What Women Wish Their Preacher Knew...Continued from page 4

“Preach sermons that speak to hurting women C divorced, widowed, infertile women, etc.” suggests a New England woman.

A woman experiencing serious marital problems writes: “First of all, I know and believe in the power of the Word of God ... however, I personally wish my pastor knew how to address issues that are at the heart of women like me ... women who are divorced or separated, women who are seeking guidance and direction for their lives, women who desire to know and learn how to touch the heart of God and to enter into his presence, women who strive for righteousness but still fall short of God’s glory. I wish my pastor incorporated into his sermons those things that speak to my needs.”

“The biggest problem church women face today is an improper view of God,” says a California woman. “We have been wounded in our pasts (many of us), and we view God the way we see men, our fathers, husbands, etc. We don’t realize and understand God’s infinite love for us.”

A New Mexico woman praises her pastor: “I am blessed with a pastor who does a very commendable job of communicating both biblical truth and true compassion to the women of our congregation.”

Stop Stereotyping Single Women in the Congregation

More than one single woman wants her pastor to preach sermons that don’t always stereotype the single adults in the congregation.

“My pastor just assumes that every single woman in his church is desperate to get married!” writes a young single woman. “It always comes through in his sermons!”

From Alabama: “As a single woman, I wish pastors would learn how to preach more messages that speak to the hearts and needs of singles. I am burned out on topics like, `Being Single and Satisfied,’ `Lonely But Not Alone,’ and `How to Choose the Right Mate.’ I wish pastors would spend time talking with us who are single to find out what our needs are. We are such a diverse group C some of us have never been married, some have been divorced, some have children, some are in their 20s or 30s or 40s or 50s. We are all unique. We each have different goals in life.”

Use More Stories and Examples from the Lives of Biblical Women

Women constantly hear pastors preach on the triumphant men in the Bible. They want to hear more about the Bible’s triumphant women.

A Wisconsin woman writes: “I would like my pastor to know my desire to hear sermons/teachings from the pulpit that include godly women from the Bible, like Deborah for example. Men have something to learn from the Bible’s godly women, just as we have much to learn from Paul and other men. I don’t understand why preaching about women (other than Mary, Jesus’ mother, at Christmas) is reserved only for women’s Bible studies or Sunday school classes.”