Mentor Orientation
What’s the big deal about discipleship?
Jesus was clear about our calling as His followers: to go and make disciples (people who know and follow Him, who are being transformed by Him, and who are sold out to His mission). There are countless ways of mentoring new believers; Rooted is just one. We focus on learning truth and applying it practically. This matters to the heart of God. Discipleship is one of the few ways of spending our time now that will have eternal impact.
Why write another discipleship curriculum when there are already plenty out there?
After moving to New England, we recognized that most discipleship studies were geared toward a Southern context, believers who have grown up in church with a basic understanding of Bible stories/characters/terms. But very little material was available for adults who are coming from an unchurched background. We wanted to change that.
Can I have the bottom line about how this process works?
Each week, you and your disciple will read through 5 days’ worth of study. Then you’ll meet to discuss it, ask questions, and grow together using the mentor meeting notes provided in the back of the binder. At the end of the 21 weeks, your disciple should be ready to become a mentor to someone else.
What’s the goal here?
In general, we want to make disciples who make disciples. But individually, each Rooted pair is different. If your disciple is intellectual but lacks emotional connection with his faith, you might hope for a deep sense of love for God to result from the study. If your disciple is already expressing obedience to Christ but lacks basic knowledge of Scripture, she might be moving toward the goal of laying a solid foundation of understanding. There can be as many goals as disciples, but we long to see all of them rise up at the end of the process to take their place as new mentors for others. They probably won’t ever feel prepared, but the actual work of taking a young believer through this material contributes significantly to the maturation process. Plus, they’ll have you to guide them along and correct them when needed. Just because you finish Rooted doesn’t mean they stop being counseled by you; it just means that the relationship changes. You become more of a cheerleader and consultant than a parent.
How are the discipleship pairs chosen?
If you were approached to take someone through Rooted, that choice was based on your stage of life, personality, strengths, etc. If you’ve “graduated” from the study, you may have either been paired up with a disciple who needed a mentor or picked someone to approach about going through it. Be sensitive to the Spirit’s leading as you discern who He’d like you to pursue. In either case, make sure they understand the commitment they’re making before getting started: it’s always easier, more effective, and frankly more enjoyable to disciple someone who is driven and eager than someone who is half-heartedly enduring it out of guilt or obligation.
What if I wasn’t discipled myself?
No problem! As you go through this mentoring business, you’ll experience growth just as much as (if not more than) your disciple. Nowhere in Scripture are we commanded to get a doctorate before making disciples. Be willing to go forward in faith, trusting Jesus to move in you through this process. If you get stuck at any time, please don’t hesitate to ask for help from your Discipleship Coach (either Riley or Kassie, depending on your gender). We honestly love getting calls/emails about discipleship.
Do I have to know everything to be a mentor?
Nope. Be honest when you don’t have an answer for a question. You can always look it up later that week and return with a good response at the next meeting, or you can challenge them to see what they can find about it and report to you at the next meeting (or you could both look it up and compare findings). Don’t worry about admitting, “Great question! I don’t know—let’s find out!” This is about growth, not perfection. Cut yourself some slack and enjoy the process.
I’ve received the binders—now what?
Now the fun part: get to know your material really well. Read the intro letter, check out the study to get a feel for it, and dig through the helps at the back. Pay special attention to the mentor meeting notes (which will be your guide during every weekly meeting) and the suggestions for further study. Once you’ve flipped from cover to cover, touch base with your disciple. Set up a time and place for your first meeting (when you can have long enough to not be rushed and where you can talk openly without too many distractions or nervousness about sharing personal details). At your first meeting, you’ll give your disciple the binder (and study Bible if applicable) and follow the page of mentor meeting 1 notes. (They won’t have to read anything to prepare for this first meeting.) If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask your Discipleship Coach.
I found a typo! What do I do?
Nice observation skills! We are constantly trying to make the study better, but since we’re human, there’s a big chance we’ve overlooked some mistakes. Please let us know so we can correct any errors for the next big round of edits.
Any other tips?
Please emphasize to your disciple the importance of doing the work daily. Putting it off and then cramming doesn’t allow the methodical life change to occur slowly enough to internalize it. This isn’t for a grade: it’s for transformation at a deep level. Studying a little each day creates space for the Spirit to seep it into their hearts as they meditate on the truths they’ll be discovering.
Convey a sense that your weekly meetings are a sacred time not to be rescheduled (or dropped altogether) lightly. Emergencies come up, and that’s fine. But “I don’t feel like it” doesn’t reflect a heart earnestly wanting to honor God. In every disciple’s journey, the temptation to slack off will arise; it’s just part of the maturing process. Help them fight through their feelings and grow in true commitment—this will be invaluable experience to them as they grow in Christ (which often lacks the “want-to” factor).
If you’re unsure about whether an external resource is biblically solid, skip it. New Christians need dependable places to turn, and we’ve worked hard to make Rooted as theologically sound as possible. Don’t feel pressured to bring in outside materials as you go through this study.
After preparing adequately, relax and have fun. God has good plans for you and your disciple, and no offense, but you’re not powerful enough to screw those good plans up. There is a storehouse of freedom, peace, and wisdom available to those who ask. Trust the Spirit and know that we’re cheering you on!
