If you follow that professional football team in Denver that wears blue and orange—oh, what is their name?—you probably know of the latest development at Dove Valley. Even if you don’t follow that team you’re probably aware of the latest news about them, such is the media coverage they get. The latest news is Jerry Rice has signed to play with the Denver Broncos. It’s big news because Jerry Rice is one of the greatest players of all time, a sure first ballot Hall of Famer. ESPN unabashedly refers to Rice by the acronym G-O-A-T (Greatest Of All Time). Because of Rice’s stature, the news has been national news, not just local. Much of the discussion among sports reporters about Rice’s signing has centered around whether the addition of Jerry Rice to the Broncos is a positive thing or a negative one. Rice is 42 years old and is not the same player he was in his prime. It’s hard for professional athletes to give it up when time begins to catch up with them and history is full of sad stories of athletes who hung on too long. People wonder if Rice has reached that point. The team of his prime, the San Francisco 49ers unceremoniously let him go a few years ago. Rice signed with the Oakland Raiders and while still productive was never the "go to guy" he’d been in San Francisco. Last year he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks and had a mediocre year. The problem that has developed—and has fueled the discussion of whether or not it was a good thing for the Broncos to sign Rice—is how Rice has handled his diminished role. In Seattle, he began to voice his discontent, was becoming a negative influence on the team. Consequently, they released him making it possible for Denver to sign him. But, will it be a good thing or a bad thing?

While driving in my car the other day, I heard Dan Patrick on his nationally broadcasted show on ESPN Radio, throw out the question for discussion, "Is Jerry Rice hurting his legacy by continuing to play." I thought about calling and putting in my two cents worth, but I don’t call talk shows. However, I’ll share my answer with you today! My answer is, "It depends." How’s that for an eloquent response? "It depends." It depends on how Rice understands and plays out his role with the team. If Jerry Rice expects to be the "go to guy" in Denver and will be vocally unhappy if he isn’t, then it will be a bad thing and will cause some damage to his legacy. If, however, Rice is willing to come to Denver and be a mentor to Denver’s young receivers—guys like Ashley Lelie and Darius Watts—making contributions where he can, but also, by his example, helping make the others better as well, then it will be a good thing and will add to his legacy. In a sense, the question before Jerry Rice is the question we’ve been asking in this series on mentoring. We’ve asked it in the context of Christ and the work of the gospel—what are you doing to make an impact for Jesus Christ in the next generation. By no means would I put Jerry Rice and catching passes for the Denver Broncos in that context—although he could be a man of faith and share that with his teammates as well. But, for Rice to have a positive impact with the Broncos, he must answer the question, what is he doing to make an impact on the next generation of receivers in the NFL and, specifically, for the Denver Broncos. Same question, with a different focus. You watch and we’ll see how he answers that question.

More importantly, much more importantly, how are we answering that question? What are we doing to make an impact for Jesus Christ on the next generation? The apostle Paul had to deal with that question. Whether following the example of Jesus Christ mentoring his disciples, or whether using common sense and seeing the big picture of a future when he’s no longer around, Paul knew he needed to mentor others to continue the work he had started. The issue is immediately before him as he writes this letter to the church at Philippi, for Paul is in prison when he writes it and is unsure whether he’ll make it out alive. In fact, in the first chapter of the letter he ponders what the future might hold for him—whether he will live or die. Hopeful for life, in order that he might continue to minister to the Philippians and others, Paul, nonetheless, is not afraid to die because of Jesus Christ. In verse 21 of chapter one, he writes these great words regarding his unsure future, "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." I hope all of us would be able to say the same. But, Paul, at the moment of writing this letter, is unsure of his future.

Fortunately, Paul has addressed a future without him by mentoring Timothy. We learn in the 16^th chapter of Acts that Timothy joins Paul on his missionary journeys. That begins this mentoring process where Timothy learns from Paul and, eventually, can be entrusted with the work of the gospel. As Paul sits in prison unsure of his fate, the work continues through his student, Timothy. Also, Paul has mentored Epaphroditus, a young man sent by the Philippian church to take care of Paul. However, in doing so, Epaphroditus "almost died." Epaphroditus is willing to risk his life for the ministry of the gospel and the opportunity to serve Paul. Now being sent by Paul back to the church in Philippi, Epaphroditus has the opportunity to share what he has learned from Paul. Paul’s work, even though he is in prison, continues on through the mentoring work he has done with Epaphroditus and Timothy.

