Treasured Ministries

Offering women a biblical solution for inner healing

Aliene

The Nourish Bible Study Method

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Are you disillusioned with Bible study? We hear that comment from lots of women! At Treasured Ministries, we believe changing your approach to Bible study can transform your life, which is why we created the Nourish Bible Study Method.

In today’s podcast, listen as two women share their stories of how the Nourish Bible Study Method transformed their time in God’s Word and impacted their lives in such a way that they decided to lead groups of women through this method.

Want to discover Nourish in the New Year with women just like you? The Nourish Notebook and 21-Day Challenge are the best tools to start you on this journey. On January 16th, inside the Treasured Tribe, our private online Facebook community, we are kicking off the 21-Day Challenge inside our Facebook page.

To discover more, click HERE.

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21-Day Challenge

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Are you looking to develop the life-changing habit of spending time with God through the study of His word? With all the responsibilities women carry, we can all relate to the frustration of taking care of others while neglecting to tend to our souls in God’s Way through daily personal time in His Word. At Treasured Ministries, we have created the 21-Day Challenge online class designed to make that habit happen!

In today’s podcast, we invite you to listen to Day One of the 21-Day Challenge to get a taste of what you can expect. The 21-Day Challenge is a FREE resource with the purchase of a Nourish Notebook. Now is the best time to take the challenge because starting January 16th, we are going to go through the 21-Day Challenge together inside the Treasured Tribe. Gain support from the community while you cultivate the habit to pause from the hustle and spend time with him daily for the win!

Click HERE to get your Nourish Notebook and join us for the 21-Day Challenge!

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7 Virtues of Biblical Leadership

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What Is Biblical Leadership?

Biblical leadership is a process of using the Word of God to renew your mind in order to lead well. It is about coming alongside those you are leading in a way that encourages spiritual growth by using Christ-centered kingdom principles. It is not about having the right answers but connecting others to Christ so that he can reveal plans and purposes. 

What Does Biblical Virtue Mean?

Biblical virtues are more than mere characteristics. They are how we respond to our circumstances based on a mind-set that is established by Christ. 

In essence, to live a life that is aligned with biblical virtues is to remember your core identity in Christ. It is to identify the truth about how God sees you, then agree with it in your heart. 

The more you connect with the Word, the more those biblical virtues blossom in your life. Because the Word of God is a seed (Luke 8:11) that gives life when planted, it establishes roots in our hearts that heal our hurts and give us the mind of Christ when nourished.

Our old way of thinking is made new, and God begins to reveal his path and purpose for our lives. 

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”—Proverbs 4:23

Biblical leadership isn’t about perfecting your thoughts so that you lead well. It is about allowing Christ to shape your thought life to reflect his heart so that he can use you to lead well.

Easier said than done, am I right?

I want to reassure you, Treasured One, that biblical leadership is a process, not a destination. It’s just a matter of being in a place where you can allow God to transform your purpose—one bold, brave, beautiful step at a time.

How to Create Connections through Biblical Leadership

Many women have the heart to serve and create connections that strengthen others, but it can be hard finding the balance between staying on task and being sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance in a group. 

I’ve discovered that the key to finding the balance and creating connections in a group has a framework that guides me through a process and gives room for me to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice as to when to pause and when to move. 

Step 1. Pray for the group. For any group you are about to start, or are already leading, pray without ceasing! Pray that the Lord reveals the women he wants you to reach out to. Pray those women are eager to connect to his Word and join with others for spiritual nourishment.

Step 2. Pray about what Bible study resource to use. Pray for guidance as to what God wants you to use to nourish the group. As you discern which resource to use for your group, have faith that it will be speaking to the hearts of the women in your group.

Step 3. Point to Jesus. As leaders, we can get caught up in the lie that we are to know all the answers. But we don’t! In fact, we shouldn’t. Our role in biblical leadership is to point others to God’s Word so that they can deepen their relationship with Jesus. It’s the work of the Holy Spirit to reveal places that need the light of Jesus. 

For a comprehensive guide to leading a small group, click HERE for the FREE Nourish Together Group Leader’s Guide!

7 Virtues of Biblical Leadership

Biblical leadership is grounded in the Word. As Jesus taught… 

“’Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.’”—John 15:5

Compassionate—A biblical leader must have compassion for those who are hurting. Her tenderheartedness will be noticed by others and open up doors of communication and trust within the group. 

“Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.”—1 Peter 3:8

Courageous—A biblical leader relies on God’s strength. She has faith that God has equipped her for a purpose, and that is where she rests. 

