Living in the Overflow by Titus Women

LIVING

overﬂow in the

A GUIDE TO SMALL GROUP ACCOUNTABILITY AROUND PRAYER AND GOD’S WORD

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960,1962,1963,1968,1971,1972,1973,1975, 1977,1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org) Contributing Authors: Linda Boyette, Beth Coppedge, Erin Hill, Fiona Richardson, Stephanie Hogan Editors: Erin Hill, Patricia Culbertson Layout and Design: Vicki New Copyright © 2012 by Titus Women, a ministry of The Francis Asbury Society

____________________________________________________________________ ISBN 978-0-915143-21-4 ____________________________________________________________________

Titus Women

a ministry of The Francis Asbury Society P.O. Box 7 Wilmore, KY 40390 859-858-4222 E-mail: office@tituswomensministry.org Website: www.tituswomensministry.org

Foreword

I am often asked what Titus Women’s Ministry is or what makes us distinct. Thank you for asking! Titus Women’s Ministry is given entirely to the proclamation and nurturing of “the Good News about Christ, the power of God at work saving everyone who believes…” (Romans 1:16 NLT). The Good News is Jesus is our Savior, whose blood cleanses us from all our sin and unrighteousness. He redeems us from the power of Satan, sin, and death. And, there is more! The blood of Jesus and His resurrection provide a way for us to die to the old selfish nature, centered in having its own way. He gave His life to become the center of our lives and the source of all we need through the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit. Jesus is enough! His abiding presence purifies our hearts and wills, enabling us to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength—holy unto the Lord. The Spirit-filled life is a life so satisfied with Jesus that all I am, think, and do will be the overflow of being “one” with Him: living holiness! (See John 17:20-26.) Living in the Overflow is a resource for accountability of one overflowing heart to another. Accountability is very much a part of life in Christ— we are not given the Spirit of Jesus to keep for ourselves. As you enter into the study of God’s Word and use this tool for encouragement, you will begin to experience the incredible joy of sweet fellowship with the Triune God and with one another. You will know the reality of living a life that overflows with God’s Calvary love! “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14 NLT). With love, joy, gratitude, and prayers,

Linda Boyette Discipleship Coordinator for Titus Women

Contents Welcome...............................................................................................7 Growing Together in the Vine.....................................................11 Intimacy with Jesus.....................................................................12 Life Transformation....................................................................12 Bringing Sin to Light............................................................13 Everyday Holiness................................................................13 Community...................................................................................14 Immersion in Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Word.........................................................14 Giving the Holy Spirit Room to Speak....................................15 Prayer............................................................................................16 Praying in Response to Scripture.......................................17 Battle Prayers........................................................................18 Godly Responses.........................................................................19 Listening Well........................................................................20 Responding with Sensitivity................................................20 Combating Lies.....................................................................22 Looking Outside Ourselves.......................................................22 Investing in Younger Women....................................................23 Creating Structure and Rhythm..................................................25 Keeping Your Group Healthy......................................................29 Never Enough Time...................................................................30 Love to Chat................................................................................31 Weary of the Word.....................................................................31 Trudging through the Valleys....................................................32 Recycling Prayers.........................................................................33 Sporadic Attendance...................................................................34 Complex Characters....................................................................35 The Not-So-Small Group..........................................................36 Hitting a Wall...............................................................................36 When God Seems Silent............................................................37 Bringing It All Together................................................................39 Appendix A: How Do We Read the Bible?....................................43 Appendix B: What Should Our Time Together Look Like?.......45 Acknowledgements............................................................................47

WELCOME

Welcome Welcome to an exciting journey! We are so thrilled that you’ve picked up this booklet and are interested in small-group accountability. We’ve found that meeting together with other women around God’s Word, sharing openly, and sincerely praying for each other are among the most life-transforming, rewarding experiences we can have. In fact, He comes! It makes sense that Jesus would share His presence with us in a special way as we gather together to know Him more and to encourage one another in Him. God created us in His image, which, in part, signifies that we were created for relationships. God is one, but He’s also three: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Trinity is a mystery we won’t fully understand this side of eternity, but being created in God’s image means that we aren’t complete alone. We really do need each other. In my own life, Jesus has used small accountability groups to do an incredible work, taking me deeper into Himself in ways I never could have known Him on my own. His Word has become alive. In my quiet times with Him, Jesus taught and illuminated His

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Word to my heart and mind as never before. And He was doing it for my small-group friends as well. We could barely wait until our time together to share all that He was saying to us personally and to hear insights from His Word that we each hadn’t seen on our own. It was as if our group was a beautiful diamond—each one a significant, unique side the Holy Spirit was forming, cleansing, and refining. Together, we were reflecting His light and glory. It was by God’s grace that I was in a small group when my world crumbled around me. These women helped hold me steady when the evil one’s lies were so strong, and I was tempted to give in. They gave me strength to hold on to the truth, to cling to Jesus, and to fight to believe. Small accountability groups have also been a place where I’ve learned much from others who’ve walked with Jesus longer than I have. Their lives let me see a different and deeper picture of who He is. And God has ministered His life and love through them during my times of need. Just as I’ve received from those older in the faith, I’ve also had the incredible privilege to turn to the younger women in groups and let Jesus pour His life through me into them, to share in their struggles and pain, and to bring them to Jesus as we prayed together. This kind of authentic life in Christ together is not new. It’s what the disciples experienced after Jesus was crucified, rose from the dead, and ascended into heaven so that the Father could send the Holy Spirit to fill their lives. John says, “We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. . . . But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:3, 7 nlt). Those verses describe an incredible reality. Small-group accountability is about living in the light of the presence of Jesus—together. It’s

