One important way to set a gospel-predominant tone for the mentor session is to share a devotional thought with the mentee.\u00a0 There are a few ways to do this depending on the amount of time you have to prepare beforehand as well as your level of comfort with the mentee.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Share your own devotion with him.<\/p>\n
Pick out a Bible passage that has impacted your life recently or a passage that you think would be especially encouraging to him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Find the law and gospel in the passage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Write out how the law in this passage convicts you (and might convict him).<\/p>\n
Write out how the gospel in this passage comforts and empowers you (and want it to comfort and empower him).\u00a0<\/p>\n
Once you are prepared, read the devotion to him or say it in your own words using your notes.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Read a devotion or article that others have written.<\/p>\n
Make sure that the devotion\/article properly applies law and gospel to convict and comfort, to guide and empower, and keeps the gospel predominant.\u00a0 This is a time to encourage the mentee, not to confuse or discourage her.<\/p>\n
Read it over at least once ahead of time so that you do not stumble over the words and distract the mentee.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Do a brief Bible study with her.<\/p>\n
As with sharing you own devotion, pick out a Bible passage that has really impacted you recently or a passage you think would be especially encouraging to her.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Find the law and gospel in the passage.<\/p>\n
Create some questions that will help you two discuss this passage together.\u00a0 Here are some examples (see \u201cthe Cycle of Spiritual Growth\u201d<\/strong><\/em> section below):\u00a0<\/p>\n What strikes you about this passage?\u00a0<\/p>\n How does this passage convict and\/or comfort you?<\/p>\n How does this passage address your life callings and\/or charge you up?\u00a0<\/p>\n How can you apply or appropriate the main points of the passage into your life this week?\u00a0<\/p>\n NOTE:\u00a0 You must be watchful of your time if you choose to do a brief study.\u00a0 If you have only one hour available and spend 40 minutes of it on the Bible study, that will not leave much time for the other key aspects of the mentor session.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p><\/a>Photo by Amy Tran<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/div>\n Through the Bible, the One True God not only teaches us how to be accepted by him through Jesus Christ; he also teaches us how to grow in our relationship with him.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p><\/a><\/div>\n Repent of Your Sins<\/strong> (Convict) \u2013 As Jesus began his ministry, his very first message to people was \u201crepent and believe the good news\u201d (Mark 1:15).\u00a0 To \u201crepent\u201d quite simply means to \u201cturn around.\u201d\u00a0 Repentance is turning away from our self-righteousness and self-justification.\u00a0 It is accepting that we deserve God\u2019s eternal punishment by nature because we have offended him through the evil we have done and the good we have failed to do.\u00a0 God leads us toward repentance by convicting our hearts with his law.\u00a0<\/p>\n <\/p><\/a><\/div>\n Believe the Good News<\/strong> (Comfort) \u2013 Jesus not only invited people to repent; he also invited them to \u201cbelieve the good news.\u201d\u00a0 The good news is this:\u00a0 Even though we deserve God\u2019s rejection and punishment, God\u2019s Son Jesus became a human being to save us.\u00a0 He lived the perfect life we should have lived, suffered the punishment we deserve, and rose from the dead to guarantee that we are acceptable to God through him.\u00a0 Jesus invites all people to believe this good news for themselves and be comforted that God has forgiven all their guilt\u2014past, present, and future.\u00a0 You can rest fully in his grace without fear.\u00a0<\/p>\nThe Cycle of Spiritual Growth<\/strong><\/h3>\n