How To Find a Spiritual Mentor in Your Church
- Thread starter SteveEpperson
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
It's a typical atheist tactic to "come to the rescue" of a fellow community participant. It's a sort of gang mentality. Few Christians use it other than the very immature. That was my point.
No, that's false. I started a thread with the title: How To Find a Spiritual Mentor in Your Church.
I'm pretty sure that few people responding to it have actually read it all the way through. Simply skimming through someone's post and taking stuff out of context so they can berate it is prideful and arrogant -- qualities most women find unattractive.
I didn't know I needed permission from you or anyone else to be here.
I know nothing about you either, so I guess we're even. I'm not accusing anyone of anything. I'm just going by the words you're using on the page. Here let me quote you again:
What's next? Are you going to attack my age, race, and weight?
I don't need to fill out a credit app and pass a background check in order to post here. If you don't like what I write, you don't have to read it. But attacking everyone and anything all the time on this site is counter to what Jesus taught:
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matt. 12:36-37
Or, I could open your profile, hit the ignore button, and continue interacting with the adults on this site.
No, that's false. I started a thread with the title: How To Find a Spiritual Mentor in Your Church.
I'm pretty sure that few people responding to it have actually read it all the way through. Simply skimming through someone's post and taking stuff out of context so they can berate it is prideful and arrogant -- qualities most women find unattractive.
I didn't know I needed permission from you or anyone else to be here.
I know nothing about you either, so I guess we're even. I'm not accusing anyone of anything. I'm just going by the words you're using on the page. Here let me quote you again:
What's next? Are you going to attack my age, race, and weight?
I don't need to fill out a credit app and pass a background check in order to post here. If you don't like what I write, you don't have to read it. But attacking everyone and anything all the time on this site is counter to what Jesus taught:
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matt. 12:36-37
Or, I could open your profile, hit the ignore button, and continue interacting with the adults on this site.
I think you pray for one
Small groups are good to join of not more than 10-12 participants.
I have had many spiritual mentors/teachers generally in smaller churches with an older population.
pastors are often too busy overseeing everyone to be one-on-one. They may be doing ministry and ask you to join and work with them on a project, it could be anything - knitting, sewing, or reaching out in the community, helping in schools, foodbank, meals, prisons, etc.
With men it could be working on cars or in the shed or something thats a practical help in the community that requires a bit of grunt lol
As long as they make some time for prayer as this helps each other grow
The only thing you must realise is that they are not perfect and would have made mistakes but see they gained wisdom because of it. Don't put anyone on a pedestal. If they have time for you that is great as time is very precious. I found the problem with older people is possibly the demands on their time, but if you doing something regularly, weekly or fortnightly thats time to bond.
Small groups are good to join of not more than 10-12 participants.
I have had many spiritual mentors/teachers generally in smaller churches with an older population.
pastors are often too busy overseeing everyone to be one-on-one. They may be doing ministry and ask you to join and work with them on a project, it could be anything - knitting, sewing, or reaching out in the community, helping in schools, foodbank, meals, prisons, etc.
With men it could be working on cars or in the shed or something thats a practical help in the community that requires a bit of grunt lol
As long as they make some time for prayer as this helps each other grow
The only thing you must realise is that they are not perfect and would have made mistakes but see they gained wisdom because of it. Don't put anyone on a pedestal. If they have time for you that is great as time is very precious. I found the problem with older people is possibly the demands on their time, but if you doing something regularly, weekly or fortnightly thats time to bond.
Ooooh, now I'm an atheist too? Guess I'll have to update my resume again...
You really resort to calling me an atheist, just because I disagreed with you about something? Really?!
Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another one's gone
Another one's gone
Another one bites the dust
You really resort to calling me an atheist, just because I disagreed with you about something? Really?!
Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another one's gone
Another one's gone
Another one bites the dust
I disagree. Peter needed lots of mentoring from Jesus before becoming a great apostle. I think we can all relate to Peter since he often put his foot in his mouth, as most of us do.
If what you say is true, then we could forgo the church experience altogether. There are plenty of YouTube videos from excellent pastors on a myriad of subjects.
