Titus 2 & Discipleship – Why is it so hard to do? Fear? Guilt? Part 2 of my thoughts…
Last time I shared about the women that discipled me and invested in my life. Guess this is why I am so passionate to continue to exhort women to look around and ask God to burden women for this kind of ministry…it’s a command, not a suggestion! ONE ANOTHERING – Woman 2 Woman
In the absence of “one anothering” each other, women are looking to blogs, Facebook, Ellen, Oprah, Dr. Phil or Dr. Laura to get wisdom – because we are not doing our commanded job… Let’s take a real honest look at why we must obey scripture and be discipling each other.
WHY WE DON’T DO IT:
Reasons I hear: rejection, pride, life is busy, don’t see the need…but what are the real issues:
DO YOU NEED TO overcome SOME ISSUES?
Fear:
Sinful fear keep us from building any of our relationships the way we should.
Some older women may assume that it would be impolite for them to start telling younger women how to manage as wives and mothers or how to practice self-control and kindness.
They may think that since culture is always changing, and what is common for women today was not when they were the same age, they have nothing pertinent to offer.
They may fear that they will give the impression that they are know it alls.Privacy issues: I don’t want anyone to know my business: Eph. 5: 8-14 – shining the light – exposing the “secret” ? Do we have a mask on? Do we always look like we have it together? We post the ‘best of’ on Facebook, but hide the real us.
Independence – “I can do this on my own! I don’t need any help.” Women need each other. We are not meant to do this walk of faith alone, it’s a community.
Said of Phoebe, A servant of the church at Cenchrea; Romans 16:2 “help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many and of myself as well.”
Individualism – Don’t wait for a church to do an “official program”, ask the Lord for ways you can begin building relationships. OPEN UP & BECOME TRANSPARENT – It isn’t all about you!
From Women’s Ministry to the Local Church” by Susan Hunt & J Ligon Duncan
“The leaders of a women’s ministry must be unyielding in their commitment to the principles of discipleship presented in Titus 2. They must be equally diligent in calling and equipping women to assume their generational responsibility to learn from older women and to train younger women. Whether women are teaching a women’s Bible Study or a class of teenage girls, chairing a women’s retreat committee or singing in the choir, decorating for a women’s outreach event or serving on the church’s mission committee, they should be intentionally training or learning from other women. Women discipling women is not just a program – it is the covenant lifestyle of redeemed women. And it is the responsibility of the women’s ministry to equip them for this mission. Someone is teaching women’s principles of womanhood. Is it the church or the world?
Above all, leaders of women must pray for the women they lead. Pray that God will raise up a generation of women who will declare, “O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God do not forsake me until I proclaim your might to another generation” Psalm 71:17-18
WHY DO IT?
It’s a command, not a suggestion! But it is a powerful blessing as well!
Instead of older women feeling useless, they will be respected and honored in the church. Rather than younger women feeling frustrated and alone in learning about life, they will feel the support and care of the more experienced women. The church will be stronger and healthier as its members minister to each other biblically. What could be a more worthy goal?
PSALM 145: 4 “One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.”
I THESS. 2:7-8 “Be we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children. Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us.”
Blessings, Kristi
ShowMeAgain Lord- @KristiBarefoot 
Love your thoughts Kristi – – in fact parts of Psalm 71 and 73 are part of my “Uni-ulogy” for the future. Psalm 71:18 has provided added resources for other adventures in life . . . like flying to Missouri! Love and hugs to you Dear Kristi! Eye’m Smilin’ for Him!
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