I opened this subject up in a post last Monday to help you evaluate your own ministry or group you lead. Time is SO short; we cannot just “host” groups of women. We are all too busy for that. However, if we keep the discipleship of women at the heart of what we do, just imagine the transformation we’d see in families, churches, communities, and workplaces!
Today, I want to share with you some assessment questions Martha Lawley has used as she has trained leaders.
For personal assessment as a leader, answer these questions:
- In what specific ways have I grown in my relationship with Christ through Bible study over this past week?
- In what ways am I living out what I have learned from God’s Word—at home, at work, and in my community?
- How is my involvement in ministry strengthening my life as a disciple?
- Are there some activities I need to stop doing to effectively “make disciples”? If so, what might those activities be?
- Am I willing to pray for opportunities to share my testimony of God’s power to transform?
Perhaps these questions would be helpful to also ask of those you serve and lead from time to time. These questions can also be personalized to present to women in the various ministries you offer.
As a leader or team serving in an area of ministry, you might also want to use Martha’s ministry assessment questions as you ask God where He is working and where you need to change some of the things you are doing to disciple women.
- Are women learning to abide in Jesus’ Words (John 8:31-32) by living in obedience (John 15:10,14)?
- Are women growing in godly love for one another (John 13:34)?
- Are they bearing eternal fruit (John 15:8; 5:22-23)?
- Are women growing in a lifestyle of prayer (Matthew 6:7-15; Luke 11:1-4)?
- Are they living every aspect of their daily lives for the glory of God (Colossians 3:17, 1 Corinthians 10:31-33)?
- Do women know and use their spiritual gifts (1 Peter 4:10)?
- Are women involved in making new disciples (Matthew 28:19-20; Philemon 6)?
If you are not seeing this kind of result from the ministries you offer, ask God to show you where you need to invest more time for more fruit. Also ask Him where you need to invest less time.
What other tools do you use to evaluate the effectiveness of discipleship?
Chris Adams is senior lead women’s ministry specialist at Lifeway Christian Resources in Nashville, Tenn. Learn more about Chris here.