Saturday, November 14, 2020

Reflection - Redemptive Relationships - Mentoring the Next Generation

Source (book): "Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, PART III: REDEMPTIVE RELATIONSHIPS, Chapter 20, "Mentoring the Next Generation", Question 1, Page 136.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012


Think of those who have been a 'Paul
PHOTO: Think of those who have been a "Paul" in your life, mentoring and encouraging you in the past. What did you learn from them?
The concept of mentoring is something that is being explored in many circles. Basically, mentoring means getting alongside someone to bring out the best in him by giving advice based on our own experience.

The concept of mentoring can be found in Scripture. In the Old Testament, parents are expected to be spiritual mentors to their children. "Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates" (Deuteronomy 6:7-9).

What is true for biological parents is also true for spiritual ones. The apostle Paul refers to himself and his team of God's servants as spiritual parents. "Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well . . . For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you into his kingdom and glory" (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, 11-12).

Life is not just to be lived for ourselves, but for others, and living for others involves not just Christian service, but also mentoring the next generation. Older Christians have an important responsibility to mentor younger ones, especially in their local churches. Are we doing it? I suspect that very little of this is going on. There may be occasional conversations about spiritual matters, but even this is often missing in interaction between the old and young.


Think also of those who are your "Timothys" or who could be such. What concrete steps can you take to initiate or continue these mentoring relationships?
Perhaps seniors may say that they were never mentored themselves; thus they find it difficult to mentor others due to a lack of experience. They may have attended classes or seminars on spiritual growth, but that is not quite the same as mentoring, which is often a one-to-one, intentional process, and very personal in nature.

But even though a senior may not have been mentored before, he or she can still learn to do it for two reasons.

Firstly, we are all called to be apprenticed to Jesus, who invites us to learn from Him. He opens Scriptures to us (see Luke 24:13-35) and walk with us. Through His Spirit, He guides and disciples us. So, in one sense, we cannot say that we have not been mentored before, if we are followers of Christ.

Second, we can study Scripture and learn from good examples of mentoring, like how Jesus trained His disciples, and how people like Paul mentored younger men like Timothy and Titus. We can also read the many books that have been written on mentoring.
Picture posted by Marg on 11 September 2018
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https://margmowczko.com/1-timothy-212-pauls-view-women-in-ministry/



Think of those who have been a "Paul" in your life, mentoring and encouraging you in the past. What did you learn from them? Think also of those who are your "Timothys" or who could be such. What concrete steps can you take to initiate or continue these mentoring relationships?

Think of those who have been a "Paul" in your life, mentoring and encouraging you in the past. What did you learn from them?
[1]
The concept of mentoring is something that is being explored in many circles. Basically, mentoring means getting alongside someone to bring out the best in him by giving advice based on our own experience.
 

The concept of mentoring is something that is being explored in many circles.
PHOTO: The concept of mentoring is something that is being explored in many circles. Basically, mentoring means getting alongside someone to bring out the best in him by giving advice based on our own experience.
Picture posted by Entrepreneur

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho2xZrP4D5D4VawhLby1TodVfXGTXVoxkul-E_qB0r8s2EV_ZgNphxUH4tnT8hvddUuvd0aGsxGLgqLp33wqx01sDbV0uKuWx-NUKKERQ7pG9nOXbVXXMC6WJFmk_pfMos4swUcCbvCIc/s535/20160704114059-shutterstock-390101425_1.jpg
https://assets.entrepreneur.com/content/3x2/2000/20160704114059-shutterstock-390101425.jpeg?width=700&crop=2:1
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/280275



The concept of mentoring can be found in Scripture. In the Old Testament, parents are expected to be spiritual mentors to their children. "Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates" (Deuteronomy 6:7-9).


The concept of mentoring can be found in Scripture.
PHOTO: The concept of mentoring can be found in Scripture. In the Old Testament, parents are expected to be spiritual mentors to their children. "Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates" (Deuteronomy 6:7-9).
Picture posted by A Little Perspective on 09 April 2020
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsl6fW3dSUZh00_PU45_vTX8W6WdiwW37N3-mDLg2qkBC2teCzNI6RUuPXV_JEYwIaiaMzOJQn_wlnq8MFX50GrIXGdD4hb7Tt1th_5Qu9K6jd1I1VOqvwxtIYpZV0IhTVQyuWVGaRjZ4/s900/deu-6-6-KJV-pixabay.jpg
https://alittleperspective.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/04/deu-6-6-KJV-pixabay.jpg
https://www.alittleperspective.com/april-09-bible-reading-2020/



What is true for biological parents is also true for spiritual ones. The apostle Paul refers to himself and his team of God's servants as spiritual parents. "Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well . . . For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you into his kingdom and glory" (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, 11-12).