Which leads to the question, who is a Timothy in your life? In this exploration of mentoring and the work of the gospel, let me put the question another way. What is the most fulfilling thing that you do? What do you do in life that you find the most satisfying and fulfilling.? Then, relatedly, who are you mentoring in that activity? How we answer those questions will have everything to do with how the work of the gospel continues in our church.

To begin with, you might answer with an activity that has nothing to do with the gospel or the church. "My work is the most fulfilling thing I do." Or, possibly, "my recreation is the most fulfilling thing I do." If that is your answer, then frankly, I would suggest that you’re missing out on discovering true meaning and purpose in life. As one of the Proverbs puts it, "A life devoted to things is a dead life, a stump; a God-shaped life is a flourishing tree." (Proverbs 11:28, The Message) The sum of Rick Warren’s Purpose-Driven Life is that real fulfillment in life can only be found in God. Early in the book, Warren writes, The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose." (Emphasis his) If the most fulfilling thing you do in life has nothing to do with Christ and His Church, I would hope and pray that you might some day discover true fulfillment in serving Him.

If, however, you would answer that the most fulfilling thing you do in life has something to do with your faith, how you live it out and, hopefully, how it gets expressed in the ministry and mission of the church, then again the question, who are you mentoring in that activity. May I suggest something to you? As you consider what it is that you do that brings fulfillment in your life, consider also who you might invite along to share in it with you. Who might be a Timothy to you in your ministry in the church? Consider some possibilities, then invite them to join you in that activity. They might be someone in the church, they might be someone outside the church. But, invite them to join you. At an appropriate point in a conversation, perhaps in talking about what you’re doing for the weekend, or in a conversation about finding meaning in life, tell them what you find fulfilling and invite them to join you. "You know something, Bob, the most fulfilling thing I do in life is…my work as a Stephen Minister at my church. And I think you would be a good Stephen Minister and find it very fulfilling. Can I tell you about it?" Then share your story and invite them to explore becoming a Stephen Minister also…and promise to help mentor them in that role. "You know something, Carol, the most fulfilling thing I do each week is teach in our Sunday School at church. I think you’d enjoy it. Why don’t you come to my class next Sunday and see what you think?" Whatever it is—singing in the choir, playing with the praise team, working with the youth, running the graphics for worship, preparing receptions for funerals, ushering on Sunday mornings—whatever it is that you would answer is the most fulfilling thing you do, consider whom you might mentor in that ministry and invite them to come along with you and check it out. Be intentional about it! Don’t just expect them to show up! Don’t rely solely on an announcement in the bulletin or the Scroll! Don’t rely on a pointed announcement from the pulpit! Invite them personally, intentionally! That’s what Paul did with Timothy. While in Timothy’s hometown of Lystra, Paul meets Timothy and is impressed. Paul talks to others about Timothy and gets favorable reports. The result is "Paul wanted to take [Timothy] along on the journey," so Paul invites him to join them and makes arrangements for him to do so. Who is a Timothy with you in the work that you do for the kingdom of God? If there is none, consider some possibilities and invite them to join you. Every ministry needs a Paul—someone with experience in that ministry and a willingness to mentor others; and every ministry needs a Timothy, someone who is being mentored in that ministry.

There is a line in our Scripture reading for today that Paul certainly means as a compliment to Timothy, but it also carries with it a touch of sadness. Commending Timothy to the Philippians, Paul writes in verse 21, "I have no one else like him." A great compliment to Timothy, but a sadness also. "I have no one else like him." Sad, because that’s what the world needs, that’s what the work of the gospel needs—more Timothys, who will, as Paul continues to write in verse 21, show genuine concern for your welfare," putting into practice what he learned from Paul. Will we find more Timothys? Will we grow future leaders who continue the ministry and mission of the church? Well, it depends. It depends upon you…and how you answer that question. What am I doing to make an impact for Jesus Christ on the next generation?