Originally Posted by Scooby_Snacks I think dicipling someone to follow a denomination is not discipling someone to follow Christ. So that is why I said that it seems terminology wise, dicipling in definition is more likely to produce mini mes than mentoring. diciple definition from free online dictionary: a. One who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another. b. An active adherent, as of a movement or philosophy. If someone dicipled you into a denomination instead of encouraging you to follow Christ Im sorry. I do not believe that is what God wants. I do believe if a person trusts Him and believes in Him, God will guide them to Himself. (which includes bringing people into our life to help us along the way to be in Him, and a part of asking for this to happen is to empty out our hearts and cry to Him to help us. It is dependence and yes, we step out and trust these things will happen) This crying out to receive more of God will bring the answers needed---to guide a person to then move away from teachings of man that will not proove helpful in their life walk with Him. His sheep will hear His voice, even over the voices of denominational structures. I do believe this. God (Holy Spirit) encourages us to communicate with Him (pray-talk) and read His Word, but to also encourage one another. We need to be able to give a reason for our hope. It is an individual experience to have relationship with the True and Living God. It will never compare to having a relationship with a "church denomination". The emptiness of worldly wisdom will eventually show itself to be unproductive-- whereas the fullness of Christ a well of spiritual fertility and growth in Godly Wisdom. Since I never said that "discipling" a person to follow a denomination has anything to do with discipling and that it is "mentoring"... You also use a worldly definition of "discipling" to say that it is discipling that produces "mini me's". Well... OF COURSE a worldly definition would say this because the world doesn't want the Body of Christ to do any actual discipling. However, I do not use the term discipling in relation to denomination and this is why... when we read the Bible, the term "disciple" is ONLY in relation to Christ and the way's of God. Even the Great Commission, the term "disciple" is used. We are TO DISCIPLE... not mentor. The definition you use is worldly based and can be discerned as such because to "EQUIP" a person, has nothing to do with philosophy and as you said... God would never want philosophy used to teach the sheep. So that definition has nothing to do with God, it has all to do with the world. Buddhist monks... VERY discipled in accordance with that worldly definition of the term. The defining of disciple that you posted applies to a worldly based anything dealing with "faith" in general. Faith is a loose term also and a worldly defining of faith, can mean anything. Just last week, we read in the news of the Satanists in Florida in support of that states governor passing a bill to allow prayer back in school. These Satanists are VERY, VERY faithful according to the worldly defining of the term "faith". But by a Biblical defining of the term "faith"... are they? Nope, not at all. Just like the term "disciple" defined in the worldly way as well... HIGHLY discipled (a monk), but HARDLY a disciple or discipled in accordance with the meaning for "disciple" or the act of "discipling", according to the Bible. So let's look at a Biblical application of the term disciple and the act of discipling to result in disciples... Mt 28:19 Go therefore[c] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Let's use a Biblical defining of the term disciple and what discipling is all about... mathéteuó: to be a disciple, to make a discipleOriginal Word: μαθητεύω Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: mathéteuó Phonetic Spelling: (math-ayt-yoo'-o) Short Definition: I make disciples, make into disciples Definition: I make a disciple of, train in discipleship; pass: I am trained, discipled, instructed. Cognate: 3100 mathēteúō (from 3101 /mathētḗs, "disciple") – to disciple, i.e. helping someone to progressively learn the Word of God to become a matured, growing disciple (literally, "a learner," a true Christ-follower); to train (develop) in the truths of Scripture and the lifestyle required, i.e. helping a believer learn to be a disciple of Christ in belief and practice. See 3101 (mathētēs). copyright © 1987, 2011 by Helps Ministries, Inc. STRONGS NT 3100: μαθητεύω μαθητεύω: 1 aorist ἐμαθήτευσα; 1 aorist passive ἐμαθητευθην; (μαθητής); 1. intransitive, τίνι, to be the disciple of one; to follow his precepts and instruction: Matthew 27:57 R G WH marginal reading, cf. John 19:38 (so Plutarch, mor., pp. 832 b. (vit. Antiph. 1), 837 c. (vit. Isocrates 10); Jamblichus, vit. Pythag c. 23). 2. transitive (cf. Winers Grammar, p. 23 and § 38, 1; (Buttmann, § 131, 4)) to make a disciple; to teach, instruct: τινα, Matthew 28:19; Acts 14:21; passive with a dative of the person whose disciple one is made, Matthew 27:57 L T Tr WH text; μαθητευθείς εἰς τήν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανοῦ (see γραμματεύς, 3), Matthew 13:52 Rec., where long since the more correct reading τῇ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν was adopted, but without changing the sense; (yet Lachmann inserts ἐν). THAYER'S GREEK LEXICON, Electronic Database. Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006, 2011 by Biblesoft, Inc. μαθητεύσατε (mathēteusate) — 1 OccurrenceMatthew 28:19 V-AMA-2P BIB: πορευθέντες οὖν μαθητεύσατε πάντα τὰ NAS: therefore and make disciples of all KJV: therefore, and teach all INT: having gone therefore disciple all the Hey... I saw your prayer request, I will pray for you and your family.
