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Spiritual Mothering: The Titus 2 Model for Women Mentoring Women
Many churches lack a crucial element central to the flourishing of women: older women mentoring younger women. Using Titus 2 as a guide, seasoned author Susan Hunt casts a biblical vision of what the church can be when women invest in vibrant relationships with one another. Featuring inspiring stories from the Bible and from women today who have faithfully embraced Scripture's command, this book offers readers an abundance of practical insights, ministry-tested how-to's, and personal encouragement. Now featuring a new cover, this classic book will inspire a new generation of women to seek out the blessing of godly relationships that will encourage and equip them to live for God's glory.
240 pages, Paperback
First published November 30, 1992
165 people are currently reading
1274 people want to read
About the author
Susan Hunt
42 books69 followersSusan Hunt is a mother and grandmother, a pastor’s wife, and the former Director of Women’s Ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America. Holding a degree in Christian education from Columbia Theological Seminary, she has written a number of books, including several by Crossway.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
March 26, 2020
Readers should be aware that the author frequently extracts more than is plausible from a single verse, often stating, "I can imagine" rather than citing further Biblical evidence for her ideas. An area that disturbs me: when she tells the reader that if our husbands are spiritually lacking, it is ultimately our responsibility as women to help them become holy, first by making them happy, which we need to do by having sex with them. Then this prepares them to become holy because they are more likely to become holy if they are happy. She did not base this statement off any Biblical concept whatsoever and I find it harmful in the blame it puts on women to sort out their husbands' personal spirituality and happiness.
The scripturally-sound portions of this book are helpful in thinking about the relationship between older women and younger women within the church. However, many of the verses chosen for bolstering this analysis can be applied to men and women alike, though the author makes it seem like these verses are directed to women specifically. More often than not, God seems to ignore gender constraints, His word applying across the board. When He does draw distinctions, these are never to lift men above women but to demonstrate that we are equal with different attributes making up a whole. The author, to her credit, mentions this early in the book. But outside of this, the book is full of her imaginings and personal, subjective human experience, which is fine, as long as readers realize this.
I do appreciate the attempt to shed some light on the topic of mentorship of younger Christian women, but this book is longer than the topic allows for and thus contains a lot of extrapolations. This book needs to be approached like any self-help book or memoir: with the understanding that even our Biblical worldview can be influenced by our experiences and subsequent opinions. My advice? Absorb and test all that is Biblically-sound through careful consideration and opening up your own Bibles to understand the full context of each verse the author cites, and the rest, the pieces that speak to you from your own experience. But don't treat those pieces the same way you treat God-ordained scripture.
The scripturally-sound portions of this book are helpful in thinking about the relationship between older women and younger women within the church. However, many of the verses chosen for bolstering this analysis can be applied to men and women alike, though the author makes it seem like these verses are directed to women specifically. More often than not, God seems to ignore gender constraints, His word applying across the board. When He does draw distinctions, these are never to lift men above women but to demonstrate that we are equal with different attributes making up a whole. The author, to her credit, mentions this early in the book. But outside of this, the book is full of her imaginings and personal, subjective human experience, which is fine, as long as readers realize this.
I do appreciate the attempt to shed some light on the topic of mentorship of younger Christian women, but this book is longer than the topic allows for and thus contains a lot of extrapolations. This book needs to be approached like any self-help book or memoir: with the understanding that even our Biblical worldview can be influenced by our experiences and subsequent opinions. My advice? Absorb and test all that is Biblically-sound through careful consideration and opening up your own Bibles to understand the full context of each verse the author cites, and the rest, the pieces that speak to you from your own experience. But don't treat those pieces the same way you treat God-ordained scripture.
August 24, 2024
For years I would have said this type of book is too anecdotal, cheesy, and not suitable to my personality. I am thankful for the gentle correction Susan Hunt offers.