We would no longer need church buildings since the main reason for their existence is to gather together and listen to a sermon. We would no longer have to hire professional pastors and staff, which would save a lot of money. As a result, our tithes would go directly to feeding the poor and taking care of the most vulnerable (unfortunately, it's the government that has stepped into this role).
I don't want to sound like I'm disparaging the local church, but without any sort of mentoring or discipleship, young people are going to find it here instead:
In a world of increasing automation and zero customer service, people are looking for connections. The most immature in our society are turning to substance abuse at an alarming rate. And while these people are difficult to deal with -- as Peter was -- they need mature Christians to help them make the right choices.
People are hurting, but we shouldn't be telling them that God will wave a magic wand and make their lives better if they follow Jesus.
Instead, we should be teaching and mentoring them on how to show the grace of Christ, even if their lives are not what they'd hoped for.
If what you say is true, then we could forgo the church experience altogether. There are plenty of YouTube videos from excellent pastors on a myriad of subjects.
We would no longer need church buildings since the main reason for their existence is to gather together and listen to a sermon. We would no longer have to hire professional pastors and staff, which would save a lot of money. As a result, our tithes would go directly to feeding the poor and taking care of the most vulnerable (unfortunately, it's the government that has stepped into this role).
I don't want to sound like I'm disparaging the local church, but without any sort of mentoring or discipleship, young people are going to find it here instead:
- Cults like the JWs and Mormon church
- Paganism and witchcraft
- Unitarianism
- Transgender ideology
- Humanism
- Name any other "ism"
In a world of increasing automation and zero customer service, people are looking for connections. The most immature in our society are turning to substance abuse at an alarming rate. And while these people are difficult to deal with -- as Peter was -- they need mature Christians to help them make the right choices.
People are hurting, but we shouldn't be telling them that God will wave a magic wand and make their lives better if they follow Jesus.
Instead, we should be teaching and mentoring them on how to show the grace of Christ, even if their lives are not what they'd hoped for.
You're making a lot of wild exaggerations. I never said there wasn't a need for discipleship; I said there's no need for personal mentors. And I said it should be an organic process, not a mechanical one. The local church isn't going away, nor will we be overtaken by cults simply because I don't approach someone and say hey, will you be my mentor. Where is it recorded in scripture that Peter approached Jesus and asked Him to be his personal mentor? He didn't; he just followed Him and learned from Him.
No. I want to follow the first two Commandments here, of course.
But you make a great case for mentorship here. The fact that these wonderful people have gone through many trials in their lives and are still faithful is a great example to follow. They could show the immature Christians what they did to get there and correct them when they go off track.
But you make a great case for mentorship here. The fact that these wonderful people have gone through many trials in their lives and are still faithful is a great example to follow. They could show the immature Christians what they did to get there and correct them when they go off track.
What is the difference between the two in your estimation?
Okay. Maybe you could explain further what you mean here.
It sounds like you are rejecting the idea of asking to be mentored more than anything. So, maybe you can elaborate on that idea, just so I am clear.
So, is the type of close discipleship Jesus offered valid in 2023? If so, who should be the leader in this? Who should do the "discipling?"
Okay. Maybe you could explain further what you mean here.
It sounds like you are rejecting the idea of asking to be mentored more than anything. So, maybe you can elaborate on that idea, just so I am clear.
So, is the type of close discipleship Jesus offered valid in 2023? If so, who should be the leader in this? Who should do the "discipling?"
I dont learn anything from you tube videos.
The only thing they are good for is karaoke lol
Unless you really want to make you tube videos yourself. You will need to install an ad blocker though.
most older people say 'lets go for coffee' except I hate sitting round talking over coffee. Coffee is the christian friends equivalent to beer. All it is an excuse for christians to gossip. Whatever happened to miraculous loaves and fishes and feeding of the five thousand? Now thats something I can get behind rather than keeping a barista/hipster employed and slaves on coffee plantations.
The only thing they are good for is karaoke lol
Unless you really want to make you tube videos yourself. You will need to install an ad blocker though.
most older people say 'lets go for coffee' except I hate sitting round talking over coffee. Coffee is the christian friends equivalent to beer. All it is an excuse for christians to gossip. Whatever happened to miraculous loaves and fishes and feeding of the five thousand? Now thats something I can get behind rather than keeping a barista/hipster employed and slaves on coffee plantations.