We have spent the first half of the year focusing on goals related to various spiritual disciplines. For the second half of the year, we have been exploring relationship goals, beginning with immediate family (husbands and children), and then moving on to discuss embracing the fatherless and the widow. Last month we looked at aspects of godly friendship, and this month the focus is on the Community of Believers. While the topic may be broad, we have chosen to focus on the community from the angle of spiritual mentoring.
“God sets the solitary in families.” Psalm 68:6. Our community of believers is described Biblically in familial terms – brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers and children in the faith. Mentoring is one of the ways that we can build and embrace the spiritual family relationship. Elisha called his mentor, Elijah, “My father”, Naomi called Ruth her “daughter”, Paul called Timothy “a beloved son”, and John wrote that “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
What is mentoring? Mentoring is an intentional relationship that guides and nurtures growth in another. For instance, Titus commands the older women to train the younger in loving their husbands and children (Titus 2:1, 3-5). Although the example Titus gives is specific to the mentoring of young women as wives and parents, the principle doesn’t need to stop there. There are many possibilities for mentoring in various stages and for various roles.
What stage of life are you in? In what areas could you grow spiritually? Can you identify and reach out to someone who can spiritually mentor you in the areas of growth that you seek?
On the other hand, look around – who can you reach out to in an intentional spiritually nurturing relationship? Are there young mothers who could benefit from the support of an ‘older sister’? Are there young women who could be encouraged in their growth of spiritual talents by a ‘sister’ or a ‘mother’ in the faith? Are there young people that could use spiritual guidance and care?
Below is a workbook that can be used to help facilitate beginning a mentoring relationship. It includes questions for getting to know each other, ideas for discussion on spiritual growth, and practical tips for challenges and/or accountability. {Thank you to Julie S. for this workbook!}
Also, God willing, for the month of November the Facebook Sister’s Study Group will be using this workbook as a basis for a month of peer-mentoring practice and discussion. If you would like to join in, please go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sistersstudy/.
Here is the monthly journal page, to keep track your goals:
Monthly Discipline Journal Page November
Also don’t forget to print off a monthly attribute page to think through an attribute (or spiritual fruit) that you would like to focus on this month!
