“Practice makes perfect” was a common expression when growing up. Regardless of the application to academics or sports, the idea expresses the need to do it over and over again, until the art was just right.

The level of perfection may be subjective to each individual. However, the need for practice must be a part of our growth and development as leaders.

Olympic athletes are groomed from a very young age. The drills, routines, or exercises are perfected through hours of practice every day. Their life is dedicated for one purpose, performing for those few minutes without giving way to pressure.

Doing, action, application, and preparation are all terms associated with practice. No longer are we talking about theory, but method. Here is where the rubber meets the road and where the details are worked out for implementation.

Certain qualities of a leader may actually be inherent, but one thing is for sure, developing the ability to lead is a continual work-in-progress.

We need to be focused, dedicated, diligent, and steadfast to the one purpose that God has called us for, and lead others in that cause.

Religious and secular articles, books, and posts abound in the field of excellence. Sadly, we live in a time where too many seek to do as little as possible and it has influenced Christians.

Whatever happened to the mindset of excellence, the desire to go above and beyond, to do something well because it is the right thing to do?

Maybe it’s the current culture, the next generation, but why?

Why is it allowed?

Why is it easier to go with the flow?

Why are we comfortable with the status quo?

The church is the bride of Christ and the opportunity to share in this glorious union is the greatest of privileges. To understand God’s grace is to pursue excellence.

We are too comfortable with sitting in the pew week after week hearing sermon after sermon only to make no changes from the week before.

It is time leaders set a better example, to live consistent with their expectations of others, and to motivate followers by working beside them in the trenches instead of lording over them.

Anything worth doing is worth doing right and anything worth doing right is worthy of excellence.

A number of significant words are associated with dependence, the primary of which is reliant. Spiritual leaders understand the need to rely upon God. They are dependent upon His guidance, direction, strength, and provisions to lead others.

Spiritual leaders are also aware of the fact that followers are also dependent upon them to provide the same.

Guidance involves advice and instruction for the conduct and behavior of living.

Direction shows the way, primarily the way to an eternal destination.

Strength is needed to get up and keep moving in the right direction connected to the goal.

Provisions are given to continue the journey, even when all else seems to have failed.

These four areas are all directly related to the dependence that is associated with our relationship with God and those who fill the role of leading God’s people.

The role is never taken lightly. It is critical to building of a solid foundation that supplies all of us the basic components to our growth in relationship with God.

The mentoring relationship is a mutual relationship designed to establish and achieve specific well-defined goals.

These goals are connected to developing the ability to know, think, and perform.

The ultimate purpose and design of mentoring is to create a relationship that nurtures learning. One of the key components required to achieve this is responsibility.

When mentored, a learner takes responsibility for the priorities, learning, and resources to achieve a capacity for self-direction. The idea expresses moving “from dependence to independence to interdependence” (3).

A number of elements essential for a learning-centered mentoring program include: reciprocity, learning, relationship, partnership, collaboration, mutually defined goals, and development.

The design is to promote stronger relationships that motivate, inspire, and contribute to development and growth. This relationship is collaborative and channeled to achieve a support system of success. The mutuality in mentoring increases the viability of the desired purpose in the relationship.

For more information on developing mentoring relationships, read Lois Zachary’s book The Mentor’s Guide, Facilitating Effective Learning Relationships.

“Inside Chipotle,” a documentary in 2013, highlighted a very important area regarding leadership. Managers in the company are promoted on the bases of how they develop leaders among their employees.

The concept of leaders developing leaders is a highly known principle in most all leadership models. John Maxwell states, “To grow, lead followers. To multiply, lead leaders.” This is why the need for mentors is an important part of this week’s posts.

How amazing would it be for spiritual leaders to consider the benefit to them when involved in developing other leaders?

Instead of being consumed with the fear of being out-performed, shown-up, or otherwise replaced, imagine the development of a company where leaders were constantly grooming others to lead.

Imagine the growth that would occur within the church.

Biblically, this principle is emphasized in several places. Jesus demonstrated this in developing the apostles for the task of evangelizing the world.

Paul instructs older men to set an example of a godly life and for older women to teach younger women matters of the home.

We influence others everyday. Let us mentor them to lead.

Information about mentoring is unlimited and various approaches indicate there are options available for consideration.

I intend to explore several areas related to the concept of mentoring and how Christians can use mentoring to achieve the second half of the Great Commission: “…teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

Mentoring involves an experienced and trusted advisor who trains and counsels someone else. The mentoring relationship may extend from a few days to a few years depending on the nature and purpose of the relationship.

As a spiritual influence in the lives of others, we all want to pursue ways we can mentor someone in developing a mature faith.

The approach to mentoring we will examine in the days ahead is based on ways Jesus mentored the disciples.

As we explore these areas, please examine ways to get involved in mentoring others, but also seek out someone who can be a mentor.

Before we begin to dig deeper, pray about someone who can be a mentor and pray for someone you can mentor.