"While They Were Talking and Discussing Together . . ."

Two are on a journey together. They share the news, their grief, the things on their hearts. Jesus joins them on the way. This mentoring program is about these journeys of the spirit. Its purpose is to bring two people together to grow in their spiritual lives and thereby encounter Jesus, who has promised to be present "wherever two or three gather in my name. . ."

See in the story of the Journey to Emmaus a detailed picture of a mentoring encounter.

1. "While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them."

This mentoring program places the activity of the church out of the world. Jesus fell in step with the disciples. He entered their world. A feature of this mentoring program will be to facilitate one- to-one relationships between church members and those who do not have a church home but 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."

Because the heart of the Gospel and the congregation is relationship we must continually encounter one another. We are always changing, growing, becoming. 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 mentoring pairs 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. Growth in knowledge and understanding of God's Word will be an important part of these mentoring pairs.

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."

Jesus was invited to spend time with the disciples. Their hospitality to one another and Jesus was an important place for their unfolding relationships to grow. This mentoring program enfolds the hospitality of these invitations in a "mentoring covenant" which 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 manual will offer some ideas for such recognition and relationship to the liturgy 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 Christians grow in their ability to speak their faith with someone else and to help others to witness to the Gospel. An continued goal of this program is that some mentors will gain the skills to be able to facilitate small groups and serve as consultants for other mentoring pairs.

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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.