WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT MENTORING MEN FOR THE MASTER, INT’L? Joshua 1:8; 1 Thess. 2:8; 2 Tim. 2:2
08/30/14 The First I from Thad Faulk on Vimeo.
I. The word “Mentor” is a new word in our Christian vocabulary but it has always been a major word in God’s plan for His people on this earth.
1. Jehovah God as it was first mentored Moses, called the George Washington of the Old Testament, so he could lead His chosen people. (Exodus 3)
2. Moses, in turn, mentored Joshua, so He could lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. (Deut)
3. And God Himself commanded that Joshua both memorize and meditate on His Word in order to qualify Him to go into the Promised Land. The word God spoke to Joshua is the foundational verse for all we do in Mentoring Men for the Master. “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8 NIV)
4. We come to the New Testament under the New Covenant. What do we see?
a. Jesus, the Son of God, mentoring 12 men to write the New Testament and establish His church in the world. Mark 3:14, “He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach” (NIV)
b. Scripture: He chose the 12 that He might be with them. To do what? To mentor them? He taught the whole world but 90% of his time was with 12 men. (Consult Robert Coleman’s, The Master Plan of Evangelism.)
5. Not only did He mentor the 12, but His last word to all believers was, “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20).
6. The sole purpose of Mentoring Men for the Master is to follow the example and command of Jesus, and our results are the most glorious thing I have seen in 64 years of ministry – men who have become disciples through mentoring who are now making disciples in churches. Surely Jesus rejoices in heaven.
7. Finally, Paul, God’s Great Apostle to the church, instructed the church in the way it must go to be the body of Christ in the world, and he describes the very heart of mentoring in 1 Thess. 2: 8 which is a brief definition of authentic mentoring and is the “Golden Text” of Mentoring Men for the Master, Int’l. “…We loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.” (1 Thess. 2:8 NIV)
8. This is a generic description of mentoring, but Paul throughout his 13 Epistles prescribes the “12 Absolute Life Changers of Men.”
9. These 12 Spiritual Imperatives are not Legalistic rules to follow but when obeyed out of love for Jesus and through the infilling (control of the Holy Spirit) they result in a wonderful relationship with Jesus and the enjoyment of the abundant life.
10. The Modern Awakening to the Indispensable Place of Mentoring: “Evangelism must grow out of discipleship and the SBC must develop a “culture of Discipleship” for us to reverse the downward trend in baptisms” (Al Gilbert, Evangelism Director, NAMB).
II. ANSWERING THE CRITIQUE OF MENTORING MEN FOR THE MASTER, INT’L.
1. Mentoring Men for the Master, Int’l is legalism – It’s just the opposite. See number 9 above.
2. “I can’t memorize.” God is not unjust to command the impossible. His commands are His enablements.
3. “I got saved. I don’t need anything else.” Remember, Jesus commands we become disciples who will make disciples.
4. I go to church regularly and don’t need mentoring. Tell this to Jesus and the Bible.
5. I can memorize for the present but I can’t remember what I memorized. The answer is “Repeat, Repeat, Repeat.” (Rick Warren.
6. I tried to go to Mentoring School then got so busy I quit Remember: We make time for that which is important. So please come back and you will find as great a welcome as at the first.
7. I am attending a small group now. In Mentoring Men for the Master, we have “small groups” at the beginning of each session and loving accountability through the week with our accountability partners.
8. “Honestly, I quit when the going got hard.” Remember: Jesus, “He who endures to the end shall be saved.” (Matthew 24:12) “A faith that fizzles out before the finish had a fatal flaw in it from the first.” Are you sure you are saved or just an “unconverted” believer in the herd.
9. “I thought the guys crowding around the table were self righteous.” This guys felt this way because the guys quoted the assigned Scripture.
10. “It’s too early in the morning.” (Mark 1:35)
III. THE PROOF IS IN THE EATING OF THE PUDDING:
Let the products of Mentoring Men for the Master speak for themselves
IV. PERSONAL BENEFITS TO THE LEADERS OF MENTORING MEN FOR THE MASTER:
1. Thad Faulk 2. BB
V. JOSH FRANKLIN’S HELPS BASED ON HIS EXPERIENCE:
a. 20 Reasons I hide God’s Word in my heart
b. 10 Faulty Reasons many do not hide God’s Word in their hearts
c. Specifically how to hide God’s Word.
d. 52 Week Bible Reading Chart.
e. Having a Meaningful Quiet Time with God.
f. Praising the Old Testament Names of God
g. Inspiration for Intimacy with Father
h. Essentials For Family Worship
i. Essential Scripture Memory – 52 Scriptures covering every subject a successful Christian must know.
j. 36 Primary lies of the devil k. Wielding your weapon l. Internalize the Word – Don’t leave home without it.
All above can be found in Josh’s book, Pathway to Power.