God himself is nurturing, and he designed women in his image to be nurturers. To get over ourselves enough to use encouraging language, to be present and to be interested in the women around us - older AND younger. There is an abundance of younger women needing discipled. There is a shortage of older women willing to step up. (No matter the age gap or context…seniors in college caring for freshmen, middle-aged moms to single women, 80 year olds to 70 year olds, etc.)
This is a simple little book with scripture to support the call. Easy read!
God himself is nurturing, and he designed women in his image to be nurturers. To get over ourselves enough to use encouraging language, to be present and to be interested in the women around us - older AND younger. There is an abundance of younger women needing discipled. There is a shortage of older women willing to step up. (No matter the age gap or context…seniors in college caring for freshmen, middle-aged moms to single women, 80 year olds to 70 year olds, etc.)
This is a simple little book with scripture to support the call. Easy read!
May 13, 2011
This is a wonderful book on spiritual mothering. The first chapters aren't as practical, but lay a good foundation. The latter chapters are SO practical - I'll be referring back to this book! Chapter 11 was my favorite - about how to comfort someone who is going through a hard time. It really resonated with how I felt when we were trying to get pregnant and having trouble. Overall, I'd definitely recommend this book for someone who's interested in this topic! It probably helped that I read this as a part of a group study, and got a lot out of our discussions too.
December 21, 2023
I really liked this book. I learned a lot and I feel like it was also really practical. There were a few parts where she made some assumptions surrounding scriptural context, but it wasn’t anything huge and there was still a lot of other, biblically sound, wisdom. Some parts were super applicable to my life rn, some were not, but that’s kind of every book? Definitely from the 90’s (some cultural references I didn’t get lol) but I kind of loved that. Overall, a really good read and I would recommend.
June 3, 2023
What an encouraging book! Susan Hunt makes Titus 2 practical and applicable.
January 1, 2013
A wonderful fleshing-out of Titus 2 that greatly encouraged me and spurred me on to live it out. Whether you need ideas for a current woman-to-woman relationships, are discouraged with your lack thereof, or doubt your own ability to nurture another woman, this book will give you the encouragement you need to fully embrace God's plan for women's ministry.
June 21, 2024
I loved the content of the book and would HIGHLY recommend it to any woman or girl to read! However, I didn’t love the way the content was organized in the book. It felt a little scattered at times. But I think the only reason I noticed that is because I’m using information from this book to co-lead a SS class on mentoring. I think my favorite parts of the book were the spiritual mothering challenges interspersed throughout 💜
June 13, 2019
I wasn't sure about this book when I first started it. I knew what I hoped it would be...then let that expectation go...and the blessing of reading it was far larger than I originally hoped for. I could hear Susan's beautiful southern accent in my head throughout the entire book saying, "This is a GOOD thing...it is worth pursuing...the Lord will enable you to do it." She helped me to BELIEVE that it could be true for me.
I read the more recently re-published version (which has a prettier, updated cover). I really loved everything about it...the chapters themselves, the "spiritual mothering challenges" and the personal stories. I don't always like personal stories...sometimes they're just over the top and too much. But these were chosen well and fit just right.
I plan to use and refer to this book a LOT as I go into the next season of life. I'm grateful to Susan for writing it and to the Lord for giving her the idea and enabling her to carry it out.
I read the more recently re-published version (which has a prettier, updated cover). I really loved everything about it...the chapters themselves, the "spiritual mothering challenges" and the personal stories. I don't always like personal stories...sometimes they're just over the top and too much. But these were chosen well and fit just right.
I plan to use and refer to this book a LOT as I go into the next season of life. I'm grateful to Susan for writing it and to the Lord for giving her the idea and enabling her to carry it out.
August 7, 2024
I started this book as part of a study through my church. I ended up appreciating this book more than I thought I would. It’s a convicting and encouraging reminder that women have power and that our role is not simply to raise babies, but to equip and encourage all women and, in doing so, strengthen the church. After finishing this book, I am excited about what women can do and what I have a privilege to be a part of!
