The Top Encouraging Bible Studies & Devotionals for Moms
One of the best ways to find community and support to be a more godly mother and wife is to join women’s Bible studies or small groups.
You may be asking yourself, what is a small group?
They can go by several different names, like:
- life groups
- growth groups
- cell groups
- community groups or
- Bible studies
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What is the purpose of being in a Christian small group?
Both churches that my family and I have been active in have placed strong emphasis on being in a small group. Small groups are just that, a smaller group of people that you meet with regularly to get to know each other more deeply, provide care and support and help each other to grown in faith and in knowledge of Biblical truths.
Some small groups are mixed couples, including both men and women. Some groups consist only of Christian women and other groups are made up of only men. Sometimes you will have all different age ranges within one group. Other groups may be made up of people in a certain stage of life such as people who are retired, busy moms of preschool aged children or moms in a different season of motherhood, like moms of teens.
Getting together regularly with a group of powerful mothers for the purpose of a bible study has been the best thing for helping me grow in my understanding of God’s love and helping me to show his love in my children’s lives. The role of a mother is immeasurably important and as we pour ourselves out for our families, it is important that we recharge ourselves regularly. One way we can do this is by spending time in God’s word and clothing ourselves in the armor of God.
So whether you are a mom of a newborn or the mom of energetic little boys, look to a women’s Bible study to help you learn more about the Good News of Jesus Christ and how to apply what that means for us to your everyday life. Even if you struggle to find daily quiet time in your current season of life, like many moms today, a small group is a great way to have an action plan to ask the Holy Spirit to come alongside you in your parenting journey!
I have personally done all of the following studies with different small groups and consider them some of the best Bible studies. I hope you find one that you like and a group of women that also wants to get deeper into the Word of God. If you are looking for a small group, call around to a few local churches and see if they have a small group ministry that you can connect with.
Check out this post for a simple 4-step template for when you don’t know what to pray.
CHAT- A Prayer Template for When You Don’t Know What to Pray
{This post may contain affiliate links. This means that if you place an order using an affiliate link, I may earn a small amount of compensation at no cost to you.}
Best Bible Studies for Women
The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands
Lysa TerKeurst
I first read the excellent book, “The Best Yes,” and enjoyed it so much that I decided that I wanted to lead the ladies in my small group through the study. The full title of the book is,”The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands.” I thought it would be a perfect study to start with for moms in busy seasons who may feel a desperate need for some help with saying “no.”
In this six session study, Lysa poses the question, “Are you tired of living with the stress of an overwhelmed schedule and aching with the sadness of an underwhelmed soul?” If you can relate, this might be a good study to start with.
Lysa teaches that there is a big difference between saying yes to everyone and saying yes to God. She helps us understand that we need to say no sometimes in order to preserve our energy for the yeses that God has for us. And she gives practical strategies on how we can do this in our own lives that I still use today!
Get The Best Yes: Making Wise Decisions in the Midst of Endless Demands Book here
Finding I AM: How Jesus Fully Satisfies the Cry of Your Heart
Lysa TerKeurst
Finding I AM is another Bible study by Lysa TerKeurst. This six-session study is accompanied by enriching 15-20 minute teaching videos filmed on the streets of Israel. In this study, Lysa teaches on how to discover how Jesus is the key to satisfaction by learning the crucial significance behind each of His I AM statements.
Grow in Biblical knowledge as you take a closer look at the book of John and explore the following I AM statements from Jesus:
- I AM
- I AM the Bread of Life
- I AM the Light of the World
- I AM the Good Shepherd and I AM the Gate of the Sheep
- I AM the Resurrection and the Life and I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life
- I AM the True Vine
Get the Finding I AM Bible Study with Video Access here
Seamless: Understanding the Bible as One Complete Story
Angie Smith
Seamless is a 7-session study that is a deep dive that covers the entire Bible. Angie’s video teachings draw you into this guided study and help you gain an overarching understanding of the fundamental layout and meaning of God’s Word.
In this study, you will:
- Explore the interwoven and overarching themes of Scripture.
- See how the Scripture of the Old Testament and New Testament weave together and connect.
Get the Seamless Bible Study Book with Video Access here
Matchless: The Life and Love of Jesus
Angie Smith
Matchless is another study from the author of the Seamless Bible study. Matchless is an 8-week study that offers individual study segments to complete in between 8 weekly group sessions. There are supplemental videos for this study that are available by purchasing the Leader Kit.
In this study you will enrich your understanding of Jesus in His historical and cultural contexts. Angie unpacks Scripture in a way that’s easy to understand, regardless of how long you’ve been studying the Bible. This would be a great study for new believers!
Get Matchless: The Life and Love of Jesus Study Guide here
Get Matchless: The Life and Love of Jesus Leader Kit here
Get Matchless: Teen Girl’s Bible Study Book here
Draw the Circle: The 40-Day Prayer Challenge
Mark Batterson
I first read the book, The Circle Maker and it really changed the way I thought about prayer. A couple of years later, my church worked through the companion study for that book, Draw the Circle, over Lent in our small groups. Draw the Circle is a 40-day prayer guide to experiencing more passionate, persistent, intimate communication with God.
