Biblical Mentoring

A mentor is someone with whom you can talk to seek advice, wisdom, and insight based on their experience and expertise. 

Definition

• Mentor: advise or train (someone, especially a younger colleague)

Mentoring mentioned in Scripture

• Proverbs 27:17
• Psalm 145:4
• 2 Timothy 2:2
• Proverbs 1:5
• Titus 2:3, 4
• Psalm 71:18

Examples of mentoring in the Bible

• Moses mentored Joshua
• Eli mentored Samuel
• Naomi mentored Ruth
• Paul mentored Timothy
• Elizabeth mentored Mary (Mary lived 3 months with her)
• Jesus mentored the twelve disciples (group and individual mentoring)

Younger Christians’ struggles

• Isolated and lonely
• Casually relational with Jesus and others
• Have misplaced priorities and struggle with taking time to consider how to make them right
• Work hard and usually more than is needed
• Stressed out and hate it, but they don’t think they can do anything about it
• Feel like they are running on empty

Basic struggles of young Christians

• Guilt and shame
• Believing that God loves them
• Making commitments
• Keeping commitments
• Confused about
  • Role in the church
  • What it is to be a man or woman of God, and how they might become one

Why do you need a spiritual mentor?

• Promotes spiritual growth
• Someone to believe in you
• Provides a role model
• Provides accountability
• Gives Encouragement
• Help in time of crisis

Responsibilities of a potential mentor

• Willing to spend the time it takes to build a relationship with the person you are to mentor
• Willing to be vulnerable and transparent
• Willing to share not only strengths and successes, but also weaknesses, failures and brokenness
• Willing to be open and honest with your mentee concerning his or her life and problems
• Commit to helping the mentee set goals for his or her spiritual life, career, or ministry, and to help the learner dream his or her dream
• Above all, commit to faithfully helping the one being mentored to follow principles set down in the Word of Gos