Tried With Fire

It's my turn at Out of the Ordinary today, and I'm finally posting my review of No Little Women : When it comes to women's discipleship, there is no shortage of ideas. Most people have an opinion about what it is, what should be taught, and even whether it is necessary or not. There is also no shortage of material that is marketed for this purpose. Some is good but much is not very good at all. What is the average Christian woman to do? Thankfully,  Aimee Byrd  has tackled this often sensitive topic in her latest book,  No Little Women: Equipping All Women in the Household of God .  If you are looking for tips on how to do women's ministry "right," there is helpful and practical advice to be gleaned, but this book is much more than that. Read the rest of the review here ...

In perusing the blogsphere, I have read many posts challenging women to exercise discernment in regard to the resources they use. Concerns have been raised about: - Hermeneutics. How does the author interpret scripture? - Commitment to the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible. - The subtle incorporation of New Age mysticism. - Shared platforms and endorsements by questionable teachers, e. g. Word of Faith/prosperity gospel teachers - Ecumenicism that muddies the gospel. - Inadequate recognition of sin and calls for repentance. - Legalism that supplants the gospel. I could list more, but you get the point. People may have varying degrees of discomfort over the meat-to-bone ratio and which issues are deal-breakers, but I think we would agree that it is wise to consider who is teaching and what is being taught. Given the recent debate over the Trinity and more specifically the relationship between the Father and the Son, it's worth repeating the question t...

The discussion continues about women's ministry, blogging, writing, platforms, etc. Deb gave a little blogging history that was new to me, and there have been additional posts from Lisa ,  Aimee , and Debi . However, after letting my thoughts simmer a bit more since Monday , I had an epiphany of sorts. I am a firm supporter of a Word-based ministry for women. I strongly believe we need to start with who God is and what His Word says about Himself, the Gospel, and who we are in Christ. Based on this foundation, appropriate application will follow. However, I don't believe my gift is to specifically  teach the Word to women. I know sisters who are passionate about this, but as for me? I don't think I have this calling. So where does this leave me? As I was trying to find an answer, I began to ask myself, what is my passion? What has been my goal for my daughter, the most important younger woman in my life? These questions were in the back of my mind as we were ...

Last week, Lisa and Aimee got the ball rolling with their posts ( here and here ) on women's ministry and specifically where middle-aged women fit into the picture. As a woman in her 50's, I appreciate that my friends have started this discussion, so if you haven't read their posts, please do. However, I want to take a step back even further and consider what are the expectations of women's ministry ? I've broken this one question into three sub-questions which have spawned even more, so consider yourself forewarned. Who is the focus of women's ministry? The go-to verses about women's ministry are Titus 2:3-5, older women teaching younger women what is good. There is no question of the need to train those who will carry on after we are gone. But is this the sum total of what women's ministry should be? Namely, is the focus only on the younger generation? If so, could this lead to the possibility of older saints falling through the cracks? What is the...

On Sunday evening, we had a full house. There were eighteen women crammed in my home for the church's ladies' social. It was a fun evening with great food, as always, lots of laughter and talk. We could divide between two rooms during the meal, but afterwards for the "serious" time, everyone squeezed in the sun room filling every available chair and parking on the floor. I picked the topic of Christian friendship because this is an area that I need growth. I'm close as I can be with my daughter which is a wonderful blessing, but God has also placed me in a local church with women who can help me in my walk and vice versa. That's not going to happen if I hold myself back and only let down my guard but so much. Sometimes it's conscious and sometimes not. Maybe that's why online friendships are a bit easier because you reveal even less of yourself in what you write. We had a great discussion. The women were candid, open, and I think we all wanted to g...

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Thus saith the familiar proverb. Tonight the ladies in our church will begin a series of "fishing" lessons. Not casting or tying lures but lessons in biblical hermeneutics. The teaching pastor recently taught this course at a seminary in Uganda, and now it's our turn to be the students. We will still need to hear the preaching of the Word. We will still need the fellowship of the local church. We will still read books. But teach a woman how to properly interpret the Bible and you've opened the treasure house of the only authoritative means whereby God speaks to His people. Some might think this is an impractical academic exercise. I would respectively disagree. If we want to be godly women, we need to know who God is.  If we want to obey and please Him, we need to know His commands Where else will learn this but in the Word? Granted there are plenty...

Nancy Guthrie's 2nd session dealt with hearing Jesus speak to us when it seems God has broken His promises. What do you do when there is a conflict between what the Bible says and your experience? Jesus was willing to heal the leper in Mark 1, but He seems unwilling to respond in your case. Psalm 91 relates God's protection over His people, but what do you do when you or a loved one was left unprotected? We need to remember that the primary focus of Jesus' ministry was not physical healing but spiritual healing. Leprosy is a picture of an even more fatal disease, sin, which has infected all of us. Jesus came to rid us of a disease that kills the soul, not just the body. Yes, Jesus did heal people while on earth, but they eventually died. The healing He gives from sin is not partial but permanent which we will experience forever in eternity. If this leaves us disappointed, it shows that we really don't think sin is that big of a deal. Jesus came to protect us but not...

We were blessed to hear Nancy Guthrie speak last night at Sovereign Grace, Chesapeake. Her first talk was on suffering and hearing Jesus speak through the Word when the pain can't be prayed away. I'm hoping to decipher my notes and post more, God willing, but here are a few quotes. Sometimes God glorifies Himself by delivering us from the suffering  But oftentimes, He glorifies Himself by delivering us through the suffering. Faith is not measured by our ability to manipulate God to get what we want. Faith is measured by our ability to submit to what God wants. Jesus responded by not giving Paul the healing he asked for, but He gave Him more of Himself. His grace will be delivered in the form, timing, and quantity in which it is needed.  Looking forward to learning more today....

I've been listening to these talks from the Gospel Coalition Women's Conference re: word-based women's ministry ( here , here , and here ). Concurrently, I've been realizing my own lack in really understanding the importance of the Word and the singularity of the Word as the sole source of authoritative revelation of God from God. It's better late than never, but part of me wishes that I had been taught how to read, study, and rightly value the Word a long time ago. But reading and studying involved the mind, and the mind was somehow at odds with the Holy Spirit. Or so it was taught and inferred. During a severe trial, I read the Word night and day. But I was looking for messages from God about me and my situation rather than the revelation of who He is and letting that change me and my perspective. To make matters worse, a friend, who I looked to as a spiritual mentor, advised me that I could only take verses as promises from God when the Holy Spirit "an...