What is J-Mentors?

What would we simply know about the history, politics, economics and religious currents in the first-century? All of that and more would be in the back of our minds when Jesus walked into town. 

In  that context, the things Jesus said and did were always explosive. He was far more radical than we often realize today. 

What might our own reaction be to Jesus, if we had lived in that day? How can we put ourselves into the Gospel story, in order to hear His voice afresh today? 

J-Mentors draws on the latest research in history, culture and archaeology to recreate the narrative scenarios of key events in the life of Jesus in his first-century context. Why? In order to: 

• Better contemplate Him for our own spiritual formation. 
• More holistically reflect what He might say and do through us in our own contexts today. 

J-Mentors explores how Jesus-in-His-Context shapes our relationship with Jesus-in-My-Context today. But how?

Research shows that teaching alone accomplishes 22% change in people’s behavior – at best. But the very same content coupled with coach-mentoring brings up to 88% life-transformation. Mentoring is FOUR TIMES more effective than teaching alone! 

Thousands of people ate miraculous bread at Jesus’ Power Seminars. But a Power Seminar for the Many—taught by Christ Himself!—was not enough. 

Jesus did not entrust the founding of the Church to the Many, but to the Few whom He called, mentored and empowered by the Spirit. Through those Few He turned the world upside-down.

One of the weaknesses of many spiritual formation tools is the hidden assumption that the Jesus of our imagination is Jesus as He truly is. We fail to realize that we easily project our contemporary priorities and paradigms onto Jesus, and thus domesticate Jesus by seeing him through the lenses of our modern lives.

But the chronological, geographical and cultural distance between first-century Galilee and our lives today is enormous. 

J-Mentors draws on the latest research in Jesus Studies (history, politics, economics, sociology, archaeology, etc) in an attempt to recreate - as nearly as possible given the limits of our current knowledge - the major episodes in Jesus' life. 

If we don't take an approach like this, we will - by default - impose our own contemporary contexts on Jesus, and once again domesticate Him to suit our own preferences and assumptions.

We do this to try to put ourselves into the Jesus story, even though our understanding is limited. We try to enter major episodes in the life of Jesus - as if we were first-century Jews. We "soak" ourselves in the Gospel stories in order to "watch" what Jesus does and "hear" what Jesus says .

After immersing ourselves in the biblical story, we contemplate Jesus Himself, prayerfully asking Him -- the Eternal One become fully Human -- who simultaneously inhabits Past, Present and Future -- to speak to us through His Word today. 

What is Jesus in HIs first-century context saying to us in our own contexts today?

How does Jesus -- who challenged ancient Jews and Gentiles to the core -- challenge contemporary issues in our own society and in our own personal lives today?

Then we share our insights in a safe environment -- in small group settings -- to safeguard each other from error, and to humbly, prayerfully support each other in our next steps of obedient faith.  

God sovereignly places each of us as lights for Him in our own spheres of influence: family, friends, school, workplace, church, society, etc.

As we seek to shine brightly for Jesus, we need other believers to share our burdens, to encourage and support us in prayer, and to enrich and deepen each other with the contribution of our own unique spiritual gifts and talents. 

One of the best places for this to happen is in a small group, especially a group focused on loving and serving Jesus Himself. 

So we prayerfully seek out others who yearn for deeper intimacy with Jesus, inviting them to discover Jesus along with us, either by joining an existing group, or by starting a new group.

And so the adventure of knowing Jesus' transformational presence continues from first-century Palestine around the world today.