Calling all Siestas! It’s mid-May and that means something big around here: it’s time to announce our Siesta Summer Bible Study! Last summer we took a break so we could focus on our Siesta Scripture Memory Team, so, if you’re like me, you are READY to get together in the Word this summer. Woooohooooo!
Let’s take a tad of a stroll down memory lane and review all the amazing studies we’ve already climbed into together: We had a wonderful time studying Kelly Minter’s No Other Gods in 2008, Jennifer Rothschild’s Me Myself and Lies in 2009 and in 2010 we went back to our roots and studied Kelly Minter’s Ruth: Loss, Love & Legacy.
With that said, drum roll please…The book that we’ll be going through together in the summer of 2012 – Kelly Minter’s Nehemiah: A Heart That Can Break.
Okay. So what if I’m crazy about the way she writes and invites us into the Scriptures?? I can’t help myself. We’re going to do this third one together, too. Now, you know how your blog Mama has to go through the study herself before she invites a mass of women into it. I’ve spent the Spring with Kelly in Nehemiah and loved every second of it. I couldn’t wait for it to come out so I made her send me her unedited version so my copy is in a big old white notebook. You’ll get to have the really gorgeous workbook instead. I can hardly wait for us to start it together. You and I have talked before about how summer is a great time to take off from school but it is NOT a great time to take off from the Scriptures. Three months out of an in-depth experience with God through His Word is plenty of time to find ourselves in a pit. No thanks. Let’s commit and hold one another accountable. The most steadfast victories are planned for in advance. I believe that with all my heart so consider this post our plan for summer V-I-C-T-O-R-Y.
Let me fill you in on some details. If you’ve been in summer Bible study with us before, our approach will be very similar.
Who: As in past years, our biggest hope is that you will assemble a group of in-real-life friends, co-workers, family members, acquaintances, church family, Siestas in your town, neighbors, or whatever mix of ladies God puts on your heart. (If per chance you went through this study this Spring, think of leading a group through it this round! I’ve already been through it too but having a Siesta experience is a whole new thing.) If somehow you just don’t have access to a face-to-face group, with Skyping and Face Time and email, you could also experience a fair amount of community in different locations so that’s allowed, too. We’re not looking to be legalistic here. We just want FULL benefits. Yes, you can go solo but, man oh man, try as hard as you can to get at least one partner or you’re liable to have a difficulty seeing it through. Do your best to connect with a couple of girls on line. The accountability and community aspects of this summer experience are vital. Scripture tells us to stir one another up in the faith and to call one another to love and good works and to bear one another’s burdens and pray for one another and remind one another of God’s faithfulness. 1 Corinthians 12:21 says “The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’, nor again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.'” The Word says WE NEED EACH OTHER.
What: Spend the summer together in the Word! Our workbook (also called a “member book”) is a six-week Bible study on Nehemiah, framed beautifully by a set of seven DVD sessions taught by Kelly Minter. By all means, if you’re able, purchase the DVD’s and take your group through her weekly teachings! But just so you know: all that will be required to participate with us here in Siesta Summer Bible Study is the workbook. We will “meet” every other week to discuss two weeks of our homework. (See further details below.)
When: We are partial to Tuesday since that’s our normal night for Bible study at LPM. So we will launch our SSBS4 on Tuesday, June 26, and “meet” every other Tuesday until August 7th. Yes, you can meet another day of the week if necessary but you’ll see when the time comes that it’s the most fun when we all do it on the same day.
I’ll give you the basic schedule now so you’ll know what to expect but we’ll have much more to say about it closer to the time of our launch. If we don’t answer your questions now, save them and see if they get answered within the next several weeks.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012 (1st Mini-Session/LAUNCH/Group instructions)
(In the two weeks that follow our first Mini-Session, you will DO WEEKS ONE AND TWO OF HOMEWORK ON YOUR OWN. If you’re participating in Kelly’s weekly DVD teachings, you’ll need to meet each week with your group rather than every other. We’ll let you guys work those details out on your own)
Tuesday, July 10, 2012 (2nd Mini-Session/Group Instructions)
(In the two weeks that follow, DO WEEKS THREE AND FOUR OF HOMEWORK ON YOUR OWN.)
