As we continue this series taken from breakout sessions at the 2013 Women’s Forum, consider the focus of your women’s ministry. Is it events, fellowship or is it making disciples? Consider that question as you read this post from guest blogger, speaker and conference leader Karen Alexander-Doyel.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 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
Becoming a Christian is only the start. Going on to maturity and becoming an effective disciple is all the rest. We have churches filled with Christians, but not disciples. How do we remedy that problem?
Discipleship can be described as parenting in the spiritual. We want to grow Christians in maturity and teach them the disciplines of the faith. Avery Willis in Master Life explains it like this:
“Developing a lifelong, obedient relationship with Jesus Christ in which He transforms your character into Christlikeness, changes your values into Kingdom values, and involves you in His mission in the home, the church and the world.”
That explanation is long, but take time to read it again. I want to be obedient, I want to be transformed, I want Kingdom values and I certainly want to be used by God and involved in His mission. Is that what you want for yourself and for your women? That is discipleship and it means we must become intentional about making disciples and helping women connect with God from spiritual birth to Heaven!
Let me give you some resources that will help you begin the discipleship journey.
The Invested Life: Making Disciples of All Nations One Person at a Time, Joel C. Rosenberg & Dr. T. E. Koshy.
Master Life: The Growing Disciples Series, Avery T Willis, Jr.
Mentor: How Along the Way Discipleship Will Change Your Life, Chuck Lawless
These are great books that will give you specific helps as you begin to disciple your women. Of course, the essential ingredient for growth is always going to be exposure to Biblical Truth – God’s Word!
As always, when we obey God the blessings are not measurable. As I have discipled, I have learned what it means to be a disciple and grown more than the women I was leading. It is time to “Go and Make Disciples”!
Karen Alexander-Doyel is a speaker and conference leader, former pastor’s wife, and Lifeway Ministry Multiplier from Lenoir City, TN. She is a writer for the Tennessee Baptist Convention Ministers’ Wives blog . Karen was married to Dr. Douglas R. Alexander, former pastor of First Baptist Church, Lenoir City, Tennessee until his untimely death a few years ago. They served in ministry in Texas, New Mexico, Arkansas, Ohio and Tennessee. Karen established and led women’s ministries in each church she attended and is a conference leader and writes and teaches Bible studies. She especially has a heart for ministers’ wives and wants to help them love their special calling in ministry. Karen is married to Jim Doyel and is the mother of three grown sons.
