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:: Thursday, August 21, 2003 ::

How to Give Ladies’ Devotions:
Fulfilling the Titus 2 Mandate

Introduction:
What is a Devotion?

The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines the word, “devotion”
as, “…1a: religious fervor: PIETY b: an exercise or practice other than the regular corporate worship of a congregation…[2] b: the fact or state of being ardently dedicated and loyal (as to an idea or person)…”

Toni Cunningham’s Definition of a Ladies’ Devotion: the act of sharing with one or more sisters in Christ, wisdom from God’s Word

Keep it Simple!


Cartoon Caption from a College Language Arts Class
Class:

Character A: Writing is easy! Just write about what you know!
Character B: I really don’t know about anything except chocolate.
Character A: Then, write about that!

Giving a devotion is a lot like writing, teaching, cooking, etc. You just have to care about what you're doing. Just as you don’t have to be a fabulous writer or renown author to write something edifying and uplifting, you don’t have to be a theology expert in order to share wisdom that you’ve learned from your walk with the Lord. You don’t have to be a highly educated or exceptionally intelligent person in order to teach others. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are all able and obligated to share with believers and non believers alike, the joy we have of being saved by the Blood of Jesus Christ, the sweetness and struggles of a daily walk with Him and our blessed future of our resurrection with Him.



II

Ideas for Devotions


The devotions we give are as variable as our different personalities, backgrounds and life experiences. Some of us know a great deal about theology and have been Christians for years, while perhaps others of us have been Christians for a short time and only know a few basics of the faith. All truths about God’s word are important and are worth sharing with others for the purpose of edifying the Body of Christ. Share with us. We need to hear what you have to say!

Devotions can last anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour, depending on how the woman giving it would like to structure it. It can be as colorful and creative, complex or simple as you would like to make it – no different than a quilting project or the preparing of a meal.

I’ve included some possible ideas for devotions:

Is there a particular scripture from the Psalms, Proverbs or one of the gospels that the Holy Spirit is ministering to you with and teaching you about right now? If so, read your women's group the scripture and tell them what you’ve gotten out of it. It is so much fun and so inspirational when someone speaks of a certain scripture, while someone else mentions that the very same passage is ministering to them at the same time. It’s one little way the Lord shows us how He works among us as a Body.

Think of a hymn, psalm from the psalter or praise song that you enjoy. Is there a certain line from the song that stands out to you? Pass out copies of the song so you can discuss Biblical truths from it and sing it as part of or after your devotion.

Perhaps there is a book that you’re reading that has inspired your walk, and you would like to share a passage from it. Nancy Wilson’s books are excellent for ladies’ devotions because they’re all based on a collection of essays on a variety of subjects of interest to Christian women. Just read the essay and share what you’ve learned. For example, good topics from Wilson's Book "The Fruit of Her Hands" could include, “Self-Evaluation at 11:00PM”, “Your Slip is Showing”, and “Respect When it’s Hard.”

Share giving a devotion with another sister if you’re nervous about speaking by yourself in front of a group of ladies. If a high strung person like myself can give a devotion, anyone can!) Public performance is frightening for most people (except for my husband) even if it’s among people we know well, love, and know love us. If the two of you share it, it will be less intimidating. Read the first few verses of a psalm or other lengthy scripture yourself, then the other lady can read the other half. Take turns sharing how that psalm has impacted your life. A note about reading out loud: It’s good preparation for eventually speaking out loud from your own notes, thoughts, etc.

A lecture format doesn’t appeal to every speaker. While some of us enjoy preparing and following an outline and giving a very serious devotion, others of us prefer sharing in a more fun and informal way – through drama, role playing, visual aids, puppets, etc., in order to teach Biblical truths. You may want your “audience” to participate in dialogue or activity rather than listen as in a lecture format.


lll

Preparation

Keep a journal (even if you can only write for five minutes a day early in the morning or late at night) and record your private devotions to the Lord as well as activities and events of the day. Keep sermon notes, so that you can draw from points of a sermon that impacted you. Keep your journal by your bed in case a thought comes to you at 2:00AM! Write down cute and profound things your small children or grandchildren say or ask about God or the Bible; or write about a homeschool or work project you’re doing that has taught you more about God’s world. Go through your journal and highlight a certain area that you might like to share, editing as needed. Then share what you’ve prepared with the other ladies! There’s no reason that simple, mundane events of your workday can’t be the subject of a devotion, as long as the theme is a Biblical one.


