What
is the Heart of the Mutual Mentoring Relationship? See in the story of the Journey to Emmaus an anatomy of a mentoring encounter.
1. "While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew
near and went with them."
Expect to find Jesus present in the rhythms and questions of your everyday life in the
world. Jesus walked in step with the disciples. He entered their world. The one- to-one
relationships of this program can include church members or those people in your life who
do not have a church home but, like you, are seeking and exploring in their spiritual
lives.
2. "And he said to them, 'What is this conversation which you are
holding with each other as you walk?"'
Jesus listened to the concerns of the disciples and drew them out. This mentoring program
is designed to help people to talk to one another about the times of their lives, and to
explore God's presence in the midst of life. It is also designed as a listening post where
members of the church and spiritual seekers can hear one another.
3. "But their eyes were kept from recognizing him."
The Gospel calls us into relationship with one another in congregation. There we
continually encounter one another. As we interact, we change; we grow, we become. You may
want to begin a mentoring pair with someone near to you in church, family, work or
community. This program is also meant to strengthen the web of relationships within the
congregation and nurture growth in the Gospel.
4. "And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all
that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these
things and enter into his glory?"
At the right time Jesus "got in their face" and clearly presented the truth.
Truthful, loving feedback is an important part of any mentoring relationship. And at the
right time you and your partner can help each other interpret your experience in the light
of the Gospel's promises.
5. "And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in
all the scriptures the things concerning himself."
Scripture shows us Jesus guiding the disciples to an encounter with the living Christ. The
living Christ still meets us in the Word. This program is designed to help you and you
partner grow in knowledge and understanding of God's Word.
6. "...but they constrained him, saying, 'Stay with us, for it is toward
evening and the day is now far spent.' So he went in to stay with them."
The disciples invited Jesus to spend time with them. Their hospitality to Jesus and to one
another enabled their unfolding relationships to grow. You will be guided in this manual
to develop a "mentoring covenant" with your partner. The covenant spells out the
terms of the mutual relationship and the ongoing prayer which asks Jesus to "stay
with us."
7. "When he was at table with them, he took bread and blessed, and broke it,
and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him."
Around the table Jesus and the mentoring pair became companions. A companion is, literally
someone with whom we share our bread ("con" "panis"= with bread). The
bread we share may be the bread of a meal. It is always the Bread of Life. These mentoring
relationships flow from the sacramental table of the congregation. (Mentors should be
commissioned in the worship service, and these relationships should be remembered in the
public prayers). This program will help keep you connected with your companions around the
table of the worship of the church. In the hospitality of the table, prayer and the
breaking of bread the companions come to new insights about the presence of Jesus:
"Didn't our hearts burn within us?"
8. "And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the
eleven gathered together and those who were with them . . ."
The Emmaus disciples were part of the company of disciples. They returned to Jerusalem to
share what they had learned. They were accountable to the Body of Christ. This program
will spell out ways in which the network of mentoring pairs relate and are accountable to
the overall mission of the congregation.
9. "Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them
in the breaking of the bread."
After their encounter with Jesus the disciples
became witnesses to the resurrection. They told others. One objective of this mentoring
program is to help you grow in your ability to share your faith with someone else and to
be inspired by the spiritual journey of your partner.
Next Page
Written by: Stephen P. Bouman
Copyright © by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 8765
W. Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631. 800/638-3522. Produced by Christian
Education of the Division for Congregational Ministries.
Permission is granted for congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America to reproduce this resource for local use.
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