Why Mentorship?
An Intimate Walk with Jesus - A 30 Day Quiet Time Series
Matthew 28:19-20 is known in religious circles as the “Great
Commission.” In the first part of the
“Great Commission,” Jesus instructs His disciples to “go therefore and make
disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the
Son and the Holy Spirit.” The second part of the commission says, “teaching
them to observe all that I commanded you.” The purpose of mentorship is to
fulfill the second part of this “Great Commission”. The goal of mentorship is
to bring those in Christ to maturity in their faith. Mentorship is that
spiritual “boot camp” where a disciple of Jesus is trained to be an effective
soul winner, an effective teacher of the Word, and an effective “doer” of the
Word.
The purpose of
this 30-day quiet time study is to encourage you to set your mind on the things
of God, to press on toward spiritual maturity and holiness and to prepare you
to instruct others in the ways of God. Remember, as Matthew 28:19 implies,
disciples are “made” not “born”. We are to “make disciples” by baptizing them
and “teaching them to observe” what Christ commands us.
Let God’s Word
mold you into the disciple He wants you to be. I want to encourage you to
examine the Scriptures below and meditate on them as you venture into this
30-day study. May God richly bless you as to grow in the grace and knowledge of
the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
A.
Matthew 28:19,20
·
Jesus commands us to go and make disciples.
·
After a person is baptized, they are to be taught to observe
everything God commands.
B.
Hebrews 5:12-14
·
Maturity is achieved by constant use of the Word.
·
A disciple of Jesus is first fed milk, then solid food.
·
When a disciple of Jesus is taught and trained in the word of God,
he is then able to discern between good and evil.
C.
I Peter 2:1‑2
·
A disciple of Jesus must rid himself of all these evil practices.
·
He is to crave the pure spiritual milk of God’s Word so that he
may mature in his salvation.
D.
I Corinthians
3:1,2
·Young Christians are worldly and need to mature
spiritually.
·Solid food is for the spiritually mature; Infants need the
spiritual milk of the Word.
E.
Titus 1:1
·The knowledge of the truth leads to godliness.
F.
Malachi 3:2,3
·
Jesus is the refiner, purifier and launderer’s soap. He washes us
of sin (see Colossians 2:11-12; Titus 2:13-14; Rev. 1:5).
·
Jesus purifies the Levites:
o
In the Old Testament, the Levites were the priests of Israel (see Deuteronomy 18:1; 27:9)
o
In the New Testament, the Christian is a priest (1 Peter 2:9)
·
Jesus purifies us so that we may become presentable to God and
calls us to be holy. (see Jude 24; 1 Peter 1:13-19)
What agents does
God use to help us become mature and purified? That's where mentorship comes
in.
1.
GOD HOLDS YOU ACCOUNTABLE
·
The Lord disciplines those He loves: His children.
·
Don't give up when you're disciplined ‑ it's for your own
good.
·
If you are not disciplined, you are an illegitimate child and not
a child of God.
·
God's discipline causes you to live.
·
His discipline brings about righteousness and holiness.
·
Discipline seems unpleasant at the time, but its product is peace
and righteousness.
·
You are disciplined to avoid being condemned with the world.
2.
THE WORD HOLDS YOU ACCOUNTABLE
·
The Scriptures are given to us by inspiration of God.
·
The Word of God teaches, corrects, and rebukes us.
·
The Word trains us in God’s righteousness.
3.
THE CHURCH HOLDS YOU ACCOUNTABLE
·
The brethren are to admonish, encourage, help, and be patient with
one another.
·
The brethren are to seek that which is good for one another.
·
We are encouraged to take note of those who according to the pattern
of the Lord.
·
We are to encourage each other to spur one another on toward love
and good deeds.
·
We are encouraged not to forsake the assembly.
·
We cannot encourage others in the Church if we ourselves get into
the habit of missing the assemblies.
4.
WE HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE
·
Each of us is called to be our brother’s/sister’s keeper.
·
We are called to encourage one another to continue in
righteousness.
·
Those who do not do this will be held accountable.
·
We are called to imitate the faith of those who lead us in the
Lord (III John 1:1-- Imitate what is good).
·
We are called to obey those who lead us in the Lord and to submit
to them because they keep watch over you.
·
Do not give those who are trying to teach and lead you a hard
time. It will be unbeneficial to you if you do.
5.
YOU HOLD YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE
·
God has given us the power to live disciplined lives.
·
We are to train ourselves to be godly.
·
Godliness will hold promise for the present life and also for the
life to come.
·
Pay close attention to how you live your life and what you teach. Practice
what you preach!
·
Persevere in both your life and your doctrine so that you may save
yourself and those who hear you.
It
is through these five agents of mentorship that God will be able to call you
higher, to purify you and make you holy and blameless so that He can present
you to Himself with joy. His discipline strengthens us in our Christian walk
and helps us to be better servants of our fellow men ‑ in bringing them
the good news of Christ and of the Kingdom of God.
DRAW NEAR TO GOD ‑ HE DRAWS NEAR
TO YOU
FLEE FROM GOD ‑ SATAN DRAWS NEAR
TO YOU