Chp 215 Notice to Appear

							Dr. Pete Charpentier, DMin
41026 Adams Road
Hammond, LA 70403
jciou@i-55.com


Dear Editor,

I want to thank you for this opportunity to submit a writing sample for your
consideration. Please find below a list of my writing credits to date and a portion of the
first chapter of the leader’s guide for my book proposal entitled Reaching the Next Level:
Partnering with Others for Spiritual Growth. I’m already using this resource in my
pastoral ministry and seeing it’s effectiveness for personal disciple-making. I trust that
you will also find it beneficial.

My writing credits include:
 I’ve had some comments describing our local Church’s outreach philosophy
  published in On Mission: Pastor’s Edition magazine (Winter 2008, page 4).
 A full-page feature developed from my description of one of our Church’s creative
  community outreaches to women who were victims of domestic abuse was published
  in On Mission: Pastor’s Edition magazine (Winter 2008, page 34).
 My doctoral project report (completed in December 2009, 215 pages) entitled
  Mentoring New Believers at Woodland Park Baptist Church, Hammond, LA, in the
  Basics of Spiritual Formation is copyrighted and in the general circulation and
  reference room of the John T. Christian Library of the New Orleans Baptist
  Theological Seminary, New Orleans, LA.
 One of my devotional pieces entitled God Never Says, “Phew!” won an Editor’s
  Choice award in the FaithWriters’ weekly Writing Challenge (February 2010, 680
  words) and is slated for publication in an upcoming edition of the book, The Best of
  FaithWriters.
 I have an AP style article entitled It’s a God-Thing: Evangelism and Education in the
  Ministry of Pastor Chad Grayson (March 2010, 706 words) scheduled to be
  published in a future edition of the Vision magazine, a publication of the New Orleans
  Baptist Theological Seminary.
 I recently had a sermon illustration I submitted to PreachingToday.com entitled The
  Impact of a Life (March 2010, 565 words) which describes the symbolism of one of
  the architectural structures dedicated to Abraham Lincoln accepted for publication on
  their website.
 Another devotional I’ve written entitled That’s All I Need to Know (March 2010, 391
  words) is tentatively scheduled to post to the Christian Devotions’ website
  (www.christiandevotions.us) on July 22, 2010.

The following sample is from the first chapter of the leader’s guide of my book proposal
entitled Partnering and the Spiritual Disciplines. Please use the above information to
contact me with any questions concerning the full manuscript of my book proposal, and
thanks again for your time and consideration.
                               Chapter One: Leader’s Guide

                          Partnering and the Spiritual Disciplines



     Notes to Participants: All of the answers for the blanks in each chapter are
     compatible with the New International Version of the Bible. In other words,
     the Scripture references in bold print which appear in a sentence(s) with
     blanks contain the answers for the blanks. Also, the chapters are divided into
     six days so they can be completed easily in one week. On the seventh day,
     participants should meet together to review the chapter for the week. Lastly,
     the words marked with an asterisk (*) indicate key terms also defined in the
     glossary at the end of each chapter.



                                          Day One

                    Introduction: The Essence of the Christian Life

       Jesus says in John 10:10 that He came to give you life to the full. Of course, the

“full life” that Christ promises isn’t painless nor problem-free. In fact, Jesus also says in

John 16:33 that you will face trouble in the world, but you can take heart because He has

overcome the world.

       Yet, how can you focus on Christ in a world filled with difficulties and

distractions? Simple. You must concentrate on the core of Christianity. Jesus describes

the essence of the Christian life in Matthew 22:35-40 when He says that all of life and

all of God’s commandments are summarized as follows: Love God, and love others.

Basically, Christ teaches that the bottom-line of the Christian life is relationships. You

have a primary relationship with God in Christ, and you have secondary relationships

with others in the name of Christ.

       But you might ask an important question concerning the essence of the Christian

life: What forms the healthy dynamics of my relationship with God and with others? The
answer is found in six essential spiritual disciplines.* Four of these disciplines shape the

dynamics of your relationship with God in Christ, and the remaining two guide your

relationships with others in the name of Christ.


The Four Essential Disciplines of Our Relationship with God

       The Scriptures: The Breath of God. The first essential spiritual discipline of

your relationship with God centers on the Bible. Paul teaches in 2 Timothy 3:16 that all

Scripture is God-breathed. When you take in the truth of God’s Word through study and

biblical meditation,* it’s like you’re “inhaling” God’s spiritual breath. This pure

“oxygen” of God’s revealed truth fills your spiritual lungs and supplies you with the

essential “air” necessary for your walk with Christ. Jesus also teaches how crucial God’s

Word is for your spiritual life in Matthew 4:4 when He says that you don’t live on bread

alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.