Through moving stories and encouraging devotionals, you’ll learn all about:
- The life-changing power of intentional prayer
- How to start applying the principles of The Circle Maker in your everyday life
- Building prayer habits that will support your faith for a lifetime
Get The Circle Maker Book here
Get the Companion Draw the Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge Book Here
We Saved You a Seat: Finding and Keeping Lasting Friendships
Lisa-Jo Baker
In the videos of this 7-session study, you will watch Lisa-Jo and her friends explore their relationship with Jesus as the ultimate model for authentic friendship. Do you yearn for authentic relationships and the opportunity to be the opposite of “fine” with people who cheer for you?
In this study, Lisa-Jo helps debunk the myth of effortless friendship and overcome the fear of knowing and being known.
Get the We Saved You a Seat: Finding and Keeping Lasting Friendships Bible Study Book here
Looking for Lovely: Collecting the Moments that Matter
Annie Downs
This is the most recent study that I just finished up with my small group. Many of my friends did this study a few years back and loved it. This is a 7 session study that also offers a Student Version for teen girls.
In this Bible study, Annie Downs examines the ordinary people of the Bible—fishermen, gardeners, women, soldiers—to reveal the moments they found beauty in everyday circumstances and hope in God’s timing.
In this study you will:
- Discover beauty in the mundane and difficult moments of life
- Understand God sometimes calls us to do hard, but ultimately rewarding, tasks
- Learn to laugh through times of perseverance and discover the beauty of the journey
- Trust God’s timing as He makes everything beautiful in His time
Get Looking for Lovely – Bible Study Book: Collecting the Moments that Matter here
Get the Student Version for Teen Girls here
Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose
Rebekah Lyons
Rebekah Lyons offers a book, a study guide and a life planner and journal that help to guide you out of a life filled with stress and anxiety and into one of peace and purpose.
Rhythms of Renewal is your guide to discovering a way forward into the peace your soul longs for. Rebekah shares about her own battle with depression and anxiety and introduces us to a pathway for establishing four life-giving rhythms that quiet inner chaos and make room for a flourishing life.
In this book and study you will learn how to:
- Take charge of your emotional health and inspire your loved ones to do the same
- Overcome anxiety by establishing daily habits that keep you mentally and physically strong
Get the Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose Book here
Get the Rhythms for Life Planner and Journal: 90 Days to Peace and Purpose here
Check out this post for tips on how to understand what you read in the Bible and how to apply it to your life.
SOAP- A Method for Understanding Bible Reading
Ruth – Love, Loss and Legacy
Kelly Minter
In this 7-session study from Kelly Minter, you’ll work through the book of Ruth and learn about her journey of unbearable loss, redeeming love, and divine legacy. This Bible study includes 7 video teachings (25-35 minutes each) that will help you understand how God’s law was and is meant to lead to life and flourishing for His people.
Get the Ruth: Love, Loss and Legacy – Bible Study Book with Video Access here
One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are
Ann Voskamp
If you are looking for a topical study on gratitude that is full of powerful stories, then this is it! Ann invites you into her own beautiful, heart-aching moments of amazing grace through her signature poetic storytelling style.
In this book you learn to:
- Biblically lament loss and turn pain into poetry
- Intentionally embrace a lifestyle of radical gratitude
- Slow down and catch God in the moment
Get the One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are Book here
Get the One Thousand Gifts Devotional: Reflections on Finding Everyday Graces here
Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts
Jennie Allen
In this Bible study, Jennie gives us tools from the book of Philippians to transform our emotions, our outlook, and even our circumstances, by taking control of our minds. Our enemy is determined to get in our heads to make us feel helpless, overwhelmed, and incapable of making a difference for the kingdom of God. But when we submit our minds to Christ, the promises and goodness of God flood our lives in remarkable ways.
In this study you will learn to:
- Take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ
- Escape your comfort zone with weapons of connection, intentionality and gratitude
- Defeat anxiety with a mind like Christ’s
Find Get Out of Your Head: Stopping the Spiral of Toxic Thoughts here
Find Get Out of Your Head Study Guide: A Study in Phillipians here
Restless: Because You Were Made for More
Jenny Allen
Do you feel restless, like you are just waiting for your purpose? This video based small group study will lead you through a practical plan to take steps to discovering your calling and how hardships may actually be part of preparing you for that calling.
In this book you will:
- Explore practical ways to identify the threads of your life
- Learn how to intentionally weave those threads together
- Discover how your gifts, passions, places, and relationships are deliberate and meaningful, not random
Get the Restless: Because You Were Made for More Book here
Get the Restless: Because You Were Made for More Study Guide here
I haven’t done this bible study yet, but it is one that I am interested in checking out soon:
Strength in the Struggle: A Bible Study Workbook for Women on Letting Go of Fear and Anxiety
Lauren Ibach
Check out the Strength in the Struggle Bible study workbook here
I can confidently say that being a part of a small group has helped me to grow closer to God and others and has helped me to become a better mom and woman overall.
