Women need other women in their lives. At Mars Hill, one of the big ways we cultivate connection and fellowship is through a Women’s Midweek Study.

From Pastor Dave Bruskas: “I am eager to introduce you to Hilary Tompkins. Hilary is one of the most godly people I know. She loves Jesus, she studies the Bible carefully, and she serves Mars Hill Church faithfully. At Mars Hill, we want to be acting upon Titus 2:3–5, which exhorts the mature women in the church to teach younger women to love their families and live for Jesus. I believe Hilary will be very helpful to the women of Mars Hill Church as we all grow together in our faith.”

Women need other women in their lives. Spend five minutes looking around at the beginning of the Women’s Midweek Study at Mars Hill Church, and you’ll see women embracing, happy to see each other again, standing around the coffee and snack table catching up on personal news and future plans.

Some rush in, delayed by last-minute responsibilities, glad to take a moment to rest and recoup. Worship music begins as they make their way to their seats to sing together and listen to a friend bring encouragement from the Bible or share a testimony. Soon they’ll adjourn to small groups for more study time, followed by an opportunity to apply the day’s study to personal circumstances.

Prayer for each other brings suffering and sin to the cross. Bearing burdens together, friendships are built and nourished and hearts are nurtured as the body of Christ grows strong.

We want to be acting upon Titus 2:3–5, which exhorts the mature women in the church to teach younger women to love their families and live for Jesus.

I recently asked a group of women why they come to our Women’s Midweek Study. Some of the many replies were:

• I need fellowship with other ladies.
• It encourages me to be in the Word through the week.
• It gets me out of the house.
• My kids like the time with their friends.
• I feel known, loved, taught, and shepherded.
• I come for accountability, authenticity, fellowship, perspective, and growth in Christ.
• The community makes me look forward to coming back every week!
• I deeply desire to know and be known by the people I worship Jesus with.
• I realized I needed a place where I was being poured into. I hadn’t realized how tired and worn out I was until I walked in the first time and felt so relieved and refreshed to be ministered to.
• The teaching midweek keeps Scripture in my mind so I don’t forget from Sunday to Sunday.

Perhaps this comment summarized it most succinctly: “I come to WMS because I have a heart for other women and a desire to study God’s Word more in-depth.”

What is a Women’s Midweek Study?

At Mars Hill Church, the Women’s Midweek Study is usually based at a local Mars Hill church, creating a large group opportunity to care for the needs of women and provide an opportunity for women to grow in Christ together. Meeting weekly during daytime hours affords women at home an opportunity for fellowship and study while still being able to be with their families in the evening.

What is the purpose of the Women’s Midweek Study?

The purpose of the WMS is to provide an opportunity for biblical teaching, encouragement, application, and warm fellowship. Based on Scripture and the current sermon series, the WMS uses an inductive study guide written by Mars Hill women especially for Mars Hill women, offering additional opportunities to interact with the biblical text and apply its truth to our lives.

It’s good for women to be truly seen—to be welcomed into community and given an opportunity to serve and be served.

Our desire is to build unity among women’s ministry across all Mars Hill churches in order to promote solid biblical teaching and strong community. This ministry is a platform for being missional within our neighborhoods and should serve as a bridge to connect women and their families to established Community Groups.

What are the benefits of a Women’s Midweek Study?

Some of the primary benefits are:

• Fellowship with other women and connection to Community Groups
• Biblical teaching
• Discipleship via table discussions and developing relationships
• Opportunities to exercise hospitality to the surrounding community
• Missional and service opportunities
• Training and practical help from women teachers and specialists

Who attends a Women’s Midweek Study?

The WMS is designed to appeal to a wide variety of women: students, singles, marrieds, shift workers, unemployed women, stay-at-home wives and moms, and retirees. Any woman available during the day is welcome to attend the WMS. Although the majority of the women will be stay-at-home wives and moms, we make a concerted effort to include and consider women in other stages of life. Older women are always welcome to come and participate with the young moms!

What are some essential elements to a successful Women’s Midweek Study?

• A warm greeting and introduction to WMS
• Aesthetics that support an inviting atmosphere
• Clear and structured schedule
• Hospitality
• Excellent childcare
• Solid biblical teaching
• Gospel challenge
• Engaging and encouraging discussion
• Practical application
• Opportunity to build relationships
• Invitation to Sunday service and Community Group

What does a typical schedule look like?

• Drop off kids/fellowship
• Welcome and worship
• Teaching
• Small group table discussion

Encourage flexibility in designing a schedule that works well for the women of your church. However, once you have determined a schedule, the standard for the team should be to maintain that schedule with consistency to avoid confusion and provide an organized atmosphere. For example, if promotions say WMS starts at 9:30, then start at 9:30, which means volunteers and leaders should be in place by 9:15 at the latest.

The following things facilitate an organized and comfortable schedule:

• Clear communication and promotions ahead of time
• Trained and committed volunteers
• Regular attenders and leaders arrive on time
• The concierge model (I’ll explain this one further in another post)
• Prep work is completed before guests arrive
• Emcee goes over the schedule during the welcome

People are wired for community, and we thrive when those relationships bring encouragement and joy into our daily lives. God created us to image him to others. In the Women’s Midweek Study at Mars Hill, we believe it’s good for women to be truly seen—to be welcomed into community and given an opportunity to serve and be served.

In an upcoming series of posts, we will discuss strategies to help your church establish its own Women’s Midweek Study.