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a girl like me A GOD LIKE HIM BY TAR A SEIDM A N & SC H A L E E SA N C H E Z

Edited by: Lisa Castello and Chastiny Lewis Proofread by: Vickie Hinton Designed by: Jaron Pitts

To Our Beloved Sisters, Our journey to write this Bible study began last summer. Our God does not improvise in our lives. His plans are well laid out before we begin to even get a glimpse into what He is doing. We are so thankful it was in His plan for us to work together on this project! One message that has come through loud and clear as we walked this journey with Him is: “We are not alone.” Knowing that He is with us makes all things possible. His presence assures us in moments of doubt, comforts us in moments of sadness, encourages us in moments of fatigue, and inspires us beyond our own abilities. It is a powerful and life-changing truth to grasp His abiding presence. But there is more to the truth “We are not alone.” He showed us through this project how important each of us is for the other in fulfilling His purposes. Being able to work together on this project brought greater depth and joy than would have been possible individually. Not only that, but He brought others into the process that enriched what you now have in your hands in ways that we could not have even imagined! We are not alone – we are better together. So, it is our hope that as you walk through this study, these two truths will resonate in your heart like never before: 1) the God who loves you forever and ever is with you and 2) He provides you with flesh and blood reminders of His presence through the people He has connected you with. With a big hug for each one of you! May His Spirit bring you abundant life! Love, Tara and Schalee

TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S LESSON 1 THE HEALED WOMAN...........................................................................5

LESSON 2 THE FORGIVEN WOMAN.................................................................... 17

LESSON 3 THE GENEROUS WIDOW................................................................... 33

LESSON 4 MARY...................................................................................................... 49

LESSON 5 LYDIA...................................................................................................... 65

LESSON 6 THE SERVANT OF NAAMAN'S WIFE............................................... 79

LESSON 7 ABIGAIL.................................................................................................. 93

LESSON 8 SARAH..................................................................................................105

LESSON 9 RAHAB..................................................................................................119

LESSON 10 THE WOMAN OF GREAT FAITH......................................................133 |3

lesson 1 THE HEALED WOMAN TA R A S E I D M A N

lesson 1

THE HEALED WOMAN Since this is a Bible study for women, I think it’s safe for us to talk about the unpleasantness that we all have to deal with once a month. You probably know someone (or maybe you

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are the someone) who deals with major issues during her

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monthly cycle. I’m talking about bloating, irritability, cramps,

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pain, backaches, headaches, stay-in-bed-for-five-days-and-pull-

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the-covers-over-your-head aches, heavy flow, food cravings,

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weight gain, exhaustion, mood swings, weakness, hot flashes,

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nausea, night sweats, insomnia, acne, depression, and feelings

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of wanting to throat-punch anyone who talks to you. It can be

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miserable. Praise God in Heaven that it generally only lasts

about a week. We can do anything for a week, right!? Today we’ll meet a woman who dealt with it continuously for not just a week, not just a month, not just a year, but 12 years straight— until she encountered the ONE who would change it all.

Read Mark 5:22-29 Jesus was out and about, ministering and teaching. Word had gotten out about this teacher and miracle worker, and no matter where He went, people would follow. On this particular day, a synagogue leader name Jairus had just pleaded with Jesus to

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come heal his daughter who was dying, and Jesus had agreed.

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As He’s on His way to heal this dying child, a sick woman from the crowd reaches out and touches Him.

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What was physically wrong with the woman, and what were the consequences of this sickness in her life? (v. 26)

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Can you imagine? Sheâ€™s been bleeding for 12 years. Wow.

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Think of the exhaustion. Not only does she not feel good,

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sheâ€™s financially drained and also has to deal with the social

implications.

Read Leviticus 15:19-30 According to Hebrew law, a woman who was bleeding was considered ceremonially _________________________________.

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Ceremonial uncleanness was something that all Hebrews, male

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and female, experienced from time to time. It was part of their

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culture, and generally not a big deal. However, when a Hebrew

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dealt with a long-term illness or disease of some sort, the

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culture reasoned that there was a sin issue and this was the

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judgment of God.