WELCOME

not about making spiritual comparisons or offering easy answers; accountability is helping each other live, thrive, and abide in the presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that is something we can’t do alone. But the reality is that most of us know very little of this true kind of spiritual fellowship. Our world has rejected Jesus, and, as a result, we are broken people. As part of that brokenness, we have been deeply hurt and wounded by others—intentionally and unintentionally, sadly, sometimes even by the people of God. Our scars can leave us feeling tentative about entering into small groups. How do we even begin? We’ve developed this guide as an answer to that very question. Let me first say, this is not a step-by-step or performance checklist. I am so grateful there is no single right way to come into God’s presence or to meet with other believers. It’s also beautiful that no two groups will be the same. Each group will be made up of unique women created in the image of God, with their own sets of gifts, weaknesses, and needs. We are also talking about relationships, which are fluid and often messy. The Holy Spirit knows all about us and will lead each group personally as we look to Him. But some structure is needed. In Luke 5:36-39, Jesus talks about needing new wineskins to hold new wine. The new wine would grow and expand as it aged, so it needed a new vessel to hold it. If you put new wine in old wineskins that have already been stretched to their limit, they will burst, and all the new wine will be lost. Jesus was specifically telling the Pharisees that the old law could no longer contain the new life in Christ. The same is true for us today: our old way of life won’t hold the fresh work the Holy Spirit wants to do in and through us, and often our old ways of relating (or hiding) won’t lead us into the genuine relationships with other women we need.

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It is our desire that this booklet will offer you a new wineskin with structure and possibilities for your small accountability group. The form is flexible and able to expand and grow as Jesus meets you and pours out His Holy Spirit in you. We’ve divided the booklet into two sections: 1). key principles for a thriving small group, which will help keep you growing together in Christ; 2). practical advice on how to get started, stay healthy as a group, and navigate common questions and concerns. We are delighted to share this guide with you as an overflow of what God has shown us over the years in women’s ministry and in small accountability groups. We are so excited that you are about to take this step of faith. Please know we are praying for you and would love to hear from you. Our contact information is at the front of the book, so don’t hesitate to be in touch with questions or prayer needs. We’re on this journey together. As Jesus prayed, I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. (John 17:21-23 nlt) As Titus Women’s founder Beth Coppedge summarizes it so beautifully: “We’re in Him and in each other to reach a world for Jesus!”

Stephanie Hogan Director of Titus Women

GROWING TOGETHER IN THE VINE

Growing Together in the Vine In John 15:4-5, Jesus says, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothingâ&#x20AC;? (nasb). In these words, Jesus gives us such a clear picture of how our life with Him can be. The word abide means to dwell in Him, to make our home in Him. All our life and fruitfulness come from Jesus because we are nothing without Him. As we make our home in Him and become branches feeding on the vine, He promises we will not only grow, but show fruit. His own presence and power change our lives and impact the world around us. When we meet in groups, we will be making our home in Him together. We will be drawing our life from the vine, so that in Him we can encourage each other as we bear fruit. So what are the most important elements of these groups?

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Intimacy with Jesus Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. (John 15:9 nasb) We start here because everything else in this guide flows from this point. When Jesus calls us, He calls us to Himself. This verse gives us an extraordinary promise: just as the Father loves Jesus, He loves us. Through this love, He draws us into the very heart of the God who is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We are not striving to earn His love by doing the right things to please Him. Rather, we are to abide, to make our home, in the love that He already has for us. God created us to know Him personally and intimately, and it is only in this relationship that we are transformed. Really, the whole purpose of our groups is for each of us to grow in this intimacy and to know Him more. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not enough to have an experience with Jesus; we have to remain in Him, to abide in Him. But this sweet communion doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just happen. We need time in His Word and in prayer every day, not just when we are in small-group meetings. In your groups, encourage one another as you grow into deeper relationship with Jesus. Commit together to spend time with Him daily. Remember, knowing Him is the whole point. He can bring us into such closeness with Him that He is all we want. When Jesus is enough for us, the intimacy we have with Him overflows into a transformed life and draws us into community with others.

Life Transformation He who abides in Me and I in Him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5 nasb) By ourselves, we cannot change our hearts, but if we allow Jesus to meet with us and take control in our lives, there is no limit to what

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He can do in and through us. When we meet Jesus and surrender our whole selves to Him, He fills us with His Spirit, transforming our lives from the inside out. He doesn’t want to just tweak our behavior: He wants to give us new hearts! Only His Spirit can make us like Him, and as He works in us, our thoughts and actions change. That doesn’t mean that we just sit back and do nothing; we can take intentional, obedient steps that allow His grace to work in us. Accountability is a huge part of the process, and small-group interaction fosters accountability in two ways: Bringing sin to light Sin doesn’t have to have any control in our lives. Scripture tells us, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed” (James 5:16 nlt). When we bring sin to light, it loses power. Small groups are a space where we’re invited to ask hard questions and hold each other accountable. As you do so, remember to remind one another Jesus can completely cleanse us from sin. Keep this promise in mind: “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 niv). Everyday holiness Jesus doesn’t want only the “spiritual” parts of our lives: He wants our kitchen tables, our commutes, even our coffee mugs. If Jesus has our hearts, all the details of our lives will be transformed so they reflect Him. He wants all of us as He gives us all of Himself. As we grow together, we can challenge and encourage each other to let God rule in our thoughts, relationships, finances, work, decisions, etc. Spur one another on as the everyday circumstances of your lives give you opportunities to be made holy—like Jesus and belonging completely to Him.

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Community This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. (John 15:12 nasb) We were never meant to grow alone. Jesus calls us first to Himself, but also into redemptive community. In fact, He designed people so that they come in webs of relationships, and the Bible makes clear that Christians are to stay connected to one another. (See Hebrews 10:25.) As John Wesley put it, “The Bible knows nothing of solitary religion.” When we’re in relationship with one another, we can understand God’s Word more deeply. We become more like Jesus as we share each other’s burdens. In John 15, Jesus asks us to love one another with the same depth and commitment that He has loved us. It sounds impossible, but we love out of the love He has given for us. We have a world to reach, but we can’t do it alone: we have to be in Him and in each other.

