We’ve learned it, we know it, but why don’t we live it? I believe it’s the disconnect and lack of true discipleship one to one. Men to men, and women to women.
Brief testimony: I’ve been a follower of Jesus Christ since my early 20’s. I heard the gospel preached even earlier that that. From fourth grade, I spent my early years thinking I was a Believer, until I realized I was trying to earn my salvation by “doing” a lot of things. I had a lot in my head, but not in my heart. That changed in when I recognized my sin, and that I could do nothing to bridge the gap to a Holy God. Salvation was all Him. It was then that Jesus snatched me from the darkness and brought me into the light of the truth of the Gospel. It was, and is such good news. Grace saved me, not my works. Grace keeps me now, not my works. He doesn’t love me more if I sit before Him, read His Word, or talk to Him. He doesn’t love me less either. He just loves me. I am grateful for many teachers who have taught the purity of the Gospel, and shown me more about knowing God.
DISCIPLESHIP – MY THOUGHTS:
Disciplemaking Disciples is what we are to be. For men, for women, its the same mission. Our church has just shifted its mission statement to this focus. “We exist to glorify God, by making disciples, through the Bible and relationships.”
That is why I have made Second Baptist Church, Springfield, MO, my church home. Today, I was asked to share in our service as our Pastor did an interview with me and one of “my girls”, Amanda. I love sharing my heart and passion about discipleship. I have always had a heart for coming alongside of women to help them live what they learn.
Let’s agree, we are the most informed, educated, learned society in all of history. We have podcasts, conferences, retreats, Bible Studies, revivals, great teaching from pulpit and internet. Yet, when we see more marriages failing, church kids turning away from God as they enter college, disobedience, disrespect, eating disorders, premarital sex (hooking up), addictions, lack of ambition, purpose, or godly bent to lives.
So where is the disconnect?
We’ve learned it, we know it, but why don’t we live it? I believe it’s the disconnect and lack of true discipleship one to one. Men to men, and women to women.
I will forever be thankful for the men and women in our lives who connected the learning it to the living it. May I introduce them to you and share how they invested in my life?
- Imogene – An older Christian co-worker, who asked me if I’d like to go on a walk a few days a week at lunch time. These walks became our time of discipleship. She was a gentle, wise women, who encouraged me to be in the word, and to read deeper authors, who would challenge me.
I’ll never forget how she showed me the perspective that trials were gifts especially wrapped up for me from God. And also that I should live my life, in a manner that if someone was looking at me, they would see Jesus. - Billy & Danielle – The only couple who ever took an interest in our marriage and saw some things we were doing that would ultimately hurt our marriage, and were willing to take the time to help us. As newlyweds they taught us
to ‘fight fair’
how to listen to each other
How to lead and make decisions
How to let husband lead how to follow – even when it didn’t seem like He knew where we were going!
How my hormones were affecting our marriage
How to grow in studying the Word on our own
How to manage our finances
How to be content if God never gave us a child
We ate dinner with them often, baby sat their young sons, house sat for them, and each opportunity we had together they did life in front of us and were transparent with their own relationship, so we could learn from their mistakes and avoid damage from hurt. They always pointed to the scripture to back up what they were saying.
Elizabeth George – Before Liz was an author and Bible Teacher/Conference Speaker, she was just a godly mom, who invested six weeks that were so precious. She prayed for me and helped me learn how to deal with my infertility, hope for adoption, and how to organize my prayer life. - Mentor Mom – Janet
Janet was a seasoned mom of four children. I was a new mom with no parents near us. I was so grateful to know how to deal with a sick child, how to get my son to sleep through the night, how to deal with chaos at meal time. She was a phone call away, and welcomed my questions and calmed me when I was parenting out of emotion, not truth. She pointed out my inconsistencies, need for routine, and how to make the best choice for my time, and choose a quiet time, even though short, rather than fold clothes. - Jan – She recognized I had a speaking gift and gave me opportunities to teach women. I wasn’t a good speaker/teacher, but because of her encouragement and help, I began to be effective in this role. If she had not been willing to come alongside, how would that gift be cultivated. We served together on Women’s Ministry Team, and she eventually passed that baton of leadership to me.
