When I became a believer many years ago, church discipleship ministries were organized almost entirely through directed Bible studies in small groups. These studies are important in discipleship, but they’re not enough. They miss the most obvious New Testament means of disciple making: one-on-one, face-to-face mentoring. There are many reasons we should still invest our time and ourselves in this basic relational model.
Mentoring Is Biblical
Jesus produced disciples by first investing in a group of twelve men, then more deliberately in three of those men, and most likely more specifically in one of those men—Peter. Jesus called them to be with Him, taught them, empowered them, prayed in their presence, sent them out, challenged them, called them to account, and even prepared a meal for them. They in turn became leaders in the early church.
The apostle Paul followed Jesus’ model by pouring his life into a few young men like Timothy. This young protégé watched Paul minister, walked in his shadow, rejoiced with him when lives were changed, and prayed for him when he was persecuted. What joy Paul must have felt in knowing that after he was gone, Timothy would carry on the work of the gospel.
If Jesus and Paul made disciples through this means, it’s a good pattern for us to follow.
Mentoring Reinforces the Truth of the Word
When we watch our mentors share their faith, we’re more likely to share our own faith. Spouses with godly marriages give us the invaluable gift of seeing Christian homes in motion. Life becomes an effective classroom when we get to see in action what we hear in God’s Word. Many of God’s truths came to life for me in the context of watching somebody else, even when the relationship wasn’t an official mentoring relationship.
I met Herbert when the church where he was a deacon called me as its pastor. I was very much a rookie pastor, and I worried about every decision I made. I preached God’s promises without first trusting them myself. Herbert, though, had learned over the years to trust God fully. He believed it was foolish to worry, because God was in control. Through this humble, trusting man I was reminded that God always keeps His word.
Ruby played that same role for the young women in our church. She was energetic, friendly, exuberant, passionate—the kind of person who exudes the presence of Jesus. When she started praying, you could tell that she touched heaven with her serious, heartfelt praying. She taught us that fervent prayer from righteous people makes a difference.
Mentoring Requires Mentors to Guard their Lives Against the Enemy’s Attacks
If you choose to be a Christian mentor, you’ll wear a bull’s-eye on your back for Satan’s attacks. If he can seriously wound the mentor, those who follow will bear the scars of that fall. Never does a mentor fall without a ripple effect. Understanding that, if you choose to be a mentor, you must guard yourself.
Why do people in leadership, who have great influence over other people, often fall to the enemy’s attacks? My friend J. D. Greear, a pastor in North Carolina, warns that living in isolation contributes to the moral failures plaguing our culture. God created us to be in relationship with Him and others, and anything less than that opens the door for Satan. Greear says:
“God never intended any of us to live alone. Deep friendships with people you live and work and go to church with are a part of discipleship. The shepherd is still a sheep.”1
A shepherd fights the same battles that the sheep fight. This confirms what mentoring is: “a God-given relationship in which one growing Christian encourages and equips another believer to reach his or her potential as a disciple of Christ.” Mentoring creates a positive cycle. Good mentors stand their ground against the enemy because they don’t want to harm their witness before their mentees and the unbelieving world. And in the very practice of mentoring, they’re keeping themselves in relationship with other growing Christians, thus reinforcing their ability to stand their ground.
1. J. D. Greear, “Why Pastors Fall into Moral Sin,” September 30, 2010, www.jdgreear.com.
Excerpted from Mentor Bible Study by Chuck Lawless. © 2018 Lifeway Press. Used by permission.