Over time things always change…even things in the Church. Some people choose not to change, but others do. There is always a place for both sides of that fence in the Church, but I want to talk about 3 shifts necessary for “discipling” younger generations. These shifts are not earth shaking realizations, but they are in fact different from how older generations have traditionally approached discipleship.
Here I will issue 3 shifts in the context of relationships and how we approach them. Next post will be 3 shifts in the context of “perspective.” There is more to the latter so I will elaborate in the next post on that.
The 3 shifts in relational approach are:
- From Information to Wisdom. Wisdom is gained through experience of embracing what we already know. The shift is a big one. It’s a shift from the mentor prepping content to bring someone through…to the mentor becoming a learner of what the other person is processing through and then, when appropriate, offering wisdom from their experience. This where biblical truth comes in. The shift is really from the mentor driving the topics of study to the other person driving the topic of conversation.
- From Fixing to Mutual Fascination. Far too often we look at people who “need” to be discipled as a problem to be fixed. The shift is from fixing a person to befriending a person. It’s a shift in relationship that is simply centered on being mutually fascinated with what God has done and is doing in each others lives.
- From Teaching to Mutual Transformation. Younger people aren’t looking to be “taught” as much as they are looking to grow and be changed. The reality is when two people become mutually fascinated with what God has done and is doing in each other’s lives…they are also mutually transformed!
– Chuck / @chuckbomar
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I imagine that you might expand on this, but shouldn’t the first one lead to MUTUAL wisdom? You kinda already shared that “driving the mentor relationship” would no longer be completely in the mentor’s hands… would there not be a shared effort towards discerning Wisdom together.
Note, however, that Truth does not remain relative here. I understand Wisdom as understanding or enlightenment.
Good point! Yes, although “wisdom” is gained through life experiences of living out truth (or not living it out) thus lending the mentor to more “input” in this area, it is more of a friendship where both people contribute to thought as well as listen and process each others thoughts!
I imagine that you might expand on this, but shouldn’t the first one lead to MUTUAL wisdom? You kinda already shared that “driving the mentor relationship” would no longer be completely in the mentor’s hands… would there not be a shared effort towards discerning Wisdom together.
Note, however, that Truth does not remain relative here. I understand Wisdom as understanding or enlightenment.