Immersion in God’s Word If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. (John 15:10 nasb) We can have this abundant life, being at home in His love, by listening to His Word, receiving it, and living out what it says. Jesus promises that we can live in deep peace with God in the center of His will—just as He did with the Father. God reveals Himself to us through His Word. When we read and meditate on it, allowing Him to speak through it, our hearts are changed. It is our anchor and our final authority. Because Scripture is so powerful, we want our groups to be centered on it. It’s important to spend time alone in the Word, yes, but it’s also

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important to dive into the Bible as a group and allow it to shape our time together. Create space in your accountability group to respond honestly to Scripture. (See Appendix A for tools in reading the Bible.)

Giving the Holy Spirit Room to Speak No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. (John 15:15 nasb) In this verse, Jesus promises He will share the very heart of Father God with us. He wants to offer us His thoughts and His plans if we will come near enough to hear His heartbeat. He has called us friends, and He longs to meet with us if we will welcome Him. If we take time to listen, He has promised to meet us. When we see Jesus, we will see ourselves and our world through His heart. That is an extraordinary promise. Whatever else we are, women are relational to the core. It’s one of the ways we reflect God’s character. Many of us love to talk— to others and to God. This is a beautiful trait, but make sure you’re giving the Holy Spirit space to talk back. In a culture of noise, it’s sometimes difficult to quiet ourselves enough to hear Him. In your groups, don’t be afraid to spend part of the time in silence. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct your time together and to speak to every need present among the group because His voice is the one we really need to hear. Praying together also gives us an opportunity to hear Jesus. Too often, we’re so busy talking through what to pray and thinking about what to say that we don’t take time together to stop and just listen to Him. You might even want to think about ordering your time in the group so that quiet listening is a priority. When we listen first, we can get God’s perspective on the situation.

LIVING IN THE OVERFLOW

Instead of seeing each other through the lens of our own understanding, we see through the light of His presence. Even when you’re praying for specific requests, try to listen to God’s heart for that person; don’t feel you have to know exactly what to ask for. You can ask Jesus to come by the Holy Spirit and meet her, lead her, change her, and heal her. Sometimes, we pray what we think someone needs while Jesus is waiting to have space to come in all His power and His love to do a much greater work than we know or could even imagine. Instead of trying to “be Jesus” by straining to work out exactly what or how to pray for each other, we need to remember we are walking together to the cross so that we can each meet with Jesus Himself. He is the One who knows what we need. Often the answer to our prayers is in simply laying our situation at His feet and asking Him to take control. Remember, He wants to speak to you. Sometimes, we make hearing God’s voice seem more mysterious than it needs to be, or we assume only certain people can hear it. Don’t worry if you feel like you’ve sat in awkward silence and heard nothing. Just ask the Holy Spirit to lead, and expect that He will. He knows you and knows the best ways to communicate with you. If you want to hear from Him, He’ll teach you how.

Prayer If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. (John 15:7 nasb) Jesus makes us another enormous promise: He says when His Word is at home in our hearts, we can come to God, and He will hear us when we talk to Him. Just like reading Scripture, we need to make prayer a priority on our own and in our small groups. As you talk through your lives or what’s going on in the world, make

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it a habit to respond in prayer. When we pray for one another, we offer more to the situation than we can give on our own. Perhaps more than anything else, praying together builds trust and binds our hearts together. Not only that, but things actually change when we pray. Jesus listens when we talk to Him, and He acts on our behalf. Here are two good ways to work prayer into your time together: Praying in Response to Scripture Ephesians 6:18 tells us, “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (niv). What are we are doing when we pray? First, we are listening to Scripture. Make sure that you take time to respond to the Word. Ask Jesus to help you believe the truth and allow it to change your lives. As we do this, we are listening to God’s heart for one another and standing together in His presence. When we’re in this position, He can teach and change us by the Holy Spirit, then show us His heart for the world, and send us out as His ambassadors. Unfortunately, though, that is often not a picture of what goes on in our prayer times. What we normally end up with can be reduced to spiritual chatting and religious stressing. Have you ever felt like that? Too often, we don’t take the truth of Scripture into our prayers. Instead, we close the Bible and move on to share what’s “really going on in our lives.” But when we listen and believe the truth, allowing it to change the way we see our hearts, our lives, and the world, there’s no limit to what Jesus can do. He wants to transform “what’s really going on in our lives,” if we will only take time to respond to His heart for us. For example, if you have read something that leaves you feeling as if you have let God down, take the opportunity to tell Jesus you’re sorry and ask the Holy Spirit to come and change your hearts. If what you’ve read challenges you to take the truth

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out in the world, ask God to show you to whom He is sending you, and pray for those people by name. If what you have read is difficult to believe or seems impossible to live out, take time to ask God to speak His truth into your heart and fill you with His Spirit so that you can trust that He wants to do it. If you’ve read something that bores you or leaves you cold, be silent together and ask God to show you what He wants to say. Take time to praise Jesus for who He has shown Himself to be and His heart of love for each of you. When we invite Jesus to meet us in the Word and lead us deeper into His truth, we can know the thrill of His Spirit changing us. Only then will we be able to carry the presence of Jesus into the world around us. One good way to center your sharing and prayer time around Scripture is to ask each other these three questions after you’ve discussed a passage: 1). What is Jesus saying to you from His Word? 2). How is He asking you to apply it with the help of the Holy Spirit? 3). How can we pray for you in light of the direction you have received? As you ask these questions, we suggest personalizing them by using each other’s names. For example, “Karen, what is Jesus saying to you from His Word?” Since Jesus knows our names and always speaks to us personally, our calling each other by name reflects His heart in a very meaningful way. Battle Prayers It’s also vital to be aware of and identify the noise of battle. The enemy shows up in our lives as the one who accuses, condemns, and distorts the truth. He is the tempter, the discourager, and the destroyer. Satan is terrified that you will allow Jesus to live out His life in you by the power of the Holy Spirit. Read Ephesians 6:10-19 and think about how these words could change the way that you pray. Scripture tells us to be strong and equipped for the

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battle in the Lord’s mighty power. So it’s important to pray in the authority of the name of Jesus. Ask Him to show you where He needs to crush the work of Satan in your lives and in the lives of people around you. Pray protection over one another and for the victory of Jesus in difficult circumstances. It is God’s battle, and you don’t need to fight the forces of darkness in your own strength. But you do need to clothe yourselves with the victory that He has already won for you and give praise and glory to Jesus in your prayers.