       Prayer: The Never-Ending Conversation with God. The second key discipline

of the Christian life is prayer. Every good relationship is built on communication, and

your primary relationship with God is no exception. The Lord “speaks” to you through

His Word, and you speak with Him according to the truth of Scripture through prayer. So

learning God’s Word is like “inhaling,” and prayer is like “exhaling.”

       With these first two disciplines, Scripture and prayer, the cycle of spiritual

“breathing” is completed. And just as breathing must be continual to sustain physical

life, the constant inhaling of the truth of God’s Word and exhaling through prayer is

essential for a healthy spiritual life. Paul makes this point plain when he teaches you in 1

Thessalonians 5:17 to “pray continually.”
       But you must do more than merely pray constantly. You must pray according to

God’s will because this alone is effective praying. John tells you in 1 John 5:14-15 that

you will have what you ask for when you pray according to God’s will because He will

accomplish His will. Of course, you might immediately ask, “How can I pray according

to the Lord’s will?” Simple. Praying in agreement with God’s will is praying in line

with His Word because the Scriptures reveal His will (see 2 Timothy 3:16-17; John

14:23-24).

       Discernment: Distinguishing God’s Voice from Others. The third essential

discipline for your spiritual growth is discernment.* While communication is necessary

for healthy relationships, people must obviously interact beyond just communicating.

Relationships also involve actions. As you “hear” God speak through His Word and

respond to Him through prayer, you’ll learn to discern what God is calling you to do and

take the appropriate steps to obey His voice. Jesus says in John 10:27 that His followers

listen to His voice and follow Him.

       But how can you distinguish between the truth of God’s voice and all of the noisy

lies clamoring in your ears? The Psalmist says in Psalm 119:9 that a pure life is a life

lived according to God’s Word. God’s Word is described in Psalm 119:105 as a lamp to

your feet and a light to your path. Thus, you learn to distinguish God’s voice from others

as you seek to obey the Scripture, and God’s Word is the standard by which the truth

and/or falsehood of every voice is measured.

       Confession: The Ebb and Flow of Spiritual Growth. The fourth core discipline

of the Christian life is confession.* As you seek to obey God’s voice, you’ll inevitably

stumble. In fact, James tells us in James 3:2 that we stumble in many ways. We sin and
stumble when we willfully disobey God’s clear call in Scripture or when we mistake

God’s voice for another lying voice. But the great news is that the crux of the Christian

life is about experiencing God’s forgiveness and forging deeper faithfulness to Him

beyond our failures.

       Although we all stumble, we don’t need to remain mired down in sin. God

desires to restore us, and we can respond to God’s compassionate correction through

confession and learn to carry on. This is why the spiritual discipline of confession is

essential because it keeps the ebb and flow of spiritual growth moving forward. The

writer of Proverbs instructs us in Proverbs 28:13 that anyone who conceals sin will not

prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces it will find mercy.


                                          Day Two

The Two Essential Disciplines of Our Relationships with Others

       Community: Serving Together for the Good of All. The first essential spiritual

discipline of your relationship with others in the name of Christ is community. Every

person is born into a family, and their first relationships are with their family members.

This physical truth has its parallel in the spiritual realm as well. When you were born

again (see John 1:12-13; 3:3), you were born into the family of God and now enjoy

relationships with other Believers in the name of Christ. Paul says in 1 Corinthians

12:13 that you were baptized into Christ’s body, the Church, by the Holy Spirit.

Furthermore, Paul instructs you in Ephesians 3:14-15 that you’re a part of God’s family.

       Again, just as children first learn to interact lovingly with others in their family,

we learn in 1 Corinthians 12:11 that Christians are equipped with spiritual gifts as the

Holy Spirit determines, and Peter calls you in 1 Peter 4:10 to use your Spirit-given gifts
to serve others in the Body of Christ. Therefore, you’re called to love others and to serve

alongside them in the Church so that the Body of Christ might grow to reach its

maximum ministry potential (see John 13:34-35; Ephesians 4:11-13).

       Witness: Shining Christ’s Light for the Glory of God. The second key

discipline of your relationships with others focuses on living as Christ’s witness. All

productive people eventually have a positive influence beyond their family, and this is

true of your spiritual life as well. Jesus calls you in Matthew 5:13-16 to be the salt of the

earth and the light of the world and to let your light shine before others so that they can

see your good works and praise your Father in heaven. In other words, while your

productive interaction with others begins within the Church, your influence extends to the

whole world. Jesus describes His followers in Acts 1:8 as His witnesses who are called

to make an impact both at home and abroad. In fact, Christ commands you in Matthew

28:19 to make disciples of all nations.

