Who’s on this episode?
Jeff Strommen @jstrommen | Dave Wager @wagerdaw | Jason Kemper @kempster220
Episodes in this series: BAM Part 1 | BAM Part 2 | BAM Part 3 | BAM Part 4
Mentoring isn’t just something we believe in theory. It’s foundational to life. One quality that makes a mentor great is their humility. They’re able to admit they don’t know everything. This week, Jeff and Dave discuss the qualities of good mentors. It may surprise you to know that you don’t have to have all the answers to be a mentor to someone.
Whatever your current situation is now, we want to invite you to be part of the vision of creating atmospheres of mentoring wherever you are!
One area that needs mentors is on our live coaching lines. Are you 18+? Want to give a young person a few hours a week simply by being online and available? Check out our coaching page to learn about becoming a coach with our partner, Groundwire.net.
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Show Notes
Galatians 5:13-26 | The Heart of a Great Mentor
“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Point: A great mentor is not looking for personal gain. Loving your neighbor often comes at a price. Love isn’t easy. But it’s worth it. It involves pain and loss, at times. Acts of love often get ignored or dismissed easily. Don’t get discouraged!
But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
Point: A great mentor watches what they say.
So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.
The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.
Point: A great mentor points out the dirty spots of our lives where we are acting opposite of what God would have for us. They’re not trying to make light of your flaws more than they want to help you get better in an area you’re weak. Usually, they’re pointing out something that’s obvious or should be obvious.
But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
Point: If you’re living by what makes you feel good, you’ll end up doing this stuff. A great mentor will steer you away from danger. Listen to their wisdom. They know what they’re talking about.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.”
Point: Living the way God intended will produce the qualities every one of us is inspired by: love, joy peace… If you want these things in your life, God makes it simple. A great mentor will show you how to live simply by doing life together.