Godly Responses Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2 niv) If we want to grow, we have to be willing to let Jesus into even the most hidden parts of our lives. Having a group where we can be honest with others will help us see what those hidden places are. But for that kind of vulnerability to happen in our groups, we have to create and maintain a safe place to share our hearts. Our responses to one another must be Christlike. That means we carefully guard what has been shared, instead of talking about it outside the group. Second, as you discuss what you’re learning from Scripture, how Jesus has spoken to you, or what’s going on in your lives, be sure you’re really listening to one another. Ask God to give you sensitivity and a careful tongue. Affirm and encourage one another. Sometimes, it’s necessary to speak hard truth. Don’t be afraid to do it, but make sure you’re speaking in love and with grace. Having the opportunity to share what’s going on in our hearts and lives is not only an incredible gift but also a necessity if we are to grow in Christ. The world is fallen, and we all come with heavy loads we need to leave at the cross. That’s not as easy as it sounds, though. We need others to stand with us and pray with us. Our responses to each other can and should be life-giving,

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but sometimes, the way we react when others are sharing can interrupt or interfere with the work that God wants to do. When someone opens up, she is taking a risk. So how do we honor each other and respond in a way that allows Jesus to do His work in His way? Listening Well First, we need to listen carefully. When someone else speaks, we’re usually better at planning what we’re going to say than we are at actually listening. We have to be silent, patient, and attentive if we are to hear the words and discern the underlying emotions that are being expressed. When someone else shares, we shouldn’t try to hurry her or go so far as to finish her sentences. We need to avoid putting our own interpretation on what is being shared and not be quick to speak. Especially if the person is crying, it’s important to listen carefully and offer support. Pointing to passages of Scripture that relate to the situation is a great idea, but make sure you listen first before you choose a verse. Don’t sit flicking through the Bible instead of looking at the friend who is speaking. If it’s the right moment, ask questions to clarify or invite her to think more deeply about what she’s sharing. Be sure you’re asking questions to help her open up—not so that you can think through your own experience of that particular issue or seize the chance to talk about your own problems. Responding with Sensitivity We need to value each other by responding to what others say in a way that is both sensitive and serious. Humor can be a blessing and might be just what certain situations need, but try to read the moment and never devalue the person or her need by making light of it. If you’ve had an experience similar to what the person is going through, it can be helpful to share your story. So often we feel alone in our struggles, and the most powerful words we

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can hear are, “Me, too.” That being said, most of us know what it’s like to be interrupted by a well-meaning person who launches into her own story before we’ve had a chance to finish ours. Again, be sure to listen first, and ask the Holy Spirit to give you wisdom about what to share and when to share it. Definitely do not minimize what she is sharing by giving pat answers or saying things such as, “You’ll be fine,” or, “You’ll get over it.” When we respond with words like these, we might be giving the impression that we don’t think this person’s concern is worth praying about, or that God doesn’t need to bring freedom, healing, forgiveness, or strength. Remember, the way you interact with others can affect how they perceive Jesus’ heart for them. In our words and actions, we always want to communicate the truth of how Jesus sees our hearts. He wants to be involved in every area of our lives, and He doesn’t ask any of us to “just get over it” on our own. We should encourage one another and speak words of hope, but be careful not to devalue what has been shared by acting as if there really is no problem. Sometimes, we try to make ourselves feel better by offering advice or trying to “fix” the situation. Let’s not do Jesus’ job for Him! Rather, take the situation to Jesus and ask Him what is needed. Keep in mind that everyone is different, so what has worked for one person may or may not be helpful to another. The Holy Spirit works in each of our lives in beautifully unique ways, so we need to pray for His will to be done and that He Himself will meet us in the situation. He longs to transform us, and He can use our responses to one another to reflect that expectation. In your group, you may want to try having one person share, and then move directly into prayer for that person. Then, the next woman can share, and so on. This way there is less time to “edit” the prayer requests while chatting, and you can ask Jesus to meet with each one and have His way in each person’s life.

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Combating Lies When we’re trapped by internal, negative thoughts, it’s easy to believe lies about God or ourselves. But when we voice them in a Christ-centered community, those around us can speak the truth we need to hear. If someone in the group says something that simply is not true, the rest of the group has an opportunity to expose the lie and offer God’s truth. When you do, make sure you still recognize and value how that woman is feeling, but remind her of the truth of Scripture. Here are a few sensitive questions you could ask: I wonder if the Bible says that Jesus sees you like that? Do you think that the words you’re hearing are true? Do you think that Jesus wants you to believe that about yourself? Do you think that’s how God shows Himself in the Bible? Where do you think those thoughts are coming from? Most importantly, pray that Jesus will meet with her, speak truth to her heart, and set her free from lies or other negative influences. God desires each one of us to accept Him for all that He wants to be to us and see ourselves as He sees us.

Looking Outside Ourselves You did not choose me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. (John 15:16 nasb) Jesus has chosen us to be fruitful. The work that He wants to do in our lives changes us, enabling us to carry His grace into the lives of others around us. As we know Him, He longs for us to depend on Him more and more and expect more of Him. In this way, He will bear His fruit in our lives.

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He wants us to live in a world that’s much bigger than me. God leads us into His freedom and joy as He enables us to take our eyes off ourselves and see His heart for the world around us. Jesus calls us to follow His example and pour ourselves out in loving service as an overflow of our relationship with Him. He invites us to think outside our normal boundaries and share His burden for the world. By His Holy Spirit in us, He can change our thinking and our actions to be about something bigger than ourselves. Praying for others is one way we look outside ourselves. Take time in your group to pray by name for unbelievers in your family, workplace, or school. Ask Jesus to show you how He wants to bring His love through you to each of these. Encourage one another to live as a light and an ambassador of Christ to unbelievers, and pray together constantly for the power of the Spirit to work in you so that you can be the fragrance of Christ in every situation. Ask Jesus, “How do You want me to be a part of what You are doing in the world around me?” Pray that God will show you how to serve Him in whatever He has given you to do.

