Her Faith Thrives

Guest Post by Brianna Pradia

Hayden is definitely busier than I am. With a sick husband, home schooling small children, and volunteering in our community, I could never ask her for help.

Stephanie is so much cooler than I am. She’s a little older, much more put together, and has plenty of friends! She doesn’t really need me around.

Leah is just too far away. I only see her once a year and I don’t even know her that well. She would think it was weird if I reached out.

Every young woman in church has a list of reasons they don’t ask you to disciple them. And you have a list of reasons you don’t ask them. You don’t know enough, you don’t have the time, you aren’t really someone they would look up to anyway. Or maybe you’ve never had someone in your life who set a good example of mentorship. But discipleship is not an optional “add-on” to the mission of the church, it is an essential component of the Family of God.

Discipleship is a priority for our Savior. His parting command after his resurrection underscores the importance of nurturing new believers to know and walk in the truth, “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” (Matthew 28:19).

Discipleship doesn’t stop there! Throughout the New Testament, we are called to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), admonish one another (Colossians 3:16), and comfort each other (2 Corinthians 1:4). As women, we have a special call to come alongside other women and teach them what the truth of Scripture looks like in practical life circumstances (Titus 2:3-5). The common thread through each of these passages is this – the Christian life isn’t meant to be lived alone. Community is essential to growth in truth and godliness!

So why doesn’t every Christian disciple someone? Many times, it is our own misconceptions and unrealistic expectations that get in the way.

1. Discipleship doesn’t have to fit into a program “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9 Notice this verse doesn’t just talk about the teaching the Apostle Paul has diligently shared with the church. He also lived out the truth of scripture in a way they could imitate. He provided practical examples of boldness, patience, a servant’s heart, and more that gave the members of the church in Philippi a pattern to follow in walking out the truth.There are tons of great Bible Studies and discipleship programs out there if you have the time and inclination to use them. But don’t underestimate the power of simply inviting younger women into your life. Ask a college student if she wants to study at your kitchen table, or invite a young mom to coordinate grocery trips. Just living together provides an example of godliness that means more than you will ever know.
2. Discipleship doesn’t have to have all the answers If you, like me, don’t speak Greek or Hebrew and don’t have a seminary degree just yet, it may be intimidating to take a mentorship role in a younger woman’s life. Just thinking about all the questions you still have might lead you to believe you couldn’t possibly have the wisdom to contribute! But God never asked us to know everything, He only asks us to do two things; love him and love other people (Matthew 22:37-40). It isn’t about how much you know. Discipleship is simply about loving your sister enough to seek the truth together. Practicing discipleship can be a great opportunity to learn alongside one another. Work together to ask good questions, and then find sound resources to help you both grow in your understanding. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love (Eph 4:15-16).
3. Discipleship doesn’t have to be a huge success We all know of Bible teachers today who have written books and recorded lectures and influenced women all around the globe. But many more faithful men and women will make an impact on the kingdom than we can never even imagine. Being a faithful witness to the few women God has placed around you day by day, is of infinite value. And God sees. “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do” (Hebrews 6:10). Investing in one person consistently brings glory to Christ. One life changed makes an impact on eternity.

Each of the women above made an immeasurable impact on me just by showing up.

Watching Stephanie walk out faithfulness as a single woman heading into her in 30s gave me courage to face each new season of life trusting in God’s goodness. And her practical advice, many times just in passing, sticks with me to this day. 

Hayden invited me over for dinner again, and again, and again, even when her house was messy and they were eating leftovers. She did my laundry when I moved to a new apartment, and looked over my schedule with me when I was praying about taking on new responsibilities. We’ve led Bible Study together, but we’ve also just called on the phone and cried together.

I’ve been calling Leah once a month for about 5 years to catch up and pray. We’ve shared so many heartfelt burdens, and seen so many answers to prayer even though I live about 5 hours from her and never see her more than twice a year.

Practical Discipleship Tools

Every woman in the church has what it takes to make disciples of Christ. Consider these simple tools you already have at your disposal:

Your phone! Call a sister weekly, monthly, ask her what the Lord is doing in her life and pray for her. Consistency in bringing her before the Throne of Grace will do more for her than anything you could ever say.

Your dinner table. Reach out to a sister in Christ and invite her to dinner at your home. You can also invite her to join you for a kids play date or you wherever you are in life right now. It doesn’t have to be fancy, and you don’t have to be the picture-perfect “host.” You’ll have interruptions, you’ll have to discipline kids, and you probably won’t finish an entire topic. But it will be a great start for building a relationship that makes a difference.

A good book. Meet up once a week (or once every other week) and read a book together. Need a head start on book selection? Try What is the Gospel? By Greg Gilbert, In His Image, or anything by Jen Wilkin, or Grace for the Good Girl, by Emily P. Freeman. If you can’t make time for a coffee date, sit down at your kitchen table or discuss the book over the phone.

Your coffee break. If you’re a busy professional, take time on one lunch break or coffee break each week to send a text with an encouraging verse and ask for prayer requests. That’s it. You’re investing in discipleship!

Hungry to learn more about practical discipleship? Read The Gospel Comes with a Housekey, by Rosaria Butterfield.

Reflection Questions:

• Who has made an impact on your life, just by showing up?
• Which lies are keeping you from investing in intentional discipleship?
• Which setting works best for you to begin discipleship, the phone, the dinner table, or the playground?
• Who can you reach out to today and begin building a discipleship relationship?

First and foremost, Brianna is a disciple of Jesus Christ. She is the third of nine kids and her family is very close to her heart. It has been one of her greatest joys to watch her siblings grow into faithful men and women of God and pursue His calling on their lives. Brianna loves her church and investing in meaningful community. She is passionate about discipleship, Bible Study, and clearly communicating truth. She a lover of all things coffee, and likes to read, explore the outdoors, cook, and sing. You can find her on Instagram as @briannapradia or online at sofaithful.com

For Further Encouragement

Were you encouraged by this blog post? I would love to connect with you on our special Her Faith Thrives Newsletter which goes out every other month. In each newsletter, I share a short reflection about how I’m growing in my faith during this season of life. Plus, I’ll be sending you some fantastic resources to inspire and guide you on your own faith journey. When you subscribe, you will receive my all-time favorite tool for making your Daily Quiet Time truly meaningful. It’s called “From Routine to Reverence: 3 Simple Steps to a Deeper Daily Quiet Time.” I can’t wait to hear how it helps you deepen your time in God’s Word.