pagan prostitute living in Jericho, yet God saw her faith and used her powerfully in His story. Joshua 2:1-11

  • Rahab risked her life to protect the Israelite spies because she believed the God of Israel was the true God. Joshua 2:8-14

  • God didn’t erase Rahab’s past—He redeemed it. Rahab became part of the family line of King David and ultimately Jesus Himself. Matthew 1:5

  • In Christ, we are made new. Our past no longer defines us because Jesus gives us a new identity and a fresh start. 2 Corinthians 5:17

  • God specializes in redemption. He takes broken stories and transforms them for His glory and our good. Galatians 2:20

Discussion:
  1. Read the talking points above as a group, including scripture references. What are your initial thoughts about these points or about the podcast lesson (see audio above)?
  2. What stands out to you most about Rahab’s story and why?
  3. Rahab lived in a culture that was “sex-craved” and had no fear of God. In what ways do you see our modern culture mirroring the environment of Jericho?
  4. “Have you ever felt like you’ve gone too far for God to still love you?” Why is this such a common lie we believe, even after coming to faith?
  5. Why do you think God intentionally included Rahab in the lineage of Jesus instead of hiding her past?
  6. Read 2 Corinthians 5:17. How does the promise of being a “new person” help us deal with the shame of our past mistakes or seasons of rebellion?
  7. What does it practically look like to leave your old life behind and walk in your new identity in Christ?
  8. Is there an area of your life where you need to trust God’s grace and redemption more deeply right now?

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