then jesus told his disciples, “if anyone would€¦ · twelve ordinary men: how the master...

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A 10 Week Women’s Bible Study

On Encouraging & Strengthening Others

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would

come after me, let him deny himself and take up

his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24

Compiled by Andrea Plotner

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Table of Contents

Page 1 - Cover

- Table of Contents

Page 3 - How to Facilitate This Study

Page 4 - Week 1: Why Disciple?

Page 5 - Week 2: Who (Who Me?)

Page 6 - Week 3: Who (Disciple Whom?)

Page 7 - Week 4: What (To Talk About)

Page 8 - Week 5: Where (To Meet)

Page 9 - Week 6: When (And How Often)

Page 10 - Week 7: How (Loving God)

Page 11 - Week 8: How (Loving Others)

Page 12 - Week 9: Prayer and Discipleship

Page 13 - Week 10: Preparation for Discipleship

Page 14 – Acknowledgements

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How to Facilitate This Study This study is about more than being a good influence or a good friend. It’s about

growing in the skill of intentional Biblical discipleship of women in your life.

This study is designed for a 1-hour class and homework is “light” but practical.

Weekly homework includes a Hand’s On Challenge plus a Bible Memorization.

Participants need only a Bible, a blank notebook, and a copy of this study.

There is no separate leader’s guide. Teaching prompts are in the text.

In class, use a whiteboard for brainstorming and inductive Bible study lists.

Consider having two facilitators – a primary and a facilitator-in-training. This

becomes a discipleship relationship in itself, developing the spiritual gifts of others.

Also, two can help “share the care” and follow up with other participants.

Suggested 1-hour format might look like this:

o Welcome and ask for feedback on weekly challenge [5 mins.]

o Discuss Warm Up Question [10 mins.]

o Read (aloud or quietly) Main Idea [5 mins.]

o Facilitator guides inductive Bible study using white board [15 mins.]

o Review upcoming Hands On Challenge and weekly Memory Verse

(homework) and ask if there are any questions [5 mins]

o Discuss obstacles to weekly challenge “forewarned is forearmed!”[10 mins.]

o Group prayer [10 mins.]

Although many resources are listed, God’s Word is our only infallible guide. For

wisdom in a particular area, start with a key word search of Scripture.

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Week 1: Why Disciple? Warm Up Question: What is your name and what are your expectations for this class?

Read & Discuss: We disciple out of obedience and love, and to follow Jesus’ example.

Mike and Carrie serve as full-time staff of a college ministry. Discipleship is essentially what

they do for a living. Here’s how they define the what and why of discipleship:

“Discipleship is the work of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through the relational

process by which a Christian with a life worth emulating commits himself for an extended

period of time to a few spiritually hungry individuals who have been evangelized, the

purpose being to establish them in their growth to maturity and equip them to reproduce

their lives to third generation disciples.” ~Alan Hadidian

To this end, Mike and Carrie engage in what they call “Life on Life” discipleship. They invest

in those who are faithful, available and teachable. Their mentoring includes weekly Bible

study, sharing a meal or running errands, and missional opportunities such as evangelism

and service projects. It’s hard to mask habits and heart motivations when spending a lot of

time with others, thus Mike and Carrie find that real transformation takes place in

community. It doesn’t take “professionals” to disciple, but it’s helpful to learn from them!

Inductive Bible Study: Read Matthew 28:18-20 and fill in the chart below. Facilitator can use

a white board and students can use notebook or the back of page for more space.

What I Learn About God: Promises to Claim: Instructions to Obey:

Hands-On Challenge: Using your notebook, write out this week’s memory verse once daily

and journal a prayer in response asking God to grow your capacity to disciple others.

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 28:18-20

Obstacle to Discuss: Jesus chose twelve and invested deeply. What makes this challenging?

Group Prayer: Facilitator or willing volunteer prays aloud for obstacles to be overcome.