The apostle Paul refers to himself and his team of God's servants as spiritual parents.
PHOTO: The apostle Paul refers to himself and his team of God's servants as spiritual parents. "Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well . . . For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you into his kingdom and glory" (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8, 11-12).
Picture posted by Goodsalt - Paul and Timothy
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidyAT3_mVaPqffwXWzOvYtMR7IbrHpUbOjSNbo_JzV2RXcfbADmOLqUvGS8J4jtHxWaMNYtNWroo5fHponoenEAl4o6cJMlZrix4Bwpn3Wxm103d5-ikqsfl89V_ggoOZcWwcMOSYoCLc/s600/paul-and-timothy-1-GoodSalt-prcas4199_1.png
https://www.goodsalt.com/view/paul-and-timothy-1-GoodSalt-prcas4199.jpg
https://es.goodsalt.com/details/prcas4199.html



Life is not just to be lived for ourselves, but for others, and living for others involves not just Christian service, but also mentoring the next generation. Older Christians have an important responsibility to mentor younger ones, especially in their local churches. Are we doing it? I suspect that very little of this is going on. There may be occasional conversations about spiritual matters, but even this is often missing in interaction between the old and young.


Life is not just to be lived for ourselves, but for others, and living for others involves not just Christian service, but also mentoring the next generation.
PHOTO: Life is not just to be lived for ourselves, but for others, and living for others involves not just Christian service, but also mentoring the next generation. Older Christians have an important responsibility to mentor younger ones, especially in their local churches.
Picture posted by Knowing Jesus

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl95VmzKyb9bnDCi5TF_Fbvo9A3eNCTccELqlpC31OLTaZfd8hoG9fEkjz_UniqU3fwC0s1sUHn-K1TzkiOoD4rFDNkJHAUbzbzUoC9KHkaQ1LnrfMd6Jhxvq-Cvvrpd1hFEznfqG2hRk/s900/Matthew+28-20+I+m+With+You+Even+To+The+End+Of+The+Age+white.jpg
https://images.knowing-jesus.com/i/matthew-28-20-i-m-with-you-even-to-the-end-of-the-age-white-11263


Think also of those who are your "Timothys" or who could be such. What concrete steps can you take to initiate or continue these mentoring relationships? [1]
Perhaps seniors may say that they were never mentored themselves; thus they find it difficult to mentor others due to a lack of experience. They may have attended classes or seminars on spiritual growth, but that is not quite the same as mentoring, which is often a one-to-one, intentional process, and very personal in nature.


Seniors may have attended classes or seminars on spiritual growth, but that is not quite the same as mentoring, which is often a one-to-one, intentional process, and very personal in nature.
PHOTO: Seniors may have attended classes or seminars on spiritual growth, but that is not quite the same as mentoring, which is often a one-to-one, intentional process, and very personal in nature.
Picture posted by pixabay

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdBaj-g4lh0W0PxOlqbNgoJEVhjtvPX9Bm3SebEhHJWlt4SApZsd3Zzmq-b_iwXsbS2b-0ldk_avOTFSVAohqQtIcp0Vi07fwGlF6EktxOLpW28sXbKi-r7du0xn7c4BxtojPolQqqpk8/s895/mentor-2062999_960_720.png
https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/02/13/15/55/mentor-2062999_960_720.png
https://pixabay.com/illustrations/mentor-startup-mentorship-advice-2062999/



But even though a senior may not have been mentored before, he or she can still learn to do it for two reasons.

Firstly, we are all called to be apprenticed to Jesus, who invites us to learn from Him. He opens Scriptures to us (see Luke 24:13-35) and walk with us. Through His Spirit, He guides and disciples us. So, in one sense, we cannot say that we have not been mentored before, if we are followers of Christ.


We are all called to be apprenticed to Jesus, who invites us to learn from Him.
PHOTO: We are all called to be apprenticed to Jesus, who invites us to learn from Him. He opens Scriptures to us (see Luke 24:13-35) and walk with us. Through His Spirit, He guides and disciples us. So, in one sense, we cannot say that we have not been mentored before, if we are followers of Christ.
Picture posted by The NIV Bible

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHl6Ik8hEUyFdyOptS-YuGcxYE_ZZfcln47eOzJxfLAvpFCaId1nlxY-Dny00INmFbE68eP2lmG7F-Z2Q5IYMRhwfYvzGj3fMSiNSXykAspOPD7EzAZ-yIclqTeT_zroV-GUhhsLVYzxw/s1024/7.8.19_Disciples-1024x683.jpg
https://www.thenivbible.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/7.8.19_Disciples-1024x683.jpg
https://www.thenivbible.com/blog/why-did-jesus-choose-12-disciples/



Second, we can study Scripture and learn from good examples of mentoring, like how Jesus trained His disciples, and how people like Paul mentored younger men like Timothy and Titus. [76] We can also read the many books that have been written on mentoring. [77]


