Edward L. Smither > Quotes

“emerging leaders learn through “imitation modeling” and that ministry skills are acquired in large part through observation.”
― Edward L. Smither, AUGUSTINE as MENTOR: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders

“Milavec, describing Jesus' commitment to knowing the Scriptures, writes, “Employing the time-honored methods of his day, Jesus was the master who sensitively immersed himself in God's Torah with his disciples.”
― Edward L. Smither, AUGUSTINE as MENTOR: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders

“7. Releasing to Ministry Releasing a leader logically flowed from the previous stage of increased involvement and responsibility in ministry.”
― Edward L. Smither, AUGUSTINE as MENTOR: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders

“the mentor left a legacy.”
― Edward L. Smither, AUGUSTINE as MENTOR: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders

“8. Resourcing Leaders Though the disciples were released with authority and responsibility, a mentor could still be available as a resource or consultant, providing encouragement and perhaps practical advice.”
― Edward L. Smither, AUGUSTINE as MENTOR: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders

“In summary, mentoring in the context of a group, as demonstrated by Jesus and Paul, is most effective because it meets the inherent relational needs of the disciple.”
― Edward L. Smither, AUGUSTINE as MENTOR: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders

“missions was not the work of a specialized group; rather, it was the responsibility of every Christian.”
― Edward L Smither, Mission in the Early Church: Themes and Reflections

“3. Selection In each mentoring context surveyed, there was a definite point of selection in which the mentor called a disciple or group of disciples to join him in spiritual growth and serving the community.”
― Edward L. Smither, AUGUSTINE as MENTOR: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders

“The whole church considered itself to be involved in mission and to have a missionary duty, and every believer was a witness, felt called to the work of evangelization, even so far as the supreme witness of bloody martyrdom that was always on the horizon.”
― Edward L Smither, Mission in the Early Church: Themes and Reflections

“Jesus insisted that the apostles uphold sound teaching.”
― Edward L. Smither, AUGUSTINE as MENTOR: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders

“In summary, the Mentor effectively mentored His disciples at this stage through modeling ministry, involving the disciples in ministry, and debriefing successes and failures in preparation for future ministry.”
― Edward L. Smither, AUGUSTINE as MENTOR: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders

“6. Modeling and Involving in Ministry A mentor was not only a growing disciple and a winsome model for imitation; he also demonstrated faithfulness and skill in the work of ministry.”
― Edward L. Smither, AUGUSTINE as MENTOR: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders

“1. The Group The first apparent reality of mentoring spiritual leaders in early Christianity is that mentoring happened in the context of a group.”
― Edward L. Smither, AUGUSTINE as MENTOR: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders

“5. Sound Teaching As teaching that conformed to the words of Jesus, a mentor drew from the Hebrew Scriptures, the teachings of Jesus, and the early writings that circulated throughout the churches that were later confirmed as Scripture.”
― Edward L. Smither, AUGUSTINE as MENTOR: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders

“4. The Mentor-Disciple Relationship The mentor invited a disciple or group of disciples into a caring personal relationship characterized by both discipline and grace.”
― Edward L. Smither, AUGUSTINE as MENTOR: A Model for Preparing Spiritual Leaders