Skills and Abilities a Person of Influence Can Use to Mentor Someone Else.
Do you have skills and abilities that you can use to mentor someone? Carol Harrison reminds us that we all have skills and abilities that we can use.
Skills and Abilities
In that jumble of puzzle pieces that are parts of our lives, we each have some skills and abilities represented. Have you ever stopped to list out what skills and abilities you might have? Have you considered how you could use these skills to teach someone else, help them out, or even mentor them and how this is a way to be a person of positive influence?
What would this look like for the good of the body of Christ? What would having a mentor look like for you? Who has the skills or abilities you would like to learn or learn how to do better?
A Person of Influence and Mentoring
In looking at what it means to be a person of influence and how mentoring can be part of this, I came across five principles of mentoring. Jesus used some principles as he taught his disciples and the crowds that we can use in mentoring relationships.
Storytelling. I love stories and Jesus spoke the truths of God in parable form over and over – what are some parables—stories Jesus told that come to your mind?
- Luke 6:46-49 – wise and foolish builders
- Luke 8 – parable of the sower
- Luke 10: 25-37 – parable of the Good Samaritan
- Luke 13: 18-21 – parable of the yeast
- Luke 15 – 3 parables – lost sheep, lost coin, lost son
- Luke 16: 1-15 – parable of the shrewd manager
This quote by Max McLean talks of the power of stories, “Few things touch us as deeply as a good story. God knows this about us. That is why I believe so much of scripture is written as narrative. God knows that He can get through to us when we see, hear and experience His story.”
Carol Kent wrote, “If truth is not wrapped in a package that causes us to see, feel, hear taste what’s happening the average person won’t tune in long enough to listen. We need to give life to biblical points we are making by bringing colour, emotion and drama to our illustrations.”
George Barna writes, “Experience is permitted where theology or philosophy is rejected.”
Stories
Stories intrigue us with anticipation. They can teach us complex theological truths in ways that do not threaten or intimidate Stories give us warmth of human connection. Stories or personal experience is permitted in places where we are not allowed to quote Bible verses.
We need to know the Biblical application to our story. There are three parables in Luke 15 that all teach one lesson. All teach one lesson—the lesson that Jesus came to seek the lost.
Train your brain to see the stories of your life – the little incidents , the major happenings as possible illustrations of how God works. Jesus used simple object – coins and sheep in Luke 15 to illustrate his point that he came to seek the lost. He talked to people about sheep, coins, lepers, oil for lamps, seeds etc. as he taught them.
He taught and told stories in informal settings as well as teaching in the temple or a classroom – he went where the people were – met them where they needed him.
The Second Principle
The second principle is that Jesus asked questions and listened to the answers
Pamela Crosby writes, “Good questions create interest. Great ones inspire a response. Good questions open conversation, Great ones open souls. Good questions raise issues, Great ones evoke dreams and vision. Good questions elicit ideas, Great questions uncover needs.”
Jesus asked questions to: Make a point, To reinforce His teaching, bring correction, and reveal hypocrisy. Karen Lee-Thorp in her book, How to ask Good Questions, writes, “Jesus questions were simple, clear, never condescending, always provocative. They made people think for themselves and examine their hearts. Jesus’ questions were always fresh and attuned to the unique needs of the people He was talking to. Instead of following a rote method, He seems to think about how His questions would affect the audience. “
“Questions combined with listening, love, and God’s interventions will enable us to be people of influence for those who are hurting in our world. Listening that provides a safe place for people to answer is important and the answers can provide a guide on how you spend your time with another person in a mentoring relationship.
Ask Questions – Gain Insight
Telling stories gets your foot in the door to share the gospel when nothing else will. Asking questions enables you to gain insight into where the other person is in their journey of life and where they might need help. But that brings us to three more principles which are intertwined in my own mind.
- The principle of walking and talking
- The principle of compassion
- The principle of unconditional love
These three things of walking with someone, talking with them, listening to them, showing them unconditional love and kindness can be extremely difficult especially in some circumstances. On our own we will not be very effective but allowing God to work through us will allow us to be compassionate the way Christ showed compassion on the crowds around him.
Desensitized to Needs
Today we can become so desensitized to all the needs around us. They appear everywhere we look from every corner of the globe. Obviously we can’t fix them all. God asks us to do what we can, obey what job He nudges us to do, and trust that He will provide everything we need to do the task at hand.
Compassion involves the gift of touch. Jesus touched people as he ministered on earth. We only need to read through the gospels to know that Jesus touched the lives and bodies of those that no one else would, like the leper. In Luke 15: 12, 13 it says that Jesus reached out his hand and touched him. The power of touch is great. It might be a handshake, a pat on the shoulder, a hug. It might be the touch of kindness, friendship and help it might involve doing something for someone that others might not think about doing.
Compassion, unconditional love, and walking and talking with someone always involves practical applications. It is not just theoretical. People need to feel they are important, listened to, cared about.
Build Bridges, Not Walls
We need to build bridges not erect walls—knowing we are different but not better than others. We need to have empathy and find common ground instead of looking at others as hopeless. We can admit that we don’t have all the answers instead of trying to have an answer for everything and wanting the last word. We need to begin by praying to the One who listens best instead of doubting that God listens or cares. Then we can focus on coming along side of others instead of fixing them, affirming people instead of being critical.
What practical, encouraging things can you do for someone else? What practical, encouraging things have been done for you at some point?
Carol Harrison
Listen to Carol’s program Puzzle Pieces Of Life or visit Carol’s website carolscorner.ca
Carol Harrison B.Ed is a speaker and published author with one book, Amee’s Story and stories in twelve anthologies. She is passionate about helping people of all ages and ability levels find their voice and reach their fullest potential.
She knows, through personal experience that some of life’s experiences are tougher than others. She encourages people that even in the twists and turns of life God’s amazing grace provides hope.
She lives in Saskatoon, SK with her husband Brian. They have four adult children and a dozen grandchildren.
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