Mentoring: Investing in Others
One of the most important words in the English language is the word “relationships.” All of life is about relationships: our relationships to God and our relationships with others. We were created for a relationship with God, but we also are created to be in relationship with each other. Nothing in life is more critical than that.
Every follower of Christ is called on to mentor or disciple others, helping them grow in wisdom and maturity. Mentoring occurs in any number of contexts — within the family, the church, the workplace, the school setting, and anyplace we meet with others.
This six-session study focuses on six different mentoring relationships seen in the Bible, challenging us to get involved in helping others develop their spiritual walk. We will discover valuable principles to guide us as we invest time and energy in the lives of others.
Mentoring: Investing in Others
Session 1 Jethro and Moses Exodus 18:9-11,14-21
Session 2 Moses and Joshua Numbers 27:12-23
Session 3 Eli and Samuel 1 Samuel 2:22-26; 3:7-10,15-18
Session 4 Mordecai and Esther Esther 2:5-7; 4:8-17
Session 5 Barnabas and Paul Acts 9:26-28; 11:22-26; 15:36-40
Session 6 Paul and Timothy Acts 16:1-5; 2 Timothy 2:1-2; 3:10-12
1
Jethro and Moses
Question 1:
What’s something you’ve learned the hard way?
THE POINT
Be ready to give and receive godly wisdom.
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE
We have a choice: we can learn from experiences, or we can learn from the experiences of others. Learning by our own experiences can often be painful, frustrating, and time consuming. Learning from others shortens the time frame and lessens the pain and frustration. A wise person allows others to go through the stress and learns from their experiences.
We need three types of people in our lives.
- Friends. Those who walk alongside us whom we can mutually support and encourage.
- Mentors. Those we learn from as they share wisdom and life lessons. They challenge us to grow and fulfill our potential.
- Those we mentor. Each of us ought to be mentoring others, someone with whom we can share our experiences. Everyone can profit from the wisdom and experiences of others, and we can share those things with others.
Today’s session looks at a brief incident of mentoring in the life of Moses. Without the mentoring that took place, Moses’s life could have been quite different.
WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?
Exodus 18:9-11
9 Jethro rejoiced over all the good things the Lord had done for Israel when he rescued them from the power of the Egyptians. 10 “Blessed be the Lord,” Jethro exclaimed, “who rescued you from the power of Egypt and from the power of Pharaoh. He has rescued the people from under the power of Egypt! 11 Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods, because he did wonders when the Egyptians acted arrogantly against Israel.”
Moses, the great Israelite leader of the exodus out of Egypt, profited from a mentoring relationship with his father-in-law, Jethro, in the early years of the journey out of Egypt. We read about Moses first meeting Jethro (also called Reuel) in Exodus 2:16-21. After fleeing from the pharaoh in Egypt, Moses met Jethro in the land of Midian. Subsequently, Moses married one of Jethro’s daughters, Zipporah. For the next forty years, Moses tended the flocks of Jethro in the wilderness area of Midian.
After Moses encountered God at the burning bush (3:2), he decided to return to Egypt with his wife and family. At some point, either during that journey back to Egypt or after arriving in Egypt, Moses sent Zipporah and his two sons back to Jethro (18:2). The reason for this move remains a mystery, but perhaps Moses did it to protect them from the wrath of Pharaoh during those months before the exodus event began.
When we come to Exodus 18, Moses and the children of Israel had seen the plagues in Egypt and experienced the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, water from the rock, and quail and manna in the wilderness. Now they were camped at Rephidim, a short distance from Mount Sinai, where the people would soon encounter God. It is at Rephidim that Jethro caught up with Moses to deliver Zipporah and her two sons to Moses.
Question 2:
What are some benefits of acknowledging God’s work?
Jethro is identified as the “priest of Midian” (v. 1). While no mention is made at this point concerning the particular god he represented, in verse 11 Jethro declared, “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods.” Hearing of all the ways God had acted on behalf of His people, Jethro acknowledged the greatness of Yahweh, and he sacrificed a burnt offering to God. A great meal was held in God’s presence that included Jethro, Moses, Aaron, and the elders of the tribes of Israel (v. 12). In this way, Jethro led the leaders of Israel in a joyous celebration of all that God had done for the nation to this point in time. Thus began a brief, yet critical, period of mentoring between Jethro and Moses.
