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?

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