PEER MENTORING GROUPS

Welcome back to the Discipleship blog series. If you have not read the previous posts, you can find them here.

Last time we learned how being Part of Two Churches is essential for multiplication and faithfulness.
In this post we will discuss the Peer Mentoring Group and its importance to multiplication.

Jesus said - “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

A Peer Mentoring Group is a group that consists of people who are leading and starting 3/3 Groups. It also follows a 3/3 format and is a powerful way to assess the spiritual health of God’s work in your area.

Peer Mentoring Groups use leader-to-leader mentoring with individual followers of Jesus, with simple churches, with ministry organizations or even with a global simple church network that reaches around the world.

Peer Mentoring Groups follow Jesus’ example of ministry from scripture, ask questions of one another and give feedback -- all using the same basic time structure as a 3/3 Group. The purpose of these groups is not to judge - to lift one member up and tear another down.

Jesus said - “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Instead, the purpose of a Peer Mentoring Group is to provide a simple format for helping followers of Jesus grow through prayer, obedience, application and accountability. In other words -- “to love one another.”

Here’s how it works:

Look Back (VISUAL - 1/3) During the first third - spend time in prayer and care just like you would in a basic 3/3 Group.

Then spend time looking at the group’s vision - How well are we individually abiding in Jesus as we read scripture, pray, trust and obey God, and live out key relationships?
Finally, during this first third, have the group review and respond to each individual’s action plans and commitments made in the last session.

Look Up (VISUAL - 2/3) The middle third of the group’s time is spent Looking Up for God’s wisdom and direction through scripture, discussion and prayer.
Offer a brief and simple prayer, asking God to teach you His will and His ways through His Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead your time.

Group members should share what they have learned from the Lord about their area of leadership - either through God’s Word, Prayer or from Other Followers.

Have the group discuss the following simple questions:

• How are you doing in each section of the Four Fields diagram?
• What is working well? What are your biggest challenges?
• Review your current generational map.
• What challenged you or what did you find hard to understand?
• What is God showing you recently?
• Are there any questions and feedback from seasoned leaders or other participants?

Look Forward (VISUAL - 3/3) The final third of the group’s time is spent Looking Forward to how we can each apply and obey what we’ve learned.
Spend time in silent prayer with everyone in the group asking the Holy Spirit to show them how to answer these questions:

• What action plans or goals would God have me put into practice before our next time together? (Use the Four Fields tool to help focus your work)
• How can my Mentor or other Group Members help me in this work?

Finally spend time as a group talking to God in prayer. Have the group pray so that each member is prayed for and ask God to prepare the hearts of all those the group will reach out to during their time apart.

Pray for God to give each member of the group the courage and strength to apply and obey what God has taught them in this session. If a seasoned leader needs to pray specifically for a younger leader, this is the perfect time for that prayer.

Since these groups often meet at a distance, you are unlikely to be able to celebrate The Lord’s Supper or share a meal, but be sure to make time to check-in about health and family and friends.

​Jesus showed us again and again that, even though He accomplished the most important works, He balanced it, always, with time for the ones He loved. A Peer Mentoring Group is a simple but strategic tool to develop stronger leaders.