Faith often leads us down paths we didn’t expect—into wilderness places, across unfamiliar lands, and through seasons of grief and hope. This three-session study takes us on a journey with Hagar, Ruth and Mary Magdalene, women whose bold faith transformed their unexpected stories. Their encounters with God remind us that we, too, are seen, sustained and sent to carry good news into the world.
Session 1: Encountering God in the wilderness
Scripture: Genesis 16:1–16; 21:8–21
Hagar, an enslaved woman pushed to the margins, encounters God in the wilderness. When she believes all hope is lost, God sees her, hears her and reshapes her story. Her witness reminds us that God meets us in deserted places with vision and promise. This session invites participants to consider who is marginalized in our world today and to reflect on how God sees both them and us in our own wilderness experiences.
Session 2: Choosing loyalty, finding love
Scripture: Ruth 1:1–22; 2:8–12; 4:13-17
Ruth, a Moabite widow, chooses to remain with her mother-in-law Naomi and step into an unknown future. Her bold faith is revealed in loyalty, courage and openness to God’s provision. In Ruth’s story, we see how God weaves love, community and promise through even the most uncertain paths. This session invites participants to reflect on the risks of faith, the gift of relationships and the ways God works through everyday loyalty to bring forth extraordinary love.
Session 3: Proclaiming resurrection in hope
Scripture: John 20:1–18
Mary Magdalene’s journey transitions from that of a grieving friend to the first preacher of the good news, after she shows up at the empty tomb and encounters the risen Jesus. Her story declares that women are entrusted to carry resurrection hope into a hurting world. This session encourages participants to recognize their own call to bear witness and to proclaim hope in Christ.