Tuesday, July 24, 2012 (3rd Mini-Session/Group Instructions)
(In the two weeks that follow, DO WEEKS FIVE AND SIX OF HOMEWORK ON YOUR OWN.)
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 (4th Mini-Session/Conclusion)
Where: Wherever you are most comfortable. Kelly’s workbooks are part of the Living Room Series. Her core group meets in her living room and they often share a meal together. (Stud that she is, Kelly puts fabulous recipes in her workbooks. I am fairly confident in saying that you won’t be finding any recipes in my studies, fabulous or otherwise.) So, cook it up, if you can! But, you do what works for your group. You might meet in a different house each week so no one has to keep her house clean all summer. Grin. We’ve had some siesta groups meet in restaurants and coffee shops. Find your groove and stick to it!
Why: A summer lived in Bible study is a summer lived in victory! And, anyway, it’s what we do around here at Living Proof. This ministry exists to invite women – and girls these days, thank You, God, for Lindsee! – into a vivid and lively relationship with Jesus Christ through the study of His Word. (Lindsee is taking a VERY FULL group of local teenage girls through So Long Insecurity this summer so she won’t be leading the younger women through Nehemiah. But many of your girls might enjoy our regular Siesta experience. It just all depends on their maturity level in the Scriptures. We’ll leave that to you!)
How:
1. Get your workbooks! Our good friends at LifeWay have promised to have plenty of them for us, but you won’t want to wait until the last minute. You can find them online on LifeWay’s web site.
2. Assemble your small group. Again, you are more than welcome to participate solo or with an online discussion group, but for the sake of richest fellowship and best accountability, try as hard as you can to enlist three or four other women to meet with you every other Tuesday. Let the ladies know that the gatherings will be low on stress and high on much needed fellowship and rich discussion. Keep the emphasis on a relaxed and refreshing atmosphere where you can develop some wonderful relationships in Christ.
3. Sign up on the blog on our official Launch Day– Tuesday, June 26. We’ll ask you a few fun questions about your group.
4. I will facilitate the study by posting 15-minute videos on the mornings of our meeting days. We don’t do it livestream so that you can meet any time that is convenient for you. I will give you instructions on these blog videos for your discussion times and maybe some activities. All will be based on the previous two weeks of study. The videos will be like the ones you’re used to seeing on this blog – very casual and homemade! The idea is to incorporate the videos into the beginning of your meeting times if possible. In case the video aspect of the study doesn’t work for you, you will also find the discussion questions typed out on the blog.
5. After your gathering, you’ll check back in by telling us something about your meeting via a comment on that same post. Don’t worry if your group can’t meet on Tuesdays. You’ll still be able to find the post and comment throughout the week.
What if:
-I want to use the discussion questions in the back of the workbook instead of the ones on Beth’s videos. Go for it!
-I really, really want to do the study but it’s not in the budget. Email us.
–I’ve already committed to doing another Bible study this summer? That’s great! Stick with it.
-I don’t want to participate but still want to be a part of the blog. We totally understand and want to see you around Siestaville this summer. Know that the Bible Study will only take up one post every other week.
We can’t wait to study the Word with you this summer! Lord Jesus, take us on a wild ride! You are the greatest adventure in all of life.
We love you, Siestas!
I’m very interested along another gal from work. We are technically challenged though so do you give specific instructions for this? We are from Minnesota. Thank you! Do you have a story about how the blog or the lpm got started and is organized….I’ve been confused about that and don’t know if it’s only for the people who meet in Houston. Thank!
Hi Karla, it’s for anyone, not just those in Houston. More details to come!
I’m with you Ashley,this will be my first on line study with Beth(..plenty through church though!)and it makes me over the moon excited!!!
