MENTOR LIKE JESUS: Pay It Forward 3-13-22

MENTOR LIKE JESUS: Pay It Forward 3-13-22

 

INTRODUCTION

Pay It Forward, is a movie about a seventh grader’s ingenious plan to make a difference in the world. On the first day of school, Trevor McKinney (played by Haley Joel Osment) and his classmates are challenged by their social studies teacher, Mr. Simonet (played by Kevin Spacey), to change the world. Written on the blackboard, the challenge reads: "Think of an idea to change our world—and put it into action." While most children disinterestedly slouch in their desks, Trevor is mesmerized by the possibility of changing the world.

 

As Trevor rides his dirt bike back to the modest home in which he and his struggling, alcoholic mom live, he detours to a place where the homeless gather. An unkempt, unshaven man devouring a chocolate cookie catches Trevor’s eye. Motivated by his teacher’s challenge, Trevor invites the man to come and sleep in his garage. Trevor’s mother (played by Helen Hunt) is unaware of this arrangement until she awakens one evening to find the homeless man working on her broken-down pickup. Holding the man at gunpoint, she asks him to explain himself. He starts the truck to show her that he has successfully repaired it and tells her about Trevor’s kindness. He says, "Somebody comes along like your son and gives me a leg up, I’ll take it. I can’t mess up again, or I’ll be dead. I’m just paying it forward." Quizzically, Trevor’s mom asks, "What’s paying it forward?"

 

The next day Trevor explains to his class his amazing plan of paying it forward. Mr. Simonet and Trevor’s classmates are enthralled by Trevor’s idea. To explain his plan, he draws a circle and explains, "That’s me." Underneath it, he draws three other circles, saying, "That’s three other people. I’m going to help them, but it has to be something really big—something they can’t do for themselves. So I do it for them, and they do it for three people. That’s nine people." And nine lives turn into 27.

 

As the movie proceeds, "paying it forward" changes the lives of the rich, the poor, the homeless, and a prisoner.

 

The Bible emphatically teaches that we (in a very real sense) pay life forward through sowing and reaping.

 

The Bible fully supports the idea that God blesses those who bless others.

 

2 "I will make you into a great nation 

and I will bless you; 

I will make your name great, 

and you will be a blessing. 

3 I will bless those who bless you, 

and whoever curses you I will curse; 

and all peoples on earth 

will be blessed through you." 

                            Genesis 12:2-3 NIV

 

Jesus taught that life is reciprocal in that we receive what we have given to others.

 

27 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.

 

32 "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' do that. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' lend to 'sinners,' expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most  High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

 

37 "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." 

                            Luke 6:27-38 NIV

 

These verses definitely teach us that we in a very real sense pay life forward. Jesus says, "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?" Salvation is not meritorious. It is an act of grace without merit, but we must realize that our works do have merit. Here, there seems to be the idea that you will be given credit for what you do. But the surety of payday is stated even more clearly when Jesus says, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." This promise is not limited to finances; it embraces our relationships with others also.

 

I.  THE CONCEPT

 

              A.  Benjamin Franklin to Benjamin Webb dated April 22, 1784

 

                            "I do not pretend to give such a Sum; I only lend it to you. When you ( . . . ) meet with another honest Man in similar Distress, you must pay me by lending this Sum to him; enjoining him to discharge the Debt by a like operation, when he shall be able, and shall meet with another opportunity.  I hope it may thus go thro' many hands, before it meets the Knave that will stop its Progress.  This is a trick of mine for doing a deal of good with a little money."

             

              B.  Robert A. Heinlein popularized the phrase in his book, Between Planets, in 1951

 

                                          "The banker reached into the folds of his gown, pulled out a single credit note.  "But eat first--a full belly steadies the judgment.  Do me the honor of accepting this as our welcome to the newcomer."

                                          His pride said no; his stomach said YES!  Don took it and said, "Uh, thanks!  That's awfully kind of you.  I'll pay it back, first chance."

                                          "Instead, pay it forward to some other brother who needs it."

                           

              C.  The movie

 

II.  MENTORING AS PAYMENT FORWARD

             

The young salesman was disappointed about losing a big sale, and as he talked with his sales manager he lamented, "I guess it just proves you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." The manager replied, "Son, take my advice: your job is not to make him drink. Your job is to make him thirsty." So it is with (discipleship) evangelism. Our lives should be so filled with Christ that they create a thirst for the Gospel. 

                                          Preaching, November-December 1985

 

              A.  Can't repay gifts

              B.  Sharing what you have.

           C.  Intentionality 

              D.  "You have not made a disciple until your disciple makes a disciple."

 

Regi Campbell and Radical Mentoring 

 

III.  WHAT IT TAKES

             

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

                            1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV

 

              A.  What do I need to mentor like Jesus?

                            1.  Maturity

                            2.  Faith

                            3.  Good-hearted

                            4.  Confident

                            5.  Dependent on God

                            6.  Wisdom

              B.  When will I be ready?

                            1.  Strong faith

                            2.  Connected and committed to other believers

                            3.  Good heart

                            4.  Confident

                            5.  Dependent on God

                            6.  Wise

                           7.  Perseverant 

              C.  Where do I start?

                            1.  Think backward

                            2.  Choose a life stage to influence

                            3.  Search for mentees

              D.  What if I’m not ready yet?

                            1.  Find someone to mentor you.

                            2.  Ask for a commitment to you.

                            3.  Become ready.

 

CONCLUSION

 

The late Sam Shoemaker, an Episcopalian bishop, summed up the situation this way: "In the Great Commission the Lord has called us to be--like Peter--fishers of men. We've turned the commission around so that we have become merely keepers of the aquarium. Occasionally I take some fish out of your fishbowl and put them into mine, and you do the same with my bowl. But we're all tending the same fish." 

              Em Griffin, The Mindchangers, Tyndale House, 1976, p. 151

 

Replication

 

Paying it forward - Mentoring as paying it forward

 

CHALLENGE

 

Our challenges will fall heavily into the category of journaling.  When we write, we have to think, then formulate words, then put it to paper.  This process helps us integrate our whole self.  We will also focus upon action.

 

              1.  How are you “paying it forward” in your life?

              2.  What is your Christian legacy?

              3.  How can you actively “pay it forward” in spiritual terms?

              4.  Who can you disciple or follow as a disciple?

              5.  When will you ask them?   

 

INVITATION

 

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.