March 24, 2025
the first half contained a great framework for the Titus 2 model & why it’s important. The second half was intended to be more practical application, but it felt like she was really stretching certain scripture passages to fit her narrative… didn’t love that
February 8, 2017
This was a good book but I had some issues with it. The point of this book is to elaborate on the Titus 2 mandate: "Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children,to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored." And encourage women to pursue this type of nurturing relationship with other Christian women in their church or around them. To show the different facets of the mandate. It gives examples of what that may look like and get us to think through the practical implications and applications of how that would look like in our relationships with other Christian women.
From the very beginning Susan Hunt lays out a biblically sound foundation: The Glory of God, obedience to God, and sound doctrine. It was oh so refreshing and very much appreciated to have that from the get go. I like the layout of the book: each chapter has a 1 page summary example of an actual woman who was mentored or does the mentoring. The chapter then begins and finally it ends with 1-5 personal questions (which to be honest I never did). This book is not meant to be 12 step program, or a list of Do's and Don'ts. However, because of the simplicity of this book, I found it to be quite practical. One of the things that she emphasizes is the unity we have in Christ, and how that alone is enough to encourage the development of these types of relationships. We do no necessarily need to have other commonalities (though it helps) because we have the most important thing in common: Christ.
With that being said, there are some concerns I do have. First let me say that I am not saying that Susan Hunt should be avoided or be classified as a false teacher, because I don't believer she is. But there are things that Mrs. Hunt does that do bother me. The first minor thing is that because she uses the NIV translation—A more of a thought for thought version—when using some verses to make her point, she emphasizes an area that a more literal translation would read differently. Now, does she say false things, no, but I think that maybe she should have used a more literal translation or use verses that does show the point she is trying to portray. Another thing that I find more concerning is how she makes application. Sometimes she projects our cultural worldview and context to the biblical text or person she is talking about, rather than showing the cultural implications of that time period. I am not trying to nitpick, but I think the reason it bothers me is because, it can open the door for interpreting verses based on our own cultural experiences, rather than the intent and culture of the author of that book. This is how false doctrine usually develops so I do find it quite dangerous. I can appreciate that she seems to simply want to make this book applicable to women in our culture. But I think it would have been wiser to make application based on the actual cultural context of the text. I find that though the author never states her ideas about the text or person as matter of fact, there are just too many instances where her own ideas run wild and project into the text. We have to remember that each passage of scripture has an initial audience, and reading audience. We need to to be careful when making application, especially when we are 2000+ years removed from when a text was written. Oftentimes application becomes the hermeneutic of truth and there is extreme danger in that. It was a helpful book but its not perfect. I do, however, consider it a good enough resource for those women seeking to be obedient to the Titus 2 mandate. I do recommend it with just a reminder to always go to the text of scripture as our final authority and take what the author projects with a grain of salt and to remember that we need to be discerning and good Bareans even within those who are not false teachers.
From the very beginning Susan Hunt lays out a biblically sound foundation: The Glory of God, obedience to God, and sound doctrine. It was oh so refreshing and very much appreciated to have that from the get go. I like the layout of the book: each chapter has a 1 page summary example of an actual woman who was mentored or does the mentoring. The chapter then begins and finally it ends with 1-5 personal questions (which to be honest I never did). This book is not meant to be 12 step program, or a list of Do's and Don'ts. However, because of the simplicity of this book, I found it to be quite practical. One of the things that she emphasizes is the unity we have in Christ, and how that alone is enough to encourage the development of these types of relationships. We do no necessarily need to have other commonalities (though it helps) because we have the most important thing in common: Christ.
