Day 3 – Understanding discipleship and mentoring

“And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” Luke 9:23-24

Why is it important to understand mentoring for discipleship?

“Follow me” is the command we obey by being willing to become a disciple of Jesus Christ – to lay down our lives and pick up our cross as Jesus said in Luke 14:27, “Anyone who doesn’t carry his cross and follow me can’t be my disciple”. The truth is, being a disciple also means denying your old self and surrendering your life completely. To “follow me,” Jesus requires us to follow His example and teachings.

Jesus used various mentoring methods to teach the disciples (and us.) Mentoring is not a new concept and used in practice for thousands of years. Although the words “mentor,” “mentoring,” or “mentee” aren’t mentioned in the Bible, one can study the relationships depicted within its pages to easily see numerous examples of mentoring. Jesus mentored a small, closed group—His disciples—rather than a large group. He wanted them to learn firsthand how to act on spiritual authority only He can give. The mission is to baptise and teach others (through mentoring the Word and discipleship), knowing He is with us every step of the way.

Mentors have valuable knowledge and often provide advice to help you overcome challenges and achieve specific goals. Let’s be honest, being a Christian doesn’t mean life is all roses and wealth; it’s a battlefield we need to understand. As a mentor, you need to equip your mentees for spiritual battles. Mentors can guide new believers through tough times and be the person who speaks God’s truth to encourage them. Mentoring goes hand in hand with discipleship, and the benefits of being mentored/discipled have a lasting effect on growth, connection, value alignment, and personal transformation in line with the teachings of Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, thank You for sending mentors to guide us in becoming disciples of Jesus. As we seek guidance along our life’s path, please pair us with true mentors and disciples who can help us grow into our full potential. Teach us to learn and understand Your ways and Your values so that we can reflect Your image to those who need it most. Amen.

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