Yesterday and today, I (Eliza) attended a women’s event at our church, Crosspoint Baptist. It was not a fluffy gathering, but rather a “kick in the pants” provided by the guest speaker Susie Walther. The theme of the event was: “To train up a woman.” Susie definitely provided a wake up call for the women present, letting us know that far too many women have grown comfortable in their Christianity. Jesus did not leave Heaven to make disciples and die a gruesome death in order for us to go to church once or twice a week. Here are my notes from the sessions:

Session One: The need for the “Older Woman”

God is drawing women to Himself. God is bringing women into the church doors. We don’t have to go out looking for women to reach. Women make up 61% of church goers in America.

The 6 types of women:
*Unsaved
*Spiritually prideful (they think they know a lot because they grew up in the church, or have been coming to church for a long time)
*Lukewarm
*Cheap Grace woman (coming to church, yet living an immoral lifestyle)
*Well-churched but not a disciple
*Hungry woman (what every small group wants, a woman that wants to grow and change)

How does God intend to equip women spiritually?
Through “Older Women”, mentors and disciples
Titus 2:3-5 The key verse of the weekend.

“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.”

The “older woman” in this Titus passage refers to a mature believer, giver, doer, a woman who uses her gifts for the benefit of the Body of Christ, has a daily quiet time, studies Scripture, prayers, and memorizes Scripture.

The older woman is commanded to teach and train younger women to be reverent, pure, self-controlled, to manage their homes, and love their husband and children. Susie encouraged us take ownership of this passage. It is a command.

Sadly, most women who come to church are only church-goers, not laborers. Church is a vehicle for bringing God’s Kingdom to earth. We are not intended to merely attend church once or twice a week, and then go back to living like the rest of the world.

Women crave leadership. Women need relationships. We were called to go and make disciples, not church-goers.

How our personal involvement benefits others:
Colossians 1:28-29
Hebrews 3:12-14 (God has given us enough time to reach others)
Hebrews 10:24-25
1 Corinthians 4:15-16 and Hebrews 13:7
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Proverbs 27:17

God wants us to have a lifetime of ministry. Ministry is not an event, but a lifestyle. This is how God designed Christianity. God is working 24 hours a day; so is satan.

Session Two: Where women desperately need help

Do you live each day expecting God is going to do something in you? God will always meet you at your expectation. If it appears that He’s not doing much, it is because of our unbelief. Everyday God wants to use you. Expect that. Pray and expect that God will use you to lead someone to Christ.

Where to Begin:

Cultivate a quiet time, a time to study the Word

Choose to obey: be a Titus 2 woman, step out of your comfort zone. Someone else needs you!

Join a women’s bible study group for accountability

Expect to be part of God’s work on earth

Make a choice to pray for women and ask God to let you walk alongside a woman whom you can minister.

Choose to look for that woman. This starts with an invitation. Then initiate conversation, asking where she is in the word of God, or ask about her story and tell her yours.