- BIBLICAL MENTORING
Training Disciple-Making Disciples
by Ron Lively
INSTRUCTIONS for Biblical Mentoring:
We teach and model what we know and experience. We request everyone participate in this process prior to becoming a mentor / trainer. Our approach is a mixture of coaching, teaching, training and encouraging built on the foundation of consistent prayer. The process starts with an agreement to participate in a 30 minute weekly meeting / session. The meeting can be in person or by some kind of call – whatever is best method depending on the circumstances. Diminish all obstacles to achieve an uninterrupted 30 minute discussion. The time is spent sharing the week’s memory verse (see Memory Verses page) with the reading and discussion of the context of the week’s verse followed by prayer. The emphasis is on what the Scripture says – not on a person’s doctrines, knowledge or skills. The Holy Spirit is the teacher and guide. This time enhances a relationship between two people eager to mutually share their personal relationship with Christ.
PARTICIPANTS:
- Mentor / trainer / disciple-maker – is to be faithful to the charge/comission of Christ to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19-20). We are to be disciples who are trained and engaged in making disciples who become disciple-making disciples. The mentor will provide you with a set of memory cards from our office OR give you info on our Resources page for cards or an app.
- Mentee / Trainee/ Disciple – will learn more about how to develop spiritually while being trained to offer Biblical Mentoring to many others for a lifetime. Important: each participant is asked in the beginning to make a commitment to utilize this training to train at least one person at the end or sometimes prior to the end of the initial sixty verses. We are engaged in both mobilization and multiplication.
MORE DETAILS FOR THOSE NEEDING MORE INFORMATION:
1. The Mentor/Disciple Maker takes the responsibility to set up the calls or meetings with the mentee and then initiate the calls at the agreed upon time. If you are mentoring more than one person, it is best to set up the calls leaving 30 minutes between the calls to regroup and prepare for a new session. Minimize distractions during the call so you can both focus on the memory verse and the Scripture study.
2. The trainer starts by quoting the week’s memory verse prior to the opening prayer. Model how this is done by quoting the theme of the section, the sub-theme, the Scripture reference, the verse and then the reference again. This helps builds a system of theology that is helpful to recall and share a verse. Then the leader opens with a prayer for the session praying specifically about that verse. Pray for God’s Spirit of Truth to open your hearts and minds to be teachable.
3. Then the one being trained quotes the verse in the same way as the leader prior to the reading of the chapter / context.
4. The mentor models a teachable spirit so that the mentee/disciple will gain the confidence to duplicate this process. The goal of this training is for spiritual development and growth of biblical character until there is eventual duplication of the training process with others. The goal is for each person to invite someone from their community or network to train. This development may happen sooner but is advisable to wait until after the completion of the fourth section of memory verses (Section D). Use your instincts to know when it is best to encourage them to reach out to someone to train.
5. The mentor is to be well prepared by doing the memory work and prior study each week. Ideally, this can become part of one’s daily devotions so that you can be prepared to highlight the scriptural principles. But don’t act or teach as if this training requires a professional teacher. It doesn’t. We are two fellow believers who are learning together what the Spirit is teaching us.
6. Read the whole chapter: For adequate contextual reading, the mentor should scan the chapter and determine where the chapter breaks naturally or by the headings. Determine if a section of the previous chapter should be read or reviewed for the broader context. If the disciple is comfortable, ask them to read half of the text. In some unique cases, you can allow the disciple to do all of the reading if they request. Some people understand better when reading Scripture as opposed to listening to someone else read.
7. Be willing to pause when necessary for questions or discussion. Again, the mentor is not a professional teacher but is someone who genuinely desires to learn and grow in biblical knowledge and character as well. Be willing to share genuine questions and any personal applications with the mentee. However, it is best to share deep concerns or questions with your own mentor.
8. Always leave time to share prayers requests. Be personal and vulnerable to encourage the trainee to do the same. Close your 30 minute session as you pray for each other’s requests. Ask the Spirit of Truth to be the counselor between the weekly sessions. Encourage each other to do the daily work of memorizing the new verse. Encourage the reading of the contextual passages in preparation for the next session. Challenge the disciple regularly to prayerfully consider who God would have them encourage and equip (train) using this Biblical Mentoring plan and to trust God to lead them to the right person(s). End each session with the hope and eager anticipation for the next week’s session.
Interested in our Training?
Some of our team members (of trainers / trainees) are now offering Biblical Mentoring / Training. Please let us know if you are interested in learning more about participating in our program. You can call me (Ron) at 615-238-4035, text or email.