Ask for help! Ask your husband, elders or another sister in Christ for input and ideas. The older women love helping the younger women and are very flattered when asked for help. Give your devotion in front of your family or a couple of close lady friends for practice. Most importantly of all, pray before you give your devotion, that the other ladies will hear God’s truth and God’s wisdom through you, a sinner. This will help you to keep your eyes off yourself while glorifying God and serving others.


Conclusion:

Have fun and enjoy yourself! You’re giving a devotion as a way to minister to others, and it should be a joyful experience as what you share is certain to be a blessing. You’re not competing with more knowledgeable or older women, and they’re not in competition with you. Single women can teach married women. Women without children can teach women with ten children, and a woman with a high school education can teach a woman with a doctorate. As a unique woman of God, you’re an obedient servant and vessel of the Lord, and he has prepared you for every good work in Him.
:: Mal du siecle 8:18 PM [+] ::
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Questions and Answers

I have to be honest. I get a little nervous when the women answer all the questions in an Adult Sunday School. Last Sunday our teacher asked us who Marcion was and what teaching he was famous (notorious) for. My darling mother kept whispering to me, "Toni, you know this... raise your hand." I whispered back with through clenched teeth, "Most of the men know who he is, or ought to. Let one of them answer!"

Don't get me wrong. I believe that women should delve into any and all aspects of theology and thoroughly enjoy it. We have other women and children to teach from sunrise til sunset. I believe women should be as highly educated as possible (albeit under their parents' or husband's immediate authority) and should enjoy long talks with others about the depths of God's grace and the beauty of His perfect, soul-converting Law. Women should actively ask their husbands lots and lots of questions and their questions should be taken every bit as seriously as those asked by men.

However, we also need to be careful as women that we don't mollycoddle our brothers. Nancy Wilson often speaks in her book, "Praise Her in the Gates" about how sisters should respect their brothers by not making fun of them, and how mothers should respect their sons by telling them to be tough. When we answer for our men, ladies, we are taking over and allowing them to abdicate. Face it - we usurp, and we don't have to look or act like Rosie the Riveter to do it. We usurp while wearing long flowing hair and pretty dresses with flowers we embroidered ourselves without a hoop. We usurp with pretty voices, coy smiles with lipstick, and a crochet hook in our hands, just like hardcore feminists with chains hanging out of the pockets of men's jeans do. The latter woman's perverse clothing is just an example of feminist epistemological self-consciousness. She has simply acted the part for so long that she now prefers to look male. As Christians we must never think that because we love femininity and delicateness that we are exempt from the sin of usurpation. Let us not forget that Satan does most of his work through a mask of beauty only to entrap us in ugliness beyond belief later. It's his M.O since the garden.

Yes, we have the answers. I have lots and lots of answers to teachers' questions. Some of them are right answers and others are wrong answers I just happen to think are right in my arrogance. As women, we all have lots of answers because primarily we love to talk, and we do lots of reading and web-surfing and intense homeschooling, joyfully learning and relearning as we teach the children the Lord has given us. But there's something else we have lots of, my beloved sisters. We have brothers in our churches (and some of them in our homes) who are uncomfortable reading a passage out of the Bible in front of their families, or even praying over a meal in their own homes. We have brothers whose wives know more about hermeneutics, church polity, church history and Biblical Law than they do. This is more than a shame. It is a grave judgement on a nation.

In conclusion, if the men in your congregation are answering questions during Sunday School, go ahead and answer some too! However, be aware of your surroundings. If your Sunday School class tends to be filled with lots of ladies who do a lot of the answering and lots of men who remain silent, then it might be a good idea to show your sisters an example by keeping quiet, not because you don't know (or want to pretend you don't know in order to look submissive as a feminist would accuse) but rather out of a reslove to let the elders teach your husband; as well as out of your desire to teach him and others through the quietness of your voice and heart.

:: Mal du siecle 7:26 PM [+] ::
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