The Series Eight podcasts cover of The God-Dependent Woman Bible Study. Episode 1 is an introduction to the study.

The Call to Dependent Living

The main emphasis of the book of 2 Corinthians is that we, as believers in Christ, should live our lives dependent on Him all the time in our strengths and in our weaknesses.

About Paul

• The Corinthians knew Paul as being well-educated, a tent-making craftsman, determined, bold, convinced of the truth of Christ, and very committed to Jesus’ calling on his life. He was a gifted teacher and loved God’s people almost as much as he loved God Himself.
• Five years had passed from the time of the beginning of the church in Corinth until the time of Paul writing this letter. Based upon scriptural references, second Corinthians is Paul’s fourth letter to the church at Corinth. The Holy Spirit only preserved two for us—First and Second Corinthians.
• To gain perspective on Paul’s relationship with the Corinthians, think back over the last five years of your relationship with a group of people that don’t live near you but you visit occasionally and with whom you may have a rough relationship. What was that relationship like five years ago? What is it like now? What were your visits with them like? How did you hear about them between visits? What makes the relationship rough?

The Truth about becoming God-dependent in our messy lives

• This letter we know as 2 Corinthians is one of Paul’s most personal letters. It’s not a “sermon” like Romans or Ephesians that can be easily outlined. It’s a messy letter, just like most personal letters. It is full of personal feelings and experiences interspersed between some terrific teaching. It’s like life—messy—because people are messy, relationships are messy, circumstances are messy, and community within the church is messy.
• God wants for us women to be God-dependent women. Not "independent except for when we need Him." But, we are to be God-dependent. All. The. Time.
• But, being God-dependent all the time is so radically different from what our culture teaches. If you have been reared in western culture, this is contrary to what you’ve been taught most of your life. It is opposite of self-reliance as the way to be a strong, effective woman.
• Are we as Christian women supposed to stay like babies not doing anything for ourselves? No! That’s not what it means. We are supposed to grow and mature in our thinking and behavior.
• Are we as Christian women supposed to just lie back and let anything happen to us? No! That’s not what it means. The New Testament teaches Christians to be wise and proactive in our dealings with everyone—whether in the church or outside of it—for our own good as well as for the good of others.
• Are we not supposed to use our skills, talents, advantages, and opportunities to be the best women we can be? No! That’s not what it means. God wants us to give back to Him all the skills, talents, advantages, and opportunities He has given to us and use them for His glory. That involves following His leading and guidance. Sometimes, our strength can be our greatest hindrance. We tend to rely on that rather than on God. So, relying on God means submitting your strengths and your weaknesses to Him for His purposes in your life.

Dependent living is the key to becoming a God-dependent woman

Human parents raise their children to be less dependent on them and more independent of them. But, God raises His children to be less independent and more dependent on Him.

• The key to being a God-dependent woman is what can be described as dependent living. Whatever He brings into our lives that makes us more dependent upon Him is good for us. That’s how we learn dependent living.
• Dependent living is not weakness. It is being stronger and having more influence, success, and satisfaction than you could ever have through your own efforts—as brilliant and self-sufficient as you think you are or as weak and messed up as you think you are and everywhere in-between.
• Through this 11-week study of 2 Corinthians, we will learn how to make plans for our lives and rely on the Lord with how to proceed. We will learn how to educate our minds and rely on the Lord to use that knowledge to glorify Him. We will learn how to make money and rely on the Lord to show us how to use it wisely. We learn how to do this as we act in obedience to the Word of God, depend on Jesus Christ for the power to do so, and trust Him with the results. This “dependent living” will make us stronger and more effective in life than we could ever be on our own.
• There is great value for every woman to study this messy, hard to read letter we call Second Corinthians—parent, teacher, mentor to teens and young adults, and every woman wanting a closer relationship with Christ.
• One of the biggest take-a-ways you will get from this study: you can have confidence in what the Lord Jesus Christ will do in your life so that you will want to depend on Him more than on yourself. As you submit to Him, our God will transform you into a God-dependent woman who lives dependently on Him in weakness and in strength. Nothing could be better!

Let Jesus satisfy your heart with confidence that you can depend on Him. Then, live each day as a God-dependent woman!

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