- My Roosters – Jacqueline, Denise, & Gail
Remember the rooster that crowed out the warning to Peter, “cock will crow 3 times”, Jesus warned him about? Well I had some great roosters in my life, warning me, crowing at me and holding me accountable. We met weekly and I don’t think I would have made it through the years of teenage sons, without these faithful friends. Praying for them, and for me. Crying together as we prayed over cancer discovered, rejoiced over cancer beat, broken friendships, loss of friends, and their children, and what to do when depression threatens to overtake us. These were the dig down deep friendships that we are discipling each other. - Joan – Joan was my personal prayer warrior for my mouth. As God gave me more opportunities to share with women my gifts, I found that I lacked compassion, and needed prayer to love those God would bring to me for counsel. Rather than just ‘cutting to the chase’, I needed to listen and love the women before me.
- Eunie – Eunie was a partner in ministry, 10 years older and wiser, a mom of sons, and served behind the scenes, supporting my more public role. She taught me patience in prayer, long suffering, how to see God’s plan at work, when I couldn’t see it at all. She taught me how to research better when preparing to speak. She continues to bring new books, authors, sermons, equipping me for what is next.
- Nina – Nina was another older women, who we lived in her guest home for 2 years, and I learned up close how to manage my home in a new way!
She corrected years of my wrong way of managing my home!
This was my philosophy : When and if there was an event, dinner, party, holiday, planned, then we would ready the home. Clean, plan, shop, prepare.
Nina’s was: Get it ready now – because God is going to send someone here. I saw it happen over and over. She never procrastinated on her tasks to ready the home, and always had something ready in the freezer or pantry. And as she was faithful to make her home ready, God used that home mightily in so many lives. Not just for a meal, but for real life changing, refuge needed, rest or counsel. I ready my home in a different way now because of Nina.
I have had wonderful women investing in my life. And as always, God brings those who also need this in their lives. What happens when we don’t make the time to do this? How dare we not give out what we have received. We must be obedient!
I am burdened for God to raise up women, who won’t allow Satan to hinder these kinds of relationships. Don’t be too busy or prideful to ask a women to disciple you, and don’t be too busy or prideful to think there is nothing for you to share with someone else. These are lies from the pit. Satan knows how powerful discipleship is. He knows that if he can keep a weak lamb out away from the flock, he can devour them. Come close, and lets do the “one another’s” of scripture with each other. It will take time, and sacrifice, but what other eternal thing can you do? Passing a legacy of godliness that is the Great Commission, as well as the command of Titus 2 –
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20
Titus 2:1, 2-5 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.
Vs. 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
Blessings,
Kristi! 
And as a side note – I found this today, and have used these two terms interchangably, but not any more! From Relevant Magazine
Discipleship Isn’t Mentoring.
As we allow others into our lives and let them help us obey Jesus, we also need to reach out and disciple others. But that doesn’t mean we are mentoring others.
Mentoring has to do with what the mentor can offer to someone else through their own wisdom and experience; discipleship has to do with what Jesus can offer to someone else through His wisdom and presence.
You don’t need to have a slew of qualifications to disciple someone else, you just have to be following and obeying Jesus.
This is why you don’t need to have a slew of qualifications to disciple someone else (The original 12 were just “ordinary, unschooled men,” remember?)—you just have to be following and obeying Jesus in your own life and be willing to help someone else do the same.
Read more at http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/what-christians-get-wrong-about-discipleship#d8yoZZXqXLwsLD1h.99
ShowMeAgain Lord- @KristiBarefoot 
Thank you Kristi ! Your life continues to shout His grace is sufficient. So many wonderful memories of smiles, laughter, tears and times with you!!!
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