I think dicipling someone to follow a denomination is not discipling someone to follow Christ. So that is why I said that it seems terminology wise, dicipling in definition is more likely to produce mini mes than mentoring. diciple definition from free online dictionary: a. One who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another. b. An active adherent, as of a movement or philosophy. If someone dicipled you into a denomination instead of encouraging you to follow Christ Im sorry. I do not believe that is what God wants. I do believe if a person trusts Him and believes in Him, God will guide them to Himself. (which includes bringing people into our life to help us along the way to be in Him, and a part of asking for this to happen is to empty out our hearts and cry to Him to help us. It is dependence and yes, we step out and trust these things will happen) This crying out to receive more of God will bring the answers needed---to guide a person to then move away from teachings of man that will not proove helpful in their life walk with Him. His sheep will hear His voice, even over the voices of denominational structures. I do believe this. God (Holy Spirit) encourages us to communicate with Him (pray-talk) and read His Word, but to also encourage one another. We need to be able to give a reason for our hope. It is an individual experience to have relationship with the True and Living God. It will never compare to having a relationship with a "church denomination". The emptiness of worldly wisdom will eventually show itself to be unproductive-- whereas the fullness of Christ a well of spiritual fertility and growth in Godly Wisdom.
Originally Posted by Scooby_Snacks I would love to hear your personal experience with the mini me maker. Sure... here is an example based on experience. When a person is mentored in the ways of a denomination... can that person go "anywhere" in the Body of Christ and lead people as a shepherd should? Or can the person who is mentored in the ways of a denomination... only go to other churches in the Body of Christ and lead people as a shepherd, in only the churches of that specific denomination? This is a good example of the difference between mentoring which is molding to a specific way to be and discipling, which is to equip people so they can go out and do all that God will have them do, anywhere. A person who is discipled in the ways of the Bible and of God, they can go to ANY church or anywhere and lead sheep. A person who is mentored can only do what they were mentored to do, in only the way they were mentored to do it, and only in the places that will "fit" the way that they were molded. AND on top of this... where they do go to "mentor" and "teach" others... it will be in the same mold in which they were taught and they will produce more of themselves (mini me's). Does this example help you understand what I am saying?
I believe that thre are several good examples of Mentor-Mentee relationships in scripture. Maybe it would help to give my definition of a Mentor one I agree with from the online disctionary: This is with the understanding that both parties are disciples of Jesus Christ. 1. A wise and trusted counselor or teacher. Of course any person in a trusted position --- serving one individual as a counsellor or teacher or serving many individuals --- can distort the purpose that God has for them as leaders, and do harm, rather than good to sheep. It doesn't matter if it is an organized discipleship program or an unorganized relationship between two individuals. We know the amount of time scripture spends on the importance of a Teacher's credentials and fruit. Here are some biblical examples. Jesus and His disciples, Barnabas and Paul, Paul and Timothy, Naomi and Ruth, Elijah and Elisha, Moses and Joshua, Deborah and Barak, Elizabeth and Mary. Non of these people sought to control others to serve their own purpose. These were God centered relationships. I would love to hear your personal experience with the mini me maker.
Originally Posted by Scooby_Snacks I just would hate to think that anyone would be discouraged from seeking wise counsel, which scripture calls us to do. Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. (Proverbs 11:14 ESV) So I will respectfully disagree that mentors produce mini me followers based on my own experience, or dictionary definition. Wise counsel? Hmmmm, counsel is not molding a person... counsel is pointing out error and offering correction (guiding others). Mentoring is the molding of people into something and the product is based on the mentor
I just would hate to think that anyone would be discouraged from seeking wise counsel, which scripture calls us to do. Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety. (Proverbs 11:14 ESV) So I will respectfully disagree that mentors produce mini me followers based on my own experience, or dictionary definition.