Beth,about a month ago during some very awesome alone time with God I felt him prompting me to read the book of Nehemiah.After trying to be faithful to what He had asked me to do I told Him I didn’t want to just read this book but I wanted to study it….that’s when He lead me to your blog!!I am so tickled that as God walks me through the book of Nehemiah I will be walking through it with you and many wonderful women of God!! Can’t wait to get started!! :)<3(smiley face and heart!)
My lifegroup was so excited to do this study! But living at the bottom of the world has its disadvantages as the suppliers can’t get the book into the country yet! Will look forward to doing it in the future when it finally gets here!
Hi, I emailed following what was said in the post about not being able to afford doing the study. I was wondering if I had emailed the right place as I hadn’t had a reply.
I would so love to be a part of this but at this time, I can’t meet bill deadlines, or rent so it would be a real struggle for me.
Samantha
I’m new at doing this type of online “blog” video study. Is the video by Beth or Kelly or just a way to communicate with others doing the study? Does the video follow the study book or is it best to get the DVD? Sorry for the dumb questions – I’ve just never done one of these before. Thanks so much.
Cannot wait! Love ya!
I am in..in the Aurora, Illinois area.
Already bought my book and very excited to get a small group together. Is there anything we have to do to make sure we’re set up or included? Thanks
HI! This is the first time that I have participated in an online bible study — I’m very excited! I don’t have a group to work with either .. any takers ;o)
Hi Candace! I am also fairly new to online bible studies (I have followed them but never actively participated). At this point I am also going it alone and would love to be part of an online group.
Same here!
Same thing here, ladies! I’m having a baby in July and not sure that I’d even be able to make most sessions with local friends; I actually just signed up on Women’s Bible Cafe to join their onlne group that’s going through the study w/Beth. Looking forward to our journey together this summer!
Hi, Candace I am new to this experience as well. I don’t necessarily know how it would work but I definitely would be interested in joining a group.
So I put out an invite to a handful of girlfriends – just to see – – and within an hour I got an excited “THIS IS AN ANSWER TO PRAYER” email from a friend who wants to invite about 4 others. And another friend nearly jumped in to lead again which would be lovely! I’d be happy to put out the chocolate and let this other pillar in Christ do all the facilitating! ANYWAY, it appears to be a ‘go’ here and I’m covered in glory bumps thinking of what God is doing and who He’ll bring! Lord willing, and if she’s able, I’m hoping to Skype in my beloved Siesta Amy from Seattle as well. Met her at SSMTCelebration. We’d be spanning the nation from East Coast to West Coast “Washingtons” over Nehemiah!!
I loved Kellys other studies, so I bought this workbook as soon as it came out. Just finishing the James-Mercy Triumphs study. Perfect timing! Thanks Beth!!
I really want to know how Beth manages to balance writing/researching studies of her own with participating in another’s study. I get so preoccupied by what I’m digging into myself that I can’t muster up the energy/interest to take a Bible study. So I find myself alternating between the two — and I’m due for a “listen and learn” phase just in time for this one! Looking forward to it!
Looking forward to studying Nehemiah with Beth Moore. Have ordered from amazon as their shipping costs to Australia was more affordable.
I’d love to know how that works – over here in the States it says it ships out in 3-5 weeks…
We just wrapped up the James Bible study tonight ( boo 🙁 what an amazing study – the women in my church loved this study – totally life changing! anyhow…….) so I’m very excited to have come across this post. I missed your last Summer Study so I’d love to participate in this one. 🙂
Ooooo, I am so doing this! Can’t wait for the 26th.
I will be participating and inviting at least two friends to participate with me. Looking forward to this study.
I’d love to try to do this study. I’ve done a ton of other studies but have always had a break for the summer. Never done a ‘blog’ study like this before so I’d like to try it. Since I spend my summers up at our cottage in northern SK, I’ve sent out an email to all my ‘beach/lake’ friends to see if any of them would like to participate with me. I’m praying for at least a handful of replies. My other studies are always larger so it would be nice to have a smaller, more intimate study. So, I’m praying for God’s Will in all this! Thanks for setting it all up! Hope I can figure it all out. 🙂
My Bible study sistas, well, six out of eight, are going to do the Nehemiah study this summer. We had already decided on it and are so happy that you will be doing it as well. We have a request. Having done your Esther study, we were all interested in the time frame of Nehemiah as it pertains to Esther. We are hoping you will address that in the first video.
