"How can I become a mentor to disciple new Christians, when I don't know what to do in my meetings?"
Here's a simple and memorable outline for a mentoring meeting that can be used when mentoring new disciples. This structure will help keep things focused but flexible, allowing for meaningful conversation and spiritual growth.
The "GROW" Mentoring Meeting Outline
1. G - God’s Word
Focus: Scripture Reading & Reflection
Start by discussing what they’ve been reading in the Bible. Ask:
“What part of your Bible reading stood out to you this week?”
“Was there anything confusing or challenging?”
“What did Jesus teach you?”
This keeps the conversation grounded in Scripture and helps them see how God’s Word is shaping their life. Use tools like the NewStart Journal to guide them through key passages.
2. R - Relationships
Focus: Accountability & Life Updates
Talk about how their relationship with God and others is going. Ask about personal challenges, spiritual struggles, or areas of growth. Use questions like:
“How are things going with your family, friends, or coworkers?”
“Have you experienced any spiritual battles this week?”
To go deeper: “Which relationships are your biggest struggle right now?”
This gives you insight into their daily life and offers a chance to provide support and biblical guidance. Relationships are often where disciples need the most growth.
3. O - Obedience
Focus: Living Out the Faith
Talk about specific areas of obedience. Ask:
“What’s one command of Jesus you’re working on obeying right now?”
“What’s hard about that?”
“Last week, we talked about ____. How is that going?”
4. W - What’s Next
Focus: Next Steps & Prayer
End by discussing action steps for the coming week. Ask:
“What’s your next step in following Jesus?”
“What brought you joy this week in the Bible?”
“How can I pray for you this week?”
If they’re not sure, you can sometimes make suggestions on actions they might take. Then, take time to pray together, lifting up specific needs and asking God to help them grow in their faith.
This format keeps things simple and focused!
How to end the Mentoring Meeting:
Communicate your love and joy in them.
Close out by expressing your belief in them, and how much you’re proud of their progress. Most people don’t get enough affirmation in their lives. It’s like oxygen for the soul!
It’s also biblical to actively speak your encouragement:
3 John 1:4 – "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth."
Philippians 1:3-5 – "I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now."
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 – "We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 – "For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy."
2 Corinthians 7:4 – "I have great confidence in you; I take great pride in you. I am greatly encouraged; in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds."
Philemon 1:4-7 – "I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people."
Romans 1:8 – "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world."
Pray together.
Modeling calling on God in a Spirit-led, Scripture-fed way is valuable. Besides that, there is real value in hearing you call on them to pray.
But also, let them pray for you. Sometimes, the deepest blessings I have received is to hear a young Christian ask God to bless and help me… and then being able to report to them that their prayer was answered!
Tools You can Use for Your Mentoring Meetings:
The NewStart Tools You Might want Access To:
NewStart Discipleship Journal: 50-day Bible reading plan with videos and reflection prompts.
Obedience Challenge: 90-day focus on obeying Jesus’ commands with daily prompts and videos.
Baptism Challenge: 21-day study on the meaning and importance of baptism.
Moving From Me to We: 40-day study on connecting with the church community.
Defending Your Faith: A module focused on helping new believers handle doubts.
Gospel Challenge: A guide to help new disciples start mentoring others.
The Habits Masterclass: A 6 session workshop on developing new habits.
Family Devotions Notebook: Helping families catechize and disciple their kids.
By using these tools and following the GROW method, you’ll be able to guide your disciple confidently as they take their first steps in following Jesus. Your role as a mentor is vital, and the journey you’re taking together will have an eternal impact!
Want this outline in a printable format you can print and use right away? Here it is in a free PDF!
Next Steps for Your Mentoring Journey:
Pray for your disciple every day. You can’t do this without God’s help!
Contact regularly. It doesn’t have to be digital stalking, but I’d recommend just a quick text a couple times between meetings to let them know you’re praying for them.
Meet consistently. Whether weekly or bi-weekly, regular meetings are key to their growth.
Use the tools. Follow the flow of the NewStart Discipleship Journal and Obedience Challenge to keep them on track.
Encourage them to obey. Jesus calls us to not just know the truth but to live it out.
More Resources about mentoring success with new disciples:
FAQ: Mentoring New Disciples With NewStart Discipleship
10 Discipleship Questions to help you mentor your new Christians
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