       Now you can see how the six essential spiritual disciplines create a perpetual

cycle. As you heard the Good News of salvation in Christ alone through the message of

God’s Word, faith and spiritual life began (see Romans 10:17) as the breath of God filled

your spiritual “lungs”. The spiritual breathing-cycle for you as a new Believer is

completed as you communicate with God through the never-ending conversation of

prayer. And when you hear God speak through the truth of His Word, you take steps of

obedience. Of course, as you follow Christ, you’ll also inevitably stumble and fall. But

through the spiritual discipline of confession, you respond to God’s compassionate

conviction and forge deeper levels of faithfulness as you move through the ebb and flow

of your failures and God’s forgiveness.
       Also, just as no one lives in isolation, you interact with others in productive ways

in the Body of Christ. You learn to serve together with your brothers and sisters in the

Church so that the family of faith can reach its maximum impact potential. But your

influence as Christ’s follower isn’t confined to the Church. You also must let your light

shine as Christ’s ambassador (see 2 Corinthians 5:20) so that others can hear God’s

message of salvation and be born again of the Spirit. Then when others come to know

Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior through the power of God through your witness, the

entire process of spiritual life repeats in these new Believers. In this way, the essence of

the Christian life is perpetuated throughout the nations.

       As implied above, when personal mentors partner with their fellow-Christians to

help them grow in the six essential spiritual disciplines, they play a crucial role for

cultivating spiritual formation* in others. In fact, these spiritual disciplines work best in

the context of partnering relationships as God creates maturity in faith through the

exercises of the spiritual disciplines so that you can be conformed continually into the

image of Christ and help others come to know Him.


                                         Day Three

                           The Nature of Personal Mentoring

       Partnering with others for spiritual growth takes place in personal mentoring*

relationships. And in order for us to understand the importance of personal mentoring in

spiritual formation, we must first define this key idea. Personal mentoring is the

partnering relationship you develop with another Believer for the purpose of cultivating

spiritual growth.
       Now if personal mentoring is crucial for spiritual formation, then you should see

examples of it in the Scripture, and this is exactly what you find when you consider a

biblical basis for mentoring.


Biblical Examples of Mentoring

       Old Testament Examples. Three key passages in the Old Testament provide

examples of mentoring. First, in Genesis 39:4 you discover a mentoring relationship

between Joseph and Potiphar. The nature of their relationship largely centers on

managerial skills as Joseph learned how to manage Potiphar’s household, property, and

assets (see Genesis 39:4-6a). Of course, God used this mentoring relationship in Joseph’s

life to equip him with the skills he would later need as a leader in Egypt during a time of

intense famine (see Genesis 41).

       Second, in Numbers 11:28 you can identify a mentoring relationship between

Joshua and Moses. Through this relationship, Joshua learned the spiritual leadership

skills that he would later use as Moses’ successor to guide the Israelites in their conquest

of the land of Canaan.

       Third, in 1 Kings 19:21 you notice a mentoring relationship between Elisha and

Elijah. This relationship focused largely on imparting to Elisha the ministry skills he

would need as a prophet among God’s people.

       Four important aspects of personal mentoring surface for us from these Old

Testament examples. First, mentoring relationships have different purposes. The

passages above show that mentors can help others grow in managerial skills, leadership

skills, and ministry skills. Of course, these are not the only beneficial goals for
mentoring, but they illustrate the fact that personal mentoring equips others with various

skills for many purposes in life.

           Second, God uses mentoring relationships to prepare His servants for His special

calling on their lives. For instance, just as Joseph learned to manage a single household

before he was largely given the reins of an entire nation, God uses the skills and truths we

learn in mentoring relationships to posture us for effective service as we obey His calling

in our lives.

           Third, mentoring is personal. While this point may seem obvious, we often learn

best by interacting with our mentors and observing their teachings in action. It has been

well-said that people are a lot better at following examples than they are at merely

following instructions, and you can clearly see this is true in light of the dynamics of

personal mentoring relationships.

           Fourth, mentoring for the purpose of spiritual growth signals a special relationship

between you and your partner. In all of the mentoring relationships cited above, a

particular Hebrew word is used to describe these relationships as including a high level of

trust in contrast to involving only the menial tasks of lowly servants.1 In others words,

healthy mentoring relationships focus on mutual respect. Both the mentor and the

mentoree learn from one another because God is the ultimate Teacher in their

relationship, and He calls both to respect one another as they follow Him.