Investing in Younger Women One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. (Psalm 145:4 niv) As the Church, we’re called to invest in one another and point each other to Jesus. This is especially true across generations. Those who are older, in years or in faith, have a precious gift to offer the younger. No matter what stage of life you’re in, you have wisdom and insight for those coming behind you that they need. Titus 2:3-5 instructs older women to teach younger women and be examples of maturity and godliness, and we want our groups to value and model this pattern. Our natural tendency is

to form a group with people who are at the same life stage as we are. Although this sort of interaction is valuable and comfortable, we need to look for Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bigger vision, and it may be that He wants more of a mix within our groups. Pray about whom God is drawing together for your group, and encourage each other to invest in relationships with women of all ages and life stories.

CREATING STRUCTURE AND RHYTHM

Creating Structure and R hythm Part of the beauty of the Body of Christ is its diversity. No two people are alike, and no two groups will be alike. The structure and the details of your group will be as unique as the women in it. Ultimately, it will be cross-shaped. Jesus invites us to come together at the cross where He pours out grace and forgiveness. Thankfully, there’s no one “right way” to form and engage together in a small accountability group. When we gather in His name and make space for Jesus to meet with us, He promises to come. That being said, structure isn’t a bad thing. In fact, patterns and form can be life-giving. As your group meets and grows together, you’ll settle into the rhythm that works best for you. Here are a few suggestions that may be helpful as you intentionally seek Jesus together. First, the most effective groups are usually small—ideally three to six women. Openness and honesty are vital in accountability

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groups, and most women simply will not feel safe enough to be transparent in a group larger than six. Not only that, but time becomes an issue if you have too many sharing, so keep your group size manageably small. Second, we know life gets hectic and schedules are full, but it’s really best if your group meets every week. We all tend to live in weekly rhythms, and we want growth in community to be an established part of our lives. Coming together less frequently can throw off your momentum, make it easy to forget meetings, and give you too much to catch up on when you do gather together. Obviously, in some cases it’s just not possible to meet weekly. If so, be free to meet on the regular schedule that works best for your group, but remember to connect often and pray for one another throughout the week. As we’ve stressed earlier, it’s crucial that your group is centered on Scripture. That may mean you take part of your group time to study the Bible together. (If you need help getting started, see Appendix A for a good study method.) But, if you’re already part of a larger Bible study, you can always break into small groups as part of your meeting time, or your group can meet separately and discuss what you covered that week in Bible study. Do whatever is best for your group; just make sure you’re diving into the Word together. As you’re getting started, ask the Holy Spirit to show you what He wants for the group, and wait on Him in prayer. When we begin by asking Him to lead us, we’re making Him the center of the group and letting the discussion about logistical issues flow from Him. Pray and talk through questions like: Where and when will you meet? How will group time flow? Give everyone a chance to express what she thinks Jesus wants you to gain from the group and the ways in which each person thinks the group meeting should be structured; then write what you agree on.

CREATING STRUCTURE AND RHYTHM

Last, make sure you’re respecting each other’s time. Once you agree on a starting and ending time, stick to it. Honor each other by showing up on time and not consistently going long. If you find your time frame just isn’t working, reevaluate and reschedule. Here are a few questions to consider as you start meeting together. It may also be helpful to revisit these points from time to time to keep your group on track. ● Who does Jesus want to be in the group? ● Is the number of members right for everyone to feel she can share freely? ● Where can the group meet that will be a blessing to the host while providing a quiet space for the gathering? ● What is the best time that will allow everyone to meet without distractions and in consideration of other responsibilities? ● What does Jesus want us to read during the week? ● What expectations do we come with each time we meet? ● What would be helpful for each of us to write down?

KEEPING YOUR GROUP HEALTHY

Keeping Your Group Healthy To keep a group healthy and dynamic, each member needs to be invested and committed to giving God room to shape it; however, this task isn’t always as easy as it sounds. As thrilling as small groups can be, they can also come with their share of frustrations. If you’ve hit a dry spell with your group, don’t be discouraged. Sometimes, these low spots can be an invitation to go deeper together. If you’re feeling like your group isn’t where it should be, these questions can help you think and pray together about how you’re doing. (Even if your group is in a great place, it’s not a bad idea to use these questions as a checkup every so often.) ● Are we reading Scripture together (or just using someone else’s ideas about Scripture)? ● Are we taking time to respond to Scripture in worship, repentance, surrender, and prayer for others?

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● Are we expecting to meet with Jesus in the Word, in prayer, and by receiving His love and truth for us? Are we giving Him space to come? ● Are we able to be honest about our doubts and the areas where we may be struggling? ● How are we showing love and patience in the way that we talk together and follow-up on each other’s needs? ● Does the way that we pray for one another reflect Jesus’ heart for transformation, or are we working from our own agenda and out of our own character? ● Are we praying for unbelievers to meet Jesus and asking for the Holy Spirit to bear fruit in us that draws others to His glory, or do we pray only for ourselves? Most groups walk through struggles at some point. Know that your group isn’t failing just because you’re experiencing a difficult time. When we come to these places, Jesus wants to meet us in His grace and lead us on. Some issues are actually rather common. Here are a few scenarios, along with suggestions that may be helpful if you find yourselves facing a similar situation:

Never Enough Time! A group meets together and enjoys each other’s company so much that they begin to chat and catch up on the events, issues, and emotions of the week. Before they know it, only ten minutes are left to read the Bible and pray for what has been shared. They leave feeling they have not met with God and are stuck with this same occurrence week after week. This experience can be very frustrating. It’s important to be intentional about how you allow Jesus to direct your time together.

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Ask Him how He wants you to plan and use the time. Try going back to the original vision that led you to come together as a group or draft an agreement if you don’t have one. Pray about the plan and discuss together how you are going to use the time, so that you all know how the meeting will flow: when you’ll read Scripture, respond, share, and pray. It’s not that we want to limit God by the clock, but we do want to use the time well and give Jesus space to move in our lives.