“Now may the God of peace… may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.”—Hebrews 13:20a, 21

Trusting and Safe—A biblical leader cultivates trust and safety among those in the group. She also trusts in the purpose that God has laid on her heart to lead. 

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”—Proverbs 3:5-6

Faithful—A biblical leader will be faced with doubt. She will wonder if leading is truly how God wants to use her in this season of life. When this happens, she is faithful to return to the Word. She bends her knees in prayer and asks God for strength in her time of need. She asks the Holy Spirit to push back any lies from the enemy that cause her to doubt. She recalls God’s faithfulness, and this strengthens her own.  

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.”—1 Corinthians 10:13

Spirit-Led—A biblical leader is sensitive to the Spirit. She sets her mind on things of the Spirit and allows him to guide her, pausing when he says and moving forward as he directs. 

“’But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”—John 14:26

Christ-Focused—A biblical leader uses her position to connect others to Christ. Her focus is helping others connect to Jesus’s words so that their lives are transformed—just as hers has been. 

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”—Colossians 2:6-7

Prepared—A biblical leader is prepared by planning, but also able to navigate when plans get changed. Part of being prepared is to have a framework that provides guidance, but a leader will also patiently walk with those she is leading and wait upon the Lord for direction. 

“Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.”—2 Timothy 4:2

Remember…

Biblical leadership is a process, not a destination. You don’t have to walk alone in leadership. This is why we’ve created a guide to help you lead a Bible study group with confidence. Download our FREE Nourish Together Group Leader’s Guide HERE!

It will walk you through how to prepare and choose the best resources for your group while also providing ways to nourish your soul through the process! Leaders are whom God uses to nourish others. We want to help you do just that. 

What Is God’s Will for Me?

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Sometimes when God gives me direction for a big decision, a day later one tiny doubt can creep in that creates a downward spiral of indecisiveness. Doubt is often not the result of a lack of faith but a sincere heart that wants to stay inside God’s will or fears making a mistake. But when we shift our focus, we can find a new filter to find with great clarity God’s will for our life.

Listen to today’s podcast and discover three steps to discern God’s direction so you can become the woman God created you to be.

Join us for the 21-Day Challenge in January and learn to develop a life-changing habit of spending time in God’s Word! Find more details HERE.

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What Does a Biblical Friendship Look Like?

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If you have been blessed with authentic biblical friendship, you know it is a beautiful gift of connection and safety. True biblical friendship adds comfort, love, and truth to our lives. It nourishes the soil of our souls so that when God’s Word takes root, it grows. 

Relationships either add to or deplete the soil of our lives. Biblical friendship is one that encourages growth and is filled with love and respect. Discerning connections in relationships can be hard, especially if we have been hurt in past friendships.

We may put up walls and find it difficult to confide in others. Or we unknowingly allow friendships that aren’t healthy for us to begin to develop, and when hidden motives emerge, they can cause deep soul hurts.

But there is great news, Treasured One! We can look to God’s Word to reveal to us what biblical friendship looks like. We know he wants us to grow into the women he created us to be. And he uses friendship and fellowship to nourish the seeds he plants in our hearts.  

It is for this reason we must be wise about those we choose to walk hand in hand with because “bad company corrupts good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33). Unhealthy relationships can leave us feeling depleted, robing the nutrients from our soil.

Biblical friendship matters. You matter. 

The Words of Jesus Tell Us What Biblical Friendship Looks Like

“’This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.’”—John 15:12-15

Biblical friendship is not based on power and authority. The authenticity of this beautiful gift allows you to confide in each other, knowing and trusting that the exchange of words is given to build up and encourage, never to tear down. 

The Holy Spirit guides us into all truth, and this includes truth about biblical friendship. Let’s pay attention when he speaks to our hearts about those we divinely connect with in each season of our lives.

5 Attributes of a Biblical Friendship

1) Biblical Friendship Is Rooted in Christ

“’I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.’”—Matthew 18:19-20

The bedrock of biblical friendship is the shared hope you have in Jesus. Jesus didn’t just teach those he considered friends—he also ate with, walked with, and prayed for them. There is power released when we take the time to gather in Jesus’s name. 

2) Biblical Friendship Has a Heart to Encourage

“So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.”—1 Thessalonians 5:11

There seem to be countless seasons in our lives. Seasons of great joy and seasons of sorrow. Every season needs encouragement—it’s just a matter of who needs it and who will give it. You may be the encourager this year and the one who needs encouragement next year. The joy of a biblical friendship is that the river of encouragement flows both ways. 

