Understanding Mentorship

As I described before, mentoring is a way of discipling someone.  We never get too old to be discipled or to disciple someone else. Jesus said, “Go you therefore, and make disciples of all nations…” Matthew 28:19.  The King James Version says, “Go ye therefore and teach all nations…” Matthew 28:19.  We associate discipleship with teaching; to teach we need training, a degree, a license, or some sort of spiritual threshold that we have crossed. 

While the word mentoring is not found in the Bible, its definition is described throughout the scriptures.  “Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” Proverbs 27:17.  “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning” Proverbs 9:9.  In Titus 2:3-5, we are given instructions for what things we should be teaching; to love our husbands, love our chidren, how to be homemakers, discreet, chaste, good, and obedient.  Mentoring is defined as “a wise and trusted counselor or teacher.”  We see these relationships in scripture with Ruth and Naomi, Moses and Joshua, Paul and Timothy, and the list goes on.  When we think of mentoring, we think of “doing life together” with someone, while discipleship is formed in our mind as “teaching about Christian life” to someone who needs guidance.  We can all disciple through mentroing others in our life. 

I have been reading my resource book "Face to Face" by Jayme Hull.  She does a great job of explaining mentoring.  She gives examples of experiences in her own life.  She has so many wonderful tips and advice about what to look for in a mentor.  While this advice is meant to help mentees find a mentor, it has also helped me understand the dos and don’ts of being a mentor (when that opportunity comes along).  She has encouragement for a busy schedule, ways to handle conflict, and so much more.  Jayme has 35 years of mentoring experience so this is an excellent resource for learning about mentoring; both sides of it.  If you would like to get a copy of this book, you can visit www.jaymeleehull.com and find the book link.  

Check it out!  You will not be disappointed.