<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“We dealt with each of you as a father deals with his children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God.”<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Paul describes discipleship in warm, relational language. He says he encouraged, comforted, and urged believers like a father with his children.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This shows us that mentoring is not only about giving information. It is about walking with people toward maturity.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A good mentor encourages us when we are tired. They comfort us when we are hurting. They urge us forward when we need courage or correction. They help us live lives worthy of God.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Discipleship is more than believing the right things. It is living like Jesus in everyday life. That includes how we speak, forgive, work, rest, spend money, treat others, face temptation, and respond to suffering.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mentors help us see how faith works in real situations.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sometimes we need someone who has walked with Jesus longer than we have. They may have learned through mistakes, suffering, obedience, prayer, and years of trusting God. Their wisdom can help us avoid foolish paths and grow in love.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Today, ask God to make you teachable. Wisdom often comes through people humble enough to share what they have learned.<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reflection questions:<ol style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What kind of people make good mentors?</li><li aria-level="1" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); list-style-type: decimal; font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Where do I need encouragement, comfort, or guidance right now?</li></ol><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prayer: <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 18pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">God, thank You for people who encourage, comfort, and urge others toward faithful living. Help me become teachable and willing to receive wisdom from those who follow You well. Amen.

Paul describes discipleship in warm, relational language. He says he encouraged, comforted, and urged believers like a father with his children.

3.Faith in Real Life

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3.Faith in Real Life

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