Do you hear it?
Do you sense it?
There’s a subtle shift happening in women’s ministry.
Women across the world are stepping up and taking part.
There’s a movement amongst women to get personal.
Build relationships.
Be authentic.
Women are inviting their friends and neighbors into their homes to share life and to share Jesus.
Women aren’t just attending Bible studies at church; they are hosting Bible studies in their homes. Inviting friends and neighbors.
God is moving on the hearts of many to reach out into their communities. To embrace the missional field they live in.
Women are bringing the church home.
As I was recently reading Amy Lively’s new book, How to Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird
(affiliate link) one particular sentence really rocked my world. It was: “But Jesus didn’t invite people to church.”
The truth in that statement jarred me. He didn’t. He met people where they were. He visited them in their homes. He loved them in their neighborhood.
He didn’t ask them to come to the Mother’s Day Tea or Women’s Ministry Retreat. He didn’t ask them to step out of their comfort zone and into His world. He cared more about their comfort than their attendance at a church function.
Women can meet Jesus in your home.
Women can meet Jesus at the park in your neighborhood.
Women can meet Jesus on a soccer field in Vegas (just ask my friend Becki).
In this age of Facebook friends and Instagram followers, women are yearning to connect with each other.
Now I’m not saying we can’t have online friends, I have several. And I love them dearly.
However, God has created us to be in relationship. He commands us to love our neighbor. The one living in a house, not online, right next door.
What are you doing to equip and encourage your women to reach out and love their neighbors?
Maybe they need to be trained to lead a Bible study in their home?
Maybe they just need your permission and encouragement? Are we threatened or discouraged when women choose to attend a Bible study in someone’s home, rather than at church? Do our feathers get ruffled?
Maybe they need to walk through a book, like How to Love Your Neighbor Without Being Weird (affiliate link), and brainstorm ideas with the group for reaching their neighbors.
Maybe they need prayer.
Maybe they need permission to choose their neighborhood block party over a church event.
Maybe they need to practice conversation starters.
Your turn to share: What do your women need to go out and love their neighbors?
Want more ideas, check out these resources and sites:
(affiliate link included below)
Embrace
IF: Table
Grace Table
How to Love Your Neighbor
NBS2Go
Neighbor’s Table
Praise and Coffee
The Art of Neighboring: Building Genuine Relationships Right Outside Your Door
The Turquois Table
You may also want to read:
How to Love Your Neighbor
Answering the Call for Biblical Hospitality
One year ago: Double-Duty Door Prize Slips
Two years ago: Women’s Ministry Bingo (Free Printable)
Thanks for all the encouraging words to help me along my way as God is growing our women’s ministry at Alden Baptist church in Springfield Massachusetts.
Thank you, Patricia! <3
This was such a great post. I had a friend ask me to do a women’s Bible study in her home and at first I thought why not just join this study, at church, there are really great women there and it is already established. It didn’t take long for me to have these similar thoughts. Meet them where they are. A small relaxed setting may just be more inviting for some. It doesn’t have to be a large group just women building each other up and doing life together. We haven’t started yet but I am going to share this post it was so encouraging. Thanks.
Thanks Jaime! Be sure to check out my latest Bible study review “We Saved You a Seat” it might be a great study to do with your future group. Praying for God to go before you, prepare the hearts of the women you’ll ask, and for Him to smooth your path.
So exciting! Loved this blog post!!!
Thanks, Gina! 🙂 I think it still rings true a year later!