Love to Chat When it comes time to share, a close group loves to talk through what’s happening in their lives and what they need to pray for. As each one shares, the rest of the group tries to encourage and show support in any way they can. By the time everyone has shared, only a short time remains for prayer, and it’s difficult to remember the details of what each person has said. We need to remember why we’re gathering. Jesus wants to come and meet with each one in the group. One easy way to get out of this cycle is to have one person share, and then immediately pray for her. This way you spend less time chatting through the solutions, and you’re more able to let Jesus set the agenda for the prayers. Ask Him to show you how to pray instead of trying to figure it all out yourself. Sometimes, comments or suggestions should wait until after prayer time. Definitely encourage each other, but make sure you give Jesus space to move and work in your hearts.

Weary of the Word A group looks forward to meeting and catching up with friends, but they are not so expectant about their time together in the Word. It just seems to be the dullest part of their time, and they are left feeling confused and unable to connect what they’ve read with the real world.

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Even if not everyone in the group feels this way, there are a few things you can try to help breathe new life into your time around the Word. First, prayer is vital. Because we are handling the Living Word, we can ask the Holy Spirit to speak through it every time we read. Remember that you are not trying to learn about God; rather, He invites you to meet with Him in person. Read expecting that He will come. Each woman in the group might want to read the passage during the week and pray that God will open her heart to hear what He has for her. Reading the selected Scriptures more than once will give you more time to listen to what God wants to say to you and meet you in it. Even as you come together, it helps to pray, read the verses aloud, and read the passage again silently. This way, you’re giving time and space for the Word to work in you. Sometimes, we end up using the Bible as a jumping off point for discussion, but we don’t actually read the Word itself. Whenever you read, think about what God is saying to you. Then, ask yourself, “Do I believe these words? Have I received this promise? Do I live this truth out in my prayers, words, and actions?” Then, ask Jesus to help you believe His Word and show you how to live it out. When He speaks, it’s helpful to mark the moment in some way (like writing down what He’s said). Remember, the enemy would love for you to stop reading the Word—alone or in your group—so pray for protection over your time together in the name of Jesus. Ask Jesus to be the Lord over your discussion and your prayer time, and to give you a hunger to hear and receive His words for you.

Trudging through the Valleys A group makes time to share and pray together, but it always seems as if they are moaning and complaining about the situations and people in their lives. They pray, but leave feeling discontented over everything with which they’re struggling. They feel more in touch with their own hearts, but no more in touch with God and His heart for them.

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We’ve all been there, haven’t we? First, ask yourselves if you’re praying the Scripture that you read. That is, are you asking God to help you to believe it and show you how to live it out? This specific request should change the focus of your prayers and connect you back to Him so that, when you look at your own situation, you will see it through His eyes. You could ask God to lay some key people on your hearts, and try to focus on praying for them and listening for God’s will for them. Maybe you need to praise God for the people He has put you with and ask Him how He wants to make you a blessing to others in your circumstances. If you find yourselves discouraged or negative about your church, make an agreement that you will stop and pray for the people involved, especially the leaders. Pray together that God will convict you of any wrong attitudes, and ask Him how you can be a blessing in the situation. You could also start to look outward by praying for a specific project, youth worker, school, or missionary from your local area.

Recycling Prayers A group loves to pray together, but they have come to feel as though they are praying for the same things week after week. The regular round of sickness, difficult people, and money issues have become very predictable requests, and the group is beginning to find their prayer time boring and without results. Again, we recommend you listen to Scripture before you share all those needs. What does the Word say about God? What does it say about you and your relationship with Him? What does it say about what He wants to do in the world? Is there a promise for you? Is there a challenge for you? In response to the truth, you may need to repent and ask for forgiveness. Other times you may want to praise and worship Him together. Some groups find it helpful to write down the ways God has answered their prayers and give thanks regularly. Ask Jesus what He is asking each of you to do, and how He wants you to serve Him in your own

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situations. Ask Him to work by His Holy Spirit to change you and, therefore, the people around you. If there is a promise or a blessing in the passage you have read out loud, pray it personally for one another by name. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t share needs, but when you pray for those same things in the light of Scripture, your prayers will have a heavenly agenda rather than your own agenda. If you allow God to direct your prayers in light of His Word, you will find that He is never dull!

Sporadic Attendance The group is committed to meeting together regularly, but there always seems to be someone who can’t make it for one valid reason or another. They all want to meet, but the group feels disjointed. Somehow the members just can’t seem to pull their schedules together. Most importantly, pray together about what’s going on. Pray protection over your group, and be aware that the enemy is terrified that you might encourage one another in the Kingdom work he fears. Second, there needs to be a hunger to be part of the group. Make sure you are all choosing to come and want to meet with Jesus. If some aren’t really sure they want to be part of the group at this time, allow them to leave without making them feel guilty for their choice. Sometimes with the best heart and intention, circumstances simply get in the way of attendance. Pray about it and talk together about creative solutions. Would it work to meet in the home of someone who is struggling to come? Do you need to change the day or time? You can also try using email and phone to connect when people are absent. Don’t be afraid to pray over the phone or use speaker phone or video conferencing to include those who can’t make it to group times. Be determined to keep praying with one another. You may need to decide on one person who can be responsible to follow-up with those who

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are having difficulty in making it to the group. Remember, even if only two of you able to meet one week, it is always worth it. Jesus promised that He will come even where two are three are gathered in His name.

