The Manner of the Mentor
2 Timothy 3:10-15
I. The Challenge that was Acknowledged - that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures
This message tonight is geared more toward anyone in our church that has a role in mentoring.
Two weeks ago, I preached on Some Things A Child Can Know.
We have a lot of parents in this church.
We have a lot of grandparents in this church.
We have Sunday School teachers in this church.
We have Junior church workers; bus workers; nursery workers; Christian school teachers.
We have a thriving Discipleship Ministry.
We are helping new converts learn what it means to be a Christian.
They are looking to us to be an example of what it means to walk with God.
Nearly everyone in here to some extent falls into this category of being a mentor.
II. The Continuation that was Admonished - But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned…
Paul is admonishing this young pastor to continue his ministry in the way that he was taught as a child.
What things?
· 10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
· 11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
A. The Doctrine
· Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
B. The Manner of Life
MANNER OF LIFE: the conduct; a conducting, training, education, discipline, the life led, way or course of life
· Philippians 4:9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
C. The Purpose
What was Paul’s purpose?
· To see souls saved.
· To bring God glory.
· To help others go further with God.
Philippians 1:25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
D. The Faith
Paul’s dying words were, “I have kept the faith…” 2 Timothy 4:7
It wasn’t just Paul that had demonstrated a life of faith.
His mother and grandmother had also.
· 2 Timothy 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
E. The Longsuffering
F. The Charity
G. The Patience
Paul had proven these things in his ministry.
2 Corinthians 6
· 3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:
· 4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
· 5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
· 6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
III. The Character that was Assuring - hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
Who it was that did the teaching and their testimony added much weight and credibility to what was learned.
Likewise, the life of the teacher; the manner of the mentor can take away from what was taught.
1 Corinthians 9
· 26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
· 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.