I’ve been talking with you about mentoring in the last couple of weeks as part of a series on the topic and I’d like to introduce you to one of the mentors who helped me in my life, some of you may know this man I’m not sure if I’ve talked about him previously, he once ministered near by here and lived just down the road from this hall. His name is ……….! The Reverend …….... of the Methodist Church.
Where I grew up in Nelson though …… and his wife ……… were in ministry and are now retired.
I grew up as a child attending the Stoke Methodist Church; though my Mum no longer attends, I know for sure that she still does church flowers at times.
Within the Methodist church there are some faithful and wonderful Christians. ………. or Mr …….. as I call him is one of those people. I used to sit as a young bloke in church and listen to Mr ………. lead services and preach the scriptures from the raised lectern on the right of the church, where the walls were painted sulphur yellow in the centre was a stained glass window depicting Jesus the Good Shepherd holding a lamb in his left arm and a flock on the hill behind him, symbols of alpha and omega on either side of him and the verse , “I am the Good Shepherd, the Good Shepherd Giveth His life for the sheep” below his sandaled feet, below this window was the communion table, silver plate and cup, some small pottery figures of the Holy Family, to the left just above a door and just behind the piano was a board listing the hymns and scripture passages that were to read and sung that day. Just before stairs that separated the congregation from what we would call the platform was the communion rail and a cushioned place to kneel as you took communion
Every detail of that place is etched in my memory, though not brilliantly, the etching has blurred a bit with time. I could not tell you who it was who donated the dark hand carved hardwood wood fish on the left by the window except to tell you that they were from the Solomon Islands and were donated by friends of …………. another mentor of mine.
Interestingly I can’t recall a single phrase from a sermon that Mr ……….. preached, this may be more of a reflection on my brains capacity to remember than his sermons, but that for me to make a decision to follow Jesus as a sixteen year old, and to commit my life fully into his hands something about what …….. said must have struck home. I know that I was not the only one. This mans ministry had impact.
I think and this is my personal observation, that Mr ……….. lived a life that was an example, a Christ honouring example and within that example young fellas like I was then saw something of what Jesus was. The Jesus of Mr ………….. example wore walk shorts and roman sandals in summer and a blue suit in winter, a Leitchfield collared shirt and a wide co-ordinated tie, his face sported a set of side burns that were all the rage in the day. He kept pidgeons and chooks,and still does, he drove a Wolseley and was married with three children one of which was my age.
Now I’m not saying that Mr ………… was perfect because I know he wasn’t, I know he wasn’t because I can remember him yelling at a rugby ref on more than one occasion when I was playing left right out on the side line while his son ……. was playing lock for the High School side, but all that aside I know that the Christian example that he set was a worthy one!
I mentioned last week that over the next weeks it is my aim to talk about mentoring and that I’m going to be doing a series on mentoring and how we embrace the teaching of Jesus, how we learn from the scriptures of both testaments, how we journey, mentoring and being mentored in our Christian walk and how we encounter and learn to listen to God as He walks with us on that journey.
Today I’ll be looking at Paul’s letter to Timothy, who was his student, but was also following Paul into the ministry, so we have a picture once again of a mentor and one being mentored. Just to kill a biblical golden goose, many believe that Timothy was a young man but there is some thought that Pauls references to his being young relate to his being young in the faith and that he may even have been in his fifties which I guess for some that is still young, this could be a pointer to your never being to old to start ministering the gospel. Paul was mentoring Timothy at a distance by post, knowing that his, Paul that is, life was nearly at an end. He wrote this letter from a cold dungeon where he was locked up under Emperor Nero’s command. Let’s have a look at what he says to Timothy, 2 Timothy 2:1-4.
What is it that Paul is saying from the angle of a mentor to Timothy, what is it that he wants Timothy to know in this passage? Let’s have a look!
1) The term Paul uses “my son” is no accident and it’s not the “My son!” looking down your nose statement that some use to address others, this is a term of endearment – this is about kinship in Christ. As people in mentor, and being mentored roles, these two men had buy in, in one another’s lives because of their ‘Church family’ bond.
Then Paul expands on this by saying as an encouragement “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”, this verse is a bit of a challenge, why is it that Timothy was Pauls student, why is it that any of us are here, because of the grace that given to us in Christ Jesus.
Without the grace of God that we have found in Jesus we are still lost in our sins, we are still despairing and knowing nothing of the plans that God has for us, we are still living lives that only bear physical fruit but have no spiritual advancement. (Wait). So the directive here from Paul to Timothy is be strong in the grace of Christ Jesus, live in this knowledge, be empowered by this knowledge of God’s grace, be bold for your strength comes through the knowledge that you have forgiveness and relationship with God that you have, as an heir of His Kingdom because of the sacrificial price Jesus was willing to pay. Paul was pointing out God’s grace is what strengthens your ministry – it is what brings you to minister to others - be strong in that grace.
