Women Leading Women

Ready: 

“So the two of them [Naomi and Ruth] continued on their journey.” -- Ruth 1:19 NLT

Set:

There have been so many women on my journey who have consistently and continuously poured into me.

From the time I became a follower of Jesus at an FCA Camp in 1993, to the time I joined FCA staff in 2003, and now in 2021, God has used women like my mom, Bible teachers, coaches, and coaches' spouses to encourage and empower me in my walk with Christ. Discipleship IS a journey between people who want to learn from one another, serve one another, and point one another to Jesus. Discipleship is NOT just telling others everything we know about God or the Bible. It’s about sharing everything we have learned from the God that we know, including our trials and our triumphs.

One of the most beautiful pictures of this in the Scriptures is that of Naomi and Ruth. From the moment Ruth declared to Naomi, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you will live, I will live. Your people will be my people and your God will be my God” (Ruth 1:16-17), we see a beautiful picture of what discipleship looks like. There are three things we can learn from their journey together that will teach us how to make disciples who make disciples.

Focus on being Real

Naomi was real in her emotions and in her grieving. She didn’t hide them from Ruth but shared them with Ruth (vv. 1:11-14). In a social media world that focuses on the perception of perfection, discipleship focuses on the reality of our imperfections. And that’s why we need Jesus.

Focus on being Ready

Ruth had a ready heart. She was ready to learn from Naomi (vv. 1:16), she was ready to go to work for Naomi (vv 2:2), and she was ready to listen to Naomi (vv. 3:5). When we put our hearts in a ready position, God uses the knowledge, wisdom, and experiences of others to change and grow us. 

Focus on the Redeemer

Naomi’s goal was to find a family redeemer, which was a relative who would buy her land because she had fallen on hard times (Ruth chapters 3 and 4). Our goal as disciple-makers is to point everything we say, do, and how we live back to the Ultimate Redeemer, Jesus Christ, Who bought us back with His blood.

After we learn from others, as coaches and athletes, we have a built-in platform of people we can share our faith with including our teammates and our coaching staff. As we celebrate Women in History this month, let us be willing to share HIS-STORY from the platform of sports we have been given. 

Go:

• Who are some women who have poured into you as a follower of Christ?
• What did you learn about the relational discipleship from Naomi and Ruth?
• Why is it so important to have others pour into us and for us to pour into others?

Workout:

Romans 1:12; Ruth 1:16-17

Overtime:

“Lord, thank You for the women of faith who have come before me. I ask that You will make me a person of faith for those coming behind me. Lead me as I lead others. Amen.”

Sarah Roberts

As a daughter of a coach, wife of a coach, and mom of five athletes, God has blessed Sarah with the burden and passion for connecting women in sports to Jesus. She began working for FCA in 2003 serving coaches and athletes by coaching spouses through speaking, writing, huddles, and building relationships. In her time with FCA, she has served in many roles including Oklahoma Women’s Director, the University of Oklahoma Female Chaplain, Oklahoma City Thunder Wives Chaplain, Director for Atlanta/Fayette County, and Atlanta female staff development. Sarah is the author of three devotion books for the female athlete, coach, and coach's spouse.