Discipleship is the part of the Great Commission often overlooked. We skip past the middle section of this passage when we evangelize the lost and then leave them where they are with little or no Bible knowledge.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.” – Matt. 28:18-20.
Then there are those women who’ve been in church from childhood who sense a lack of depth in their understanding or struggle to find their place in the church. They could use a little help.
Discipleship or Mentoring?
Explained to me in a fashion that drew clear lines: one-on-one discipleship focuses on learning and ends when the biblical materials end, but mentoring extends to all of life and can last a lifetime. Mature believers better understand which women might be teachable, trainable, and worthy of the time involved in discipleship.
The teaching woman would begin their scheduled times with an evaluation to determine starting and jumping-off points. More mature believers can also help another woman discern resources; they can recommend sound teaching, books, and materials they have used and discredit those not biblically sound.
Helpful Resources
I’m sharing the link to a page on my website with links to printable resources, videos, audio, and articles I use for discipleship. Something fun is that I have put together a custom manual I am now using. Just as I’m wrapping up my teaching in the Sunday evening class, God has given me more opportunities to pass on those things I’ve learned so I might disciple other women.
Feel free to contact me should you have questions on the manual if you engage in discipleship yourself. Follow this link to enjoy the page entitled Discipleship/Mentoring Resources. You might also find the page “Defining Your Faith/Theological Education helpful.
Debbie Swindell 