Hooah... I can understand what you're saying. I'd say we all define the difference between the two based on experience... I guess? A person who mentors another produces mini-me followers that do what the mentor does because a mentor teaches others only what they know and how to do, only what they know. A person who disciples others, EQUIPS those they are discipling and then that person can go out into the world and be who "they" are in Christ. Not be like the person who equipped them. Bible says to go out and make disciples and this is done by discipling them, not mentoring them.
Hi Slug1, Im commenting on your blog because I actually brought up having a mentor the other day on a thread here and feel like defending the use of the term, at the very least. Im not sure where you are getting this particular difference..so maybe you could elaborate? If I were to actually post the definition of each from free online dictionary, it would be discipling that has more overbearing descriptives in its definition. The positive mentors I have had God brought into my life specifically for me. (Discipleshipers is not an actual word) I like to use the term mentor. The mentors God brought into my life encouraged my relationship with God and enhanced my walk. They did not offer me anything for their own personal gain, but were serving others as well as His purpose for me at times when I was in need. They did not try to make me like them in any way. They always lead me to seek God. I am pretty certain that a person who is discipling OR mentoring could use their position in an unacceptable manner..IE: Trying to control others rather than encourage a person to grow in God on the path that God has set for them. Peace, My
I should do this more. The most I have ever attempted to witness to was members of my family. Other times I have tried typing up my own gospel track and put it near the sink in a bathroom or something for someone to see...
Do you believe what the prophet said to you? So I have the choice to believe what a prophet said to me or not, this story began when I phoned our Pastor for a lift to the hospice for my Wife and I. I was looking forward to seeing him that day and we had the opportunity to share what was going on in our life's. We don't see each other quite as often as when we were members of his house church, although I would say we are still members in heart. My wife said to Pastor how she felt guilty asking him for a lift that day when we don't see him the same. But Pastor said we are established in our relationship it's like if we were never apart. So I described how things were going, I won't go into detail, but he told us exactly what to do in our situation just like the prophets would do in old times even before that when they would be called seers, they would guide Gods people in the way God would have them go. So I have been trying to follow the advice given, it has been difficult because some of the advice would not go down well with worldly ideas, taking advice were it would be seen as loosing money and not worldly wise. Yesterday the words came to me asking the question when I came to a cross-road of a situation, do you believe what the Prophet said to you or not, so after some thought, I said yes I do believe the Prophet and the direction we should go. I have proceeded on in the direction given to us by our Pastor, and to-day we have seen such movement in our situation because we believed what the Holy Spirit is saying through our minister. KING JAMES VERSION 1 SAMUEL 9 5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us. 6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honorable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can show us our way that we should go. 7 Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we? 8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. 9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
I've been in such a storm as well... entered it, went through it, got through it... now what?
Just read this and seeing a common theme. I know storms are used for His good purpose, and then sometimes the purpose remains hidden for a long time. Clinging to belief in His Promises here.
Originally Posted by Saved7 Good stuff there brother! It kept bringing me back to my U-boat dream. Every time I read your dream, even BEFORE reading this blog, my mind kept going back to that u-boat dream. Let's go deeper!!! I'll have to reread your dream...
Excellent testimony.
Good stuff there brother! It kept bringing me back to my U-boat dream. Every time I read your dream, even BEFORE reading this blog, my mind kept going back to that u-boat dream. Let's go deeper!!!
Amen, brother........
Hi Slug, Thats amazing..............although i will find it very hard to keep my mouth shut and be silent for a while I will try it. thanks for that !
Great stuff! We have a 24 hour prayer room at our synagogue. My Rabbi encourages us to spend a couple hour a week there in silence, allowing time for the Holy Spirit to minister to us. I was guilty of having a one way prayer life, it's amazing what can happen when we shut up and listen. Thanks for sharing.
Hooah!! I did actually get to visit the ruins of Babylon while on my first tour in Iraq.
Church services in Nineveh and Babylon. I dig it, brother! Thanks for sharing this.
Blog Categories
Recent Visitors
Go to Profile
Mark as Read
