Grow in the Grace and Knowledge

IMHO, no matter our age, we still need someone in our lives to help us mature in our faith.

While I was away from the church, my years advanced, but my maturity didn't, I'm very sad to say. More than once I've talked to our pastor about regret of all the opportunities that were lost during that time. And for the yearning -- hunger -- to try to make up for some of it.

When I was saved, as a teen, I was sprinkled rather than being immersed. Our pastor chose the potter's wheel as the subject of his sermon the morning I was re-baptised. It couldn't have been more appropriate, as this oldtimer is being reshaped into what God wants this lump of clay to become.

While the Holy Spirit is the potter's hands, He has helpers. My pastor is my mentor. He's helped knock off a few burrs, when he's challenged what I "think" I believe. Creation vs evolution was a rough one, after being indroctinated (sp) for over 50 years by the secular world.

As the scales are falling away from my eyes I'm also *seeing* the influence other Godly people have and had in my life. Long gone now, my parents are still teaching me what I failed to learn from them, back then. The strength of my father's faith. The diligence of my mother as she prepared to teach Sunday school.

Thousand Hills, while age is a factor, as it takes time to grow in maturity, it isn't the only one. My pastor is my little brother. Our choir director's faith shines in her life. Yet, she could be my great granddaughter. She's mentoring others (self included) of the joy in praising God in song.

In closing, I know the Holy Spirit has led me to this place in time for more than one purpose. Some I've seen. Others yet to be revealed, and maybe not until I'm called home. That's where I'll learn how I've been used to help others mature in their faith. My prayer is that He will say "Well done my good and faithful servant".

 

I had the blessing of a mentor who helped me grow in my faith early on in my Christian walk. He introduced me to Bible study (more than mere reading, but chasing references, looking at types and anti-types, examining the cultural references, etc.). I would probably be where I am today if I did not have this man, but I grew more quickly, and sadly, the senior pastor at that time was not much for discipleship except for ordering books and making people come to church to what amounted to grade school homework by filling in blanks on pages.

Since then, I have returned the favor multiple times and have been/am a mentor to multiple young and not-so-young men. My wife often participates in a joint mentorship of the wife of whomever I am discipling.

Among the persons I have worked with in a pure mentor relationship (on top of all the people in the congregations I have led): One man who later dropped out of seminary when he discovered that God was not really calling him to that level of ministry -- he is effective in his local church and his marriage is restored, praise God, from the damage done while fighting through something that he was ill-advised to take up. Two of the elders from a mega-church that we used to attend, one of whom is the worship leader, the other the spiritual advisor to the pastor. Another young man who is now in pastor school at Sojourn. And, I have yet another "Timothy" who surrendered into ministry during my first sermon at my new church. We start this week...

 

TH

http://www.christianbook.com/grow-i...51515571/pd/1515576?event=AFF&p=1133438&#curr

click on additional views you can read a sample of this book...and here is another one
http://www.christianbook.com/the-ch...51515168/pd/1515169?event=AFF&p=1133438&#curr
he is currently a pastor in columbia sc...excellent in the pulpit,and with the pen....if you buy these books and do not like them..i will buy them from you..