Most of the women we encounter in the pages of the Bible would be considered "unremarkable" today. They were common, ordinary, and in some cases had a shockingly low position in their society. For instance, the unnamed Samaritan Woman whom Jesus met at a well was clearly looked down upon by her fellow townspeople. Anna, who encountered the infant Jesus at the temple, was an obscure and elderly widow. Rahab was prostitute. Even Mary, the mother of Jesus, as a young girl of no distinction, living in an obscure town in a barren district of Galilee.
Only Eve is the true exception, who began life as someone quite extraordinary--and even after sin entered into the picture, she became a representation of the truth that God can redeem those who fall and make them "extraordinary" again. In fact, this what the Lord in the lives of all the women in the Bible whom we might consider unremarkable. They became extraordinary because the one true God whom they served is great, mighty, glorious, and awesome and refined them like silver and gold.
The women in Scripture thus serve as a reminder of both our fallenness and our potential. They are never relegated to the background in the social and religious life of Israel and the New Testament church. Rather, we see them partaking in the feasts and public worship in Israel, sharing teaching responsibilities and authority over their children, administering many of the affairs of their households, and owning land. All of this stands in sharp contrast to the way other ancient cultures routinely degraded and debased women. Yet God held women--and all people--in high esteem and had great plans for them.
The Twelve Extraordinary Men Workbook is completely revised and updated. Each lesson includes:
- A chapter-by-chapter exploration of the key themes in the book
- Selected passages of Scripture with accompanying study questions
- Insights from church tradition and biblical scholars on the lives of each woman
- Reflections from John MacArthur on what each woman can teach us today
LESSONS
Lesson 1--Eve: Mother of All Living
Lesson 2--Sarah: Hoping Against Hope
Lesson 3--Rahab: A Horrible Life Redeemed
Lesson 4--Ruth: Loyalty and Love
Lesson 5--Hannah: A Portrait of Feminine Grace
Lesson 6--Mary: Blessed Among Women
Lesson 7--Anna: The Faithful Witness
Lesson 8--The Samaritan Woman: Finding the Water of Life
Lesson 9--Martha and Mary: Working and Worshiping
Lesson 10--Mary Magdalene: Delivered from the Darkness
Lesson 11--Lydia: A Hospitable Heart Opened