The relationship of mentoring between Jethro and Moses was brief; yet, it was extremely profitable for Moses. Following the initial worship celebration of all God was doing for the children of Israel, Jethro would spend a few more days in the camp. During this time, he began to observe some things that disturbed him greatly.
Exodus 18:14-18
14 When Moses’s father-in-law saw everything he was doing for them he asked, “What is this you’re doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?” 15 Moses replied to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and another. I teach them God’s statutes and laws.” 17 “What you’re doing is not good,” Moses’s father-in-law said to him. 18 “You will certainly wear out both yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for you. You can’t do it alone.”
Difficulties in relationships happen. We are sinful people, and disagreements and disputes will occur. Such was the case among the children of Israel as they made their way from Egypt to the land God had promised them. When you consider the nation was comprised of thousands of families, you get an idea of the challenge facing Moses. He found himself spending his entire day making “a decision between one man and another.”
Through observation, Jethro discerned the difficult position that both Moses and the people were in. The people would stand all day waiting for their turn to speak with Moses, who, for his part, was occupied continually in these menial matters when, most likely, there were many more pressing matters to which he should have been attending. After all, Moses’s job was to shape this ragtag mob of former slaves into an organized nation that followed God.
Jethro offered a good approach to mentoring when he turned his observations into questions. “What is this you’re doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the people stand around you from morning until evening?” Jethro wanted to hear from Moses’s lips an explanation for this overwhelming situation. The questions he asked may have helped Jethro understand the situation and may very well have proved to be eye-opening for Moses. Jethro’s inquiry may have proved to Moses the gravity of the situation. This is seen in the words of Jethro: “What you’re doing is not good.”
This is the work of anyone serving as a mentor. Through observations and questions, mentors can lead those being helped to come to their own understanding of the situation. Once they reach the point of seeing the problems or challenges, they are ready for further guidance in how to address the situation, but they first must be able to see the problem and articulate it.
Question 3:
What’s the difference between constructive criticism and just being critical?
Exodus 18:19-21
19 “Now listen to me; I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent the people before God and bring their cases to him. 20 Instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do. 21 But you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and hating dishonest profit. Place them over the people as commanders of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens.”
Only after observing and listening to Moses did Jethro offer his advice. Jethro acknowledged the two functions identified by Moses in verse 16: (1) Moses represented the people before God and brought their cases to God; and (2) Moses was God’s representative before the people, teaching them the ways of God. These were certainly important tasks, but Moses didn’t have to go it alone.
Question 4:
What role does our group play in helping one another receive sound advice?
Jethro said Moses’s essential task was being a representative between God and the people of Israel. In this role, Moses was to “instruct them about the statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do.”
Jethro next turned to the task that was consuming Moses’s time and keeping him from giving full attention to instructing and teaching the people: serving as a judge and mediator in the disagreements that had arisen. It was here that Jethro highlighted the greatest weakness in Moses’s approach to leadership, for his current approach would wear out both Moses and the people.
Jethro advised his son-in-law to divide the duty between capable men who could take this burden from Moses. These men were to be characterized by some essential traits. They were to be competent people with a firm trust in God. In addition, they were to be honest and not greedy for gain.
In any mentoring relationship, a major goal should include teaching concerning God and His ways. Mentors should lead others to understand the “way to live” that will please and honor God. Also, a good mentoring relationship should focus on not simply identifying problems, but on discovering solutions.
Question 5:
What can we learn from the relationship between Jethro and Moses?
RECEIVING COUNSEL
Moses’s father-in-law gave Moses some unsolicited advice.
Who has the right to do that in your life? Cross out those who don’t. Put a star next to the person you would listen to the most:
ParentSiblingTherapistSpouse
Adult childrenIn-lawsPastorGroup leader
FriendsSocial media influencerBest-selling author
Other:
“Not until we have become humble and teachable, standing in awe of God’s holiness and sovereignty . . . acknowledging our own littleness, distrusting our own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can divine wisdom become ours.”