Looking forward to some summer fun!
Miss Beth, I need to find an Eli or a Mrs. Mary Helen, to come along side me and guide me. I know that God wants me to take a step of faith and I am ready and willing. Just like Samuel, I want to say, “Speak, your servant is listening.” Help. I will search scripture, actively listen for his voice and obey his leading. But the question I always have is, “Is that ME or God?” I want to share the Word and what it has done to me and the way I live my life, but I feel abandoned, lost, directionless. Help, please.
I’m going to email all my aunts and female cousins tomorrow to see who wants to participate. We did it together 2 summers ago and we all loved it! NONE of us even live in the same state, so it was a really special thing. Thanks for facilitating it again, and thanks to Kelly for writing!
I am looking forward to participating in this study. I am asking God to lead me to the women He wants me to invite to join me. Please join me in praying for this.
I’m so super dog daddy excited to be doing this Bible study!!! I will be participating with a group of girls from my church. Can’t wait to see what Yahweh has to tell me!
I can hardly wait! When we did Ruth I cooked all of the recipes. My husband kept saying, “Where did you get this recipe?” And I’d say FROM A BIBLE STUDY!!
Can’t wait to get started!
Love you all at LPM!! Thanks for being there for us!
I’m in whether I can find cohorts or not.
I want to participate. We are in the process of moving from IL to Nashville TN effective June 4, 2012. I did this study of Nehemiah this spring and would love to go through it again! Please let me know what I need to do to participate.
Thanks! God bless! Love you Kelly! Love you Beth!
Hello, Does anyone know exactly how this works? Is the study (every other Tuesday) right here on the blog? Is it like a video? I’ve never done this before – I’m excited about it, but love to know more about how it works. Have a great day everyone. I’m in Iowa.
Do you think it would be possible to put together like minded siestas that work in a group on the internet???? I know logistically this might be hard but I’d be willing to collate and match a list like that? Even though I don’t have a group at present, I’ll be happily studying and joining in this adventure!!
This sounds great. I have never before participated in an online Bible study and I am so looking forward to this. I lead a small group during the year, but we do not meet in the summer. This will be a great way to continue with study. I have always wondered why we take a break from God’s word.
Hi Carol, I also lead a group in Beth Moore studies, but not in the summer. I miss it in the summer too!
I’ve been debating between “this” study and the one online by lifeway (Fruits of the Spirit) with Beth. I’ve never been in one by Kelly’s, have you? I love Beth’s studies – all of them! I wish there were more “replies” on this blog.
Hello, Is anyone else noticing that there aren’t many “replies” in this blog? Has anyone here ever done any of Beth’s “online” studies with Lifeway? They sound so interesting. I’m especially interested in the Fruits of the Spirit. Have a good day. Suzi
I’ve done most of Beth’s studies and they are all great. My personal favorites are Daniel and A Woman’s Heart, God’s Dwelling Place. You won’t be disappointed in the time you spend. You will truly discover God’s Word is living and active in our lives. Praying for you.
Are there any groups in the Alpharetta/Cumming GA area I could join?
I’m in! Looking forward to joining from Wisconsin!!!
I am really excited about studying the book of Nehemiah this summer. I’ve always wanted to join a Beth Moore Bible Study, but the groups here in town tend to meet when I am working.
Hello,
I’m Donna and I live in North Carolina. I recieved my book for Nehemiah study. First time doing this. Excited!
I am interested in leading a yahoo group or email group through this study.
IF, I can get the book. Finances are a little tight right now for our family and I’ve already done one study this summer with Women’s Bible Cafe.
I live in rural area and these are the only types of studies I can attend without driving 100 miles.
M
so excited to join you! this will be my first online study with you (though I’ve done many of YOUR studies with friends!)