We can study Scripture and learn from good examples of mentoring, like how Jesus trained His disciples, and how people like Paul mentored younger men like Timothy and Titus.
PHOTO: We can study Scripture and learn from good examples of mentoring, like how Jesus trained His disciples, and how people like Paul mentored younger men like Timothy and Titus. We can also read the many books that have been written on mentoring.
Picture posted by PASKHA.net

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XtTzra-EUNK7LC8ogYWhBQbS5Z3MG6ZU9Dsy0N38A0ppe1368T8_0aQDCozZftopECVkEU9Wm-pcqouZt7VBd5nU7E_AypUk7HRTnlvGon_M5fTwulTDW0LqQNM_UTMSIGfPLdBHl88/s1024/178.gif
http://bible-illustrations.gatchina3000.ru/241/178.gif
http://bible-illustrations.gatchina3000.ru/178_jesus-calls-philip-and-nathanael.htm



Dear Lord
Dear Lord
PHOTO: "Dear Lord, we learn that the concept of mentoring is something that is being explored in many circles. Basically, mentoring means getting alongside someone to bring out the best in him by giving advice based on our own experience. The concept of mentoring can be found in Scripture. In the Old Testament, parents are expected to be spiritual mentors to their children.

What is true for biological parents is also true for spiritual ones. The apostle Paul refers to himself and his team of God's servants as spiritual parents. ‘Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well . . . For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you into his kingdom and glory’.

Lord, we learn that life is not just to be lived for ourselves, but for others, and living for others involves not just Christian service, but also mentoring the next generation. We learn that older Christians have an important responsibility to mentor younger ones, especially in their local churches. There may be occasional conversations about spiritual matters, but even this is often missing in interaction between the old and young.

Perhaps we seniors may say that we were never mentored ourselves; thus we find it difficult to mentor others due to a lack of experience. We may have attended classes or seminars on spiritual growth, but that is not quite the same as mentoring, which is often a one-to-one, intentional process, and very personal in nature.

We learn that although seniors may not have been mentored before, we can still learn to do it for two reasons.

Firstly, we are all called to be apprenticed to Jesus, who invites us to learn from Him. He opens Scriptures to us and walk with us. Through His Spirit, He guides and disciples us. So, in one sense, we cannot say that we have not been mentored before, if we are followers of Christ.

Second, we can study Scripture and learn from good examples of mentoring, like how Jesus trained His disciples, and how people like Paul mentored younger men like Timothy and Titus. We can also read the many books that have been written on mentoring. We pray for Your help to overcome the problems and succeed in our mentoring journey.

Through Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen!
"
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https://londonsarthistory.wordpress.com/2014/10/


Reflection - Redemptive Relationships - Mentoring the Next Generation
Source (book): "Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, PART III: REDEMPTIVE RELATIONSHIPS, Chapter 20, "Mentoring the Next Generation", Question 1, Page 136.
By Robert M. Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore from 2000 - 2012


Other Books
 
 
Also from the same author, Robert M. Solomon

"Faithful to the end", A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon

'Faithful to the end', A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy, @ 2014 by Robert M. Solomon<br>
Reflection - Faithful to the end (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2017/06/reflection-faithful-to-end-links.html


"Finding rest for the soul" Responding to Jesus' Invitation in Matthew 11:28-29, ©
2016 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
Reflection - Finding rest for the soul (Links)
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2018/10/reflection-finding-rest-for-soul-links.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, ©
2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART I-III, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-i.html


"God in Pursuit" Lessons from the Book of Jonah, ©
2016 by Robert M. Solomon

'Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
Reflection - God in Pursuit (Links) - PART IV, posted on Saturday, 10 August 2019
https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2019/08/reflection-god-in-pursuit-links-part-iv.html
 


"Songs of Christmas", The Stories and Significance of 20 Well-Loved Carols, ©
2018 by Robert M. Solomon

Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020
Reflection - Songs of Christmas (Links), posted on Friday, 24 April 2020

https://veryfatoldman.blogspot.com/2020/04/reflection-songs-of-christmas-links.html



Reference
[1] From "Growing Old Gracefully", Following Jesus to the End, Copyright © 2019 by Robert M. Solomon, ISBN 978-981-14-1836-5, PART III: REDEMPTIVE RELATIONSHIPS, Chapter 20, "Mentoring the Next Generation", Page 131-133.

[76] See Robert M. Solomon, Faithful to the End: A Preacher's Exposition of 2 Timothy (Grand Rapid: Discovery House, 2014).

[77] See for example Howard G. Hendricks and William D.  Hendricks, As Iron Sharpen Iron: Building Character in a Mentoring Relationship (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1999); Paul D. Stanley and J. Robert Clinton, Connecting: The Mentoring Relationships You Need To Succeed In Life (Colorado: NavPress, 1992).


Links