J. I. PACKER
LIVE IT OUT
We should be ready to give and receive godly wisdom. Choose one of the following applications:
Pray. Over the next week, pray each day that God would either lay on your heart someone you want to learn from or someone you could help.
Seek. Intentionally search out someone who could serve as a mentor to you. Ask this person to prayerfully consider walking alongside you and helping you grow.
Invest. Choose to mentor someone else. Ask someone if he or she would be willing to walk alongside you and allow you to speak into his or her life (this should be someone of the same gender).
No one likes to learn lessons the hard way. It’s much better to find someone who’s been down the road you plan to take and learn from their wisdom. God places these individuals in our lives for a reason!
Teacher Notes:
No one is
meant to grow in Christ on their own.
Christians need
each other. We strengthen our own walk with Christ as we help others in their
walk with Christ.
Mentoring is never
mentioned in Scripture, but Jesus exemplified the principles of mentoring as He
walked with His disciples.
There are other examples
of mentoring recorded in Scripture that we are going to cover in this series.
About a month ago,
surveillance cameras captured footage of a baby in a stroller rolling toward a
busy highway. The frightening video quickly went viral.
Video: Run Away Stroller
Can you imagine the
relief (and embarrassment) of the baby’s aunt? It’s possible that she didn’t
notice the downhill slope of the pavement, but I’m sure she will never
again
leave a baby stroller without locking the brake system, even on flat ground.
The multitude of viewers probably learned a valuable lesson as well. This
certainly qualifies as a lesson learned the hard way.
What’s
something you’ve had to learn the hard way?
The first
thing we must realize is that we have a choice:
we can choose to learn
from our own experiences, or we can learn from the experiences of others.
We need three types
of people in our lives.
Friends. Those who walk alongside us we can mutually support and encourage.
Mentors. Those we learn from that share wisdom and
life lessons.
Those we mentor. Someone with whom
we can share our experiences.
Later we will see
this played out in the Barnabas – Paul – and Timothy relationship.
Level 5 Leadership
– Good to Great – Jim Collins
Good leaders
surround themselves with good advisors. The best leaders are those who do not
think too highly of themselves and have a teachable spirit. This applies to all
of us regardless of our roles or positions in life. At the same time, we should
not be hesitant to offer wise counsel to those who would benefit from hearing
it. Each one of us needs a mentor, and each one of us can serve as a mentor.
Today’s lesson
looks at a brief incident of mentoring in the life of Moses. Without the
mentoring that took place, Moses’s life could have been quite different.
Setting: The book of Exodus could be the central book
of the Old Testament because it records God’s act of saving His people from
enslavement and establishing them as a covenant community. The central figure
in this record is Moses, whom God called out to lead the Israelites from
bondage in Egypt to freedom in the land promised to them by God. Moses’s task
was not an easy one. He challenged the Pharaoh, led the people through
difficult terrain, dealt with their criticisms and rebellion, and fashioned
them into a nation in covenant with God. One of his major roles was to
represent the people before God and convey God’s instructions to the people.
This session deals
with one specific aspect of his leadership — that of a judicial authority called to settle
disputes among the people and help them know how to apply the practical
instructions contained in the statutes and laws of God. It was an important
work, but a massive task; a task Moses tried to do himself despite the
impossibility of sustaining that.
Jethro and Moses
Exodus
18:9-11,14-21
Exodus
18:9-11
Jethro rejoiced
over all the good things the Lord had done for Israel when he rescued them from
the power of the Egyptians. “Blessed be the Lord,” Jethro exclaimed, “who
rescued you from the power of Egypt and from the power of Pharaoh. He has
rescued the people from under the power of Egypt! Now I know that the Lord is
greater than all gods, because he did wonders when the Egyptians acted
arrogantly against Israel.”
Acknowledge
that God is at work.
Why is it so
important to acknowledge God’s work?
When have you
experienced believers celebrating God’s work in your church? How do God’s
wonders happen in daily life? How have you seen God’s work at hand in your
family?
