Women’s Christian Podcast Study (AKA Podcast Club)

Studying the Bible and theology is an essential part of growing in one's faith, and it's always helpful to have a community of believers with whom to study and discuss these topics. However, finding the time and resources to facilitate a study group can be a challenge, especially for busy women who juggle multiple responsibilities. A podcast study or “club” may be an ideal solution for those who want to study a variety of different topics of the Bible and theology with other women in a convenient, accessible, and cost-effective way.

One of the benefits of a podcast club is that it exposes you to new ideas and well-respected teachers and theologians in a way that is easily accessible. Podcasts often cover a variety of topics, allowing you to explore different areas of the Bible and theology that may not be covered in a more traditional study group. I’ve included a sample schedule of the podcasts we used when I led this at my church below - and you can see we really did cover a variety!

With each podcast episode covering a unique topic, the podcast club offers the flexibility for members to miss a meeting or two without feeling left behind, unlike traditional study groups that work through a book or a specific curriculum. This allows for greater inclusivity and accessibility for busy women who desire to study Biblical truths and want to get to know other women but may struggle to commit to a set study schedule. I do not want to minimize the importance of community - there is such a value in the commitment and relationships that develop from regular Bible studies and other groups, but this might be a good way to “mix it up” - perhaps when you are in between studies or during the summer, try it out to see if you can include more people!

Another benefit of a podcast club is that it doesn't require any additional materials, making it a cost-effective and simple option for those who want to study but don't have the resources to purchase study guides or other materials. All you need is access to the internet and a device to listen to the podcast. This makes it an ideal option for those who are on a tight budget or don’t always plan ahead.

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On top of that, a podcast club is convenient and can be tailored to fit your schedule. Unlike traditional study groups that meet at a specific time and place, a podcast club allows you to listen to the podcast on your own time. This means you can listen while you commute, exercise, or finish that last load of laundry. Then, when you gather with your group, you can make it a rich time of fellowship with a discussion about the podcast since you’ve all come after recently listening to the same content.

I recently led this kind of study with the ladies at my church and it was well received. We met once a month and discussed a different topic each time.

The structure of our time was:

• 15 minutes: Welcome, introduce anyone who doesn’t know each other, catch up, sometimes an easy ice breaker if there were quite a few ladies who didn’t know each other.

• 45 minutes (or more depending on the topic): Discussed the podcast. I usually tried to give a brief recap of what was covered and had prepared some discussion questions.

• 10 minutes: Prayer together

• 45 minutes (give or take, some ladies have to run and others stay for a while): Fellowship (snacks! drinks!)

You can obviously pick and choose podcasts that you would like to cover to tailor them to your group - but here is the list that I used. I will note that I wanted to have as many ladies feel welcome as possible as this was announced to the whole church so I did not just select podcasts about a certain season of life (of which there are many).

One other small note: the words in these podcasts should not be held to the same standard as Scripture. I think it’s important to be kind but you don’t have to agree with someone else’s words in a single recording one hundred percent and that’s ok. We can still learn and grow together.

Here are the ones we used!

June: The enCourage Podcast: Walking Each Other Home Through Suffering, with Nancy Guthrie podcast (37 minutes) or use this Apple Podcast Link 

• The enCourage Podcast is the podcast of the Presbyterian Church in America’s Women’s Ministry, usually hosted by the current Coordinator for CDM Women’s Ministry, Karen Hodge. You’ll see in my list of seven, I did use 3 of these because they are made for discussion, aren’t too long, and are also (obviously) theologically sound in my opinion.

• Although Nancy Guthrie has written much about this important topic, the book referenced most in this podcast was What Grieving People Wish You Knew about What Really Helps (and What Really Hurts).

July: The Gospel Coalition Podcast: Female Bravery and the Mission of God (Jen Wilkin at The Gospel Coalition’s 2021 National Conference - 42 minutes) or use this Apple Podcast Link 

• This is probably the most theologically complex one on the list but we had a great discussion. From the Gospel Coalition, “Walking through Scripture, Wilkin relayed stories of women who feared God rather than men and stood against the Serpent, risking their very lives.”

August: The enCourage Podcast: Walking Each Other Home as we Discern Next Steps, with Aimee Joseph (30 minutes) or use this Apple Podcast Link

• Another one from the enCourage podcast, Aimee Joseph talks about how to make decisions with wisdom, referencing her book, Demystifying Decision-Making: A Practical Guide.

September: Help Me Teach The Bible Podcast: Christopher Ash on Teaching Ruth (59 minutes) or use this Apple Podcast Link

• Nancy Guthrie interviews Christopher Ash to work through how one should teach the book of Ruth in a Christ-centered way. Even though not everyone attending the study may be a “Bible teacher” - this is such a great resource to see the big picture for a book of the Bible. If you want an even deeper dive, be sure to check out the book Teaching Ruth & Esther.

October: The enCourage Podcast: Hinged to Authentic Community with Ashley Hales (32 minutes) or use this Apple Podcast Link

• The third from the enCourage Podcast, author Ashley Hales and host Karen Hodge talk through the fundamental elements of true Biblical community. 

November:  Journeywomen Podcast: Self-Sufficiency with Christine Gordon and Hope Blanton (48 minutes) or use this Apple Podcast Link

• Host Hunter Beless interviews the authors of the At His Feet Studies to dive into the beauty of dependence on Christ alone.

December: Daily Grace Podcast: "Joy to the World” and the Hope of Christ with Sandra McCracken (33 minutes) or use this Apple Podcast Link

• Singer-songwriter Sandra McCracken discusses the familiar song, “Joy to the World” with the hosts of the Daily Grace Podcast. During the busy holiday season, this is a nice reminder to re-center our hearts on Christ.

A podcast club is an excellent option for women who want to study different topics of the Bible and theology with others and I hope this helped you as you plan on leading or participating in a study in the future!