So how can I do like Paul did?
Jesus and Paul did both. And don't limit mentoring to "one-on-one." Jesus mentored 12, sometimes 3, and on rare occasions, one. Train new leaders the way Jesus and Paul did, and you'll see better results.
Balance classroom instruction with field-focused mentoring for new leaders; churches and cell groups will be stronger and multiply. A new shepherd needs a mentor who listens to him and then deals with what he and his flock needs.
Start by teaching loving obedience to Jesus. He said, "If you love me, obey my commands."
In His "Great Commission" He said to make disciples by teaching them to obey His commands. Such loving obedience enables churches and cells to multiply in the normal way. Teaching focuses not only on doctrine but also on a flock's duties and needs.
How does a mentor meet the needs of a trainee's flock?
Mentor and Multiply
Use a 'menu' of the church activities that the the New Testament requires and select topics and field work that fit its needs. Keep new leaders aware of what their flocks need at any time.
Don't simply teach something and then add a practical application. Rather, find out first what is happening in a trainee's flock and community, and respond to it, like Paul did.
A good mentor does not have students learn the Word merely as content for teaching. They also practice its guidelines.
Balance lecture and mentoring
A mentor has his apprentices begin mentoring other new leaders at once, which results in mentoring chains like we see in
2 Timothy 2:2.
Just do it like Paul did.
Mentoring enables churches and cells to multiply. How?
Mentoring "chains" in Scripture.
Jethro → Moses → leaders of 1000s → leaders of 100’s → leaders of 10
Deborah → Barak
Eli → Samuel → Ahithophel and Nathan → David → Solomon → Queen of Sheba & others
Elijah → Elisha → Joash and other kings
Daniel → Nebuchadnezzar→his officers
Mordecai → Esther → King Ahasueras
Jesus → 12 apostles → Barnabas → Paul → Titus, Timothy → “faithful men” → "Others also"
Philip → Ethiopian official who introduced the gospel in Africa
Develop and Impart Mentoring Skills
Train leaders as Jesus and Paul did, to enjoy better results
Listen and plan during mentoring sessions
Besides prayer, mentoring meetings have two pairs of tasks: listen and plan to deal with both fieldwork and studies.
FIELDWORK
LISTEN: Trainee reports work done, and needs of his flock or ministry.
PLAN: Agree on what the trainee and his flock or coworkers will do next.
STUDIES
LISTEN: Review studies done; let trainee recap the gist.
PLAN: Assign reading that fits the plans.
Memorize the phrase: Listen and plan, to deal with fieldwork and studies.
Mentors also model pastoral work as trainees accompany them on the job.
Menu-based curriculum
Effective curriculum provides studies geared to all vital ministries:
Assure; give member care and visiting those who need comfort
Evangelize; witness for Jesus, baptize, proclaim salvation from sin, death and hell
Give; practice Christian stewardship
Grow in Christ; let God transform believers’ character
Love: care for family, serve the needy, fellowship, forgive enemies
Make disciples; teach loving obedience to Jesus
Organize to help believers use their spiritual gifts to serve others
Plant churches; reproduce congregations and cell groups
Pray in Jesus’ name; have personal and family devotions, do spiritual warfare, healing
Review historical events of great importance
Send workers to neglected peoples and cultures
Teach God’s Word; do Bible survey, interpretation and application
Teach the Bible biblically; communicate the way Jesus did, relate stories
Train leaders; mentor, combine training with other ministries
Worship; serve the Lord's Table, observe holidays and special celebrations
DOWNLOAD menu-based curriculum with studies on the above: www.Paul-Timothy.net.
Wow! I've got to learn mentoring!
Can you recommend reading?
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Keep mentoring a leader until his church or cell is doing all those vital ministries.
And don't delay his mentoring others. The most effective mentor for a new leader can also be a new leader; both face similar issues. However, an experienced mentor must be heading up their mentoring chain.
I want to get started! How long should I mentor a new leader, and how soon can he begin mentoring other leaders?
Sure.
These documents will help you develop your mentoring skills...
- Menu-based curriculum: Deal with urgent needs as they arise.
- Priorities chart: compare workers' preferences to gifted persons in Scripture, and prioritize accordingly.
- Who should mentor whom? Develop
2 Tim. 2:2 mentoring "chains" to prepare new leaders.
- Integrate training with other disciplines like Jesus and His apostles did.
- Train leaders like Jesus and his apostles did
- Compare mentoring with classroom training
- Workshop manual: Lead interactive seminars to start and sustain a movement (MS Word®)
- Seven biblical guidelines to train shepherds and
- church planters on the job
I never considered mentoring anything to crow about. What's so great about all this one-on-one stuff?
It's easier
just to lecture.
Documents to view, copy or download:
Don't forget...
Meet with only a few trainees at a time, so you can deal with each trainee's ministry reports and plans.
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