Women's Discipleship BY JOY MARTIN WHITE G od created men and women equally in His image, yet also created them with God-glorifying differences. While all Christian discipleship should cause us to be conformed to the image of Christ, gender distinctions between men and women result in some differences in methods and content in the discipleship process.
A discipleship relationship for women can take on many forms including quality conversation over a cup of coffee to going through an intensive doctrinal study. It can be meeting a few times a week walking and talking about life, to a focusing on prayer and accountability. The format of the discipleship relationship is not of prime importance. What matters most is that the relationship brings glory to the Lord, drawing you both closer to Christ. As you disciple young women, point them to Christ. Teach them truth. Be transparent. Have a listening ear. Provide godly wisdom. Pray for them. Every discipleship relationship is unique. I have been blessed with multiple women who actively discipled me through various Every discipleship relationship is unique" seasons of my life. Susie Robertson encouraged me in spiritual disciplines such as prayer and Scripture memory. Dorothy Patterson instilled in me a love for and trust in the Word of God. Betsy Owens taught me by example how to be a better wife and mom. I praise the Lord for the diverse ways He used these godly women in my life. Beyond that, do not forget about some of the more practical components of women’s discipleship that are often overlooked. In Titus 2, Paul provides instruction for different groups in the church based on age and gender. He admonishes older women to teach younger women how
to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, all so that the Word of God not be reviled (Titus 2:4-5). Many of the things on this list are counter-cultural, even in the church, yet they are a part of the timeless and divinely-inspired women’s discipleship curriculum laid out in Scripture. When I teach women’s ministry at Word of Life Bible Institute, I challenge every young lady to have someone more spiritually mature who can pour into them (a Paul), a friend in a similar stage of life for accountability (a Barnabas), and someone younger in the faith that they can actively disciple (a Timothy). The Christian life is richer for both men and women when we have all three of these iron sharpening iron relationships (Proverbs 27:17). Examine your own life. Do you currently have a Paul, a Timothy, and a Barnabas? If not, pray that the Lord provides you with these relationships. Do not be afraid to step up and disciple someone. It doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult. If you are a believer actively pursuing Christ, you have something to offer to someone. Discipleship is a multiplying ministry. Think about this. If during your lifetime you disciple twopeople, who in turndisciple two more people, etc., in ten generations you will have over 2,000 spiritual descendants. But if you disciple four people, who in turn disciple four people, etc., by the tenth generation you will have over 1,000,000 spiritual descendants? Discipleship is truly a multiplicative ministry; therefore, ladies, let’s go make disciples!
Joy Martin White
Joy resides in Cedarville, Ohio, with her husband, Thomas, who serves as President of Cedarville University. Joy stays busy serving alongside her husband and homeschooling their two children, Rachel and Samuel. Joy also teaches a Biblical Theology of Womanhood course at Cedarville and a Women’s Ministry course at Word of Life Bible Institute. She also enjoys leading a Bible study for the Cedarville Women’s Soccer team, discipling students, and hosting student groups in their home.
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