With that being said, there are some concerns I do have. First let me say that I am not saying that Susan Hunt should be avoided or be classified as a false teacher, because I don't believer she is. But there are things that Mrs. Hunt does that do bother me. The first minor thing is that because she uses the NIV translation—A more of a thought for thought version—when using some verses to make her point, she emphasizes an area that a more literal translation would read differently. Now, does she say false things, no, but I think that maybe she should have used a more literal translation or use verses that does show the point she is trying to portray. Another thing that I find more concerning is how she makes application. Sometimes she projects our cultural worldview and context to the biblical text or person she is talking about, rather than showing the cultural implications of that time period. I am not trying to nitpick, but I think the reason it bothers me is because, it can open the door for interpreting verses based on our own cultural experiences, rather than the intent and culture of the author of that book. This is how false doctrine usually develops so I do find it quite dangerous. I can appreciate that she seems to simply want to make this book applicable to women in our culture. But I think it would have been wiser to make application based on the actual cultural context of the text. I find that though the author never states her ideas about the text or person as matter of fact, there are just too many instances where her own ideas run wild and project into the text. We have to remember that each passage of scripture has an initial audience, and reading audience. We need to to be careful when making application, especially when we are 2000+ years removed from when a text was written. Oftentimes application becomes the hermeneutic of truth and there is extreme danger in that. It was a helpful book but its not perfect. I do, however, consider it a good enough resource for those women seeking to be obedient to the Titus 2 mandate. I do recommend it with just a reminder to always go to the text of scripture as our final authority and take what the author projects with a grain of salt and to remember that we need to be discerning and good Bareans even within those who are not false teachers.
January 24, 2025
Read for a women's Bible study/book group at church years ago and really liked it.
March 20, 2018
I really appreciated Spiritual Mothering for the many topics it covers in the area of women's ministry.
Each chapter starts with a brief testimony from a woman about how she has been impacted by another woman's ministry with a great variety of situations and backgrounds.
The author gives a foundation for why it's important for women to minister to each other, helpful texts from the Bible about this task and the model and method for doing it. Some of the specific topics include encouragement, forgiveness, and even when to separate (how to know when the woman you are mentoring is ready to go off on her own).
The only thing I didn't like about the book was some of the scripture references. The author creates application from some verses that I don't think necessarily follows from the context and reads into some character stories in order to make her point. For example, the author uses the story of Abigail in 1 Samuel as an example of someone that has practiced forgiveness. She assumes that since she has had to live with such a surly husband for so long, she must have been good at forgiving him. She also theorizes that when the biblical author wrote that she was a beautiful woman it was likely that it referred to her inner beauty. All of that may be true, but I don't really see evidence for it in the text. There are other stories included where the author interprets the thoughts and attitudes of biblical characters that I think is taking a liberty. There are also some verses taken from the New Testament in order to support her arguments that, while not unbiblical in their conclusions, don't seem to necessarily follow from that context.
This book is helpful on its own, but I really think the biggest benefit would come from reading it with a group of women at church. There are study/application questions at the end of each chapter and there's a lot of practical advice for creating an atmosphere of women ministering to each other at all different ages and stages of life. I hope to go through this material again in a group setting.
Each chapter starts with a brief testimony from a woman about how she has been impacted by another woman's ministry with a great variety of situations and backgrounds.
The author gives a foundation for why it's important for women to minister to each other, helpful texts from the Bible about this task and the model and method for doing it. Some of the specific topics include encouragement, forgiveness, and even when to separate (how to know when the woman you are mentoring is ready to go off on her own).
The only thing I didn't like about the book was some of the scripture references. The author creates application from some verses that I don't think necessarily follows from the context and reads into some character stories in order to make her point. For example, the author uses the story of Abigail in 1 Samuel as an example of someone that has practiced forgiveness. She assumes that since she has had to live with such a surly husband for so long, she must have been good at forgiving him. She also theorizes that when the biblical author wrote that she was a beautiful woman it was likely that it referred to her inner beauty. All of that may be true, but I don't really see evidence for it in the text. There are other stories included where the author interprets the thoughts and attitudes of biblical characters that I think is taking a liberty. There are also some verses taken from the New Testament in order to support her arguments that, while not unbiblical in their conclusions, don't seem to necessarily follow from that context.
This book is helpful on its own, but I really think the biggest benefit would come from reading it with a group of women at church. There are study/application questions at the end of each chapter and there's a lot of practical advice for creating an atmosphere of women ministering to each other at all different ages and stages of life. I hope to go through this material again in a group setting.