Jethro is
identified as the “priest of Midian” (v. 1). While no mention is made at this
point concerning the particular god he represented, in verse 11 Jethro
declared, “Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods.” Hearing of all
the ways God had acted on behalf of His people, Jethro acknowledged the
greatness of Yahweh, and he sacrificed a burnt offering to God. A great meal
was held in God’s presence that included Jethro, Moses, Aaron, and the elders
of the tribes of Israel (v. 12). In this way, Jethro led the leaders of Israel
in a joyous celebration of all that God had done for the nation to this point
in time. Thus began a brief, yet critical, period of mentoring between Jethro
and Moses.
The relationship of
mentoring between Jethro and Moses was brief; yet it was extremely profitable
for Moses. Following the initial worship celebration of all God was doing for
the children of Israel, Jethro would spend a few more days in the camp. During
this time, he began to observe some things that disturbed him greatly.
Exodus
18:14-18
When Moses’s
father-in-law saw everything he was doing for them he asked, “What is this
you’re doing for the people? Why are you alone sitting as judge, while all the
people stand around you from morning until evening?” Moses replied to his
father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God. Whenever they
have a dispute, it comes to me, and I make a decision between one man and
another. I teach them God’s statutes and laws.” “What you’re doing is not
good,” Moses’s father-in-law said to him. “You will certainly wear out both
yourself and these people who are with you, because the task is too heavy for
you. You can’t do it alone.”
How difficult is it
for you to ask others for advice?
Offer
constructive criticism.
What’s the difference
between constructive criticism and just being critical?
Constructive
criticism
is essential to growth, but receiving it requires humility. Even in areas where
we have experienced great success in the past, there is value to learning from
others. The personal challenges (and even failures) we face can be an
invitation to grow in our character. It is important, however, to choose our
mentors wisely. As believers, we need godly people speaking into our lives, and
it can be especially helpful to seek guidance from those who are further along
in a particular area than we are.
An “outsider” may
be able to observe weakness that we may not see ourselves because we are so
close to the issue. Good leaders may have the best of intentions but lack the ability
to carry out the work wisely. Even constructive criticism may hurt but the wise
leader listens to the wise counsel of others who have a different perspective. Those
who know better have a responsibility to help others do better.
Exodus
18:19-21
“Now listen to me;
I will give you some advice, and God be with you. You be the one to represent
the people before God and bring their cases to him. Instruct them about the
statutes and laws, and teach them the way to live and what they must do. But
you should select from all the people able men, God-fearing, trustworthy, and
hating dishonest profit. Place them over the people as commanders of thousands,
hundreds, fifties, and tens.”
Encourage
with sound counsel.
What do you find
challenging about giving advice?
What can keep us
from responding to good advice?
Effective mentors
not only identify weaknesses, but they also offer sound advice on how to make
improvements. Properly addressing the details of the work will help a leader
stay focused on the primary tasks of his work. No one person can do everything;
nor should he try. We do well to seek out others to be involved in the work of
serving the Lord. Godly work calls for godly workers.
RECEIVING COUNSEL
Moses’s
father-in-law gave Moses some unsolicited advice.
Who has the right
to do that in your life? Cross out those who don’t. Put a star next to the
person you would listen to the most:
Parent Sibling
Spouse Adult children
In-laws Pastor
Group leader
Friends Co-workers
What can
we learn from the relationship between Jethro and Moses?
Jethro, Moses’s
father-in-law, observed Moses in action and offered him sound advice on how to
improve the effectiveness of his work. Moses proved himself as a wise leader by
being willing to listen to Jethro’s counsel and implement his suggestions. We
too can learn a valuable lesson in this session. We need not only to be ready
to give advice, but we also need to be willing to receive it.
“Not until we have become humble and teachable, standing in awe of God’s
holiness and sovereignty . . . acknowledging our own littleness, distrusting
our own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can divine
wisdom become ours.”
J. I. PACKER
Mentoring
Mentoring isn’t
helping shape another person to be more like you. It’s helping shape and form
another person into the image of Jesus. It’s putting 2 Timothy 2:2 into
practice, which says, “What you have heard from me in the presence of many
witnesses, commit to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
Some tips for
shaping the next generation to follow Jesus with their whole hearts, minds,
souls, and strength? Here are four suggestions.