If I was to ask you to put your hand up if you were a minister of the gospel here, How many of you would raise your hand? Let’s see a show of hands. (The answer to this shocked me and I’m now taking a pause in this series to preach on the priesthood of all believers) If you have encountered God’s grace you are qualified to tell others about it, you have your own testimony that is irrefutable, be strong in that! Speak it out for others need to hear it. In the words of Chris Rea the singer the road that most people are on “ain’t no upwardly mobile freeway it is the road to Hell.” People need to know that forgiveness of God that Jesus has paid for, encourage them by telling them about your faith! Encourage one another in the faith! Entrust your story to others.
Back to mentoring:
2) Paul then encourages Timothy to follow the example that he had set, this takes me back to the people who mentored me, and most of these mentors set an example as much as they directly taught me. Mr …………. window into my life was from the age of seven till I was about sixteen his example lasted just that long, but I was able at a distance to see his ministry in since then. As a mentor those you are mentoring live watching your example.
I heard just at the start of the week an officer say that he had a younger officer as his Timothy for some time, but he then he got to the point where he was looking to this younger officers example with respect.
Setting an example of faithfulness in service is an awesome responsibility one that Paul did not take lightly. This is something we can all do if we are living for God, we can encourage one another in the faith, by your example.
In his letter to the Philippians Paul even says this to that part of the church, “as you hold out the word of life – in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labour for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.” (Philippians 2: 16-17) Paul’s service to the church was costly! Mentoring can be costly but its rewards are about bringing others into a deeper relationship with God a deeper place or aspect of service to God, to build up the church, that others may come to know the grace of God. Paul was encouraging Timothy in the faith, entrusting his knowledge to him.
But not only that;
3) Paul realised that the teachings that he had about faith in Jesus must be passed onto reliable men and women. The gospel was to be taught to reliable people who would then be qualified to teach others. Now if you are in a role and want to pass on that role and you should intentionally be seeking out a trainee, an apprentice someone to follow in your footsteps seek out someone who is reliable, this does not mean you have to leave immediately when they are trained The leadership of the Corps intentionally want this Corps to grow as more people come into a relationship with Jesus, there should in the future be more than enough leadership roles to go around in that case.
If you wish to be mentored into a role are you reliable? Straight to the point if you believe you are and see a task that would suit you seek advice in prayer and in person, remembering it is the mentor’s choice after prayerful consideration who they will mentor. The other thing associated with this is they may require you to prove yourself.
Some of you may be sitting thinking I’m not reliable why would any one approach me about being mentored… some advice for you; get reliable, live a disciplined life, show yourself worthy, God honours that. I’m sure there are those here who seeing you seeking after a life of faith will be more than willing to encourage in that walk.
Paul gave an example to Timothy of how this was to occur, well he gave a good number of examples, but the one I’m going to quote is this, ”Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer.”
This could be a catch cry of the Salvation Army this is about warfare; we are involved in a spiritual battle! Paul knew all about it, here he was in a dungeon writing to Timothy letting him know it was going to be tough, rough, hard hitting dangerous, harsh and it might even cost him his earthly all. But to endure it all like a good soldier of Jesus. Mentors have a role to play in ensuring that those they are mentoring are prepared for the hard times, encouraged and built up in their faith.
The leaders in this Corps will tell you there are times when it does get hard, they are aware of the spiritual battle that is raging around them for souls. They at times may even think well actually it looks more comfortable not leading; they may think I could be sitting in the back row of another church where I’m not involved in the struggles of leading, where no one knows what I do here. The truth is, they would be right to think that! I know the thought has crossed my mind.
But and this is a big but, they know their leadership is leading others to Christ, leading others to faith in the Lord. This is not an easy road, it will cost them, soldiers pay a price in service, but this is no earthly service, and I say that because it does not stop here when your commanding officer is the King of Kings.
You may have come today expecting a different sort of sermon; this is part of a series as I’ve said about mentoring. For the kingdom of God to grow here on earth in accordance with God’s will, we are to encourage one another in the faith, mentoring and being mentored as we grow in service and in the likeness of Christ.
If there is anyone here who would like to commit to mentoring another in a role within the church I would like you to commit to seeking out a person to mentor after considered prayer.
If you have come here today and heard about faith in Jesus and would like to be encouraged in that faith, to make a commitment to follow the teaching of Jesus his example and his Lordship please come and allow someone to pray with you.
