April 14, 2013
Welcome to…
“Out of the Box Bible Study”
Rev. Dr. Sheryl L.W. Barnes & Sis. Gail Summerhill
Lesson Notes
“Praise for Virtuous Women”
FOCUS: To understand what makes a virtuous woman virtuous; to encourage the
women in our lives to celebrate virtue and to freely accept praise due us if we are
virtuous (both now and in the future!)
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CLASS WARM-UP
Q1: What does ‘virtue’ mean?
In the Old Testament usage in Proverbs 31:30 it is from the masculine noun
‘chayil’ and it means valor, strength, might, wealth, army, force, efficiency,
valiant (brave) and ability. In the New Testament usage in Luke 8:46 it is
from a feminine noun, ‘dunamis’ which means strength power, ability,
power for performing miracles, moral power, influence which belongs to
riches and wealth, healing power. It also used to denote moral excellence.
Q2: Why does a woman who is virtuous get her virtue from?
Jesus (see Luke 8:46)
Q3: Are all Christian women virtuous? [Are YOU?]
They should be. [Selah – pause & think about it!]
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 31:10-30
v10 Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.
She is rare. She is valuable.
v11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.
She is trustworthy
v12 She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.
She’s a “do-gooder” {I recall being made fun of; called a “goody two shoes
as a child when I refused to do something that was wrong}
The world mocks & belittles and derides godliness but the LORD esteems,
applauds and praises His children
v13 She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands.
She’s a willing worker
v14 She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar.
V15 She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a
portion for her maidservants.
She’s an excellent manager
v16 She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard.
She is smart, industrious, has entrepreneurial savvy and is successful in
business – how do we know? Because the verse said she made a profit
and from her profit she plants a vineyard!
V17 She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms.
V18 She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by
night.
She is focused and works hard
v19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.
v20 She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the
needy.
She is compassionate and caring
v21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed
with scarlet.
v22 She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
She is creative and skillful
v23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the
land.
She makes her husband look good!
v24 She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the
merchants.
She handles money well
v25 Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.
She is impeccably well-dressed not in Prada but in Strength & Honor (we
wear the full armor of God)
v26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
Her mouth is a source of wisdom, encouragement, hope, kindness and
love.
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v27 She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of
idleness.
v28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband [also], and he praises
her:
v29 "Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all."
v30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD,
she shall be praised.
Where does her virtue come from?
(Luke 8:43 – 48)
(43) Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her
livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, (44) came from behind
and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood
stopped.
And immediately her situation changed;
And immediately, her problem was solved;
And immediately, her healing was secured;
And immediately, power was transferred from the Healer to the woman who had
pursued Him
(45) And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?" When all denied it, Peter and those with
him said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, 'Who
touched Me?' "
(46) But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out
from Me." (WOMEN – hear me…If you you’ve ever felt like a nobody or been told
or treated as if you are a ‘Nobody’ get to Jesus and touch Him because HE always
see you as “somebody”)
(47) Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling;
and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the
people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.
(48) And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you
well. Go in peace." (She went from being a stranger to a Daughter!)
The virtuous woman used her faith to pursue Jesus and sought after Him
until she risked everything to simply ‘touch’ Him! Her virtue was the result of a
pressing in to get to Jesus! (Can my sisters hear me?) To become a rare, valuable,
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honored woman of virtue you MUST touch Jesus – you must – you must, you
must! (Pursue HIM – pull away from television, and smart phones and hobbies, PURSUE the virtue that comes only from Him!)
KEY POINTS:
 Virtuous women are rare
 Virtuous women are very valuable
 Virtuous women are smart, powerful, excellent in moral character, kindhearted, diligent workers, loyal to their spouse, well-dressed (spiritually), and
financially successful
 Virtuous women get their virtue by using their faith to pursue JESUS until they
touch Him and receive HIS VIRTUE (Power)
 Virtuous women shall be praised (by their children, by their husbands, by their
works and by their God)
PERSONAL APPLICATION
THIS week: Pursue Jesus until you receive power (virtue) from Him to
handle any (or all) issue(s) you are facing! Meditate on Luke 8:43-48
Be encouraged in your faith!!!
Love & blessings,
~ Rev. Dr. Sheryl L.W. Barnes, Teacher
© 2013 / Rev. Dr. SLW Barnes / Veritas Discipleship Academy & Stir Up the Gift Ministries
CONTACT:
Email: drbarnes@sterling-xavier.com
Website: http://www.sterling-xavier.com/
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