The Mentoring Manifesto, Vol. 70: Highlighting the Bible In Your Mentoring Group
The numbers don’t lie, biblical illiteracy is high. According to the American Bible Society’s 2022 State of the Bible report…
- “Nearly 26 million Americans reduced or stopped their interaction with Scripture in the past year.”
- “Beginning in 2020 and accelerating since then, Bible Users have indicated a decreased level of Spiritual Impact from the Bible.”
Two potential mentors recently asked me why Radical Mentoring groups seem to prioritize reading books over reading the Bible. On the surface, this question could sound legalistic or judgmental, but in both cases, the potential mentors asked out of genuine curiosity.
Here are two things I want to highlight about the books Radical Mentoring groups read…
- Book choice matters: Practical in nature and grounded in Scripture, the books we choose point people back to the Bible, encouraging them to explore their faith deeper, including reading the Bible.
- Books may be the first step: Most people don’t read, and our experience tells us that having mentees read a book filled with Scripture-based principles may be more straightforward than handing them the Bible.
And a few things mentors can do to make the Bible a focus of their mentoring groups…
- Model your love for the Bible: As the mentor, you are an influencer and role model. The best way to direct mentees back to the Bible is by pointing them to the Bible.
- Don’t skimp on the Scripture Memory: If Scripture memory is important to the mentor, it will be important to the group. If the mentor doesn’t see the relevance of it, then it will be either ignored or thrown in at the last minute.
- Don’t leave your Bible at home: Bring your Bible to meetings and ask your mentees to bring theirs too. If they don’t have a Bible, buy them one. As theologian Charles Spurgeon says, “a Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.”
Mentors, remember that you had someone show you how to study the Bible and apply it to your life. Now, you are in a powerful position to do the same for someone else. The resources below will help you and your mentees dig into and explore the Bible together.
READING PLAN EXAMPLE: GRACE IS GREATER
HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF SCRIPTURE MEMORY IN YOUR MENTORING GROUP
ANCIENT VS. MODERN WAYS OF READING THE BIBLE
PERSPECTIVE: HAS THE BIBLE BEEN CORRUPTED?
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