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Week 2: Who (Who Me?) Warm Up Question: Can you think of someone whose very life is an example to others?

Read & Discuss: Brooke is a young wife and mother. As a teen, she was discipled by her

mom’s friend, while her mom underwent cancer treatment. Brooke simply “did life” with

this woman, running errands and such, and spent many hours at her house learning to sew.

We often feel inadequate or lacking the words to disciple, but we can give the gift of

ourselves. Paul reinforces this idea in 2 Thessalonians 2:8: “Because we loved you so much,

we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”

Dallas Willard, in The Spirit of the Disciplines says this about living a life of devotion and

service, “My central claim is that we can become like Christ by doing one thing – by following

him in the overall style of life he chose for himself…We can, through faith and grace, become

like Christ by practicing the types of activities he engaged in, by arranging our whole lives

around the activities he himself practiced in order to remain constantly at home in the

fellowship of his Father. What activities did Jesus practice? Such things as solitude and

silence, prayer, simple and sacrificial living, intense study and meditation upon God’s Word

and God’s ways, and service to others.” How often and how well do we really serve others?

For a fantastic and funny book on serving your family sacrificially, read Loving the Little Years

by Rachel Jankovic. This resource can also be a great tool for mentoring young mothers.

Inductive Bible Study: Read 2 Thessalonians 2:8, quoted above, and fill in the chart.


Hands-On Challenge: Invite someone to “do life” by running errands together this week.

Memory Verse(s): 2 Thessalonians 2:8

Obstacle to Discuss: What might keep you from inviting someone to run errands this week?

Group Prayer: Turn to a partner and pray selflessness and sacrificial living for each other.

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Week 3: Who (Disciple Whom?) Warm Up Question: Can you think of a time an older woman encouraged you?

Read & Discuss: Patrice, a prayer warrior and wisdom-seeker, was first mentored in her late

teens/early twenties by her mother’s friend who led a women’s Bible study in her home.

Though in the midst of significant personal trials, this woman exuded Godly trust and

confidence in His Word. In turn, Patrice has had the opportunity to lead small groups and

extend care to the women who participate. A tool Patrice likes to use in discipling others is

MILK, a Growth Booklet for New Christians by Jerry Dean which covers salvation, how to

study the Word, prayer, the Church, sharing your faith, baptism, and more.

Here are a few other resources on basic Christian beliefs, practices, and discipleship:

The Wheel Illustration and ACTS prayer model ( http://www.navigators.org/Tools)

The Gospel Centered Life by New Growth Press

A Woman After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George

Life on Life materials (www.perimeter.org)

Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness

and What He Wants to Do with You by John MacArthur

The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert E. Coleman (forward by Billy Graham)

Our Daily Bread devotional guide (www.odb.org)

Inductive Bible Study: Read Titus 2:3-5 and fill in the chart below.


Hands-On Challenge: Research the discipleship tools above and share one this week.

Memory Verse(s): Titus 2:3-5

Obstacle to Discuss: What makes being “disciplined” to meet God daily difficult?

Group Prayer Time: Journal a private prayer asking God to make discipleship real in your life.

http://www.perimeter.org/

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Week 4: What (To Talk About) Warm Up Question: Do you have a trusted technique for getting into God’s word & prayer?

Read & Discuss: When we disciple others, we help them become followers or imitators of

Christ, imparting what He has given us. This end-state should guide the content, or the

“what” of discipleship. What are we doing as we meet? When Jesus was asked the most

important commandment, he said this: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart

and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a

second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:38-39)

As we mentor others, then, we should focus on activities that 1) help them to know and love

God more, 2) help them to love those in their lives more sacrificially, and 3) demonstrate our

own love and care for those with whom we meet. Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, “They

don’t care what you know until they know you care.” Consider Trude’s experiences:

Trude is a wife, mother, grandmother and Bible teacher who leads a college women’s

Sunday School class. Thus she frequently finds herself meeting with young women in the

midst of major life decisions and hungry for Godly advice & prayer. To spark curiosity and

faith, Trude will often walk women through a gospel book such as Matthew or Mark. Trude

acknowledges that discipleship can be both delightful and draining, and requires wisdom.

