Compiled by: Herman Abrahams (Senior Pastor), Cornerstone Faith Ministries, P.O. Box 740, Westridge 7802, Rep. of South Africa.
E-Mail: Mentorship2003@yahoo.co.uk
Note to the reader:
If you have been blessed with this sermon compilation, I would be honoured to receive an e-mail from you simply telling me where in the world you are based- I do not need any other information. I am requesting this info so that I can have the pleasure of giving thanks to Almighty God, that all over the globe, the ministry which he has entrusted to me, is blessing the body of Christ and helping to extend the Kingdom of God.
Thank you.
Herman Abrahams,
Cape Town, South Africa.
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What Is Mentoring?
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What is mentoring?"
1. A Simple Definition.
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Mentoring is a process involving people. Sometimes it’s a whole series of individuals that God brings into your life at various stages and for various purposes. In every case, these people are sent by God to help you grow and perpetuate the learning process.
2 Peter 3:18:
"Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
He was saying, "As long as you live, continue to grow.”
Unfortunately, the epitaph of many a man is well expressed in the words "Died, age 26; buried, age 64." If you stop learning and growing today, you stop ministering tomorrow.
2. Not A New Concept
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Bear in mind that mentoring is not a new concept. The tradesmen, artists & craftsmen have engaged in mentoring for centuries – passong on their skills to apprentices. They’re filled with pride in their work; they are excited about it!
Most of us know about the great artist Michelangelo. But few know about Bertoldo, his teacher. There’s a debate in art circles about who was the greater—Michelangelo, the pupil, or Bertoldo, the teacher who produced him.
3. A Spiritual Commitment (to develop excellence
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in another)
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Christian mentors are people who have a spiritual commitment. They’re not playing games; they’re committed to life change. And they have specific values. High on their priority list is the development of excellence in another individual so that the individual grows in his Christian life; learns to hate mediocrity - the attitude that anything is good enough for God.
Not only does mentoring involve a person or a group of people, but it is also a process of developing a person to his maximum potential for Jesus Christ. In Colossians 1:28-29 we read,
Vs 28 "We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom."
Why?
"So that we may present everyone [mature] in Christ."
And Paul added,
Vs 29 "To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me."
Paul was interested in believers not remaining spiritual babies (cf. 1 Cor. 3:1-2) but in becoming spiritually mature (cf. Heb. 5:11-14).
4. Why was the apostle Paul committed to
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mentoring?
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Because he had clear-cut objectives. Your objectives determine your outcome. You achieve that for which you aim. Paul knew that the most important contribution he could make in terms of the next generation was to build into the life of the present one. This is becoming even more necessary these days with so much of the world’s population being under 25 !!
In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul said the Christian life is a race— it’s not a hundred metre dash but a marathon. Its success is determined at the end. Paul said it’s a unique race because all can win. Not all will, but all can. But Paul had a fear: He wanted to be sure that
"After I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:27).
What about us? Can we say the same?
Finding Mentors
You should aim at having three individuals in your life:
You need a Paul.
You need a Bamabas, and
You need a Timothy.
1. You need a Paul – An Upward Mentor.
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That is, you need an older man or a man nor enature in the Lord who is willing to build into your life. Please note: not someone who’s smarter than you are, not necessarily someone who’s more gifted than you are, and certainly not someone who has life all together. That person does not exist. You need somebody who’s been through life’s experiences. Somebody who’s willing to share with you not only his strengths, but also his weaknesses. Somebody who’s willing to share his successes and his failures—in other words, what he’s learning in the laboratory of life.
Paul believed in multiplying himself in others:
2 Timothy 2:2:
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.”
Hebrews 13:7 reads:
"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith."
Please note that you are not called to imitate their method, nor their giftedness, nor their personality. Comparison is carnality. The Israelite women sang, "Saul has slain his thousands, but David his ten thousands." The comparison to David so embittered Saul that he spent the rest of his life pursuing David rather than the Philistines.
2. You also need a Barnabus (means “son of
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encouragement”) – A Peer Mentor
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That is, you need a soul brother, somebody who loves you but is not impressed by you. Somebody who is not taken in by your charm and popularity, but someone to whom you can be accountable, someone who will speak the truth in love.
Don’t forget your wife’s role in this regard. You cannot fool her - she knows everything about you. Your wife is often, if not always, the best person to speak into your life.
Do you have anybody in your life who’s willing to look after your integrity and keep you honest? Someone who is willing to say to you, "Brother, you’re neglecting your wife, or "Bro, you talk too much!" without you trying to defend yourself.
Proverbs 27:17:
“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”
Paul said in Galatians 2:11,
"When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong."
That’s the kind of Barnabas/peer mentor that you need.
3. Third, you need a Timothy – A Mentoree.
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You need a younger man into whose life you are building. If you want a model, look at 1 and 2 Timothy. Here was Paul, a mentor, building into the life of his protege. Notice the issues he addressed. He spoke of the need for somebody who can affirm and encourage you, for somebody who will teach you and pray for you, for somebody who will correct and direct you. That’s the kind of person young people are looking for.
Now, how do you get these three men in your life?
Let me give you two suggestions.
First, pray that God will bring into your life a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy.
Where prayer focuses, power falls. God will bring these men into your lives when you ask him.
Second, you need to begin to look for these men.
Put up your antennae. A young man who intends getting married has to get involved in dating a girl.
Obviously, you’ve got to become involved in the process and don’t be surprised if it takes more than one or two experiences before you find that person, because there has to be a personal connection - a chemistry that will grow in a good mentoring relationship. In Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. The wise man says,
"Two are better than one."
Why?
Because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken,
Let’s go after a cord of three strands—a Paul, a Bamabas, and a Timothy. An older man building into your life, a soul brother (an encourager) to keep you accountable, and a younger man into whose life you can build.
Mentoring – the process of learning from those who have travelled the road before us, the encouragement and sharpening from those alongside us and the reproducing of ourselves in younger men, brings wonderful fulfillment to the Christian life.
O, that Father would help us to grow in these relationships! *
References:
1. “A Mandate For Mentoring” by Dr Howard G. Hendricks in Seven Promises Of A Promise Keeper
2. “Mentoring Men” by Brian Bill - Sermoncentral.com