3) Biblical Friendship Has a Framework of Forgiveness

“’Do to others as you would like them to do to you.’”—Luke 6:31

We can enter friendships with expectations. But what would it look like if we were to connect within the framework of forgiveness instead? Biblical friendship mirrors this framework. This framework helps us set our expectations aside and simply treat others the way we want to be treated.  

4) Biblical Friendship Gives Wise Counsel 

“Without wise leadership, a nation falls; there is safety in having many advisers.”—Proverbs 11:14

When we are open to hearing the wise counsel of a friend—words that point us to biblical truth—safety surrounds us. That safety nourishes us and helps us become the women God created us to be. Biblical friendship goes hand in hand with wise counsel.

5) Biblical Friendship Is Not Selfish

“Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”—Philippians 2:3-4

Biblical friendship looks out for the interests of others. We all likely have a friend who can drain us emotionally. It may be time to begin placing boundaries around this relationship and prayerfully ask God to place a tribe of women in your life who leave you feeling encouraged, hopeful, and alive!

Biblical Friendship | Using Discernment 

When we look at the words and actions of Jesus as our guide for nourishing biblical friendships, we see how he loved everyone, yet did not trust everyone. There is a difference. Trust is something that goes beyond the surface and is earned. It takes time to develop. 

We must take our emotions, thoughts, desires, and worries and lay them at the feet of Jesus, asking him to guide our steps. He has a plan for our friendships, and it is to help both involved take bold, brave steps of faith that lead to your respective purposes. 

We can trust the Holy Spirit’s guidance when it comes to discerning biblical friendships. Jesus knows the intentions of everyone. Therefore, when we allow him to be the gatekeeper of our hearts, we can be decisive women who live confidently and love unconditionally.  

“But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart.”—John 2:24-25

In Summary…

A biblical friendship is one of like-mindedness that is rooted in Christ.

A biblical friendship allows room for accountability and encouragement from both sides. 

  • “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.”—Proverbs 27:6
  • “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”—Proverbs 27:17

A true friend is one with whom you are comfortable being yourself. You can confide in them and completely trust that the words they say are intended to build you up. There is a shared heart of forgiveness and encouragement. 

It has been said that if you can count the number of true friends you have on one hand, you are blessed. Are you in need of a tribe of women who can speak encouraging words into your life? Or perhaps there is a brave heart in need of hearing wise counsel from you. 

Check out our Treasured Tribe HERE! Treasured Tribe is a private Facebook group where we gain strength by leaning into Jesus and pushing back the insecurities of our past—together. 

We aren’t meant to do this faith journey alone. Let’s join together in the Word of God and live free!

Ditching Perfectionism

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The desire to do things right is not bad in and of itself, but when this desire tips to perfectionism or fear of failure, we trade living courageously for living cautiously (Matthew 25:14-25). And perfectionism will make you passive in pursuing God’s purpose for your life.

But when we become proactive about our thought life and push back on the enemy’s lies by quickly taking that doubt captive and shifting our focus to a Spirit-led mindset, we find peace AND confidence to make and follow through with any decision (Romans 8:6). And this matters… YOUR yes to God’s leadership in your life MATTERS, as each step of courageous obedience advances his kingdom to share his amazing love and grace with those who need to hear it most.

In today’s podcast, learn how to release the fear of failure and find confidence.

Do you want to develop a life-changing habit of spending time in God’s Word? Then join us in January for our 21-Day Challenge! Find more details HERE.

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Emotional Intelligence

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Past trauma can create emotional triggers so powerful they prevent us from walking out our purpose and living in peace. But when we process emotional pain with Jesus, we find healing and TRUTH to triumph over our triggers.

In today’s podcast, discover three steps to heal emotional strongholds so you can be free to pursue your purpose and make a difference in the lives of others.

Join us for the 21-Day Challenge in January and get ready for a great year! Find out more HERE.

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Finding Contentment

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Gratitude keeps us grounded to be directed by the Holy Spirit instead of driven by the standards of others. Gratitude gives us freedom to be the people God created us to be instead of chasing after someone else’s identity. But in our broken world, it’s easy to forget our blessings. The key is bringing simplicity to cultivate a daily habit of thanksgiving.

Inside today’s podcast, find practical steps to develop daily gratitude, see God’s abundance in your life, and sow generously in others. Make gratitude your goal for 2020 by taking the 21-Day Challenge and see how this divine discipline impacts your life and the lives of those around you.

Do you want to take the 21-Day Challenge with a community of women seeking nourishment through God’s word? Then join the Treasured Tribe and invite a friend to go on this journey too!

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