Inductive Bible Study: Read Matthew 22:36-40 and fill in the chart below.


Hands-On Challenge: Ask at least one woman this week what’s going on in her life. Listen.

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 22:38-39

Obstacle to Discuss: What are obstacles to meaningful conversation and listening well?

Group Prayer Time: Pray through the Lord’s prayer (Matt. 6:9-13) or the ACTS prayer model:

Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication (asking God to supply specific needs).

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Week 5: Where (To Meet) Warm Up Question: Where do you most like to be? At home? At the park? Out to eat, etc.?

Main Idea: Where should you meet to mentor or disciple others? Is there a “right” location?

In mentoring, it can be helpful to consider your own lifestyle as well as the needs and

preferences of those with whom you meet. This sounds obvious, but there really are

contexts in which we’re at our best, in our sweet spots, so to speak. One facet of life we all

have in common is our need to eat and drink, so a shared meal (or snack, or coffee) can be a

good venue for gathering. Jesus himself came eating and drinking (Luke 7:34).

Anna’s story, below, describes three different locales or venues for discipleship. It also helps

us see the power of listening and praying, two of the greatest gifts we can give to others.

Anna is a 27 year old single woman with a missional heart, who has been mentored and also

spends a significant amount of time mentoring others. In college, an older woman from her

church hosted a weekly young women’s Bible study in her home, where she walked

participants through books of the Bible and selflessly shared her life. Anna often meets

others for coffee or fitness activities (hikes, bike rides, etc.). Her go-to question is “How can I

pray for you this week?” Anna finds that being a good listener who is faithful to pray for the

needs shared is a key part of her ministry to others.

Inductive Bible Study: Acts 2:42-47


Hands-On Challenge: Intentionally ask 3+ people how you can pray for them this week.

Memory Verse(s): Acts 2:42

Obstacle to Discuss: What makes it hard to find a convenient place to meet and mentor?

Group Prayer Time: With a new partner, gather and ask “How can I pray for you this week?”

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Week 6: When (and How Often) Warm Up Question: What factors affect when and how often you meet to mentor others?

Read & Discuss: Jeni is a seasoned believer and certified Biblical counselor. As a friend, she

meets once a month for breakfast with a young wife who sought her out. She always begins

their time together with prayer, acknowledging the Holy Spirit as counselor. “Okay, tell me

everything” is Jeni’s go-to question to get the conversation rolling and listens for a common

thread, noting that what is revealed last is often the biggest issue and hardest to share. Jeni

encourages journaling a small bit of Scripture daily, then g to love God andoing out to love

others with less thought of self. In her volunteer counseling role, Jeni usually limits the

meetings to hour long appointments over a six week period to address the issues at hand.

Although there is no “right” formula for the “when and how often” of discipleship, there can

be more effective combinations given the needs and the personalities involved. For informal

counseling, it might create more awkwardness to try to structure things. In formal mentoring

relationships, however, it can be very helpful for both parties to clearly communicate

expectations of when, how often, and for how long you will be meeting.

Inductive Bible Study: Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17, below, and fill in the chart.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction,

and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for

every good work.”


Hands-On Challenge: Find a way to practically serve someone in need this week as a means

of sacrificially giving up some of your own time. Ask God to reveal a life you can touch.

Memory Verse(s): 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Obstacle to Discuss: What time/other constraints are going to limit discipleship for you?

Group Prayer Time: Pray in advance that God would iron out time constraints in mentoring.

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Week 7: How (Loving God) Warm Up Question: Have you ever had to really deny yourself and suffer in following Christ?

