Mentorship and Community: Growing Together in Faith
Summary
In this sermon, I delved into the importance of mentorship and community in our spiritual journey. Drawing from the relationship between Paul and Timothy in the Bible, I emphasized the need for each of us to find a 'Paul' and a 'Timothy' in our lives. This means seeking out spiritual mentors who can guide us and also becoming mentors to others. I also discussed the role of social media in our lives, highlighting both its advantages and disadvantages. I stressed that while it can be a tool for spreading information and connecting with others, it can also lead to comparison and feelings of missing out. I urged the congregation to be disciplined disciples of the world, to step back from the fast-paced environment, and to focus on who they are living life with. I also highlighted the importance of intentional community in growing our relationship with Jesus.
Key takeaways:
- The importance of finding a 'Paul' and a 'Timothy' in our lives, signifying the need for spiritual mentorship and the responsibility to mentor others. [ 40:18]
- The role of social media in our lives, both as a tool for connection and a potential source of comparison and discontent. [ 41:31]
- The need to be disciplined disciples in a fast-paced world and the importance of stepping back to focus on our spiritual journey. [ 44:53]
- The significance of intentional community in growing our relationship with Jesus. [ 47:24]
- The call for all of us to be leaders in our homes, communities, and workplaces, as instructed by Jesus. [ 48:46]
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. 2 Timothy 1:5-7 [44:53]
2. 2 Timothy 2:2 [40:18]
Observation Questions:
1. What is the relationship between Timothy, his grandmother Lois, and his mother Eunice as described in 2 Timothy 1:5-7?
2. In 2 Timothy 2:2, what is Paul instructing Timothy to do and why might this be significant?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the faith of Timothy's grandmother Lois and mother Eunice influence Timothy's faith according to 2 Timothy 1:5-7?
2. What does Paul's instruction to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2 reveal about the importance of discipleship in the early Christian community?
Application Questions:
1. Who in your life has played a role similar to Lois and Eunice, nurturing your faith? How can you express gratitude to them?
2. Reflecting on 2 Timothy 2:2, who are the "faithful men" in your life that you could share your faith with?
3. How can you apply the principle of discipleship in your own life, both as a mentor and a mentee?
4. Can you identify a specific situation in the coming week where you can "fan into flame the gift of God" in someone else's life?
5. How can you use social media or other modern tools to spread the gospel and teach others, as Paul instructed Timothy?
Devotional
Day 1: The Importance of Spiritual Mentoring
Spiritual mentoring is a crucial aspect of our faith journey. It involves walking side by side with another believer, someone who can pour into you or whom you can pour into. This intentional community is key to growing in a relationship with Jesus, as nothing great is ever experienced alone. This concept is not absent from scripture, but rather, it is laid out clearly, especially in the verses we read. [50:38]
2 Timothy 2:2 - "And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others."
Reflection: Who in your life could benefit from your spiritual mentorship, and who could you learn from as a spiritual mentor?
Day 2: The Power of Intentional Community
Intentional community is the key to growing in a relationship with Jesus. Nothing great is ever experienced alone. Celebrities, despite reaching the pinnacle of success, often experience anxiety, depression, and loneliness because they've done it alone. The early church understood the power of intentional community, passing the gospel from one trusted person to another. [51:23]
Hebrews 10:24-25 - "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."
Reflection: How can you foster intentional community in your life and church?
Day 3: The Role of the Church in Discipleship
The church plays a vital role in discipling believers. In a fast-paced world, the church should be a place where believers can step back, take a breath, and be mentored. This mentoring helps believers grow in their faith and prepares them to mentor others. [44:53]
Titus 2:1-2 - "You, however, must teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine. Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love and in endurance."
Reflection: How can you contribute to the discipleship efforts of your church?
Day 4: The Call to Spread the Gospel
As believers, we are committed to the charge of the Gospel. This charge involves not only spreading the gospel but also walking with someone in doing so. This is a crucial part of our faith journey and is not absent from scripture. [52:03]
Matthew 28:19-20 - "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
Reflection: Who is someone in your life that you can walk with in their faith journey?
Day 5: The Power of Prayer in Discipleship
Prayer is a powerful tool in discipleship. It's during intentional prayer times that we can discern God's voice and understand who He wants us to disciple. It's our humanity that helps us step into walking with somebody else. [57:53]
James 5:16 - "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."
Reflection: Who is God calling you to disciple, and how can you use prayer to guide your discipleship efforts?
Quotes
1. "What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses commit to Faithful Men Who will be able to teach others also...we may have the luck in receiving your word from your scripture word that we'll have the luck in this week to go out and to be witnesses to everybody to show everybody the gospel to show them your love Grace and Truth in everything that we do." - 39:45
2. "How often do you think about the gospel? We should be always thinking about the gospel in our interactions with one another because we might even be mentoring or walking alongside somebody and we didn't even know it. But are we displaying the gospel to them?" - 53:05
3. "The students have learned how to be Disciples of hurry, busyness and even loneliness that their lives have been consumed especially with some of those cons they're real I felt them myself growing up I struggled a lot with fomo the fear of missing out." - 42:23
4. "If they don't get it from you, the church, they're going to get it from somewhere else. This positive encouraging K-LOVE the thing we hear all the time on the radio is what we should be giving to our youth and what we should be giving to them and how what they should be taking into the world." - 44:47
5. "Where are our leaders? Where are those that can step alongside the youth today and I know adults need this as well so I'm not just talking about the youth but who is somebody that can step alongside you and walk you and help you through your journey." - 44:47
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