Join the NC Conference Media Center’s Study Harder Challenge! Your group is invited to expand your circle of influence and try something new by studying resources that apply any of 12 characteristics that will help you think outside the box. Read more about the Study Harder Challenge and download your worksheet.
Challenge: Female Teacher
(or Male Teacher for Women’s Groups)
Typically, female teachers create studies for women’s groups, but there are some excellent studies available for both men and women that happened to be taught by a woman. Listed below are some of our favorites.
Some women’s groups may tend to stick with studies that are designed for women’s groups. Here’s your opportunity to step outside of the box and invite a man’s perspective on Christian living. Check out our recommendations below.
Female Teachers for Groups of Men and/or Women
Sarah Heath. Rev. Heath is a United Methodist pastor and graduate of Duke Divinity School. In her UMC-endorsed DVD study, What’s Your Story? Seeing Your Life Through God’s Eyes, Rev. Heath explores the life of Joseph while she leads participants through co-creating their own life story with God using creative journaling and her own art. Rev. Heath is also one of the hosts on the new DISCIPLE Fast Track: Remember Who You Are (Vol. 3, Purple).
Elaine Heath. Elaine A. Heath recently stepped down from her position as dean of Duke Divinity School, but she remains a professor there. Her DVD study, Five Means of Grace: Experience God’s Love the Wesleyan Way, unpacks John Wesley’s means of grace. The study is part of Abingdon Press’ discipleship series, and it is UMC-endorsed. The DVD is filmed at Duke Divinity School where Heath is interviewed by Joerg Rieger.
Amy-Jill Levine. Dr. Levine is a professor of New Testament and Jewish studies at Vanderbilt University Divinity School. With this background, she brings Jewish insight into reading the New Testament. Her latest DVD study, Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi, helps participants understand how Jesus’ parables would have been understood by a Jewish audience in the first century. Dr. Levine also records academic lectures for The Teaching Company. The Media Center has her courses on The Old Testament and Great Figures of the New Testament.
Lauren Winner. Dr. Winner is an Episcopal priest and an associate professor at Duke Divinity School. Her DVD study, Mudhouse Sabbath: Seven Ways of Christian Formation Inspired by the Jewishness of Jesus, also examines Jesus as a Jew but with an eye toward the spiritual practices he engaged in and how those practices can help Christians today understand Jesus even better.
Embracing series. This DVD study series from Morehouse Education Resources offers several studies by well-respected female teachers of the faith. Each study has 5-6 sessions. Here are the available titles:
Embracing a Life of Meaning: Kathleen Norris on Discovering What Matters - Embracing Emergence Christianity: Phyllis Tickle on the Church’s Next Rummage Sale
- Embracing Forgiveness: Barbara Cawthorne Crafton on What It Is and What It Isn’t
- Embracing Spiritual Awakening: Diana Butler Bass on the Dynamics of Experiential Faith
Sybil MacBeth. MacBeth is the author and creator of Praying in Color: Drawing a New Path to God. This book taught art and coloring as a spiritual practice long before adult coloring books become a trend. A DVD is available to teach this course as a workshop. The book is also available in Spanish and in a kids’ edition with a DVD workshop just for kids.
Male Teachers for Women’s Groups
Adam Hamilton. Might we recommend Adam Hamilton on every Study Harder Challenge post? Not quite, but his studies are so popular in our churches that they deserve to be included when it is called for. Adam Hamilton has a gentle, pastoral style, and his studies have interesting content about the Bible or Christian living that have mass appeal. Here are a few recommendations:
- Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times
- Half Truths: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves and Other Things the Bible Doesn’t Say
- Forgiveness: Finding Peace Through Letting Go
- Why? Making Sense of God’s Will
Tom Berlin. Rev. Berlin is a United Methodist pastor, and we had the pleasure of hearing him speak at our North Carolina Annual Conference a few years back. His delivery is calm and knowledgeable. In his DVD studies, Rev. Berlin invites participants to see their faith in new and practical ways.
- 6 Decisions That Will Change Your Life
- 6 Things We Should Know About God
- 6 Ways We Encounter God
- Restored: Finding Redemption in Our Mess
Matt Miofsky. Rev. Miofsky is also a United Methodist pastor. His youthful energy shines in his DVD studies on happiness and failure. We could all use some new perspective on these concepts in the Christian faith.
Henry Cloud and John Townsend. These Christian psychologists have helped many people with their bestselling Boundaries series. The series teaches faithful ways to set boundaries to protect your health and create a more fulfilling life. The Media Center has their DVD studies for Boundaries and Boundaries in Marriage.
Max Lucado. This popular Christian author and pastor is well-known for his advice on Christian living. His studies provide spiritual encouragement to overcome everyday challenges.
- Glory Days: Living Your Promised Land Life Now
- Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear
- Outlive Your Life: Discover How You Can Make a Difference
- You’ll Get Through This: Hope and Help for Your Turbulent Times
Request These Resources
These resources can be borrowed by anyone associated with the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church, free of charge. We can even mail them to you! All you need to do is fill out the Resource Request Form.