Tag: mentoring

IT’S A GROUP THING

Some of the best times I can remember involve a group. Whether it’s a small group of three or four, like my family, or a larger group of fourteen to sixteen, some of life’s greatest moments happen when we’re together.

For me, a small group we started many years ago sparked something inside of me that has lasted my entire life: there is a greater chance to grow and live a life that is pleasing to God if I am not alone.

The most impactful group I was ever a part of started about the same time Rick Warren released The Purpose Driven Life. One day Lori, a friend of ours, came up to me and said the church wanted to start small groups. She didn’t ask as much as she told me.

“We think it would be a good idea to have a group, you’re going to lead it, and we’re having it at your house.”

Wow. Okay. Sounds like fun. I’m in.

That’s really how the best group I’ve ever been a part of got started.

The group eventually grew to seven couples who spent the next several years getting to know each other on a deeper level than some families ever do. Every Sunday night we gathered at our house for a couple of hours and shared life together. Sometimes we vacationed together.

One time we even rented a cabin in the mountains for a weekend. It was a great opportunity to get away, relax, and enjoy each other’s company.

But those relationships weren’t built on the good times alone.

We also walked through real life together.

One couple had a child go to jail because of some poor life choices. Another set of parents walked with their daughter through a divorce. Several members faced serious health challenges, including cancer and another member eventually a heart transplant.

Sure, we had conversations about rough days and difficult family situations. But the real glue that held us together was learning more about God and His love for us. Because of that foundation, we not only deepened our relationship with God, but we also grew closer to one another as we grew closer to Him.

In past posts I’ve talked about mentoring. Most of those conversations focused on one-on-one relationships, but at the same time I’ve seen more growth—and more sustained growth—come from being part of a group.

Reggie Campbell said:

“Jesus, the world’s greatest mentor, worked with a group. That’s right, a group. All my life, I thought of mentoring only as an individual thing… one-on-one, life-on-life. But Jesus started… and ended… with a group.”

I’ve also taught several groups with the intention of helping people uncover more about why God created them the way He did. The goal was to help people discover the “why behind the what” of their lives—their personal ethos.

You may be asking:

Why did God create me?

Why did God allow me to experience the things I have experienced?

Whether you view your past as good or bad, God uses those experiences to shape who you are.

At the end of the nine months we spent together, the goal was for every person to answer this question:

God created me for the purpose of ____________.

Can you answer that?

And is your answer more than, “God created me to worship Him?” That’s true, but He created all of us for that.

Or, “God created me to love God and love others?” That’s also true, but that’s the calling of every believer.

But why did God create you?

With your past.

Your family.

Your gifts.

Why were you born when you were born, where you were born, and into the family you were born into?

My point is this:

You were created by a God who loves you and never intended for you to live life alone.

He wants you to learn, live, and teach others about His love and His way of life. Part of that journey is helping someone else along the way. In my experience, you’ll do that best in a group.

Who are you mentoring?

What group are you a part of?

What are you learning because of it?

Looking forward to seeing you Wednesday morning!!

— Bryan

Finding Purpose in Helping Others on Your Faith Journey

One of the easiest traps in life is believing everything is about us. Our goals, our success, our growth, our problems. But the longer I follow Jesus, the more I realize that growth isn’t just about what God is doing for me or in me—it’s also about what He wants to do through me.

When we think about others, well maybe we should start with the question, do you think about others?

I hope the answer is yes, and I hope you didn’t have to think to hard about it. 

Who? Is there someone that comes to mind when you ask yourself who is important to you? Other than your close family who is important to you? When I sit and think about it I can come up with a few friends and a few people that are like minded with my likes and beliefs. But, beyond that I want you to think about who you are helping. Who is younger than you or walking through a season of life you’ve already experienced?

Is there someone you are around that is in business and at a place where you have already been? Is there someone you rub shoulders with that is in a different place in their spiritual journey than you are? Or how about your favorite hobbies, who is learning to enjoy what you already enjoy?

If we are willing to look, there are people all around us that are ready to learn what we have to offer. 

When I am operating at my best, there are two things I love to do. I love to learn and I love to teach. 

No matter what I’m doing, I always come back to those two things.

Years ago, I was really into aviation, both hot air balloons and airplanes. As I learned to fly hot air balloons, I spent years studying regulations, weather, safety, and flight techniques. Eventually there came a tipping point where I wasn’t just learning anymore—I was enjoying it. And then I started looking around for others who wanted to learn what I had learned.

This tipping point allowed me to start looking at who was around me and who seemed to have a desire to learn more about the sport. This is when sharing what you’ve learned, experienced, and enjoyed becomes valuable to others. By this point, you have gained the wisdom that comes from both learning and experience. Learning that things can go right and things can go wrong. I can tell you from personal experience that you tend to learn a whole lot faster when things are going….we’ll let’s call it not going right. 

That experience taught me something important about following Jesus. Spiritual growth isn’t meant to stop with us. Just like aviation, there comes a point where we move from simply learning to helping others learn.

In our lives when we are following Jesus we will have a time of learning in the beginning. But as we encounter God in a personal way we will start to bubble over from the inside out. When we understand the impact of what God has done for us we have no choice but to tell others. Even if at first all you think you’re doing is telling others what God has done for you or what God has changed in you. It is a real thing. Early in our relationship with God we should keep an eye out for who is paying attention. 

That is an invitation to help others see God in a deeper and more personal way. You have a story that needs to be told. Don’t get bogged down by the idea that not everyone wants what you have. That’s a real bummer, but it’s okay. Look for someone you can understand and help. That’s what encouraging or mentoring is all about. It really is that simple!

For now, let’s look for someone that we can be real with and wants to be real with us too, That’s mentoring. Regi Campbell says  “Authentic mentoring, mentoring like Jesus did it, involves selflessness. It says, “I’m going to give to you . . . put you first . . . let you learn from my mistakes and get nothing in return.” In a sense the mentor says, “I’ve paid the price (via my mistakes) to learn what I’ve learned. I’m going to give you the benefit of that price so you won’t have to pay it.” Sounds a little like Jesus’ sacrifice for us, doesn’t it?” 

Following Jesus was never meant to stop with us. 

At some point, faith becomes less about what God is doing for me and more about how He wants to work through me for the benefit of others. That’s when we discover that it really isn’t about me.

This week, don’t just think about these questions. Put a name next to them. Ask God to show you one person you can encourage, teach, mentor, or simply walk alongside. You don’t need all the answers. You just need to be willing to share what God has already taught you.

Who is in your circle of influence?

Who needs help?

What do you have to offer? (Remember, you have a story and it’s important to God. And God wants you to share your experiences)

How does this deepen your faith?

How does this encourage you to learn even more than you know right now?

Looking forward to chatting more about this when we see each other on Wednesday.

Have a great day!!

Bryan