Women and Disciple Making | Joanne Kraft

Intentional Living: Joanne Kraft on Effective Women's Discipleship

What could it look like to see women in the church catch a vision for spiritual growth through discipleing relationships? Inspired by the mandate in Titus 2, Joanne Kraft, lead disciple-maker for Grace and Truth Living, speaks and writes to women across the nation on disciple making. Join Joanne and Discipleship.org’s Bobby Harrington for a conversation on the necessity of Jesus’ style of disciple making for women and the keys on developing this vision for women in your church.

Check out Discipleship.org for resources on disciple-making: https://discipleship.org/resources/ 

If you would like to view Focus on the Family visit this link: https://www.focusonthefamily.com/ 

Key Takeaways 
00:00 Introduction and Personal Background
00:08 Journey into Discipleship
03:22 The Importance of Relational Discipleship
06:06 Starting Discipling Relationships
09:39 Challenges and Practical Tips
11:56 Women Discipling Women
18:00 Upcoming National Disciple Making Forum
20:57 Formalizing Discipling Relationships
24:38 Sharing Spiritual Biographies
26:03 Melissa Gray's Testimony
28:49 Defining the Duration of Discipleship
31:25 Serving Together and Leadership Transition
39:42 Turbo Group Training and Multiplying Disciple Makers
44:46 Building Relationships with Non-Believers
47:22 Grace and Truth Living Ministry
49:27 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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See below for a longer description: 

In the video titled "Women and Disciple Making" Joanne Kraft, a mother of four and a writer, dives into her experiences and passion for discipleship, especially within the context of women's ministry. She starts by sharing a bit about her background, illustrating her journey as a writer of non-fiction, particularly parenting books, and how this gradually led her to realize her deep-seated passion for discipleship. She emphasizes that while broad speaking events and women's conferences are valuable, she believes in the power of smaller, more meaningful discipleship relationships to make a more substantial impact.

If you want to know more about Disciple Making visit: https://discipleship.org/ 

The conversation then transitions into a discussion about Joanne's books, which includes titles like "Too Busy: Taking Your Family on a Radical Sabbatical" and "The Mean Mom’s Guide to Raising Great Kids." Joanne explains how experiences from her career as a 911 dispatcher shaped her writing and mentoring, addressing common parenting challenges that resonated with many. She also highlights how her books have been utilized as discipleship tools across the country, demonstrating their relevance and effectiveness in real-world church settings.

Joanne underscores the importance of relational experiences in spiritual growth, recounting how her relationships with others have profoundly influenced her faith journey. She notes the significance of intentional, personal interactions over merely consuming content from books or sermons. Joanne stresses the necessity of being discipled, particularly how personal relationships can foster deeper understanding and spiritual maturity. Through these reflections, she reveals her realization that even long-time Christians can still need personal mentorship to grow their faith.

Discussing the structure of discipleship relationships, Joanne shares practical insights on how to initiate and maintain such connections. She advises starting with prayer to discern whom God is leading to be discipled and emphasizes the importance of seeking someone whose words have a strong influence on you. Joanne highlights the role of questions and active listening in building these relationships. She addresses common challenges, like dealing with resistance, and advocates for setting clear expectations through a signed covenant to ensure commitment and accountability from both parties involved.

Joanne’s approach also includes tailor-made strategies for discipling women, recognizing the unique needs and dynamics different from men. She explains how she organizes smaller and more intimate groups, drawing from Jesus’ example with his disciples. Joanne typically limits her discipleship groups to no more than three women, ensuring each member receives adequate attention and support. She highlights the need for grace, patience, and mutual understanding in these relationships.

Interested in books and blogs on Disciple Making visit: https://discipleship.org/resources/

For more conversation on Disciple Making check out our Podcast: The Disciple Makers Podcast -- https://disciplemakerspodcast.podbean.com/