LWF Learning Platform

Part 18 : "The Sisterhood of Ruth and Naomi": Bible Study on Ruth 1 - 4:

Through this Bible Study, Rev. Lidia Suyapa Ordoñez of the Christian Lutheran Church of Honduras develops the story of Ruth and Naomi, making a comparison with the reality of women in the region. At first she analyses the context of their environment, which was not a very pleasant time, a time of hunger, violence and injustice, since Israel was dominated by "warlords".

Part 17: "God's Mercy Leaves No One Behind": Bible Study on Luke 15, 1 - 10

Rev. Carmen Michel Siegle of the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil, helps to reflect on the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin. In her analysis, Siegle reflects on the current situation affecting the world related to the Coronavirus pandemic and the ways in which women manage to find and meet each other in solidarity: "Thus, God rejoices and celebrates when in his word we find comfort, liberation, transformed and shared life," she reflects as she addresses the biblical text and the words of Jesus.

Part 16: "Free from fear and have faith": Bible Study on Mark 6, 45 - 56

Rev. Pérsida Gudiel de Solórzano of the Guatemalan Lutheran Church (ILUGUA) analyses the passage of Mark 6, 45 - 56 in which she emphasises the fear that the disciples felt because they were left without the company of Jesus, understanding that they were "alone" in the boat, when in reality they still did not understand the presence of the Lord in their midst.

Part 15: Bible Study Mark 10:13-16: The Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like little children

Rev. Monica Hillmann of the Evangelical Church of the River Plate (IERP), currently serving in Uruguay, analysed the text of Mark 10, 13 - 16 in which she points out elements of the place and importance Jesus gives to children. Her presentation develops several moments, among which she invites us to ask ourselves where we stand, as well as what we have learned about children in the Bible and the role it gives to them. Finally, it invites you to engage with the biblical text, with points and questions to work on as a community or individually.

Part 14: Bible Study Jeremiah 9:17: "Call for the wailing women to come"

Rev. Belinda Colindres of the Christian Lutheran Church of Honduras(ICLH) analyzes the text of Jeremiah 9, 17 that refers to the women "who had the duty of mourning", that is, those who were called mourners, or simply, weepers. These women were paid to mourn at funerals. In her analysis, the pastor not only details the role of these women, but also gives an update, inviting us to think about what makes women "cry" today, detailing, among other things, the violence and suffering to which they are subjected in times of isolation and pandemics.

Part 13: Bible Study Matthew 11, 25 - 27 on "wise and understanding".

In her work, Rev. Angelica Bernate of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia (IELCO), works with the text of Matthew 11, 25 - 27 in which she describes the times of Jesus, in which being recognized as wise was associated with honor and prestige. In this way, it calls to identify wisdom and understanding in this time, analyzing that wisdom does not mean using power to belittle. In the same line, it invites to analyze situations in which Jesus was confronted with those who boasted of their wisdom.

Part 12: Bible Study 1 Corinthians 14:33b - 40: "They tried to silence us, now we shout if necessary".

Pastor Elisabet Lieven of the Evangelical Church of the Lutheran Confession in Brazil (IECLB) develops a biblical study analyzing the words of the Apostle Paul calling "wives to be silent. In her analysis, she highlights some questions about the reasons for these words, highlighting that they "always disturb". Among other things, she wondered about the reasons for this statement, as well as the pain they caused and cause. In the same sense, she also suggested that Paul's request could not be related to the questions made by the women in the community.

Part 11: "Sarah and Hagar": Bible Study on Genesis 21: 8 - 21 and 23: 1- 20

Historically, patriarchal society pointed out numerous ways of life for women of different conditions. Pastor Abelina de Gomez, from the Salvadorian Lutheran Church (ILS) analyzes a series of characteristics of that society, and then highlights two characters that deeply marked the history of women: Sarah and Hagar. In a third term, she invites to reflect on the current reality, in which women must protect themselves from abuse and can find comfort in the presence of God.

Part 10 : Bible Study: "The Healing of the Bleeding Woman or the Woman Who Touched Jesus' Cloak".

Bible study written by Pastor Hanna Schramm of the Lutheran Church in Chile (ILCH) based on the story of the hemorrhaging woman in Mark 5,(24) 25-34 (Matthew 9,20-22; Luke 8,43-48). In her analysis, Pastor Schramm develops the concept of the stigmatisation of the woman who approached Jesus, and thus the reality of women's lives today.  On the other hand, she makes a number of remarks, including an analysis of the context of the story, and she elaborates on a number of exegetical-literary observations.