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Ceremonial uncleanness meant that anything that she touched,

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including people, would be ceremonially unclean as well. Her

“uncleanness” would have prevented her from participating in any temple experiences. It wasn’t just that she wouldn’t “feel” like going—she wasn’t allowed to be there. She would be separated from her community for the duration of her condition.

Think about the implications of dealing with a disease that kept you in a state of constant ceremonial uncleanness. Consider specifically the impact on relationships such as a spouse, children, and friendships.

How might this affect those relationships?

I can’t even imagine the loneliness. She was isolated and outcast. Her ailment kept her from enjoying closeness with her family, enjoying the sweetness of friendship, and it kept her from drawing near to God. She must have felt such despair.

Have you ever felt helpless or desperate? Lonely? Unwelcomed? Sick? Shunned? Isolated? Shamed? Broken? Lost?

If yes, then you can relate to this woman’s desperation.

Read John 10:10 and write it below:

Jesus says,

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Now underline or highlight Jesus’ purpose. Desperation and helplessness can be some of the most overwhelming feelings. But that’s where Jesus has been known to do His most beautiful work. He came to give us life abundantly—yes, after we die, but also right now, so we can live while we’re alive. When we come to the end of ourselves, God, in the person of Jesus, is positioned to display His power and love in our life and situation.

As soon as she touched Jesus’ clothes, she knew that the bleeding had stopped and she was freed from her suffering.

Read Mark 5:30-34 Jesus instantly knew that power had gone out from Him, and He wanted to know who touched Him. It could have been anyone.

In fear, she fell at His feet and told Him the whole truth.

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As she is at His feet, how does Jesus identify her?

I LOVE His response!

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“Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.” ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑

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Mark 5:34

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It’s sooooo beautiful that He calls her “Daughter.” What a tender

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way to address this woman who had been an outcast for so

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long.

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It’s interesting to note that:

The form of the Greek verb translated “has healed you,” which can also be rendered “has made you whole,” indicates that her healing was complete. It is the same Greek word often translated “to save” and is the normal New Testament word for saving from sin, which strongly suggests that the woman’s faith also led to spiritual salvation. (MacArthur Study Bible note on Mark 5:34)

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With one faith-filled touch, she experienced the healing power of Christâ€™s love that naturally flowed from Him, and her life was _______________________________________________________________________

never the same.

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This woman who was financially, socially, and relationally

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bankrupt encounters the lover of her soul. Out of her

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desperation, she reaches out in faith to the only one who can make her well, and God does not disappoint her.

He not only heals her body, but He also heals her reputation; He restores her position in her community; He declares her to be part of His family and saves her soul as well.

She went looking for something that she knew she needed, and God, in His generosity, gave her that and much more.

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Instead of her blood making Him unclean, His blood makes her

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clean.

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What do you need from Jesus today?

I want to encourage you to reach out for Him.

As your study time permits, read the following thought-provoking questions.

Try to mentally answer each one. You may want to jot a note to

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yourself in the space provided.

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1. It’s noteworthy that Jesus was on His way somewhere

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else, to help someone else—a prominent leader—when this

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woman’s faith caused her to literally reach out and touch

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Him. It’s often easy for us to think our situations aren’t as important as others’ situations. After all, Jesus was on His way to heal a little girl who was about to die. How might Jesus’ response to this woman’s faith reassure you?

2. Notice that not only did Jesus not condemn, accuse, or shame her, but He affirms and commends her faith that led her to reach out to Him. What does this tell you about Jesus’ desire for us to come near to Him in faith?

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. ‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑ Hebrews 11:1

Highlight or underline the key characteristics of faith listed in that verse and respond to the following using the notes space: What are you hoping for that you can faithfully take to Jesus?

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PRAY AND SUMMARIZE _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

Review this weekâ€™s lesson.

Pray and ask God to identify one or more statements or Scriptures that He wants you to understand, learn, or practice.

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Then respond to the following using the notes space:

1. What was the most meaningful statement or Scripture you read this week?

2. Reword the statement or Scripture into a prayer of response to God.

3. What does God want you to do in response to this weekâ€™s study?

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* Adapted from Experiencing God - Youth Edition.