Complex Characters When the group meets, one member always talks and dominates the group. It seems like she always has something to say about the Bible passage, which may be on the topic or not. In the prayer times, she goes on about every detail of her life and how she is feeling. Even when others are speaking, she often interrupts with her own questions and experiences. The group is growing weary of her constant questions and comments, and they are discouraged over not knowing what to do. Some members are closing down and feeling so uncomfortable that they can’t be open in the group anymore. This scenario is awkward and uncomfortable, but it happens. God asks us to “bear with one another in love,” so we need to ask Him for the mind of Christ in these situations and pray for the person concerned. One of you may need to meet with her alone to talk and pray with her, especially if she has serious wounds. However, there is a point at which we need to pray and ask Jesus, “Is it helpful for us to carry on like this?” It’s not that we want only those women with no issues; we all have our own quirks and brokenness to bring to the group. However, if the whole group is becoming discouraged and are struggling to share, it may be time to ask Jesus to show you how to move on. We must be very careful to ask for His love, patience, and wisdom as we work out the solution. It may be that the group isn’t helping the person concerned, and she needs some counseling or one-onone ministry. The reality is that because these groups are based on close relationships, it is not unusual to run into situations like this. Allow God to use this difficulty as a way of showing His glory in your midst.

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The Not-So-Small Group A group has grown bigger and bigger. The original members are feeling as if they can’t share honestly anymore, even when discussing their response to the Word. They struggle to have time for each member to talk through prayer needs and pray for them all. There is a point where the group becomes too big to be an accountability group. Pray about what is God’s best way forward for each one in the group. If you have a large group who absolutely want to stay together, it is possible to read Scripture together but break into groups of between two to five women for the rest of the time. God also might be calling you to form two new groups and invite others to join, or each woman to find friends to form a new group. As you pray, try not to limit what God might want to do, and ask Him to lead you into whatever He has planned.

Hitting a Wall A group has met together for a long time. They have come to a point where they are not sharing what is really going on in their lives or hearts. Even when they read Scripture, they don’t talk about their honest response but stick to facts and truths. They believe being together is good, but there is nothing deep about their time together, and they don’t feel as though they’re growing. It seems as if they’re just going through the motions. This situation happens to the best of groups. First of all, pray and ask Jesus what is at the heart of the problem. Think back over the time you have shared together and ask Jesus to show you what went on that you did not notice. Question how you have responded to one another in the past, and ask yourselves if you have listened to each other carefully. Have you caused one another to close down by trying to fix people’s problems in your own wisdom or by trivializing the issues that have been

KEEPING YOUR GROUP HEALTHY

expressed? Has anyone felt judged by the others? Is there one personality that has dominated the group and made everyone else feel overwhelmed or insignificant? When you read Scripture, do you make space to respond honestly, or does your group feel it has to share a certain “correct” faith? Are members accepted and loved who have shared their doubts or discouragements? Go back to the questions at the beginning of this section. If everyone answers these questions honestly, you will probably find something that may explain the situation. Be aware that it could also be a symptom of a deeper issue in your own relationships with God. Individually and as a group, ask Jesus what you should do in response. Be open to His will for you. You may need to forgive one another for an unhelpful way of speaking or an insensitive response; talk about any changes that need to be made. If there are specific women who are not at peace with one another, they should meet separately to pray and talk together. There are times when nothing will change the fact that you just don’t feel comfortable to be vulnerable with one another. You will not be the first group to get to that point. If that’s how you feel, then ask Jesus to show you His heart for your group and how He wants you to move forward. Don’t be afraid to use the opportunity to start new groups and draw different women into them. He will show His plans to you as you seek His heart. (See 1 Chronicles 15:14.) Whatever you decide, make sure that you do it seeking God’s heart and humbly treating each other with love in a way that will honor Him.

When God Seems Silent A group has been praying together for some time and a number of prayer needs continue to be a burden. It feels as if the members are not seeing answers to their prayers, and they are getting discouraged. They know they should pray “without ceasing” and in faith, but sometimes, it seems God is silent.

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We all struggle with prayers to which we can’t see an answer. Our God knows what it feels like to suffer, and, in Jesus, He has shared in our suffering of every kind, including emotional, physical, and mental pain. He is the loving Father who longs for His children to bring our prayers to Him. His eternal purposes for us are good, and we can trust His heart even when we cannot understand His plan. He wants to meet us—to heal, save, purify, and strengthen us—but He works from an eternal perspective, so His responses may not be exactly what we expect. He wants us to trust Him, not the answers to prayer or the circumstances themselves. If you’re praying but no answer seems to be coming, continue to cry out to God and be honest with Him. Also pray, “Lord, meet me in this struggle.” Remember, He’s always after our hearts. Often He wants to use whatever situation we’re in to show Himself to us in a new way or to draw us into deeper dependency on Him. He can also use our circumstances to reveal Himself to the people around us. We can pray, “What do You want to teach me, Lord?” or, “How do You want to use this experience for others?” Sometimes, if there seems to be no change in a situation or a person’s life, we need to recognize the battle and take a stand in the victory of Jesus. Ask Jesus to break the power of darkness and shine His light. When we’re praying for someone to find Jesus, we need to respect that person’s choice and continue to pray he or she will see His face and His love. We may need to pray, “How can I show Jesus to this person?” Other times, when nothing seems to change, we need to review how we’re praying. Are we saying, “Your kingdom come; Your will be done,” or do we really want our own will? As we pray for each other, we need to be careful that we are asking Jesus to have His way in each situation. We sometimes pray for what we think should happen for a friend, rather than standing with her at the cross and asking Jesus to meet her and take control. Instead of trying to figure out what needs to happen, ask Jesus to come. Ask Him to show her His love.

BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER

Bringing It All Together Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. (Hebrews 10:22-25 nlt) This amazing passage draws us back to the truth and the thrill of our faith. It reminds us that without the cleansing blood of Jesus, we could not enter the presence of the Holy Father. We were filthy in our sin and shut out from eternal life with Him. But now, because of Jesus’ sacrifice for our sin, we can “go right into the presence of God.” As we have received this extravagant love that invites us to live in Him and He in us, let’s enjoy it and not

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be afraid or hesitant to be in the presence of God our Father and Jesus our Savior in the power of the Holy Spirit. If we are determined to “hold tightly to this hope,” we will know the honor and the joy of meeting Him as we read the Word of God and sit at His feet in prayer. This is the faithful God, who “can be trusted to keep His promise.” He will forgive you, meet with you, and purify you. Right there in the presence of Jesus, you can encourage one another to abide in Him and let His fruit grow in your lives. What a gracious, awesome God we have, who gives us the privilege of standing together in His presence and knowing Him so deeply that we are not only cleansed, but radically transformed into His holiness. This truth is the reality of why we do not neglect meeting together. To close, we offer this prayer that you can use or adapt as you give your group to Jesus. May you know the joy of fellowship with Him and with each other as you set out on this journey together. Heavenly Father, thank You for making a way for us to know You and live in Your presence. We praise You for the blood that washes us clean so we can meet with You. Jesus, we thank You for standing on our behalf before the throne. We offer You our group, and we pray that You will open the eyes of our hearts to see You, Your heart, and Your amazing plans for us. We surrender our plans, and we ask You to be the King over our relationships and our times together. Father, we pray, “Your Kingdom come; Your will be done” in our lives. Take us out of our own agenda and our own desires to see Your incredible promises for us. Jesus, in Your grace, would You lead us into the holy presence of God so we can hear Your voice as we read Scripture and talk directly to You in prayer? Holy Spirit, help us to make this group a space where You have freedom to come and minister Your forgiveness, freedom, healing, grace, and transformation in our lives. Lord, teach us to pray and wait on You,

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so you can give us Your mind and Your purposes in our lives and the situations Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve placed us in. Father, break our hearts with the things that break Yours, and show us how You want us to pray for the world around us. As we receive Your love for us, send us out with Your love for the world, so You can bear Your fruit in us. Give us Your heart for one another, and lead us to love with Your love. Mighty Lord, fight for us. We pray that the name of Jesus will be the banner over this group, so that the enemy has no place to confuse us or discourage us. We pray Your protection over our relationships with one another. Jesus, we pray that You will be lifted high and that You will bring glory to Your name as You use this group to have Your perfect way in our lives. We worship You and give You all the honor and the glory. In the name of Jesus.

APPENDIX

Appendix A

How Do We Read the Bible? Even though we know Scripture is important, studying the Bible on our own can be intimidating. Some groups will already be part of a larger Bible study or have a specific curriculum to work through together, and that’s wonderful. But if you need help getting started, here’s a simple method that will help you look closely at Scripture and apply it to your lives. Basically, there are four questions to consider: What does the passage say? What does it mean? What is Jesus saying to me? How does He want me to pray in response? You can work through these questions together during your group time, or you can work individually to prepare for group discussion. 1. What does the passage say? Who are the main characters? What do they do? How does God act? Who is speaking? Who is being spoken to? What is the situation? 2. What does the passage mean? What are the eternal truths we can take from this passage? What does it tell me about God? What does it tell me about the world? What does it tell me about people’s hearts and behavior? 3. What is Jesus saying to me? What is He saying to my personal situation today? How does He want to change my heart, my thoughts, what I believe, and my actions? How does He want to encourage me? How does He want to challenge me? Note: it is vital to work through the first two questions in order to reach conclusions in the third for our lives. Without considering the first two questions, we can easily misread Scripture and twist the meaning of God’s Word to suit our own hearts.

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4. How does Jesus want me to pray in response? Do I need to: Repent? Praise? Ask the Holy Spirit to change my heart? Ask Jesus to help me to believe the truth? Ask Him how He wants to bear His fruit in my life? Who does He want me to pray for? As you move into sharing and prayer time, respond to Scripture by asking each other these three questions: 1. What is Jesus saying to you from His Word? 2. How is He asking you to apply it with the help of the Holy Spirit? 3. How can I/we pray for you?

APPENDIX

Appendix B

What Should Our Time Together Look Like? We want to stress again that every group will be different: there is no one right way to structure your time together. Still, if you’ve never been in a small accountability group before, it can be difficult to know just how everything should look. Here are two sample schedules that may help you in your thinking and planning: Sample 1: Evening Group 7:00-7:05—Open in prayer. 7:05-7:45—Share around the Word. (Bible study questions 1 and 2. See Appendix A.) 7:45-8:30—Prayer time (focusing on Bible study questions 3 and 4). 8:30-9:00—Break for refreshments.

Sample 2: Morning Group 10:00-10:05—Everyone fixes their coffee and gets a snack. 10:05-10:10—Open in prayer. 10:10-10:35—Study and sharing around the Word. 10:35-11:00—Prayer time: one person starts by asking the woman to her right the three response questions, giving her an opportunity to respond after each question (What is Jesus saying to you from His Word? How is He asking you to apply it with the help of the Holy Spirit? How can we pray for you?). Then, the first woman

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immediately prays for the woman who has responded to the questions. When sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s finished praying for that person, the woman who has been prayed for turns to her right and asks the same questions of the next woman, giving her time to respond between each question, and then prays for her. Continue around the circle until everyone has shared and been prayed for.

Acknowledgements In His graciousness, Jesus allowed this guide to be the product of exactly the sort of community weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve written aboutâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;from start to finish, it has been a team effort. When we decided to make this a collaborative project instead of relying on one author, we had no idea how messy the process would be. But neither did we realize the beauty that would come from iron sharpening iron. Even in writing this guide, we have been witnesses of how Jesus uses a diversity of gifts and outlooks to create a beautiful whole. The result, we think, is much better than any of us could have achieved on our own. We are so grateful for the people who invested their time and talent in this project, patiently reading through many drafts and giving invaluable feedback. Laurie Rambo and Sharon Ruff, your lives on the front lines of ministry helped us clarify our language and encouraged us to give women practical tools to get started. Patty Culbertson, your keen eye transformed a grammatical mess into a publishable work. To all of those who have given this project hours in prayer, thank you. We quite literally could not have done it without you. We especially want to thank Linda Boyette and Beth Coppedge, who carried this project in their hearts long before it took its final form. Thank you for your love, guidance, and wisdom. Your hearts for holiness and discipleship are where this guide began and have kept it on track throughout the process. Thank you for showing so many what it means to love Jesus 100%. And we are most grateful to Jesus, the Word Himself. Thank You for having this idea in the first place and for letting us in on it. Your constant love and leading amaze us. All from You, all for You.