Sermon for 1/14/2001
Mentors
1 Corinthians 11:1
Introduction:
A. When the junior high school was having “Hero Day,” students were urged to dress up as their favorite hero. A preacher thought his son would want to put on some football pads, or a baseball uniform. But the boy surprised him by walking in with a coat and tie. “What’s this?” the father asked. “You’re not dressed like any hero.” “Yes I am,” the boy replied. “I’m dressed the way you dress.”
B. There is a story about four preachers discussing the merits of the various translations of the Bible. One liked the King James Version best because of its simple, beautiful English. Another liked the American Revised Version best because it was closer to the original Hebrew and Greek. Still another liked a contemporary version because of its up-to-date vocabulary. The fourth minister was silent for a moment, then said, “I like my mother’s translation best.” Surprised, the other three men said they didn’t know his mother had translated the Bible. “Yes,” he replied. “She translated it into life, and it was the most convincing translation I ever saw.”
C. I think of a missionary doctor on a lonely village station, a very able doctor, but even more effective as a Christian and a leader in evangelization. Not long ago a convert was being baptized, a rare event in that difficult area, and he was answering questions to test his knowledge of the gospel. One answer he began safely enough. “I believe in God Almighty, and in the Lord Jesus,” but then he stopped and turning to the doctor he burst out, “and, sahib, I believe in you.”
WBTU:
A. Mentor, in a sense is dimension of shepherding. Shepherds feed, protect, and care for sheep; Mentors pull up alongside human beings and model behavior, values, and faith through the shared life.
B. We have a mentoring crises in this country. Usually, mentors are people who are elders- older, more experienced, stronger members of the group to whom the younger look for identity.
C. We long for mentors.
D. When we don’t find positive mentors, by default, negative ones usually find us!
E. Robert Bligh- “A boy cannot become a man without the help of another man. Most ideally a father, grandfather, uncle, or someone to whom he apprentices.”
F. Young males and females need mentors.
G. A young lawyer usually wants to be like an older lawyer, a young doctor usually wants to be like an older doctor.
H. A young and new Christian usually long to be like some admired Christian leader.
I. When we are fortunate enough to be surrounded by healthy, functional, caring people, we tend to become like them.
J. The reverse is also true.
K. The mentoring phenomenon is written into the psychological makeup of human beings and mentors are essential to healthy human development- especially from the age of four to six. My sons.
L. I believe that God has written the mentor concept into human nature and that is why the concept is written into the Bible.
M. Look up 1 Corinthians 11:1.
N. (1 Cor 4:15 NIV) Even though you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.(1 Cor 4:16 NIV) Therefore I urge you to imitate me.
O. (Phil 3:17 NIV) Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.
P. What an arrogant, prideful jerk!
Q. 1 Cor 11- Ever become imitators or mimic me is the literal translation.
R. Paul is asking these people to adopt all his ways. He is asking them to conform to his lifestyle and persona. He is asking them to stick to him. He is asking them to watch him and follow his example. He is asking them to be lead by him, to follow his path. Walk the way he does, talk the way he does, smile the way he does, act the way he acts. Be trained by Paul on how to live. Be a living illustration of the life of Paul. Paul wants them to follow his pattern, model. He wants the Christians to be made in the image of Paul. He wants them to be cut from his pattern. Do as I do.
S. All of us are examples to others whether we want to be or not.
T. We shy from being examples out of false modesty. Like Charles Barkley, I am not a role model.
U. Think about the situation here that Paul is addressing. He is talking to people, to Gentile people, who have never seen or heard Christians. They did not grow up in Christian families. They have no role models except the apostle Paul and his evangelists.
V. Paul tells them openly to follow his example as he follows the example of Christ. (Phil 4:9 NIV) Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
W. (Eph 5:1 NIV) Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children
X. However, these Christians are new to the faith and they have few examples to follow. God is up in heaven and Jesus Christ had left for heaven. They need a Jesus with skin on.
Y. Although some of the Corinthians do not think highly of him, Paul says they should follow his example in life. Imitate his teachings and his ethics. Some people in Corinth were saying, “Do what I say, not what I do.” Paul says this is hogwash.
