"If Someone asks me to Disciple/Mentor them, what do I do? D-Ship 3.1

So in the last post I talked about who to mentor, how to approach it, and how to start it, but now let's get into the nitty gritty of it.

"Living life together" This is a phrase that is used a lot now, but what does it look like and what does it mean?

I want you to know that there are people who have outlines, curricula, and several step processes for mentoring someone. The Navigators organization, Campus Crusade for Christ and other organizations such as these have done a fabulous job, the kingdom has been eternally impacted in part because of the work of these organizations. There are tons of places those things can be acquired.

First, you need to have goals for the person: things that you want to see in, from, and out of the mentoree by the end of your time together. This will dictate how you do what you do.

You as the one mentoring/discipling are the person that is passing something down. You are pouring into the person the things that the Lord has taught you. You are making a family line of disciple that you are the beginning of. Someday, you will be able to look down and maybe see generations upon generations of disciples that were made from this very first person that you mentor.

Imparting of our lives..
So what does this look like? Once again let's reference what Jesus did with his disciples. He imparted what the Lord had shown and done through him. He did this through public teachings that those he was discipling witnessed. He did this through personal conversations with small groups of them and individuals. He also did this through showing them, in his actions, the things he wanted them to know. When they asked a question, he would give them answers. He would often make them think about the answer, whether through asking them a question in return, or through a parable. He often did not come right out and give them an explicit answer, but he prodded them on to thinking for themself.

So when we are mentoring someone, we are giving them the experiences, the successes and failures, and the information the Lord has given us. Essentially, we are going to be a book for them to read. This requires a lot of transparency in our lives as mentor and mentoree and it takes intentionality as well, purpose.

Training

Train them by our example but also by instruction. Jesus trained his disciples in teaching, he trained them in disciple-making, he trained them in healing, among other things.

Training is vital. There are some things that we need to be aware to train those we disciple in.
Scripture- training the person to read it, understand it, it's importance, how to talk about it.
Disciple-making-sharing their faith, maturing a young believer, discipling the person as they go along, instilling in them a passion for God's people and those who are not, YET
Life- Life decisions, like "what about that person of the opposite sex", "what should I do with this job opportunity", "how should I handle this _____".
Family- Men who mentor men will train them to be Godly men, husbands, and fathers. Women will mentor women to be Godly women, wives, and mothers. Teach them how to lead their families if their guys and how to submit to their husbands and nurture the whole family if you are the mother. Train them how to work and have families, train them what it means to have a family Bible time.
Teaching- This is what Paul did with his disciples, he taught them to teach others, how to pass things on. Each disciples needs to know how to share the Scriptures with others, this will bless their families, peers, evangelistic encounters.

Folks, you do all these things not through written lectures, but through life experiences. You ask them when you get together about how things are going in the last few weeks. Ask "what did you read in the Bible this week", and look at it together. How is your relationship with ________, lets talk about that.

Guys, seriously, these things will require times of the mentor talking at length about something. It will require you and the person going on evangelistic encounters together. You go out with some people or someone who you have been sharing your faith with, well bring your disciple along with you so they can watch and learn. Have them in your homes to experience your family with them. Go to games with them, malls, parks etc. Also do things that are working together with them, allow them the opportunity to watch you doing things that help others.

There is more to say but it can be on a case by case scenario, but that's it. Have your goals for the person you are mentoring, and make your time with them point towards that. If your goal is to make a Godly mate for someone one day, or a Godly parent for someone one day, or a Godly person in the world, then you need to take them to the places for them to witness you , and experience with you those things.

You see, while this is low key, it is a huge deal but at the same time it is not a huge deal. It is intentional, sacrificial, authentic, relationship.