Read & Discuss: Self-denial and cross-bearing are not popular concepts, but they are at the

core of following Christ. A Coptic priest in Egypt has a $60 million bounty on his head for

refuting the claims of Islam via social media. When asked if afraid for his life, he replied he

had died years ago (“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And

the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Gal. 2:20).

How intent are we to become like Christ in our present circumstances? As a new bride,

Jessica was mentored by an older woman in her church. This woman offered “Titus Classes”

– night classes during one semester and morning classes the next - each limited to 10

participants. At weekly sessions in her home, this woman served tea and homemade bread,

and participants could arrive early for cooking lessons. The curriculum covered sober-

mindedness, loving your husband and children, discretion, purity, busyness at home,

goodness, and having a submissive heart. At its core, this discipleship experience stressed

the vital necessity of a morning “Quiet Time,” explaining how to hear from God via Bible

reading, praying like Jesus prayed, and journaling. The go-to question Jessica’s mentor asked

was “How many days did you have a Quiet Time this week?” Both women in this vignette

represent Christ-followers trying to live ever-more generously and graciously for God’s glory.

Self-denial, cross-bearing, and following Christ are not just for Coptic priests! Go for radical

and sacrificial love and obedience right where God has placed you!

Inductive Bible Study: Matthew 16:24


Hands-On Challenge: What is one way God is calling you to deny yourself? Do it this week!

Memory Verse(s): Matthew 16:24

Obstacle to Discuss: What fears do I need to face in denying myself and bearing my cross?

Group Prayer Time: Write fears on 3x5 cards, trade, and pray for one another all week.

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Week 8: How (Loving Others) Warm Up Question: What does it look like to be unoffendable in our relationships?

Main Idea: God calls us to “right relationship” with Him and with the people in our lives.

Often this requires “assuming goodwill,” and emptying ourselves of rights and expectations.

Mary came to Christ through the work of a campus pastor and his wife. This couple had

Mary, and later her husband, into their home many times for Bible study and fellowship. If

Mary wanted counsel in a particular area of struggle, she would set up an appointment with

the wife who, over a cup of tea, would lead her straight to relevant Scriptures and exhort her

to “do battle.” Doing battle meant persistently praying over the verse(s) and asking the Lord

to apply His promises. A lasting piece of marriage advice Mary received was this: When right

with the Lord, make a “Respect List” of every quality you admire in your husband, and bring

the list back out when respect doesn’t feel so easy.

Forgiveness is a critical topic and may require professional counsel to fully release past hurts

and experience God’s healing. For further resources on forgiveness please see:

How to be Free from Bitterness by Jim Wilson

Choosing Forgiveness: Your Journey to Freedom by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

www.redeemerarp.org/-what-you-need-to-know-about-forgiveness.html

by Jay E. Adams

Inductive Bible Study: Ephesians 4:31-32


Hands-On Challenge: Ask 3+ people this week how they deal with offense and forgiveness .

Memory Verse(s): Ephesians 4:31-32

Obstacle to Discuss: What is the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation?

Group Prayer Time: With a partner, confess any areas of bitterness or unforgiveness.

http://www.redeemerarp.org/-what-you-need-to-know-about-forgiveness.html

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Week 9: Prayer and Discipleship Warm Up Question: How do you feel when you know someone is praying just for you?

Read & Discuss: Kristi is a wife, mother, and grandmother. About a year ago, she began

fasting for breakthrough in a specific area of life, which had an unexpected side effect: the

Lord began revealing to her people to encourage over email, or over a cup of coffee or tea.

With a deprecating sense of humor, Kristi will say that she dreads these meetings because –

rather than calling on her to share her wisdom – the Lord inevitably prompts her to share

from her struggles and what He is teaching her as a result.

