Gloria Furman explains how to encourage Christian women to become followers of other women, even if they feel inadequate, as they really are; this in a simple and natural way places us as incompetent people, however, with Jesus’ promise that being with us every day and reminds us that we have the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. God has given us, to all believers in Christ, the great commission to make disciples.
Renata Gandolfo: Gloria, I read the book Ministry of Women, and there is a text by Kristie that talks about the difficulties of older sisters in feeling able to empower young sisters How can we encourage women to adopt spiritual girls?
Gloria Furman: Yes?
Every time women tell me that they feel unable to carry out this ministry, I say, “Of course I do. “Of course you are. You’re right Why, first of all, is this true?.
Second, even if I take a woman’s experience and say, “No, I think you have this, this, and this,” if you feel incapable, you will find excuses. “Ah, it’s not this and it’s not that. ” Is not sufficient. So, I agree with them. ?Yes of course. You are incapable. This is how God created you. You’re a person. You have human limits. We have so many hours a day. This is the moment in life you are in. These are your physical limits. It is the Christian life that you have. You have that kind of experience. But listen, you have the Holy Spirit. You have the Word of God. Jesus said: “And behold, I am with you every day until the end of the age. ” He has given you his great mission to go and make disciples. It was something that he gave to all of us, not just the people he thought he could do, because no one is. None of his disciples were alone. That is why we have the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. You may feel helpless due to your assumptions and expectations. So think about what they are and if they match the expectations the Bible has for us. What the Bible expects of us is that we are totally depraved people who are saved by grace through faith, we lean on Jesus and walk the same way we were saved. You are saved by grace by faith and you walk daily by grace by faith. Can you do this in front of another woman? And everyone should answer 😕 Yes. If I can?.
If they say, “No, I still can’t do it,” then it becomes a counseling opportunity where I say, “Why?Are you ashamed? Tell me why?Sometimes it is an opportunity to confess sins and say, “My life does not correspond to the life of a woman who makes disciples and I need to repent. “Or someone will say, “I have this great expectation of having to read so many books or so many memorized things. “Then we say, “Where did you find that number in the Bible?”Show me the number. Then the conversation continues on this line.
So I encourage you, I agree with them: “Yes, you are insufficient, but Jesus Christ and his word are sufficient. “
Renata Gandolfo: What do you think we can do in our churches to change this disciple mentality?
Gloria Furman: To make the mindset of the whole Church, I believe that the whole Church should embrace this, not just the youngest asking the elders: “Please be my disciple. Can you teach me?” The elders also ask the younger one and assume they need to be taught. There’s so much decorum and fear around rejection, like, “What if I talk to her and she says no?”Well, maybe she says no, do you have a problem with that?Can you talk to someone else?Can you get out of bed the next day or is this rejection too heavy to bear?
It’s good to start with questions that go to the heart of the problem, but it’s very helpful and healthy for leaders to serve as role models. If the elders of the Church make disciples in the community and in the church, it is something that influences all. If older women in the church open their homes and hearts, it is something that influences everyone in the church. If the mood is: “Do you live life with me?”And is it something that influences everyone? This doesn’t have to be something like:?Between 8 and 9 a. m. and that’s it!Once a week!? If that’s the state of mind, everyone will follow.
I think it’s leadership that sets the model, but you have to understand that everyone should be disciples. I love hearing pastors talk about their relationship with older men. It’s very encouraging for me, because I think, “You are this age, but you always want to be guided by someone who has walked with the Lord longer. I like that. And when I hear older women talk about how they met older women, it encourages me, because I’m so young. I can still find older women to teach me. I love hearing examples of that.
If you want it to begin in your own church, share with others how you were encouraged by someone older than you. Give a practical example of how you intentionally encouraged someone younger than you. And others will start thinking about examples in their own lives. ? Can I ask that person?Or: “Have I ever done this? They’re starting to see that they’re actually discipeding themselves. It’s also very encouraging.
A practical guide to a Word-centered ministry of women
This book offers a concise discussion about women’s ministry. It does not offer a formula, but a solid set of biblical indicators for the way forward in women’s ministry. The authors establish in Christ the foundation of women’s ministry, showing that the goal is not only for women to know and serve other women, but above all, to know and serve the God Trinity together.
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By: Gloria Furman. © Return to the Gospel. Website: VoltemosAoEvangelho. com All rights are reserved. Translation: Frank Brito Review: André Alosio Oliveira da Silva Original: Discipleship and Ministry of Women Interview VE Gloria Furman.