           New Testament Examples. As with the Old Testament, three key passages

provide examples of personal mentoring in the New Testament. First, in Mark 3:13-14

you recognize that a mentoring relationship existed between Jesus and the twelve

Apostles. Second, in Acts 9:27 you see a mentoring relationship develop between
1
    BibleWorks, ver. 6.0 (Norfolk, VA: BibleWorks, 2003).
Barnabas and Saul, and third, in Acts 16:1-5 you learn that Paul and Timothy also

engaged in a personal mentoring relationship.

       In light of these New Testament examples, we discover three additional aspects

about the nature of personal mentoring. First, mentoring is rooted in the heart of God.

The Scriptures include many examples of how God desired to place people into groups in

order for them to work together for His purposes.

       For instance, God created Adam and Eve in a relationship to help one another (see

Genesis 2:20-24). The Lord led Moses to select seventy elders who would help him bear

the burdens of leadership (see Numbers 11:10-17). God instructed Joshua to settle the

people of Israel according to their respective tribes in the land of Canaan (see Joshua

11:23). David and Jonathan supported one another during difficult times (see 1 Samuel

20), and Daniel and his three friends obeyed God together during the Exile (see Daniel

1:3-21).

       Also, Jesus, the Son of God, called twelve disciples to follow Him and to be a part

of His ministry (see Luke 6:12-16). The Apostles called for seven men to help them

serve others when the needs of the Church continued to expand (see Acts 6:1-6). The

Holy Spirit commissioned Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (see Acts

13:1-3), and Paul instructed Timothy to pass his teachings on to other reliable men who

would in turn be able to minister beyond his lifetime (see 2 Timothy 2:1-2).

       Even when God declared His plan to create Adam in His image, He acted within

His nature as the triune Godhead – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (see Genesis

1:26-27). Thus, the biblical principle that God desires to work through us as we partner
with others for common purposes is rooted in the heart of God and is clear throughout the

Scriptures.

       Second, personal mentoring is the most effective way to make a sustained impact

in the world. Even Jesus Christ didn’t work alone during His ministry on earth; rather,

He invested His life in the lives of others so that He could commission them to make

disciples of all nations (see Matthew 28:19-20). Also, Paul called Timothy to pass along

his teachings to others so that his ministry would not die with him but would continue to

have an impact (see 2 Timothy 2:1-2). This is why Jesus commissions us to make

disciples versus mere decisions because decisions are fickle while disciples are fruitful

(see Matthew 13:18-23).

       Third, mentoring involves giving others chances beyond their failures. Jesus’

disciples made many mistakes as He taught and trained them. For instance, the disciples

lacked understanding at critical points in Christ’s teaching (see Matthew 13:36; 15:10-

20); they argued about positions of prominence (see Mark 9:33-37); they lacked faith (see

Matthew 8:23-27); and they responded in fear rather than faith at the initial news of the

resurrection (see John 20:18-29).

       Also, Barnabas gave Saul/Paul an opportunity to grow in his new-found faith in

Christ even though others initially rejected him because of his past reputation as a

persecutor of Christians (see Acts 9:22-27). And Paul himself appears to have changed

his mind about John Mark’s usefulness in the ministry (see 2 Timothy 4:11) although

John Mark had earlier given up during the first missionary journey (see Acts 15:36-40).

       So one truth about partnering with others for spiritual growth is clear: Both

mentors and mentorees will make mistakes. Yet, God uses the support of personal
mentoring relationships to nurture us beyond our failures as we learn from our mistakes

and grow in Christian character.


                                           Day Four

Characteristics of Healthy Mentoring Relationships

        As implied above, Paul followed in the steps of Jesus, the Master-Mentor, as he

worked to obey Christ’s commission to make disciples of all nations. Therefore, we can

learn a lot from Paul concerning the characteristics of healthy mentoring relationships.

When we read how he interacted with new Christians through his missionary ministry,

we see how he exemplified Christ’s character before them in order to teach and train

them. A helpful passage which gives us a glimpse into Paul’s personal mentoring

relationships is 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20. In these verses, we discover six crucial insights

into the characteristics of healthy mentoring relationships.

        Sacrifice (1 Thessalonians 2:1-2). As Paul ministered to the Believers in

Thessalonica, he made personal sacrifices for their spiritual growth. This is a universal

principle for mentoring because mentoring is hard work. It requires sacrifice from

everyone involved in the relationship.

        For example, mentors and mentorees must exercise patience with one another.