Yeah!!! I am super excited to be part of this summer study with all of you! I don’t have a group either so it will be extra special to connect with my sisters in Christ from all over the place! Going to order my book now!
a mid summer bible study … sweet
I am excited to try an online Bible Study! I’ve done a number of Beth Moore Bible Studies and have really enjoyed them.
Looking forward to participating in this study! I’m thinking about getting the Leader Kit (whether or not I have a group to do it with), because I find I get so much out of the video sessions! Are the individual video sessions available for purchase online?
Thank you for the “Throw Your Burden” message……i needed to throw out a big load.
“Beach vacation” is just what we plan for our Siesta Bible Study. We are meeting for the study at our church picnic shelter……by a creek..
Boone, NC……real close to heaven!
We are doing this bible study this summer!!! I love that you are too we have 3 new ladies to our group this small group this summer we are now up to 8!!!! I hope we double next year!! 🙂 Thank you so much and we would love to incorporate you also!!! I really want ours to see JESUS in all of us!!!!
Cathie Byers
Jacksonville, Florida
The email has been circulated and the number has been met…
I will be jumping in facilitating this study from my home in Watauga, TX!
My friends Rebecca, Allison, Jesi, and I are definitely in… Frances and Angie are a maybe… 🙂 Waiting for responses from others I’ve contacted. Looking forward to it! 🙂
Blessings,
Michelle
Hi Michelle! I’m trying to find a group to meet with in the DFW area for this study! Are you still looking for ladies to join in? If you see this (or anyone in the Dallas/Ft Worth area!) please feel free to email me at [email protected]
I would love to do the study and if I don’t find a group I am COMMITTED to doing it by myself.
I am from Everett, Ontario near Barrie, Alliston, Newmarket or even willing to go to Toronto.
I tried to gather a group but you know people have the holiday excuse!
If anyonw knows a group near me please email me or something. I find it difficult to find a reply to our posts on this site!
Even if I could skpye in a be with a group from a distance that would be awesome……I am going for it! Lord provide please!
My email is [email protected]
Blessings!
Crystal
Oh – talk about a God moment, as I read “summer is a great time to take off from school but it is NOT a great time to take off from the Scriptures.” I am in my mid-50’s in school for my Master’s, working fulltime, wife, mom, nana and all that life involves. I was so tired at the end of last term, I decided with yippies from my husband to take the summer off. I read this. Oh what a shot in the arm. The month of June is rough for various reason, then add on the rest. I can find a multitude of reasons not to read the Scriptures (not a good one in the lot.) However, I find myself giving into temptation. So THANK YOU for these words. I need to find a local group, so I don’t continue my plundge into this pit. So I can share in and belive as written this is my “plan for summer V-I-C-T-O-R-Y.”
Bless,
Tamara
Bought this study a few weeks back and haven’t done anything with it yet. Was so glad to see that Beth is doing a blog about it. I have never joined the blog before but LOVE your studies Beth and I loved doing Kelly’s study, “No Other Gods”. Can’t wait to begin!!
God Bless,
Renee
I am SO super excited about this!! I have been praying about it and felt the Lord prompting me to do this study with you ladies on Nehemiah but had NO idea why or what He would have in store for me. So, I put it out there on facebook and 12 ladies want to do it with me!! All from different groups, different churches…it’s going to be great!! I am super excited about the “randomness” of our group! And the very Sunday after I decided to do this study and ordered my book, our church found out some devastating news about one of our pastors. Our senior pastor shared from the pulpit that we were going to fight this battle with PRAYER. How does Nehemiah respond to his bad news? with PRAYER. I have been reading through Nehemiah in preparation for this and am blown away at how God’s timing is SO PERFECT and am so thankful He led me to do this study!!
Joining from Charlotte….!
We are starting to assemble our group but have a slight problem with the technical area. We would love to see the morning videos before our meeting but won’t have that ability where we are meeting. Can they be saved & copied to a dvd that I could bring to our hostesses home & use in her dvd player. I know the questions will be available but would really like the whole group to have the chance to see the opening video. Thanks in advance.
Joining from Kearney, NE….