This document provides a lesson plan for teaching students about the importance of finding a mentor. It begins by having students reflect on areas in their life where they could use guidance. It then discusses biblical examples of mentoring relationships, particularly between Ruth and Naomi, noting that an effective mentor builds relationships, accepts their mentee, and provides godly advice and companionship. Students are encouraged to think about the qualities they want in a mentor and potential women they could ask. The lesson aims to help students realize their need for a mentor and understand how mentoring relationships can make a difference in their lives.

1. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR
LESSON 1
BY
NICOLE MILLER

2. Lesson Plan #1
Mentoring with a Mission-Why should I find a mentor and what difference can she
make?
Lesson’s Big idea/objective: As a result of this class session, students will:
Realize their need for a mentor
Understand what mentoring is, based on biblical examples.
Be able to seek out a mentor who has the same mindset and expectations of a
mentoring relationship.
Quadrant 1: Connecting with the Learning and helping them to Attend to the Meaning,
Establishing Why: approximately 5-10 minutes
Give each student a piece of paper and ask them to write out the answers to these
questions:
1. Take a moment and think about your life, are there any big questions or issues
you are wondering about or struggling with? What are they? Do you have life
figured out? Who do you talk to about these issues?
2. What does your personal relationship with Christ look like? Are there any areas
you really want to grow in your walk?
3. Is there anyone outside of your family that you talk to about these things? What
would it look like to be able to weekly share life with someone who has been
there?
4. If you had a relationship like this, what would it look like? What type of woman
would you like to meet with? What character qualities would you like her to
have?
What were your answers to these questions? Most likely you came to the conclusion that
having someone else in your life to talk to and grow with would be beneficial. The
question you may have now is what does this look like? How do you find a mentor?
Quadrant 2: 15-20 min
Share my story briefly
What is mentoring:
“Each of us fervently wants someone to see us exactly as we are, warts and all, and still
accept us.” -Understanding People p 112
“Some people call it self-esteem. Others say self-worth. Whatever it is—it is the feeling
of significance deep inside us that is crucial to our emotional, spiritual, and social
stability. Everyone wants to be happy and successful, and to regard himself or herself as a
worthwhile human being. What’s so bad about that?”
-The Search For Significance student edition p. 5

3. An effective discipleship group is Christ-centered and lifts high the word of God. Its
leader knows Christ personally and lives up to the responsibility she is given with God’s
help. She builds relationships among the girls that go the distance, bonds that last a
lifetime. Growing Godly Women p. 55
The word “disciple” is very important biblically. Although the term “Christian” is most
often used in our current age to describe one who professes allegiance to Christ, it is used
only three times in the Bible and is never defined within it. In fact, every occurrence is a
reference to what those outside the church called those who follow Jesus. On the other
hand, “disciple” is used nearly 300 times. As the term of choice of Jesus and those who
were committed to him, it is quite will defined, as we will soon see”
The Greek text in Matthew 28:19 literally says, “going, therefore, disciple (a verb) all the
nations.” The rest of the verse makes it clear that “teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you” is a part of the discipling process. Thus, a “discipling”
relationship is one in which a disciple helps another person to become more obedience to
Jesus in attitude, life-style and mission.
Discipling p. 14
“Spiritual formation, education of the heart, in other words, requires something more than
traditional Western forms of instruction. It requires a mentorship of the heart, a
relationship with a teacher of life who is able to convey . . . a way of life that is formed,
not merely instructions that are given. It requires a life shared by people who have
learned that spiritual music is sung in its own way. To educate the heart requires learning
that frees the imagination, prepares ears to listen, focuses eyes to look with attentiveness;
it requires an open heart.” (Reese & Anderson, Spiritual Mentoring, p. 17)
Let’s Highlight the most important parts of these statements
-involves focusing on Christ
-building obedience toward Christ
-spending time with others/building relationships
-acceptance of each other where you are
Ruth and Naomi
Take some time and jot down 5-10 characteristics you would want someone who mentors
you to have. If someone pops into your mind and fits the bill for this write out their name.
Often times when we think of a mentor we think of someone who is seemingly perfect
and has it all together. I’m going to give you a brief portrait from Scripture of what a real
life mentor can look like.
Someone read Ruth 1:1-5 What are some highlights of Ruth’s live that you noticed in this
passage?

4. Naomi was a foreigner in a foreign land who had lost both her sons and her husband. This
is a woman who had experience. I’m sure she felt disillusionment, heartbreak and we
know she felt bitter. But something about her life, the way she lived it and walked
through these trials expressed who God is.
Read Ruth 1:8-14
What are some highlights of this passage the indicate the preciousness of the relationship
between Naomi and Ruth. Note both Ruth and Naomi’s responses.
We see that both of Naomi’s Daughters-in-law wept at the thought of leaving her,
something about the proximity of this relationship, the closeness the felt with one another
made these women extremely sad to want to leave. We see that though Naomi urged her
to go Ruth refused and exclaimed that Naomi’s God and her people were now her own as
well. Again, something about who Naomi was, how she related to her daughters-in-law
and lived out her trials made Ruth want to stay with her and identify herself with the
Naomi’s God and people.
Read Ruth 1:19-22
What do you note about Naomi in this passage? What characteristics would you assign
her?
Naomi was not perfect, this is good news because no woman is, and no mentor will be.
She had been broken and disappointed. She described herself as bitter. Yet something
about her life and her God called to Ruth. At the end of the day it wasn’t just about Ruth
it was about her God and her steadfast relationship with Him. It was about her
willingness to stay in relationship with Ruth, albeit a reluctant willingness.
Read 2:1-3:18
It was about Naomi’s willingness to
-See Ruth as her daughter and treat her like family
-give her godly advice and walk beside her through life
Because of the willingness of both women Ruth and Naomi became part of Davids
lineage which then became part of Christ’s.
This is the story of
1 woman seeking relationship
1 woman connected to God

5. And
2 women committed to walk together through life.
Take a moment and pray. Are you a woman who is seeking a deeper relationship with
God and perhaps could use a relationship with a mentor?
Let’s take some time to work through the process of seeking and asking a mentor.
Quadrant 3:
5-10 min
Have girls pair up or team up and dream about mentoring relationships.
What do you want in a mentor?
What would your expectations be of this person?
What would your expectations be for yourself?
Who will you ask?
How will you ask?
What will you do if she says no? Do you have someone else in mind?
Pray for one another about this possibility. Pray that God would bring to mind a lady and
that He would prepare her heart now. Pray that you would be able connect with her and
that God would lead you in this relationship.
Quadrant 4:
5 min
1. How might this idea of mentoring affect your ability to navigate through life?
2. How can you help other’s to become mentors (finding someone to be your
own, or mentoring the younger generation?)
3. Summarize why mentoring is important and what place it can have in your
life? What would it look like in your life and what difference would it make?