Mentors need to encourage new Believers to continue in their Christian journey even

when they stumble repeatedly in the same struggles, and mentorees must be committed to

work diligently in their studies, disciplines, and priorities in order to make progress in

their spiritual formation. Through these and other mutual sacrifices, personal mentoring

relationships flourish in spiritual fruitfulness.
       Sincerity (1 Thessalonians 2:3-6a). Paul never exploited his authority as an

apostle in order to take advantage of his fellow-Believers in Thessalonica. Rather, he

labored with pure motives out of a heart of love for God and for others. Remember: To

love God and to love others is the essence of the Christian life and summarizes all God’s

commands according to Jesus (see Matthew 22:35-40). So Paul sought to serve his new

brothers and sisters in Thessalonica with sincere motives before God.

       Sincerity is crucial for healthy mentoring relationships. If either the mentor or the

mentoree is suspicious of the other’s motives, the relationship is doomed to failure. For

instance, if mentorees think that their mentors are attempting to use their position to

manipulate or overpower them, they will not be open to their instruction and will not

respect their example. On the other hand, if mentors think their mentorees are not being

honest with them when it comes to matters of accountability, they will lose their

enthusiasm to remain committed to the relationship. In light of these examples and many

other possible scenarios, sincere motives are very important for nurturing healthy

partnerships for spiritual growth.

       Gentleness (1 Thesslonians 2:6b-9). Paul didn’t want to be a burden to the

Believers in Thessalonica as he served God among them. Like a mother who

compassionately cares for her children, Paul made every effort to be gentle with the new

Thessalonian Christians. He wanted to share both the Gospel and his very life with them

in order to posture them for sustained spiritual growth.

       In the same way, mentors must work gently with new Christians. They need to

see an imaginary “Handle with Care” label on the foreheads and hearts of their

mentorees. For example, when new Believers share a personal struggle with their
mentors, they are risking vulnerability. They are conveying a deep level of trust by

asking for help and support. Mentors must respond to this tender moment with

gentleness and compassion. While they should never compromise the truth of God’s

Word nor godly convictions in an effort to gloss over sin (for example, see the discussion

below on the characteristic of “firmness”), they must nevertheless find ways to speak the

truth in love with their mentorees (see John 8:1-11; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; Jude 22-23).

Mentors must work to strike a delicate but necessary balance between compassion and

conviction.

       Firmness (1 Thessalonians 2:10-12). The fact that Paul was gentle with his

fellow-Believers in Thessalonica does not mean he wasn’t bold with them as well. Paul

tells us that he issued God’s clear call to these Christians to pursue personal holiness (see

Romans 12:1-2; 1 Peter 1:14-16). In other words, Paul teaches us that mentoring is really

an “art” more than a “science” because it includes moments of reaffirmation and rebuke.

       Of course, we should base all of our interactions with one another on love. Yet,

the writer of Proverbs wisely writes in Proverbs 27:5 that open rebuke is better than

hidden love. We know this is true because we learn in Hebrews 12:5-6 that God

disciplines those He loves. The fact that gentleness and firmness are placed side-by-side

in Paul’s words to the Thessalonians insightfully teaches us that mentors and mentorees

must have balance in their relationships. Through sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s

leadership, we can navigate the dynamics of healthy mentoring relationships in terms of

compassion and correction based on biblical convictions.

       Respect (1 Thessalonians 2:13-16). Paul clearly appreciated the respect that the

Believers in Thessalonica showed to him. The Thessalonian Christians recognized Paul
and his mission team members as men of God who preached not themselves but the

Word of God. Therefore, Paul reveals the deep level of mutual respect which existed

between himself and his audience. They respected him (see 1 Thessalonians 2:13), and

he appreciated their stand for Christ in the face of persecution (see 1 Thessalonians 2:14).

       Mutual respect is also needed in every healthy mentoring relationship. Mentors

should respect mentorees for their willingness to learn, and mentorees should respect

mentors for their commitment to invest time, effort, and energy in their relationships.

When mutual respect exists between a mentor and mentoree, this respect energizes them

with an enthusiasm to endure all of the challenges their relationship will encounter.

       Unending (1 Thessalonians 2:17-20). Paul signals in the final verses of 1

Thessalonians 2 his passion to see his fellow-Believers continue to flourish in their faith

even though he was no longer able to be with them personally. In other words, although

Paul was only with the Church in Thessalonica for a season of time, he desired to visit

them again in order to help them continue to grow spiritually.

       While mentors and mentorees may establish a set period of time for their formal

mentoring relationships, they should also have an understanding that they’re available to

one another beyond this as needs arise. A set period for mentoring relationships is

important because it allows mentors the regular opportunity to invest in new mentorees,

and it encourages mentorees to use what they learn to equip others. Yet, Believers never

stop learning and growing in spiritual formation. Therefore, they always need

opportunities to partner with others for spiritual growth.