Mentoring paradigms reprise I (23/1/26)

 Paradigm 1

The substructure of life is "who we are, what we do when no one sees". It involves "a life of worship, lived before God in fear of him and held together by humility and perseverance." We are to be "firmly anchored in God through the practice of the spiritual disciplines. It is "the work of a lifetime."

 

The structures of life are areas we need to guard in our personal life. "Time with family...kindred-spirit friends...in the community of God's people." It also involves sleep, diet and exercise. 

 

The superstructure represents the outward accomplisments of our life and ministry. It is built by competence and skill...by working excellently as unto the Lord, in obedience and faithfulness." 

 

Read 1 Samuel 13:1-14. What substructures and structures were lacking in Saul's life? What effect did this have on the superstructure of his life?

He disobeyed God's law (either the commandment of Samuel (13:8, cf. 10:9) of the Mosaic law (Num 18:7). He preferred to listen to people and his own preferences.

He made excuses (13:11-12): 

• "I saw that the pople we scattering from me" - I was losing public support/favour
• "you did not come within the days appointed" - it's your fault for putting me in this position
• "the Philistines had mustered..will come against me" - opposition is coming
• "I have not sought the favour of the Lord" - I know how important God is
• "I forced myself" - I was in a tough position but I made this call 

He had no knowledge of what would really please God and earn him favour. 

- while acknowledging God, he thought that external ritual would assure him of favour.

He was dependent on external factors: support and opposition

In the end, he chose disobedience for pragmatic reasons

He blamed others for not helping him/making it difficult to be obedient.

 

Saul was king of Israel (13:1). He lost his kingdom (13:14). In 15:23 he loses his kingship. He lost the very things he tried to preserve.

 

Paradigm 3

Status refers to the titles we have and the positions we hold.

Stature comprises 2 aspects: our credibility (how others view us) and our confidence (how we view ourselves). Romans 12:3 tells us to avoid overconfidence as well as false humility.

Substance is how God views us. We are to "cultivate an emotional stability, restedness, security and humility which enable us to handle crises, criticisms and compliments well" It results in true inner security. This leads to Authenticity in our worship, Brokenness in our walk and Courage in our work.

 

Was Paul's leadership based on status, stature or substance? How so? (Phil 3:4-14) 

 Paul held no official positions -  he was a Pharisee, a Roman citizen, an apostle. 

He had stature: by race, pedigree, upbringing, association and image, personal moral purity, zeal for the truth, he had every advanage. He had personal confidence (3:4)

 

He had substance- he knew Christ as Lord (3:8), he gained Christ (3:8) and was found in Him (3:9) and had righteousness in Him (3:9). Christ had made Paul His own (3:12) and God had called him upward in Christ (3:14)

 

All his stature was 'loss' compared to knowing Jesus

Indeed, he had suffered all being lost for Jesus' sake and counted as rubbish to gain Christ.

He had righteousness through faith, not through the law.

He had Christ, Christ's power and Christ's sufferings as well as Christ's death.

As such he did all he could to experience Christ's resurrection

 

He was an imperfect work in progress. He pressed on to perfection because of Christ's posession of him