August 31, 2023
Ugh, where to begin…let’s just say that, though there really were many good points and helpful insights, more than a few parts have not aged well. The author demonstrates a lack of understanding of trauma and addiction, reinforces harmful purity-culture understandings of sex in marriage, and has a view of biblical womanhood that appears enmeshed with southern mid-century homemaking.
I do not recommend this book unless you’re prepared to do some meticulous excavating to get to the salvageable bits.
I do not recommend this book unless you’re prepared to do some meticulous excavating to get to the salvageable bits.
June 7, 2020
An excellent read!
This book will motivate and help equip you to be a spiritual mother to those younger ladies in your life.
Being a spiritual mother isn't about control. It is about serving, giving grace, encouraging, praying, teaching by example, comforting, and loving.
I feel a great task is in front of me. I pray that I am up for the challenge, can bless some young ladies in my life, and bring glory and honor to God in the process.
This book will motivate and help equip you to be a spiritual mother to those younger ladies in your life.
Being a spiritual mother isn't about control. It is about serving, giving grace, encouraging, praying, teaching by example, comforting, and loving.
I feel a great task is in front of me. I pray that I am up for the challenge, can bless some young ladies in my life, and bring glory and honor to God in the process.
September 26, 2020
This book was more than I expected. With a strong focus on relationship with God, and perspective of His glory, the author gives some practical tips about women mentoring women. Always returning to God's purpose, it definitely spoke to me beyond 'spiritual mothering' relationships.
December 17, 2025
There are some really great things discussed in the book. But there is also a decent amount outdated in the stories that can make it harder to relate with. Overall, I do think with the right people to discuss it with, it can be a really fruitful book.
March 4, 2025
The reader may not agree with all the author’s beliefs about marriage and husband/wife relationships, but the principles of older women mentoring and coming alongside younger women are very valuable. Our culture has done young women a huge disservice by placing barriers of prejudice and dismissal between older and younger women. We all need each other! Older women need to see the younger woman’s 21st century struggle, and younger women need the insight and encouragement of older women.
If you are connected to any woman younger than you who is struggling, this book could help you be an “along-sider” for her.
If you are connected to any woman younger than you who is struggling, this book could help you be an “along-sider” for her.
July 15, 2025
4.5 - a great book that I'd like to incorporate into our discipleship plan
March 14, 2022
Really sweet book about older women mentoring younger women. I loved it! The tone was so sweet and encouraging, while also being motivating. My big take away was from chapter 9. I want to grow in being more accepting of others and encouraging them where they are currently at and not being so critical.
December 23, 2022
I really enjoyed this! The author is a grandmother and I loved reading it from her point of view. It encouraged and challenged me!
August 29, 2020
I bought this book about 20 years ago, but never got past the second chapter. Recently, after discussing mentorship in our church's ladies group, I happened to find the forgotten book on my bookshelf.
I am beginning to see the important practicality of the Titus 2 passage, and find it to be such a vital aspect of the church's overall growth in Christ. We are a Body of many various but utterly connected parts that must learn to work together. Godly women mentoring women helps to create godly families and godly families help to build strong godly churches that become more and more conformed to His image. (Though, I do not say this to detract from the absolute priority of hearing the word preached/rightly-divided and the sacraments.) I never had a woman personally mentor me, but I'm sure I received some aspect of mentoring through the books that I've read. A personal mentor through the years would have been wonderful, though...someone to whom I could ask questions, someone that would correct me where I lack.
This is a good book. I appreciate the lay-out. The author begins each chapter with various women's personal stories which seem to coincide with the subject of the chapter. She also gives a lot of practical application for those of us who aren't very creative. Though some reviews have suggested that she took too much liberty in the narratives of Biblical women, I actually think she reached into the text and made the women more real without adding to the scripture. Her ideas are very plausible.
I'm anxious to see this implemented in the Church as a whole in our day. I think in our culture of independence, we've missed this timeless element that would so strengthen families and churches.
