Providing Intentional Mentoring and Equipping

One of Jesus’ methods of discipleship was through the personal Intentional Mentoring and Equipping of a chosen group of individuals. Jesus’ approaches helped Christianity grow and transform society. Our core principles in the new Nazarene Discipleship International (NDI) Bylaws call our attention to mentoring as a loving way to introduce non-believers to the full knowledge of Christ and to teach accountability to growing Christians. For this, we need deliberate, planned, intended, and calculated mentoring and equipping. We are admonished in the letter to the Hebrews, “May the God of peace…equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (13:20a-21). Landing and securing are both important in fishing and in discipleship. We do not achieve full satisfaction until “one” is both “caught” and properly landed. Landing requires one to be secured in a timely manner. New believers need mature guides and godly examples to grow in Christ. Are you introducing new believers to Jesus? Mentoring and equipping is a discipleship process that introduces new believers to Jesus and reveals how to follow him personally and fully. The aim is to help them become Christlike disciples by maintaining certain priorities, like: • Having a deep and sincere passion to follow Jesus, • Depending completely on the power of Christ for obedience, • Manifesting a humble spirit of servanthood, • Developing spiritual gifts for the purpose of edifying the Body of Christ, • Practicing personal stewardship in all areas of life, • Being committed to the Body of Christ through mutually accountable relationships, • Living in daily experience with the Holy Spirit for sanctification and empowerment for ministry, and • Intentionally devoting time daily in the study of God’s Word and prayer. It is important that spiritual mentors engage with new believers regularly to study the Bible. Among the effective resources are Charles Shaver’s Basic Bible Studies for New and Growing Christians (available at the Foundry Publishing and on the Wesleyan Holiness Digital Library in our NDI collection). These studies help establish new believers on their discipleship journey. As each study is completed, the mentor answers questions and offers counsel. Each study includes a Bible verse for memorization. Mentoring and equipping is essential to Christian growth and maturity. All disciples are challenged and continue to grow and become Christlike when every disciple is providing and receiving mentoring. Paul’s writings to the Thessalonians reveal that he experienced much joy in mentoring them. He wrote: “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us” (1 Thessalonians 2:8 NIV). To become all that God has created us to be as Christ’s disciples, we need to be willing to grow and to help others grow as Jesus did. The Upward Call leader’s guide points out several important aspects to help you to be a successful mentor, including: • Being sensitive about relationships, • Embodying the grace of God, • Knowing how to listen with acceptance and respect, • Discerning the moving of God’s Spirit, • Offering vulnerable openness in relationships, and • Practicing self-giving love. Are you looking for the right mentor? During workshop at the M19 Conference, Eddie Estep offered some good advice on how to find the right mentor: • PRAY! • Seek a friend. • Seek someone further along the journey. • Seek someone older (than you). • Seek one whose journey is successful and admirable. • Seek one with a heart for others and pure motives. • Seek one with adequate personal space for mentoring. • Seek one who can help in areas that you are weak in, where you need most help. • Seek one who listens and provides great, sound feedback. It is our hope that you are already finding ways to receive and to provide intentional mentoring and equipping as you mature in your personal spiritual life. Please share with us some ways your journey with Jesus is enhanced through intentional mentoring and equipping. You can contact me at dstanton@nazarene.org