Numbers 27:12-23

Numbers 27:18-20(NIV): So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit of leadership, and lay your hand on him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the entire assembly and commission him in their presence. Give him some of your authority so the whole Israelite community will obey him.

Moses led the Israelites for 40 years, with Joshua as his understudy. Moses mentored Joshua and prepared him well to be his successor. Moses:

· Encouraged Joshua - Exodus 17:8-16, Luke 5:2-11

· Included Joshua - Exodus 24:12-14, Exodus 33:9-12, Matthew 17:1-8

· Commissioned Joshua - Numbers 27:18-19, Matthew 28:18-20

Jesus prepared the Disciples to be his witnesses.

Moses prepared Joshua to succeed him.

Who are you training?

What are you teaching?

Luke 6:39-40(NIV): He also told them this parable: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit? 40 The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.

When Jesus chose the 12 Disciples and spent 3 years training them, he gave us a wonderful example of how to prepare and equip people for ministry. Each local Church is called by God to disciple the next generation as Jesus did.

Matthew 28:18-20(NIV): Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Of course, Jesus’ discipleship was perfect, so there’s always room for improvement. At Naringal Church, the Elders are committed to doing discipleship better – hence our emphasis this year on mentoring. Two questions for each of us:

1. Who are you mentoring?

2. Who’s mentoring you?

This Term our sermons will divert from the Kid’s Alive curriculum, so that we can focus on examples of mentoring found in Scripture. Let’s learn more about how to “spur one another on.”

Proverbs 27:17(NIV): As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Hebrews 10:23-25(NIV): Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Matthew 16:13-28

Matthew 16:17-19(NIV): Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Jesus was the greatest mentor ever. He discipled Peter for 3 years, and prepared him for his ministry, which helped establish the church. Jesus:

· Inspired Peter - Matthew 4:18-20, Matthew 16:15-16

· Encouraged Peter - Matthew 4:19, Matthew 16:18-19, Matthew 14:25-29

· Challenged Peter - Matthew 14:30-31, Matthew 16:21-24, Acts 2:14, 40-41

We all need Jesus as our ultimate mentor, but let’s help each other as we follow him together.

John 4:18-20(NIV): As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

When Jesus chose the 12 Disciples and spent 3 years training them, he gave us a wonderful example of how to prepare and equip people for ministry. Each local Church is called by God to disciple the next generation as Jesus did.

Matthew 28:18-20(NIV): Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Of course, Jesus’ discipleship was perfect, so there’s always room for improvement. At Naringal Church, the Elders are committed to doing discipleship better – hence our emphasis this year on mentoring. Two questions for each of us:

1. Who are you mentoring?

2. Who’s mentoring you?

This Term our sermons will divert from the Kid’s Alive curriculum, so that we can focus on examples of mentoring found in Scripture. Let’s learn more about how to “spur one another on.”

Proverbs 27:17(NIV): As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Hebrews 10:23-25(NIV): Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

John 15:1-8

John 15:8(NIV): 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Just as God told Adam and Eve “be fruitful and multiply”, Jesus tells us “to bear much fruit.” We do that by:

· Remaining in the vine (Jesus Christ) - v4, John 10:10

· Becoming one of the branches (local church) - v5, Matthew 16:18

· Bearing fruit (contributing) - v8, John 15:12-14

· Cutting off the old (denying self) - v2a, Matthew 18:8-9

· Pruning the new (spiritual growth) - v2b, Hebrews 10:24-25

Bearing much fruit takes great commitment and self-discipline, but the reward is “life in all its fullness.” It’s what God created us to do.

John 15:16(NIV): You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.