I am beginning to see the important practicality of the Titus 2 passage, and find it to be such a vital aspect of the church's overall growth in Christ. We are a Body of many various but utterly connected parts that must learn to work together. Godly women mentoring women helps to create godly families and godly families help to build strong godly churches that become more and more conformed to His image. (Though, I do not say this to detract from the absolute priority of hearing the word preached/rightly-divided and the sacraments.) I never had a woman personally mentor me, but I'm sure I received some aspect of mentoring through the books that I've read. A personal mentor through the years would have been wonderful, though...someone to whom I could ask questions, someone that would correct me where I lack.
This is a good book. I appreciate the lay-out. The author begins each chapter with various women's personal stories which seem to coincide with the subject of the chapter. She also gives a lot of practical application for those of us who aren't very creative. Though some reviews have suggested that she took too much liberty in the narratives of Biblical women, I actually think she reached into the text and made the women more real without adding to the scripture. Her ideas are very plausible.
I'm anxious to see this implemented in the Church as a whole in our day. I think in our culture of independence, we've missed this timeless element that would so strengthen families and churches.
November 26, 2012
Reading this book at Church for Sunday School. So many good things to gleam from this study. It really is a book about Godly relationships. How we lack and how we can grow. Each chapter starts with a story and then scripture and ends with application. It stresses that relationships with the motivation to glorify God bring us to holy living that satisfies. These are not easy relationships because they have risks. They take time and energy. It is one of those reads that stay with you and is profitable for you will be blessed.
September 3, 2012
I reread this again the last couple of days, as our church is praying through the implementation of a mentoring/discipleship ministry among women.
Still loved it as much I did the first time I read it. . . Susan Hunt gives a wonderful biblical perspective and personal hands-on expertise on this subject. Recommend highly as a foundational book to read and absorb if you feel God calling you to this type of ministry--on a personal or church-wide level.
Still loved it as much I did the first time I read it. . . Susan Hunt gives a wonderful biblical perspective and personal hands-on expertise on this subject. Recommend highly as a foundational book to read and absorb if you feel God calling you to this type of ministry--on a personal or church-wide level.
February 26, 2025
This book was referred to me by a dear friend. I discovered alot, learned alot and am glad to have read it!
June 23, 2011
Susan Hunt is always an easy read and points out thing clearly. Always enjoy her books-lots to learn.
November 13, 2013
A good book to read if you are looking to be an influence in the lives of other women. Easy to read and many points to ponder.
May 15, 2024
Painfully anti-family and anti-marriage with really rough hermeneutics
February 11, 2022
This book is the top tier of mentorship books but is so much more. Being a Titus 2 woman , not just a Titus 2 mentor
May 6, 2017
I was a little wary of this book at first, because in reading a few of Susan’s other writings, I thought she came across as clinical. I’m happy to say, though, that that’s not the case with this book, and she comes across as much more warm and personable. This edition is a revision of a book she wrote about 25 years ago.
She begins by noting that Titus 2:3-5, the instruction about older women teaching younger, is not to be taken in isolation or out of context and only read during women’s ministry functions. It fits within the broader framework of our Lord’s command to make disciples, and the function of the church as a whole, and the context of living life for God’s glory.
Susan defines spiritual mothering thus: “When a woman possessing faith and spiritual maturity enters into a nurturing relationship with a younger woman in order to encourage and equip her to live for God’s glory” (p. 36). Her main Biblical models throughout the book are Elizabeth and Mary, and my first thought was that I don’t think that’s primarily what the passages that speak of them are there for. But she draws out many applicable principles from their time together and draws from other relationships as well (like Ruth and Naomi). However, she points out that the principles of spiritual mothering can be seen in and drawn from many passages where God compares His care of His people to a mother’s love. And because we draw from His example and because He equips us, spiritual mothering has nothing to do with having biological children or even being married: God calls each woman to nurture in this way and enables them to do so. Usually we’re in the position of an older lady to some and a younger lady to others.
