Mentoring

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What Is Mentoring?
Traditionally, a person having attained a skill in performing cer-tain task would train a less skilled person in one's trade or craft such as printing, carpentry or masonry. Mentoring--from the Greek word meaning enduring--is defined as a sustained rela-tionship between a youth and an adult. Simply stated, mentor-ing is a very personalized method of training.

In antiquity a wealthy person would give a wise and trusted ser-vant the responsibility of training a son. They would spend con-siderable time together reading, discussing, making observa-tions and asking questions, all to increase the knowledge and understanding of the son. Paul, a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, was thoroughly trained in the law of the fathers by Gamaliel. Acts 22:2-3 strongly suggests that Gamaliel mentored Paul.

Jesus The Master Mentor
"He (Jesus) went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach" (Mark 3:13-14). He appointed them, he as-sociated with them, and then he gave them an assignment. He did not send them to a rabbinical school or pharisaical education system. Jesus trained the disciples who surrounded him by as-sociating with them and by providing a model for them to fol-low. By being with him constantly, they began to understand who he was, what he wanted, and where he was going. They chose to be his followers but they needed to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fish-ers of men." At once they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:18-20)

Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and fol-lowed him. (Matthew 4:21-22)

Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying: (Matthew 5:1-2)

Then he got into the boat and His disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!" (Matthew 8:23-25)

While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable … His disci-ples asked Him what this parable meant. (Luke 8:4-5, 9)

When Jesus had called the Twelve together, He gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure dis-eases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God. (Luke 9:1-2)

When the apostles returned, they reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them with him and they with-drew by themselves to a town called Bethsaida. (Luke 9:10-11)

Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here. (Luke 9:12)

Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, He asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life. But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" (Luke 9:18-20)

Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters-one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." (Luke 9:32-33)

Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. I begged your disci-ples to drive it out, but they could not." (Luke 9:38-40)

Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us." (Luke 9:49)

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Je-sus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them? (Luke 9:51-54)

The Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. (Luke 10:1-2)

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he fin-ished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples." (Luke 11:1)

Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, (Luke 12:1)

Peter asked, "Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?" (Luke 12:41)

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" (Luke 17:5)

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1-2)

Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!" (Luke 18:28)

Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, (Luke 18:31)

The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about. (Luke 18:34)

Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus (Luke 22:3-4)

They began to question among themselves. (Luke 22:23)

Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. (Luke 22:24)

When Jesus' followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, "No more of this (Luke 22:49-50)

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. (Matthew 28:16)

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Fa-ther and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you … He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-16)

In addition to all Jesus did and what He said to his apostles, Paul the apostle to the Gentles stated, "the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also." (2 Timo-thy 2:2)
Jesus the Master Mentor Summary:

Jesus, the mentor, selected and called those whom he would train.

The disciples chose to follow.

He taught them as they went from place to place.

They observed as He taught others.

They witnessed the confrontations between Jesus and those who rejected Him

He asked them questions, then they themselves taught.

They asked Him questions. He answered and taught.

They asked for advice from a human prospective and He explained the spiritual. Often they did not understand.

He sent a few of them out in pairs, not alone, with instruc-tions on what to do.

They returned and excitedly reported results.

He cautioned them about relying of self as their power was from above.

They disputed among themselves as they were interested in self. He desired them to be servants.

They wanted to use a sword and bring down fire from Heaven to kill those who opposed. He wanted love and compassion to bring them to repentance and obedience.

He trained them to rely upon God as He would soon return to the Father.

They asked for their faith to be increased.

He died and ascended back to His former abode after assigning the task of spreading the Good News.

The Holy Spirit through Paul added that all Jesus' disciples should commit the gospel to faithful men so they could continue teaching others to teach others.

Application

PREMISE
"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age' Amen" (Matthew 28:18-20).

The mission of Christians is to:
1. Teach the Gospel
2. Edify Christians
3. Prepare the saints for works of service
4. Feed Christians hungry for spiritual food beyond the basic principles
5. Reflect the image of God in our daily walk of life.

PLAN
Even a poorly designed plan is more effective than no plan.

1. Methods should be flexible for both mentor and student

2. Material and tools must be readily available.
   a. Teachers - Concordances, dictionaries and various trans-lations of the Bible
   b. Students - Self study lessons, observing someone else present lessons, participating in a lesson presentation and one on one Bible studies

3. Individual abilities differ, i.e. teachers, evangelizers and edi-fiers. Personality traits may be a factor initially but the pri-mary objective is to involve every Christian in performing some activity the Body needs so it can function effectively and efficiently. Students should grow in faith, knowledge and skill allowing them to perform a different but unfulfilled activity.

4. Advanced training should be given to those:
   a. Students who desire and have ability to become evangelizers.
   b. Desiring to be edifiers.
   c. Desiring to be teachers of children, teens and adults as a group or by gender.
   d. Not interfere with teaching the Gospel to a seeker.

5. One translation of Bible should be selected as primary teaching version. It does not necessarily need to be the same Bible as the one used in evangelizing or edifying as the seeker's personal Bible will provide some comfort to the seekers in his personal study. Use of several other versions may help student understand scriptures more clearly.

6. Limiting the number of students being mentored so the quality of mentoring remains at its peek.

7. Encourage all students to become mentors

PROCEDURES
1. Identify Christians full of faith, joy and love who have a de-sire to do what God desires the church to do. Select those displaying greatest potential and desire after carefully ob-serving, close personal contact, discussion and evaluation.

2. The mentor identifies a task, function or work that the Lord wants the church to do and that the mentor is performing or has the understanding to perform, is not being done or needs to be done better or one in which additional Christians need to be trained.

3. Require students to complete all correspondence courses used in local teaching program followed by a grading and discussion of each lesson.

4. Assign selected Bible readings for student to study before next scheduled time. Have student explain his understanding in an interactive discussion.

5. Assign subject for student to research followed by periods of discussion and additional research. A test could be given to provide mentor with another opportunity to teach. The test would be returned with comments on each answer and an overall impression of student's depth of knowledge: i.e., very good, good knowledge but needs to improve. This teaches good research methods.

6. Take a new student and an advanced student on a function, activity or lesson mentor feels student is best suited for them to observe. Following the function, activity or lesson review and discuss with them the lesson, presentation and reaction.

7. Advanced student should teach part of the lesson while the mentor observes. Following the study the mentor discusses their presentation.

8. If possible, women students should always accomp
any men-tor when teaching other women. To protect self and seeker or woman student never teach women alone and never be alone with only a woman student.

9. Send trainees out in pairs; a seasoned student out with less seasoned one.

10. Encourage and develop seasoned student to become a men-tor.

Mentor's Responsibility
Beginning with the presentation teaching method the mentor should, after each session, discuss with the student presenter an evaluation of the presentation. He should offer suggestions for improvement such as, eye contact, voice tone that could suggest some desirable or undesirable attitude, hand gestures, quality of reading and the relevance of the content presented to the subject being discussed. He should make encouragement his top priority.

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