Mentoring someone helps them grow, but it also changes you. When you invest in another person’s pursuit of God, you obey Jesus’ call to make disciples, you learn surprising things about your own heart, and your own faith gets stronger. Helping others pursue God is never a one-way street. Mentoring is one of the most rewarding things a follower of Jesus can do.
Mentoring Is How Jesus Told Us to Grow His Church
Making disciples is one of the most important and most neglected parts of the Christian life. Many believers assume mentoring is a job for pastors or people with seminary degrees. Jesus didn’t give his final instructions only to professionals, though. He gave them to ordinary followers who had spent a few years learning from him up close.
Matthew 28:18-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
When we neglect the disciple-making command of Jesus, we miss out on something he designed for our good. Mentoring is simply walking with someone a few steps behind you and helping them follow Jesus more closely. You don’t need all the answers. You need a willingness to share what God has taught you and the humility to keep learning alongside the person you are helping.
Mentoring also follows the pattern Jesus modeled. He didn’t just preach to crowds. He shared meals, long walks, and hard conversations with a small group of people. That kind of relational investment is still how most people grow, and it is something nearly any believer can offer.
You Learn About Yourself
Mentoring and discipling another person can teach you a lot about yourself. When someone asks an honest question about prayer, forgiveness, or temptation, you are forced to put into words what you actually believe. Sometimes you discover that your faith is deeper than you realized. Other times you notice gaps you need to work on.
Mentoring also exposes your blind spots. It is hard to encourage someone to read the Bible daily or deal with anger when you are quietly ignoring those areas in your own life. That kind of accountability isn’t a burden. It is one of the ways God sharpens you, and it can be the push you need to finally deal with an area you have been avoiding.
Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Sharpening always goes both directions. The person you mentor will bring fresh perspective, honest struggles, and real-life questions that push you back to Scripture and prayer. Many mentors say they grew as much as the people they were helping, and that growth is part of God’s design.
Helping Others Helps You
Helping other people pursue God not only blesses them, it also builds you up. There is a unique joy in watching someone take a step of faith, break a bad habit, or understand grace for the first time. Those moments remind you that God is still at work and that he is willing to use you in the process.
Proverbs 11:25 A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.
Generosity isn’t only about money. When you give your time, attention, and experience to help someone grow, God has a way of refreshing your own soul. If you have been feeling spiritually stuck, investing in someone else might be exactly what reignites your passion for Jesus. If you are not sure where to begin, learn how to start a mentoring relationship and take the first small step.
The Takeaway
What will you get out of mentoring? You will get the joy of obeying Jesus, a clearer view of your own heart, and a faith that is sharpened and refreshed as you help someone else grow. Mentoring isn’t just something you give away. It is one of the best ways God grows you, too.