Before reading the book, I was a bit afraid that Susan would be pushing a formal and structured relationship, which can too easily seem artificial. She does share ways that can be implemented. But overall she advocates this type of nurturing in connection with other interactions, activities, and ministries, which I’ve always felt was a more natural way to go about it. “Spiritual mothering has more to do with demonstrating ‘the shape of godliness’ than with teaching lesson plans” (p. 93).
She discusses characteristics of the relationship and sprinkles many examples from modern life throughout the book, as well as opening each chapter with one woman’s story. Each chapter ends with a challenge of meditating on a specific passage of Scripture and taking definite steps in regard to the chapter’s subject matter.
There were just a few places where I agreed with what Susan was saying but didn’t feel that it quite came from the passage she was using for its basis, and one or two places where I felt she was wrong. For instance, on p. 52 she says, “Jesus tells us in no uncertain terms how to glorify God: ‘I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.’ (John 17:4, NIV). Completing the work he assigns us – joyful obedience to his will – is the way we glorify him.” It is a way, but not the only way. A couple of other ways: “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (Psalm 50:23, ESV); “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit” (John 15:8, NASB).
But overall I thought this was a good and helpful book and I gleaned many good things from it.
She begins by noting that Titus 2:3-5, the instruction about older women teaching younger, is not to be taken in isolation or out of context and only read during women’s ministry functions. It fits within the broader framework of our Lord’s command to make disciples, and the function of the church as a whole, and the context of living life for God’s glory.
Susan defines spiritual mothering thus: “When a woman possessing faith and spiritual maturity enters into a nurturing relationship with a younger woman in order to encourage and equip her to live for God’s glory” (p. 36). Her main Biblical models throughout the book are Elizabeth and Mary, and my first thought was that I don’t think that’s primarily what the passages that speak of them are there for. But she draws out many applicable principles from their time together and draws from other relationships as well (like Ruth and Naomi). However, she points out that the principles of spiritual mothering can be seen in and drawn from many passages where God compares His care of His people to a mother’s love. And because we draw from His example and because He equips us, spiritual mothering has nothing to do with having biological children or even being married: God calls each woman to nurture in this way and enables them to do so. Usually we’re in the position of an older lady to some and a younger lady to others.
It would be easy for some women to quickly disqualify themselves by saying, But I don’t have the gift of teaching.” Sorry, that won’t work! A closer look at the word translated “train” will render that reasoning invalid. The Greek word is sophronizo and denotes “to cause to be of sound mind, to recall to one’s senses…the training would involve the cultivation of sound judgment and prudence (p. 72).
The popular concept of mentoring and coaching suggest some degree of structure and formality. Spiritual mothering may involve mentoring and coaching, but it is broader. Nurturing seems to be more compatible with what Paul is advocating in the Titus command (p. 72).
Before reading the book, I was a bit afraid that Susan would be pushing a formal and structured relationship, which can too easily seem artificial. She does share ways that can be implemented. But overall she advocates this type of nurturing in connection with other interactions, activities, and ministries, which I’ve always felt was a more natural way to go about it. “Spiritual mothering has more to do with demonstrating ‘the shape of godliness’ than with teaching lesson plans” (p. 93).
She discusses characteristics of the relationship and sprinkles many examples from modern life throughout the book, as well as opening each chapter with one woman’s story. Each chapter ends with a challenge of meditating on a specific passage of Scripture and taking definite steps in regard to the chapter’s subject matter.
There were just a few places where I agreed with what Susan was saying but didn’t feel that it quite came from the passage she was using for its basis, and one or two places where I felt she was wrong. For instance, on p. 52 she says, “Jesus tells us in no uncertain terms how to glorify God: ‘I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do.’ (John 17:4, NIV). Completing the work he assigns us – joyful obedience to his will – is the way we glorify him.” It is a way, but not the only way. A couple of other ways: “The one who offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (Psalm 50:23, ESV); “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit” (John 15:8, NASB).
But overall I thought this was a good and helpful book and I gleaned many good things from it.
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