Mentors commit themselves to training their team. Read Matthew 17:14-21.

Jesus disciples had been with Him continuously for almost three years observing Him instruct the crowds and heal the sick. As their understanding grew Jesus had given the disciples leadership assignments. At times the disciples were very effective but at other times Jesus assessed their work and held them accountable. John Maxwell’s notes in The Maxwell Leadership Bible give some insight into mentoring when a team falls short of expectations:

Building effective teams takes both action and patience. Read Matthew 16:13-20.

During His public ministry Jesus chose 12 men that would be closest to Him and in whom He would invest tremendous amounts of time in a mentoring process. He was able to able to be with these men 24 hours a day for nearly three years. The Bible chronicles His mentoring relationship and we find there were times when He needed the patience to explain even the simplest illustrations and other times when Jesus challenged His disciples intellectually.

Effective Leaders do all they can to prepare their team for the future. Read Matthew 10:1-42.

Jesus’ public ministry had flourished. Large crowds were coming to hear him speak and many highly qualified individuals desired to become His disciple. Out of His many choices, Jesus chose a team of 12 that He would mentor very closely. Jesus developed these leaders by working closely with them, helping them understand the inner-hidden-deeper-secrets of God-honoring leadership by training them, and by sending them out to do the work of the kingdom. Jesus was very clear that He intended to reproduce His own leadership in them. As part of this preparation, He even prepared them for some of the hardships they would face.

Teams tend to become like their leader – good or bad! Read Malachi 2:1-9.

The leaders, both civil and religious, in Malachi’s day did not live up to the standards set by God for Hebrew leaders. Chapter 2 is full of accusations against their hypocrisy, treachery in the home, violations of temple regulations, marrying people who worshiped foreign gods, divorce, and false teachings. The people followed their example and the entire nation dishonored God. This behavior got God’s attention and in verse 9 God says, “So I have caused you to be despised and humiliated before all the people…”

Leaders must at times use exhortation to help their teammates become the people God designed them to be. Read Haggai 2:10-14.

After 70 years of Babylonian exile, God has allowed a contingent of Jews to return to Jerusalem to inhabit the land and re-construct the temple destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B. C. The construction began with great enthusiasm but had stopped. Through His prophet Haggai, God exhorted the civil and religious authorities to stop continually working on their houses and vineyards and once again begin construction on the temple. Haggai pointed out that, by removing activity that honored God’s first priority, the people had deprived themselves of God’s blessing on the project.