Deepening Friendshipsনমুনা

Day 5: What IS a Redemptive Sisterhood?

Over the last few days, we’ve explored stories of deepening friendships. Have you found yourself wanting more intentional friendships? (I know I have as I read Sherry’s stories!) For the next few days, we will get practical and detailed in how to invite friends into what we call a Redemptive Sisterhood. This is more than just a support group or a Bible study - it is a small fellowship of hearts where you know eachother's stories, her journey and glory, where you can know and be known. We have found women richly experience the life, love, and freedom for which God created us in such a circle.

Friendship is not the goal- friendship, sisterhood, and ministry are the fruit of our intimacy with God. Knowing this, we will explore what Redeemed Sisterhood looks like and what it doesn’t look like. Tomorrow we will discuss some important beliefs core to redemptive sisterhood and also what a redemptive sisterhood does.

What does a Redemptive Sisterhood look like?

• It is a place where you bring your true, authentic self and your pursuit of personal intimacy with God.
• It is a safe and trusting place where the deep places of the heart and soul can be pursued, known, and touched.
• It is a place where everyone is free to participate, offer, and contribute. Where no one's glory is muted. Each woman’s wounds are honored, and her story is valued.
• It must be small. It must be intimate.
• It will be messy. In the complexity and messiness of relationships, we understand God will provoke and disrupt in order for there to be opportunities for healing and growth, and for the possibilities of moving in new ways of relating. Change and disruption are inevitable and even necessary. In the messiness, we will have opportunities to repair, to seek reconciliation in our less-than-helpful ways of moving with each other.

What a Redemptive Sisterhood is NOT:

• It cannot be a substitute for God, but rather it is a place God inhabits, and what God designed in order for love and life to be experienced.
• It cannot be contained in a day, a time, or a room.

As you ponder all this with God today, consider asking Him:

Father, show me which part(s) of Redemptive Sisterhood shimmer off the page? Why do they catch my attention?

Jesus, have I allowed my community to take your place in my life? If so, show me where and how this is?

Spirit, where have I tasted and experienced anything remotely close to this type of friendship?