The Empty Garden: A Woman's Heart Bible Study Series by Beth Moore

Image Credit:  SerKuch - CCO Public Domain Image - via Pixabay

The Empty Garden

Last night, I started attending a new Beth Moore Bible Study, A Woman’s Heart: God’s Dwelling Place.  Our first lesson is titled An Empty Garden.  Beth takes us to a place in Genesis where God first introduces his desire to meet personally with His children.  In Genesis, that place was in the Garden of Eden.

They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  Then the Lord God called the man, and said to him, “Where are you?’ – Genesis 3:8-9

We learn in Exodus 25 that God instructed the sons of Israel to build a tabernacle.  The purpose of the tabernacle was to provide a place for God to meet with His people – to dwell among them.

Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. – Exodus 25:8 

God’s desire from the very beginning was to meet personally and intimately with His children.  Sin separated man from God, breaking personal communication, personal meetings between man and God.  As I read Genesis 3 again, for the purpose of this study, I read it from a different perspective.  I had already been through the introduction to A Woman’s Heart so I knew Beth’s goal is to teach us the purpose of the tabernacle – a place for God to meet and dwell with His people.  As I read verses 8 and 9, it hit me – God was going to meet with Adam and Eve.  I knew it before, but I suppose it never hit me the way it did tonight.  I realized that this was a natural and normal event in the Garden of Eden.  God must have frequently walked through the garden in the cool of the day to enjoy personal fellowship with Adam and Eve.  I can’t begin to imagine what that must have been like.

Beth goes on to teach us that God still seeks our fellowship.  He still values time with us.  He still pursues us.  Through Jesus, God has given us the gift of reconciliation with Him.  Much like God covered Adam and Eve’s nakedness with the skin of animals (animals die when they are skinned), God has covered our sin with the blood of Jesus (who died to cover our sin).

Tomorrow’s lesson is titled A Perfect Heart.  I look forward to sharing what I learn with you.

When I share what I learn, I’m careful not to plagiarize Beth’s work.  I encourage you to support Beth’s ministry by purchasing her materials and personally going through her Bible studies yourself.  When you do, you will reap the full benefit of her studies and experience God’s full blessings through your journey.

 Read all posts in this series here.

You can purchase the study book only here, but if you are doing this study alone or if you are planning to host a study in your home, you'll need the complete leader kit below. 

This item is available here.

A Woman’s Heart: Bible Study by Beth Moore

Image Credit:  Ben White - Public Domain Image - via Freely Photos

Last night, I began a new Wednesday night Bible study at church, A Woman’s Heart:  God’s Dwelling Place by Beth Moore.  It has been several years since I’ve participated in a Beth Moore Bible study so I’m excited about this one.  It’s a ten week study led by Beth Moore via video.  Then, after the video, we discuss the content of the lesson.  I thought I would take time to share highlights and important points with you as I go through the study.  Last night, we went through the introduction of A Woman’s Heart.

A Woman's Heart:  God's Dwelling Place

A Woman’s Heart is God’s dwelling place, much like a tabernacle.  If I understood last night’s content correctly, a woman’s heart, my heart, will be consistently compared to a holy tabernacle as we dig deeper into the content of the study.

We were introduced to three key points:

1.  The Wonder of God’s Pursuit:  God pursues us.  He pursues me.  He pursues you.
2. The Beauty of God’s Consistency.  God consistently teaches us about His holy place, the tabernacle, throughout the scriptures from Genesis to Revelation.
3. The Glory of God’s Son.

Throughout the next ten weeks, Beth’s prayer is that our minds will be open to understanding the scriptures.  She wants us to understand the holiness of the tabernacle as God’s dwelling place.  She wants us to understand that God pursues us.  He loves us.  A woman’s heart, for those women who have received Jesus, is God’s dwelling place.

I’m looking forward to digging deeper into this study along with a room full of other ladies who desire to understand the scriptures and live lives that honor God.  I look forward to growing in Christ with other ladies who desire to allow their lives to reflect the holy place in their hearts where God dwells.

If you're interested in this study, you'll need:

A Bible (This one is a good choice.)

 Read all posts in this series here.

You can get the study book only here.  The study book is all you'll need if you are going through this study with your church group.  Your Bible study leader should have this kit.  However, if you are going through it alone or leading a study in your home, you'll need the leader kit below.

This item is available here.

Image Credit:  15299 - Public Domain Image - via Pixabay

 The following are my notes taken during my pastor's sermon.

Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.  And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.  And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.  The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men.  The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.  He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.  Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. - Matthew 28:1-8

Easter:  An Unforgettable Day

Points to Ponder

1.  Friday was a day of agony. 

The presence of friends means a lot.  The presence of faith means everything.

For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted. - Hebrews 2:18

Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.” - Matthew 26:38

Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. - Galatians 6:2

2.  Saturday was a day of chaos.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you. - Isaiah 43:2

3.  Sunday was a day of hope.

 And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” - John 11:26

4.  Today is a day of opportunity.

Share Jesus with others!  He's alive and well!

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