1. POINT
TO GOD’S WORD
God has given us
tools to use when mentoring others. The first is His Word. If you want to help
a person look more like Jesus, direct them to read, hear, study, meditate, and
memorize God’s Word.
Second Timothy 3:16
reminds us, “All Scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for teaching,
for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness.” Being a mentor
isn’t just about offering advice, although sometimes that’s needed. It’s more
about pointing them to God’s truth and giving direction for someone’s life.
2. PRAY
The second tool you
have is prayer. If you want to mentor someone, pray for them. Pray specifically
for their needs, spiritual growth, relationships, and for them to become a
person who will continue to make disciples. When Jesus gave the Great Commission
in Matthew 28, He instructed His disciples to make disciples and to remember
His presence.
Praying for the
person you’re mentoring is a reminder of God’s work and direction in their
life. Pray for the person you’re mentoring when you’re with them. When you
aren’t with them in person, pray for them by sending them a prayer or
Scripture. Write a note or email them specific ways you’re praying and rejoice
with them when prayers are answered.
3.
LEVERAGE YOUR LIFE EXPERIENCES
The third tool or
tip for mentoring others is life experience. God has uniquely designed your
life experiences in a way that you can use both the good and the bad to
encourage others. We are reminded in 2 Corinthians 1:4, “He comforts us in all
our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of
affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.”
4. WORK
TOGETHER
The final tool for
mentoring others is ministry opportunities. Mentoring naturally happens when
you work alongside someone else for kingdom purposes.
I still remember
taking my daughter on an international mission trip. We shared a room with two
senior adult women. For a week, my daughter not only shared space with these
two women, but she heard them share the gospel, minister to women at an event,
and share some distinct cultural differences. I’m grateful for those who not
only let us watch them “do” ministry but also ask younger men and women to help
and learn in the midst of ministry projects.
Jesus made His
style of mentoring clear: He led so that we can follow. He said, “If anyone
will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me”
(Matthew 16:24). Because He is our leader and we are to follow Him, Christian
mentoring is a process dependent upon submission to Christ. Neither the mentor nor the candidate
controls the relationship. As such, the process is best characterized by
mutual sharing, trust, and enrichment as the life and work of both participants
is changed. The mentor serves as a model and a trusted listener. The mentor
relies on the Holy Spirit to provide insight, change lives, and teach through
the modeling process.
The Apostle Paul
spelled out mentoring as his leadership model very simply. “Follow my example
as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). “Whatever you have
learned or received or heard from me or seen in me — put it into practice”
(Philippians 4:9a). In essence, he is saying, “Let me mentor you. Let me be
your role model.” He reminds the new Christians at Thessalonica to “follow our
example” (2 Thessalonians 3:7). Example. Teach. Model. These are all facets of
mentoring which are indispensable in developing fully devoted followers of
Jesus and in transmitting the faith from one generation to the next. It goes
without saying that if mentors expect others to follow their example, they must
be wholeheartedly committed to following Christ. Any hint of hypocrisy — “do
what I say, not what I do” — will be detrimental to both the mentor and his
charge.
PLAYING A
MASTERPIECE TOGETHER
I once heard a
story of a young man who wanted to learn how to play the violin. As he took
lessons, he had the opportunity to practice on a famous (and very expensive)
Stradivarius instrument. Nervous and awkward as he held the bow, a master
violinist came behind the novice and placed his hands on top of the
apprentice’s shaky fingers. He told him, “I will hold your hands and help you
play. Together we will play a masterpiece on this masterpiece.” The mentor
guided the hands of the learner, and together they performed a beautiful song.
You and I have this
same opportunity as we mentor others. Let’s come beside them, place our lives
next to theirs, and build beautiful relationships that last a lifetime.
Be ready to give
and receive godly wisdom.
Should a
Christian be involved in mentoring?
The word “mentor” is defined as “a wise and trusted counselor or teacher.” Although “mentoring” doesn’t appear in the Bible, Scripture does give us numerous examples of mentoring. Moses was mentored by his father-in-law Jethro, first as son-in-law and then as a leader (Exodus 18). The mentoring relationship between Eli and Samuel prepared Samuel for the tasks and responsibilities that were his after Eli’s death (1 Samuel 1–4). Jesus mentored His disciples (Luke 9), and both Barnabas and Paul excelled in mentoring (Acts 9–15).
