The goal (heads or hearts) – There is typically (and tragically) no relationship expectations between students and teachers or managers and employees. In fact, secular boundaries suggest distance! The goal is efficient dissemination of information into heads. Mentoring disciples has a different goal: connecting hearts with experiences in a doing culture called work. Teaching is not transformative. Mentoring is an experience with purpose, creativity, and action. It is, by nature, transformative because who we are is defined by what we do, not what we know. Mentors who care about our dreams feel more like Fathers.
The temptation – Learning is tempting because it’s hard to “fail” at sitting in a classroom. Teaching is an attractive place to hide from the more important work of doing — work that likely will include failure. The time we spend learning makes us feel like we’re working hard, convinces us that we’re progressing toward our goal, and wraps us in the comfort of not needing to risk our confidence, ego, or dreams by doing something that could fail.
Start with Living Purpose – First, we ask what our disciple is designed to do, and then we guide them into action. Sons have intrinsic motivation and a divine connection with an invitation to a purpose, the Spirit that guides their hearts. We cannot just dump a load of our knowledge off at their door and hold them accountable (what teachers do). Mentors care. They love to know people at a heart level, and they regard their assignment as releasing the dream God wrote in that disciple’s heart. We are not mentoring people to be us; we mentor them to become them, to be themselves. The most transformative experience goes through purpose, discovering who I am and what I can do.
The love metric for mentoring is,
“No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”
What We Receive from Work – Doing something touches the Spirit of Wisdom behind collaborating and communicating around a shared purpose at work. The strategy is evident in leveraging other people’s hearts to engage in “their” purpose. The experience of seeing our own purpose is the foundation for seeing other people’s hearts. When we put our finger on the purpose in another heart, they feel known and loved. We can hear their heart’s desires and help them achieve a dream. Wisdom’s strategy is Ecclesia, where people gather around a shared purpose that has a Kingdom impact. BTW, it’s an experience with love.
Tactics – The Spirit of Understanding is all about tactics to implement strategy. We know that one can put to flight a thousand, but two ten thousand. We’re intentionally leveraging our business vision to “gather” sons around prophetic purpose. We’re not afraid to tell the story of what God is doing, and not ashamed to do it with Him. That’s exactly what “finds” sons and ignites their hearts into the favor of engagement.
When our staff of sons operates from purpose instead of compliance, we get initiative and creativity for free. We’ve given them a reason to engage, a reason of their own. We’ve moved them from serfs who exchange time for money to sons who give and receive life. We’ve helped them graduate from work to worship by connecting them with their purpose and making room for their gift. We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give (Winston Churchill).
Seers and Doers – Awakened sons and daughters see the battle and can discern corruption. Our ability to see what Father is doing in Heaven is the jailbreak to do it with him on Earth. Works and exploits are meat for sons; engagement is what feeds our hearts. Connection with purpose integrates our sense of self and gives our lives direction and meaning. We resonate with being created for good works, prepared in advance (Eph 2:10). Sons are full of creativity and initiative drawn out by purpose. We are wired to contribute and hear well done from our Father. We grasp that the desires Father wrote in our hearts are also in His heart. Seers and Doers have authority and anointing to bring purpose from Heaven to Earth (Reformation).
The Spirit of Counsel on mentors is, “Learn to be yourself, just do you.” You, being you has a specific authority and anointing to get things done without being heavy; it’s exciting to see the flow of results! The Knowledge that we are fearfully and wonderfully made is the foundation to sync with our design and calling. It’s fun to be yourself! Your gifts, talents, personality, and values will complement your purpose but not define it (see the Cutting Room Floor). Putting the Kingdom first has this level of surrender and irony:
When you realize,
1) it’s not about you, and
2) it’s bigger than you
Then it feels like it’s all about you. You become yourself in Christ, in His purpose. Then you can ask whatever, and He will do it. It’s surrender to the greatness and visibility of your calling. It’s permission to let your light shine so others see your value and the purpose-connection with your Father. Righteousness isn’t a formula for living; it’s being on the same page with your Father. He’s a living, moving target; not rules chiseled in stone, not principles, processes, and procedures.
In a world that often values information over wisdom, mentoring from fathers is a heart connection for learning through experiences. It is a reminder that the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding is not confined to textbooks and lectures, but they are woven into living words from a loving Father who blesses Nations.
PS:
- If you watched Ted Lasso, you will enjoy this summary of Ted’s Mentoring.
- Portions of this blog came from a Council Session, Mentors Father Purpose.
Start with a Purpose Profile – We help businesses transition to the joy and prosperity of a Kingdom business culture by leveraging your unique purpose to ignite your staff and customers. The fun begins when you discover “the why” God wrote in your heart. We marry the cultural and practical side of sound business practices. Cash flow comes from a well-motivated, engaged staff and a wisely managed, value-based business built on a Kingdom purpose already written in hearts. We have the coaching resources to help you shift the culture and respond to the challenges. The starting place for your 4 Experiences is a Purpose Profile.
Here is where to start:
- Purpose Profile to clarify the Cause and Contribution resident in your heart
- Talk to John about joining our Zoom Tribe (Ecclesia)
- Here’s self-help on your Biz Culture Kingdom Business Culture Field Guide
- Glance at the Kingdom Business Coaching Intro to address your challenges
- Set up a conversation with John on Zoom or text 509-308-6873.
Cutting Room Floor
Under the heading of media programming:
- I knew “you will own nothing and be happy” was a WEF lie originating with the Devil and propagated by liberal serfs.
- I didn’t know “you don’t need purpose to be happy” was also a demonic narrative!
Rom 8:28 – And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God,
to those who are called according to His purpose. NASU
If you want to read what the lie sounds like… (Destiny for secularists)
1) Enjoy food, sleep, and sex…. Because they make us feel good. Dopamine rushes to the brain, blah, blah, blah. When we feel good, we’re happy. Simple as that.
2) What does it matter what your Life means other than living and experiencing Life according to your carnal appetites?
3) Your purpose is what you say it is. Your mission is yourself.
4) And don’t worry about what’s right or wrong. No one really knows because there’s no such thing.
5) If you are following and doing what makes you truly happy, isn’t that your destiny anyway?
https://medium.com/swlh/you-dont-need-purpose-to-be-happy-1ca4f83b5696
