Joy In Mentoring

Series: On The Way to Joy: A Study in Philippians

John Maxwell - There is no success without a successor.

1. What If Paul Wasn't A Mentor?

Christianity could have become a historic footnote.

Once upon a time where was a carpenter who came back from death
The proof is very convincing that He did
But that was a long time ago and hasn't really changed anything.

Instead of today's story:

Christianity starting hospitals
Nations founded on Christian principles
Women and children no longer treated as possessions

Ultimately, God is in charge of the continuation of the Church

It is Christ who builds the church
It's a miracle that it still exists with all the mistakes we've made

But an important way Jesus has made sure that the church continues is by causing people like Paul to become mentors to the next generation.

2. Paul Could Have Chosen Not To Be A Mentor

When you're good at a job, you know that its faster to do it alone than to do it with a student.

Example with my daughter when she was little.

Faster to get it done myself
When she'd help, we'd end up playing around the chore
I'd finish it myself later

A. Burned with John Mark

Story:

First missionary Journey
Persecution started in Pamphylia
John Mark bugged out and headed home
Second Missionary Journey
- Barnabas wanted to take him again
- Paul refused

Acts 15:39-40 They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

B. Second Chance with Timothy

During first missionary Journey they went to a town called Lystra

People there thought that they were gods in human form

When the crowd saw what Paul had done, they shouted in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in human form!" (Acts 14:11)

Acts 16 - Second Missionary Journey

He picks up Timothy
Took a second chance

We don't know a lot about Timothy's background before this, but we can put a few pieces together.

Probably Jewish on his mother's side
- 2 Tim 1:5 I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.
Father was probably not Jewish
Timothy wasn't circumcised
He didn't live in a heavily Jewish city
From the use of Roman military and athletic language Paul uses to write to Timothy, many think that his father was a Roman solider.

Why would Paul take a chance on a kid like Timothy?

Because Paul knew that his job wasn't done until not only the faith, but the ability to teach and lead in the faith, were passed to the next generation.

3. Analogy of a Relay Race

Each runner must hand off the baton to the next runner within a certain zone, usually marked by triangles on the track. In sprint relays, runners typically use a "blind handoff", where the second runner stands on a spot predetermined in practice and starts running when the first runner hits a visual mark on the track (usually a smaller triangle). The second runner opens his/her hand behind her after a few strides, by which time the first runner should be caught up and able to hand off the baton. Usually a runner will give an auditory signal, such as "Stick!" repeated several times, for the recipient of the baton to put out his hand. In middle-distance relays or longer, runners begin by jogging while looking back at the incoming runner and holding out a hand for the baton.

When a runner is finishing a leg and is preparing to hand off the baton to the next runner, the passing of the baton takes place in the exchange zone.

This zone is marked off on the track, and is the only place where the baton can pass from one runner to the next. If the baton is handed off outside of this area, the team is disqualified. This is usually not a problem in most longer races, but in the shorter races where the speed is greater, this becomes a delicate issue. When the exchange of the baton is practiced frequently, the exchage goes smothly, and the team can continue without hesitation. It is when this exchange is not practiced, where teams will face the most difficulty.

It doesn't matter how good of a leg you run

What makes or breaks a relay team is what happens in the exchange zone.
Match Speeds
Hand baton to the next runner
Watch as they go on to run a part of the race you'll never compete in.

4. How To Be A Mentor

In a relay race, the exchange zone is only 20 meters (21.87 yards) long.

If the baton is not passed within the zone, the relay team is disqualified.

In life, the exchange zone can last years.

1. Match Speed

- Don't put on a false stride

What do you think the biggest obstacle to mentoring is?

#1 is apathy

But the most articulated reason - "I'm not ready"

I need to read four more books
I need one more Bible Study
I need to grow more

What we want is to be able to run faster so that we can impress the people we will mentor.

Failing that, we'll pretend that we run faster than we actually do.

That burns people out
Kills them
Demoralizes them

One of Paul's strengths was his ability to share his struggles with the ones he was mentoring.

2 Corinthians 12 talks about a thorn in the flesh

People have debated for years what that thorn might be
Timothy knew

1 Timothy 1:15 - Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners-of whom I am the worst.

Timothy knew what sins were on that list

QUESTION #1 - ARE YOU WILLING TO BE A MENTOR?

You.

Not the person you wish you were.

Not "you" after taking more classes or reading more books.

You.

God hasn't called the ideal, dream "you"

He has called you.

Your brokenness just might be the thing that helps the next generation understand.

GOSPEL vs. RELIGION

I have done ____ therefore I am accepted. (Religion)
I am accepted, therefore I am _____. (gospel)

2. Enter the Exchange Zone

In a sprint relay, they do a "blind hand-off".

The next runner puts his head forward and just begins to run.

Sometimes it feels that way.

The next person isn't looking back for you.

It's up to us to enter the exchange zone.

Paul had an uncanny ability to see the struggles people had, and meet them there.

Timothy had a nervous stomach.

Therefore buy some two-buck chuck for medicinal purposes.
1 Tim 5:23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses

Many think that Timothy was timid, afraid to exert himself

Paul encouraged Timothy to grow in these areas

2 Timothy 1:6-7 - For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Paul Protected Timothy in his areas of weakness

1 Cor 16:10 If Timothy comes, see to it that he has nothing to fear while he is with you, for he is carrying on the work of the Lord, just as I am.

Paul saw what was happening in Timothy and helped speak life into him

"...fan into flame the gift of God"

- You can have so much more authority in someone's life if you are marked with real encouragement.

QUESTION #2 - IS THERE SOMEONE YOU SEE GOD WORKING IN WHO YOU CAN APPROACH WITH ENCOURAGEMENT?

3. Run A Few Strides With Them

In a relay race, there are a few strides when the runners are together, in step, as the exchange happens.

Philippians 2:22 - But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.

If you skip 1 & 2, you'll develop a religious worker.

If you do 1 & 2 first, you'll develop a gospel-leader.

QUESTION #3 - IS THERE A SKILL OR A PIECE OF WISDOM YOU HAVE THAT CAN BE PASSED DOWN TO THE NEXT GENERATION?

5. Can We Become Mentors Today?

Hard to say.

The people reaching retirement today are a part of the Baby Boom.

76 Million born between 1946 and 1964
28% of the US population
Parents lived through the depression (Builders)
Baby Boomer cohort #1 (born from 1946 to 1954)
- Memorable events: assassinations of JFK, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King, political unrest, walk on the moon, Vietnam War, anti-war protests, social experimentation, sexual freedom, civil rights movement, environmental movement, women's movement, protests and riots, experimentation with various intoxicating recreational substances
- Key characteristics: experimental, individualism, free spirited, social cause oriented
Baby Boomer cohort #2 (born from 1955 to 1964)
- Memorable events: Watergate, Nixon resigns, the Cold War, the oil embargo, raging inflation, gasoline shortages
- Key characteristics: less optimistic, distrust of government, general cynicism

Called "Generation Me" by a few cultural analysts

My generation is defiantly a "Me Generation"

Busters born in the 70's & 80's

I can't place blame on any generation, but somethings have changed.

Less interest in personal mentoring

John Maxwell $100 to 10 top pastors for 5 minutes

They all said yes
None took the money
All gave more than an hour

I did the same thing back in 1995

Not a single reply

More reliance in programs.

Children's Ministry
Youth For Christ Conferences
Promise Keepers
Acquire the Fire

- I can't name a single program or event that has me still following Jesus.

- But I can name the Sunday school teachers, professors, friends and pastors that have my following Jesus.

Conclusion