Jesus made His
style of mentoring clear: He led so that we can follow. He said, “If anyone
will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me”
(Matthew 16:24). Because He is our leader and we are to follow Him, Christian
mentoring is a process dependent upon submission to Christ. Neither the mentor nor the candidate
controls the relationship. As such, the process is best characterized by
mutual sharing, trust, and enrichment as the life and work of both participants
is changed. The mentor serves as a model and a trusted listener. The mentor
relies on the Holy Spirit to provide insight, change lives, and teach through
the modeling process.
The Apostle Paul
spelled out mentoring as his leadership model very simply. “Follow my example
as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). “Whatever you have
learned or received or heard from me or seen in me — put it into practice”
(Philippians 4:9a). In essence, he is saying, “Let me mentor you. Let me be
your role model.” He reminds the new Christians at Thessalonica to “follow our
example” (2 Thessalonians 3:7). Example. Teach. Model. These are all facets of
mentoring which are indispensable in developing fully devoted followers of
Jesus and in transmitting the faith from one generation to the next. It goes
without saying that if mentors expect others to follow their example, they must
be wholeheartedly committed to following Christ. Any hint of hypocrisy — “do
what I say, not what I do” — will be detrimental to both the mentor and his
charge.
Not only Jesus and
the apostles, but elders in the local church also do their work by mentoring.
Peter commands, “Be examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3), and Paul explains to
the elders at Ephesus, “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you”
(Acts 20:17). In other words, Paul is telling the elders, “I showed you, now
you show them.” In all truth, if a Christian leader is not mentoring someone,
to that degree he or she is not living up to his or her calling.
Of course, God has
filled the body of Christ with many potential mentors besides those who are
named as elders or shepherds. The official church leaders cannot personally
meet all the mentoring needs of everyone. While it may not be possible for
shepherds to personally, intentionally, hands-on mentor each sheep that needs
mentoring, they are to help these needy sheep find godly mentors. To provide
for the mentoring needs of their local community of faith, the leaders must be
intentional, continually expanding the circle of mentors by “equipping others”
to mentor.
What is the
importance of finding good role models?
A role model is someone who provides us with an example for living and choice-making; someone we desire to follow and emulate, for good or ill. Most of us have someone we look up to be it a teacher, parent, friend, pastor, or a celebrity.
The Bible recognizes the influence of role models. Parents are natural role models: “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction / and do not forsake your mother’s teaching” (Proverbs 1:8). Church leaders are role models of righteousness: “In everything set them an example by doing what is good” (Titus 2:7). And teachers wield great influence in shaping lives: “Everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher” (Luke 6:40).
If we are unwise in our choice of role models, we run the risk of being led astray and to compromise our beliefs and morals. Proverbs 13:20 warns, “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” Thus, the Bible stresses the importance of finding not only a good role model but a godly one.
Jesus is the perfect role model, of course. Although He suffered the same temptations we do, He remained sinless throughout His life (Hebrews 4:15). Jesus spent much of His spare time in conversation with His Father (Matthew 14:23; Mark 1:35), He showed love and compassion (Luke 7:13; Matthew 15:32), and He worked hard (John 5:17; Matthew 9:35). Jesus, the Son of Man, is a role model to all, and there is none better to follow. We are to “follow in his steps” (1 Peter 2:21).
Throughout the Bible, the Lord often called imperfect people to act as role models, including Moses, Elijah, King David, Simon Peter, and many others. The apostle Paul often spoke of his important job as a role model for the early church (1 Corinthians 4:16; 11:1; Philippians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:5–7; 2 Thessalonians 3:7–9). Peter warned of false teachers within the church who would be negative role models: “Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute” (2 Peter 2:2).
When it comes to finding a good role model, a good thing to consider is whether the person you look up to consistently seeks to imitate Christ (see 1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Peter 2:21). Does this person display the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23)? Does he or she strive to live in harmony with others (Romans 12:16)? No human is perfect, and everyone will falter at some point in their lives (Romans 3:23), but if you can answer “yes” to these questions, then you have probably found a good and godly role model.
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