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. 2 Timothy 2:2
“Living our lives on purpose means we live free from the bondage of sin and in generous service to God and others. The Holy Spirit is the great protagonist of theological reflection, helping us to better understand the world in which we live and the spiritual powers at work around us. Through mentoring, we invite the powerful work of the Holy Spirit to retrain the way we think, and that develops us in a holistic and active theology and Christian worldview that stands against the schemes and messages of this world.
Intentionally developing a Christian worldview means that we acknowledge that changes in time and culture in light of the biblical truth we know. Theological reflection challenges us so that biblical truth dictates how we respond rightly in the world…So what does theological reflection and developing a Christian worldview look like in a mentoring group? Theological reflection often begins by asking the right questions. Through mentoring, we cultivate our minds and explore the answers to life’s important questions with the reading, study, and understanding of God’s Word as our foundation.”
Natasha Sistrunk Robinson in Mentor for Life: Finding Purpose through Intentional Discipleship (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016) 112-113.
Rather than return home from serving God in San Diego, I took the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner Train yesterday up to Orange County and shot this header photo along the way. It was quite a peaceful journey. I am remaining in Southern California two extra days to unite with five guys who are more than friends, they are a sort of “mentoring group” with whom I seek to change the world for Jesus Christ. We are going to World Series game one together tonight in Los Angeles.
I get to go with (1) Wes Willmer, a godly pioneer in Christian stewardship, co-author, mentor and friend to me for half my life; (2) Greg Henson, a wise young man that I have mentored for about a decade who serves as president of Sioux Falls Seminary; (3) Jon Yasuda, a new friend over the last five years who serves as vice president of development at Fuller Theological Seminary and whose keen insights have sharpened my own thinking; (4) Chi-Chung Keung, one of my closest friends over the past twenty years and a co-laborer in Christ with whom I do international missions work; and (5) Randy Kung, an attorney and Christian brother that has become a friend for more than a decade and that I want to mentor more intentionally and engage in global ministry service.
What makes this a great mentoring group is that these brothers are deeply rooted in God’s Word, they ask the right questions, and they reflect thoughtfully on how we should live and lead others with a Christian worldview!
Are you a part of a mentoring group that helps you live in generous service to God and others? Find people older than you from whom you can gain wisdom. Locate younger colleagues to assist. Saturate your heart, soul, and mind with the Scriptures. Follow the leading of the Spirit in your interaction. And perhaps, like we plan to do today, make memories together as God gives you the opportunity in order to strengthen life-long relationships as fellow workers in God’s kingdom.