Z. Our actions speak more loudly. I would rather see a sermon than to hear one any day.
AA. Jesus modeled his teachings for his followers. Oh, to be in that crowd. However, Jesus is in heaven so new Christians need a model to follow with skin on.
BB. The modern-day church shouts the need for godly men and women to serve as spiritual mentors.
CC. What we are teaches far more than what we say, and this truth can work to bless the church, as well as to harm.
DD. Many times leaders need to be intentional, show their lives to others to follow their example.
Thesis: In this sermon, we’ll take a look at three ways on how to be a positive, spiritual mentor
For instances:
1. Winsome mentors attract followers.
A. Winsome mentors are the kind of people who make you want to be like them.
B. Winsome according to Webster, means “generally pleasing and engaging.”
C. A winsome mentor has an attractive, magnetic personality. Like Jesus.
D. (Luke 8:42 NIV). As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.
E. Several winsome mentors have blessed me mightily.
1. People like my parents.
a. My dad gave me his laid back personality.
b. My mother gave me her sticktuitiveness on projects.
c. My grandmother gave me her heart from the truth of the Bible.
d. My grandfather gave me his sense of humor and old time wisdom.
2. No one in my family were preachers, so I had mentors in that area.
a. My youth minister, Richard Clark. Wanted to be just like him.
1. A heart for prayer.
2. A patient attitude.
3. A long ministry.
b. Jay Hardison.
c. Greg Steere. His love for the church.
3. People who are dead. Spurgeon. Alexander Campbell. John Huss.
2. Strong mentors show us how to live.
A. New Christians do not know how to act or what to do. Must look to some model. Follow Jesus is not enough. A living illustration.
B. The power of observation.
C. Can describe it all day, but must be shown!
D. We never saw how a Christian family, or even a normal family, functions. And now as we rear our children, we need spiritual family mentors.
E. In today’s world, marked by chaotic and broken families, more and more people will need intentional mentoring by older adults in the extended family of the church if they are to learn healthy ways of doing family.
F. In my marriage.
G. We need strong leaders to show us how to handle:
1. Alcohol
2. Money
3. Sex
4. Stress
5. Temptation
6. Burnout
7. How to share our faith
8. How to deal with anger
9. How to show compassion
10. How to live with disappointment
11. Grief
12. How to do a multitude of Christian services.
3. Faithful mentors inspire hope.
A. Attractive mentors draw followers and strong mentors show us how to live, but faithful mentors give us hope to keep on trying when we are tempted to give up.
B. “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day… We know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven… Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are home in the body we are away from the Lord.”
C. “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."
D. We look up from our pity party and there, way out ahead of the congregation, we see a gray head bobbing, as a mentor strides calmly on ahead of the pack.
E. He is still moving on. Not only is he still going on, but even though he has been through it all, he has allowed his experiences to make him better instead of worse.
F. Although this mentor has been used, burned, hurt, and betrayed- he is not cynical or disillusioned, but smiles- even more broadly on horizons that glow with increasing hope.
G. Paul, what do you know? (2 Cor 11:22 NIV) Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they Abraham’s descendants? So am I.(2 Cor 11:23 NIV) Are they servants of Christ? I am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.(2 Cor 11:24 NIV) Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.(2 Cor 11:25 NIV) Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea,(2 Cor 11:26 NIV) I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.(2 Cor 11:27 NIV) I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.(2 Cor 11:28 NIV) Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
H. (1 Pet 2:20 NIV) If you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God.(1 Pet 2:21 NIV) To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.(1 Pet 2:22 NIV) "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."(1 Pet 2:23 NIV) When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.(1 Pet 2:24 NIV) He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.
I. (1 Pet 4:12 NIV) Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.(1 Pet 4:13 NIV) But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.
Conclusion:
A. Summary.
B. Mentors have imperfections.
C. When sheep realize that their shepherds aren’t perfect, the awareness can be painful.
D. In spite of, and because of, human imperfections, the best mentors know how to point others to Jesus- the only flawless mentor.
E. Good spiritual leaders know full well that they are only shepherds, not saviors.
F. They know they are leaders, but not lords.
G. They understand that they may be skilled guides, but they are not gods.
H. At Bell Arthur, making copies of copies of copies of keys. Need to get back to the original key, original pattern.
I. A good mentor, a good shepherd.
J. Point you to Jesus this morning.