We mentor others out of obedience to Christ, to see them walk in the freedom, abundance,

and joy that Christ enables. This saving and sanctifying work is not ours, but the Spirit’s – we

are merely tools in the Master’s hand. It thus becomes essential to be yoked to God in

prayer, reliant upon His power, protection and more. Some prayer resources:

A Praying Life by Paul Miller

A Woman’s Guide to Fasting by Lisa E. Nelson

The 7-Day Prayer Warrior Experience (Free One-Week Devotional) [Kindle Edition] by Stormie Omartian

Inductive Bible Study: Read Isaiah 55:1-2 and/or John 16:13, filling in the chart below.


Hands-On Challenge: Choose one 24 hour period to fast on behalf of someone in need.

Memory Verse(s): Isaiah 55:1-2 and/or John 16:13

Obstacle to Discuss: What are different ways to fast? What makes fasting challenging?

Group Prayer Time: As a group, discuss and pray God’s enabling for different fasts. My

preferred method (Andrea) is a liquid-only fast from sundown one day to sundown the next.

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Week 10: Preparation for Discipleship Warm Up Question: Assuming you are the one reaching out to others, what feels more

natural to you in this season of life: formal or informal discipleship and mentoring?

Main Idea: This week you get to write your own story! We’ve read several mentoring and

discipleship stories, and now it’s time to envision your own. Given your time, God-given

talents, and resources, let’s map out a personal goal for discipling others. On your own,

answer the questions belowand then share as a group. For your Hands-On Challenge this

week at home, you will develop this more fully into a written plan and ask God to bring it to

fruition as He leads.

Do I feel equipped to disciple? If not, how do I feel that I need to prepare?

Do I feel called to formal or informal discipleship?

Who (or what type of women) do I feel called to mentor or influence?

What are important topics to cover as I mentor? What teaching resources will I use?

Where will I meet with others? In my home? At a park or coffee shop? Via a blog?

When, how often, for how long, and for what duration do I think will work?

Can I explain how to have a saving faith in God? How to have a daily, living faith?

Do I have a firm handle on the need and process of forgiving others?

Am I Christ-like in my prayer habits? How will I regularly pray for those I mentor?

Inductive Bible Study: Read Proverbs 3:3 and James 1:5 and fill in the chart below.


Hands-On Challenge: Develop a written plan for mentoring. Offer it to God for His use!

Memory Verse(s): Proverbs 3:3 and James 1:5 (you can do two!)

Obstacle to Discuss: What are challenges to making our discipleship times meaningful?

Group Prayer Time: With the group, briefly describe how you envision discipling others in

this season. Facilitator closes in corporate prayer asking God to use these willing hearts.

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Acknowledgements Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17

I have the best friends in all the earth – image bearers and world changers giving their lives

away for the good of others and for God’s glory. And I’ve learned so much more about them

by simply asking to hear their discipleship experiences. Do the same with your friends, and

be ready to be inspired!

Many thanks to all whose stories are told in these pages:

Mike & Carrie Meisenheimer (wise beyond their years, plus jigsaw puzzle prodigies)

Brooke Aasen (creative collaborator & fashionista)

Patrice Welcher (kindred spirit & truest friend)

Trude Marston (Bible teacher & role model extraordinaire)

Anna Montgomery (faithful servant & pull-up champ)

Jeni Leidenfrost (patient, prayerful, gingerbread house builder)

Jessica Secrest (teachable spirit, book hunter & jewelry organizer)

Muffy Minnich (esteemed walking partner)

Kristi Mallett (all-in for Jesus with a ready laugh)

And thanks to my precious family, co-authors in our crazy life story:

Todd (hubby and hero)

Everett (handyman most worthy)

Brian (wordsmith and wit)

Nate (snuggler and scamp)

Olive (for choosing me as the alpha-dog)

And above all to Jesus, “the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set

before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of

the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

© Andrea Plotner 2014. Download this study free of cost at www.thehubpwoc.net

http://www.thehubpwoc.net/

then jesus told his disciples, “if anyone would€¦ · twelve ordinary men: how the master...

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