The Ultimate Mentor, by Randall Schupbach
The Ultimate Mentor
A Companion Bible Study for Mondays With Mark
Dig Deeper - Prepared by Randall Schupbach
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the gift of Your Word and the guidance You provide for our lives. As we study today, open our hearts to understand the role of influence in our lives. Help us recognize who shapes our thoughts, values, and decisions.
Most importantly, teach us to listen to the voice of Your Holy Spirit—the Advocate You have given to guide, correct, and strengthen us. May we grow into the people You intended us to be.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The Age of Influence
Modern culture is saturated with voices competing for our attention. Social media platforms have amplified what the world now calls “influencers.” These individuals may shape opinions, consumer habits, and even political views for millions of people.
Yet influence without relationship can be shallow.
This week’s teaching explores three forms of influence:
• Influencers – voices that broadcast opinions
• Coaches – people who develop skills and performance
• Mentors – individuals who invest deeply in personal growth
The Bible ultimately points believers to a greater source of guidance—the Holy Spirit, God’s presence within believers.
Influencers: Voices Without Relationship
An influencer communicates ideas to large audiences, often through media platforms. Their impact may be broad, but it is typically one-directional.
The Bible repeatedly warns believers about the voices they follow.
KJV: “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” NIV: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” Hebrew Insight:
The Hebrew word for “walk” is ךְלַ הָ) halak).
It means to live, conduct one’s life, or journey alongside.
The verse implies something profound:
Who you walk with shapes who you become.
Influencers often shape thinking without knowing the individuals they influence. ⬛ Pause & Reflect
• Whose voices influence your thinking the most?
• Are those voices rooted in wisdom or popularity?
• How much time do you spend listening to cultural voices compared to God’s Word?
Coaches: Guidance Toward Performance
Coaches are different from influencers. They train, teach, and guide toward specific outcomes. Whether in sports, academics, music, or business, coaches help develop skills.
Scripture acknowledges the value of training and discipline.
KJV: “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness.”
NIV: “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness.”
Greek Insight: The word “discipline” relates to the Greek root παιδεία (paideia). It refers to training, instruction, and character formation.
Coaches often guide performance—but their influence may still be limited to specific areas of life.
⬛ Pause & Reflect
• Who has coached you in important areas of your life?
• What lessons shaped your discipline or character?
• How did those lessons prepare you for future challenges?
Mentors: Relationship That Shapes Character
Mentorship is deeper than influence or coaching. A mentor walks alongside another person for long-term development.
Mentors focus not merely on achievement, but on character.
The Bible provides a strong example in the relationship between Paul and Timothy. 2 Timothy 2:2
KJV: “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men.”
NIV: “And the things you have heard me say… entrust to reliable people.” Mentorship multiplies wisdom through relationship.
Hebrew Insight: Wisdom - The Hebrew word מהָ כְ חָ) chokmah) means skillful wisdom for living. Biblical wisdom is not merely knowledge—it is the ability to apply truth in daily life. Mentors pass down this kind of wisdom through experience.
⬛ Pause & Reflect
• Have you had a mentor who shaped your life?
• What values did they instill in you?
• Have you ever thanked them for their investment in you?
The Holy Spirit: The Perfect Spiritual Mentor
The teaching concludes by pointing believers to the ultimate mentor: the Holy Spirit. When a person places faith in Jesus Christ, God gives them His Spirit as a guide and helper. Jesus explained this promise to His disciples.
KJV
“If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth.”
NIV
“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth.”
Greek Insight: Comforter / Advocate - The word translated Comforter (KJV) or Advocate (NIV) is the Greek word:
παράκλητος (paraklētos)
It means:
• helper
• counselor
• advocate
• one called alongside
This word describes someone who walks beside you, teaches you, and supports you.
Unlike influencers or even human mentors, the Holy Spirit offers constant presence and perfect wisdom.
How the Holy Spirit Mentors Believers
Scripture describes several ways the Spirit guides believers:
1. Teaching Truth
John 14:26
KJV: “He shall teach you all things.”
NIV: “He will teach you all things.”
2. Guiding Decisions
Romans 8:14
KJV: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.”
NIV: “Those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”
3. Correcting and Convicting
KJV: “He will reprove the world of sin.”
NIV: “He will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin.”
⬛ Pause & Reflect
• Do you regularly seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in your decisions?
• Are you sensitive to His conviction when you drift from truth?
• How can you become more attentive to His leading this week?
Living With the Spirit as Your Mentor
Unlike human mentors who may guide only a season of life, the Holy Spirit remains with believers forever.
He teaches through:
• Scripture
• Prayer
• conviction
• wisdom
• spiritual insight
The more believers listen, the clearer His guidance becomes.
KJV: “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
NIV: “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”
The phrase “walk in the Spirit” reflects the same biblical concept of halak—living daily life guided by God
Final Reflection
The world offers many voices:
• influencers who shape opinions
• coaches who develop skills
• mentors who shape character
But believers have access to the greatest guide of all.
The Holy Spirit—the Spirit of truth.
The question is not whether He is present.
The question is whether we are listening.
Closing Prayer
Lord,
Thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen Your people. Forgive us for the times we listen more closely to the voices of culture than to Your voice.
Teach us to seek Your Spirit daily. Help us recognize His guidance through Scripture, prayer, and conviction.
Shape our character, direct our decisions, and help us grow into the people You designed us to be. May we walk closely with You and reflect Christ in all we do.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
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Sources
Mondays With Mark Devotional Video Series
Transcript: “Influencers, Coaches, Mentors, and the Holy Spirit” Holy Bible
King James Version (KJV)
New International Version (NIV)
Lexical Resources
• Strong’s Concordance
• Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon
• Bauer-Danker Greek Lexicon (BDAG)
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